Cursed by Darkness (Once Upon A Curse)

7. Juniper

SEVEN

Juniper

Despite their tenuous peace, the gods had a secret. Each brother sprinkled a drop of their magic into the lake at the center of the continent in hopes of passing on their powers to the humans and taking full control. Ronna knew how important balance was, however, so she enchanted the lake to only allow those from the gods’ respective kingdoms to gain their specific magic.

Therefore, those born in Mesairla could wield shadows, and Gilarnians possessed light.

A part from the disapproval in his eyes, facing Richard in the hallway was a comfort Juniper hadn’t expected to have here when she first found out about the marriage alliance. She assumed he would be assigned a new position back home, as he planned to return with her brothers. Juniper dreaded the goodbye in their future, but she was happy her friend was here for the time being. She gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

“Mmhmm.” Unlike any of her other guards, he wasn’t afraid to speak to her casually. The rest of those who’d traveled with them had kept their distance on their journey while still giving her wary glances—not that she didn’t understand, given the mystery surrounding her. She didn’t know which of them would take over as her head guard. Rafe had told her a handful would stay, but she didn’t know who. Undoubtedly, the man Bodin had asked to accompany her this morning, Samuel, would be assigned to her more permanently. Her husband clearly trusted him, and Samuel seemed pleasant enough. No one could really replace Richard though. He acted more like a parent than either her mother or father did, and she knew he would protect her with his life. Whereas she wasn’t so sure about the others.

Juniper was eternally grateful he’d been sent with her at all. Having him here for her wedding, for this life-altering event, had meant the world to her. She truly wished he wasn’t leaving, but she knew he had family to return to—a sister and her young children that she knew he helped care for after her husband passed away.

“Will you come with us please?” she asked. Samuel approached, and Laurent cut him off to speak with him quietly.

Richard bowed his head. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

“That’s so strange to hear,” she confessed. She wouldn’t have said as much to anyone else—she refused to appear unprepared or weak when she could help it—but she trusted him.

“It suits you.” He gave her a soft smile. “Though, I admit, I almost slipped up and called you ‘Princess’. Habits, and all, but one I’m more than happy to change.”

She would miss him referring to her that way if she were honest. It had always felt more like a term of endearment from him rather than a title.

Samuel started toward the dining room, but she whispered, “Sorry,” as he passed. He paused and visibly inhaled with a sharp nod before continuing.

She felt guilty for all of two seconds. Until she heard him chuckling.

“Shall we?” Laurent said, joining them and offering his arm.

Juniper nodded, her earlier excitement returning, but there was also a sense of apprehension creeping in. As she hooked a hand around his elbow, she thought about Bodin’s words: I’m trusting you with this, Juniper. He barely knew her, and yet, he was allowing her to see something that was clearly a secret. She squeezed the keys in her free hand, letting the cool iron press into her palm. It calmed her nerves, knowing that whether she could explain it or not, he did trust her… at least with this.

Together, the three of them walked toward the gallery, slowing on the glass walkway that crossed the river so she could take in the view once again.

“It’s so beautiful,” she said in awe. “How do you get anything done around here when you could sit and stare at this view forever? Actually, what do you do anyway? You’re not a guard, and you seem too young to be an advisor.” He appeared close to Bodin’s age, maybe a bit younger. She would guess he was in his late twenties.

Laurent’s deep laugh made her glance toward him. She couldn’t help but compare his clean-cut looks with those of her new husband. He appeared more like royalty with his short, light-brown hair, trimmed beard, and fitted apparel than Bodin did with his rugged appearance.

She couldn’t stop replaying his reaction to Hugo in her mind. The way he’d stood up for her, claimed her as an equal. She’d never known a man to behave as such. Even for show. Though, she didn’t think it was an act with Bodin. If it was, he was very convincing. It sent butterflies careening through her stomach when he placed a kiss on the top of her head and tucked her hair back. He was so fierce, losing his temper so quickly with her brother, but with her, he was… gentle. Sweet. The contradiction gave her a headache.

However, that also might have been the aftereffects of the bourbon and wine from the night before.

Laurent stopped walking, and she realized he’d asked her a question.

“Sorry, what?”

