Cursed by Darkness (Once Upon A Curse)

32. Bodin

THIRTY-TWO

Bodin

Theran’s guilt wasn’t enough. Ronna wanted him to pay, to feel the agony she had endured for so long because of him. Realizing how strong her wrath was, Theran pleaded for mercy, but she would not hear it.

A fter putting on a fresh tunic, Bodin held out a hand in offering—and even after the conversation they’d just had, their confessions of love for each other, he was still afraid that she wouldn’t take it. A second passed, but then, to his immense relief, Juniper took it, entwining their fingers with a nod. He didn’t fight the small smile tugging on his lips. Bringing his other palm to her cheek, he leaned down to kiss her before heading toward the bedroom door so they could find Richard.

He’d missed this place, but more than anything, he’d missed June. They might not have known each other for long, but it seemed that even a week away from her was too much.

He didn’t know how to respond to her trust in him. To have someone accept this side of him without question meant everything.

But he did know for certain that he would stand by her side as she faced this next challenge. She said she needed to share something with him, but she also admitted that she wanted to talk to Richard first. Bodin hadn’t argued, just stood to leave and held out his hand, letting her know without words that he was with her.

She paused at the door, and he could practically see the questions swirling in her eyes. “Things don’t add up, but before I tell you and cause you to want to kill him,” she whispered, “I want to hear his side.”

“You think I’d want to kill him?”

“I think if I told you the pieces of what I remember, you would jump to the same conclusion I did.” She put her free hand on his chest. “We both deserve the truth, and while I love you so much it terrifies me, you have been known to lose your temper and storm off without listening.”

“You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

She raised one brow. “Nope.”

“That’s fair.” Bodin tilted her chin up to brush another kiss against the corner of her mouth. “No more stalling. Talk to your… Richard. I’m right here with you. As long as you want me.”

“Forever,” she said with such confidence that he wanted to lock the door and carry her back to their bed.

He’d only had a single night with her over a week ago, a single taste of what their life could be together. It wasn’t enough. He wanted so much more. “Not even death will keep me from spending the rest of eternity with you. As long as I am breathing, I will be at your side, and then I will find you again in whatever comes next for us.”

Juniper sighed, leaning into his hand as he cupped her cheek once more. “I love you.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.” He brushed a piece of her hair behind one ear. “I love you too, Sunshine.” They had cleaned up a little when changing clothes after their talk, but they were still filthy and exhausted. It was nearing sunrise, but she needed to talk to Richard before they went to bed. Then, when they woke, he would have the tub filled for them to share. He had loved his first wife—she’d been one of his closest friends growing up—and he’d cared about the second, but nothing compared to what he felt for Juniper. And he intended to ensure she knew that.

When her skin began to glow, he smiled in earnest. “Maybe I should have him come in here to chat?”

Startled, she looked down at her body. It wasn’t as intense as he’d seen it before, but it was still very obvious that this was more than just a faint sheen on her arms and face. She grimaced. “I didn’t want to just show him the moment I saw him.”

“Perhaps it’s for the best? Get it out there quickly,” Bodin said. “Besides… I may have told Hugo to fill him in while I came after you.”

Juniper narrowed her eyes. With her annoyance, the glow dimmed. He grabbed her, hauling her into his arms, and kissed her hard. She only hesitated a moment before parting her lips. His tongue brushed hers as he pushed her back against the door. She moaned into his mouth. As he kissed down her jaw to her neck, she whispered, “Stop. We can’t right now. I need to?—”

A gasp escaped her as he pressed his leg between her thighs.

Grinding against him, she moaned his name. “ Bodin .”

He opened his eyes. Satisfied it had worked, he released her, stepped back, and adjusted his pants. She looked at him in confusion until he glanced down with a nod.

“Seriously?” she yelled, pushing off of the door and practically stomping her foot. “You did that just to make me fucking glow?”