“I know this,” he indicated his entire body with a hand, “is distracting, but unfortunately, Bo doesn’t share. So, we’ll have to fight our mutual desire, my Queen.”

Her cheeks heated. She released his arm and stepped back, sputtering, trying to come up with a response. Surely, he didn’t think she would betray her husband like that. She tightened her fist around the set of keys and swallowed. Richard moved closer, as if sensing her distress.

Then, she noticed a twinkle in Laurent’s gaze. He was teasing her. Remembering what Nadine had told her about him, she rolled her eyes and continued down the walkway, leaving a seemingly amused Laurent behind. “Is every man in this kingdom so arrogant?”

“No,” he said, catching up to her. “But there’s no need to pretend, Juni. Don’t deny our love.”

She giggled at his ridiculous behavior. Halting, she snapped her eyes to him.

His grin softened. “Feel better? You seemed… uneasy.”

The back of her throat burned. Had he done all that for her, to get her out of her head? Nodding, she whispered, “Thank you.”

“That’s what friends are for.” He shrugged, as if it was as simple as that.

Little did he know, she’d had very few friends in her life. Besides her maids back home and a couple of people in Nortussa she talked to while sneaking around, she didn’t really have anyone other than Rafe and Richard. And the two villagers didn’t even know her true identity. “We’re friends? We just met last night.”

“Yes, and you married my best friend.” He looped his arm through hers and led her deeper into the gallery. “Which means we’re now friends too.”

She glanced back to make sure Richard was still following. He met her gaze with a sad smile and a nod, silently telling her he understood how big this moment was for her. He knew better than anyone how lonely her life had been, how much she longed for friends.

“To answer your question, I do serve as an advisor of sorts, but I have also trained among soldiers. I’m the king’s right-hand man.”

“So, you just follow him around doing whatever he asks?” She raised a brow. “Like escorting his new wife around to distract her?”

With a smirk, he said, “Pretty much. Which brings me back to what I asked before when you were stunned and distracted by my beauty. Are rivers and mountains your favorite type of location?” He opened the door to the spiral staircase with his own key. “Do you prefer warm or cool weather?”

“I don’t know. Something in the middle for the temperature, I guess?” She hadn’t exactly been to many places in order to have a favorite.

They traveled lower and lower before coming to the large round room. It nearly took her breath away, even though she’d expected it this time.

“What is this?” Richard angled himself in front of her, pivoting to take in the twelve massive doors.

Laurent pointed to the keys in her hand. “Those open these doors. Each is a unique experience that is… difficult to explain. That’s why I’m asking about your favorite places and seasons. They… coordinate with certain ones, to put it simply.”

Juniper had no idea what he meant. “I haven’t been many places, so I don’t really know what my favorite is.” A memory came to her suddenly. “When I was little, we traveled near a meadow that seemed really peaceful. I don’t remember much about it, but I know it was beautiful and I didn’t want to leave.”

“A meadow?” He grinned. “You want that first door on your right, then.”

She turned toward the rounded door next to the stairs. The first one she’d tried opening earlier. When she hesitantly took a step closer, Richard stuck an arm out. He shook his head. “Don’t even think about it.”

“It’s just another part of the gallery,” she said before holding the keys up. She examined them in the flickering torchlight. The doors were carved with different intricate designs, and it seemed the iron keys each matched a specific door.

This one had flowers and vines covering it, so she singled out the key with a similar vine wrapped around its stem and bow.

“Juni,” Richard warned, foregoing all formalities.

“I can go first.” Laurent moved to her side, and she reluctantly handed him the keys.

She held her breath as he unlocked the door. He looked over his shoulder toward her with a grin and then pushed on it.

To her surprise, it swung open like a regular door, but the sight beyond was anything but ordinary. Even Richard let out a curse. Both walked closer, as if drawn toward the impossible sight in front of them.

Juniper shook her head. She looked at the stairs then back. “How? We’re underground…”

Laurent didn’t hesitate to go through the doorway, and she and Richard followed. Her guard went first, one hand on his sword. It was pointless to argue with him, so she waited to enter after him.

“How?” she repeated the moment her feet touched the grass.

Tall green grass went as far as the eye could see, glittering in the sun. She did a double take. It was late morning. The sun should be a lot higher in the sky, not lowering and creating a golden glow everywhere. As she wandered farther, Laurent closed the door, and she whipped around, only to find a forest behind them. Not a wall. The door was still there but simply standing on its own.

She ran to it, and he didn’t stop her from yanking it open again. The round cellar room greeted her. Her mind reeled as she rushed around to the other side of the door instead, near the tall trees where they stood reaching for the sky. She put one shaking hand against the solid back.

“How?” she whispered again as Laurent and Richard approached. It seemed that was the only she was capable of saying at this point. She put an arm across her stomach, grateful she hadn’t eaten much. This was the most mind-boggling thing she’d ever encountered. It made zero logical sense. And while a sliver of her feared it, feared what it meant, the rest of her was thrilled.

Laurent smiled in earnest and offered his hand. “Magic.”

Slowly, she took it and let him lead her back out from behind the door. The three of them walked toward the meadow of wild grass and flowers. With the golden light of the setting sun shining, it was absolutely mesmerizing. It nearly took her breath away.

Tears rimmed her eyes as they came to a stop. In the distance, a light fog rolled through the trees and hills. Birds chirped from their homes in the forest.

It was Richard who said, “They’re portals.”

“Yeah.” Laurent squeezed Juniper’s fingers.

But where were they? It was a different time of day… She could feel him staring at her, but she still couldn’t look away from everything, cease taking it all in. Reaching out, she brushed her free palm over the closest flowers. The soft petals were real. This wasn’t a dream or trick.

“You have magic?” she whispered, her heart racing. While her kingdom had remained neutral in this war for Valétoi until now, her people did not accept those with such power. Hence why they hadn’t fought for the Valley of Stars near Lac des Rêves—the lake where magic was said to originate.

According to legends, the gods blessed the lake that sits on the border of Mesairla and Gilarn. Those who drank from its enchanted waters were given magic that differed between the two kingdoms. Those from Gilarn had the ability to wield and manipulate light, which often gave them healing powers as well. Mesairlans were gifted with shadow magic and strength.

All were passed down through family lines but weakened over time. The need to return to the lake to gain more magic resulted in war for the surrounding land that lasted for centuries. There were brief ages of peace, when treaties had been signed, but people were too greedy for it to continue for long.

Before she was born, there had been such an age. For nearly a century, there hadn’t been any major fighting. Then, Bodin’s father had declared war after the death of the younger prince. She remembered it well because it was the same year her parents had decided to keep her in the tower, claiming it was too risky for a little princess to be out in this dangerous world.

They had furnished her new rooms, decorating them as extravagantly as the rest of the castle, but eventually, she saw it for what it truly was: a prison. In the beginning though, it had seemed like a fun new adventure. Her mother and Hugo spent most of their time with her, and her other brothers visited fairly frequently. She even had a tutor to keep up with her lessons.

She had learned about the break in the treaty, but much of it was speculation. No one knew exactly what happened other than that the king blamed Gilarn for his second son’s sudden death—Bodin’s younger brother, Elias—and that he then outlawed Lumen magic. That led to her reading every book she could on magic and how it came to be. Both in books she was given by her tutor and those she found while sneaking around years later, after her family’s visits grew infrequent and her boredom and loneliness led her to learn and find adventure wherever she could. That was just one reason she had loved creeping through the shadows of the castle and the village beyond—to find more stories and accounts.

It fascinated her, but it also grieved her to know so many died because of it.

Between those born with unnatural strength and those who could heal and keep fighting… Neither side had a true advantage.

Until Gilarn had a much higher number of soldiers. Mesairlans were dying at faster rate because of that lack of healing power. That was why Juniper was here. Because her kingdom wasn’t part of the war, her father had an army not being used. And Bodin needed it. His people needed it.

But even with her knowledge on the different types of magic and the history of this war, it didn’t make sense that this portal existed. That her husband had a room full of them. She’d never heard of such power beyond rare fairy tales from hundreds of years ago.

“No, I don’t have magic,” Laurent said, pulling her back to the present.

Her stomach sank a little. For a split second, she had let herself get excited about the possibility. She’d wanted to hear more, to see what he knew that she hadn’t learned at home. Before she could question him further, however, he added the one statement she hadn’t expected. The one fact that changed everything.

“Bo does.”