“I missed that filthy mouth.” Bodin couldn’t help but chuckle. “I can’t wait to have it around me later.”

She scowled and playfully smacked his chest, which only made his grin widen. Especially as her cheeks blushed through the soft white glow.

“That wasn’t the only reason,” he said with a shrug. “I’ve been thinking about doing that since the moment I left.”

“How about you just don’t leave again?” Juniper’s frown morphed into a smile, but it fell when he didn’t respond immediately. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “When?”

“Let’s discuss it later. Right now, we need to bring in Richard to see your Lumen magic and to have a bigger conversation.”

She nodded, but he could tell she hated it. He did too. He wished he never had to leave her, but they were in the middle of a war. And losing. If he didn’t figure out a way to even the battlefield, they would lose. He didn’t know what would happen then, but he was pretty sure it wouldn’t end well for him, his wife, or their friends.

Kissing her forehead, he moved around her to open the door a fraction. Sure enough, the guard stood just outside, with Samuel right beside him. Richard lifted his head the second it opened, looking more disheveled than he’d ever seen the man—even after his charge had disappeared on him. “Please let me speak to her.”

Bodin stepped aside, motioning for him to enter. He gave Samuel an appreciative nod, briefly wondering if he should also let the man in since he’d already been so involved.

Behind him, Richard cursed under his breath.

“I’ll wait out here unless you need me,” Samuel said, seeming to sense his dilemma.

“Thank you,” Bodin said. “For everything.”

He shut the door again and turned to find Juniper, where she stood in all her glowing wonder, arms crossed as she stared at the man who’d always protected her. Bodin went to her, hovering at her back in silent support, something he would always give her.

“Juniper,” Richard whispered. “You… You’re…”

Her light began to fade, even as she nodded.

“This is why they hid you away?”

Another nod.

The man visibly swallowed. He seemed to consider his next move. When he stepped toward them with an outstretched hand that started to glow, she expelled a breath and reached for it with her own. Richard pulled her into a hug.

“I… I didn’t know,” he said. “And I swear to you, I was not involved that day.”

“I’m sorry for not listening,” she said quietly. “Everything was just so overwhelming earlier, and I took it out on you because…”

“Because you know deep down that I’ll still love you. Even after you throw a tantrum.”

As she let out a breathy laugh and sniffled, Bodin went to sit in an armchair near the empty hearth. He had no idea what day they were talking about, but he’d wait for an explanation. They eventually followed and lowered onto the adjacent settee, side by side.

“I have loved your mother for most of my life,” Richard started, keeping one arm around Juniper, seemingly unable, or not wanting, to separate from the girl he’d always loved and now knew was his daughter. “When the king announced he was going to take a new wife and had his sights set on her, we were devastated, but her parents agreed, and as you know, it’s difficult to tell your—the king no.”

Your father , he hadn’t said. Bodin could see it in his eyes.

“We said our goodbyes, she got married and had Hugo, and then I was stationed at the palace as a royal guard. I was sent to protect her and her new son, and our reunion was difficult to handle.”

“She had an affair,” June whispered, staring at the fireplace.

Richard nodded. “When your mother told me she was pregnant with you, we wondered if…” He cleared his throat. “But after your birth, she confirmed you were the king’s daughter, and then she had me relocated to guard duty in another village. She said questioning whose baby she was carrying was one of the most terrifying times in her life. She couldn’t sneak around anymore because she feared what the king would do if he found out; she had to prioritize her children. Not just you and Hugo but your older brothers too, who had already lost one mother.

“It wasn’t until you were four that she sent word, asking me to return.” He placed a hand on hers. “She said she didn’t trust anyone to look after her most treasured possession. I didn’t learn she meant you until I arrived.”

Juniper lowered her gaze to her lap, and Bodin’s heart broke for her. She had told him during one of their late-night chats about how her mother used to always be with her but had distanced herself in the last decade. June rarely saw her in that time, and she’d said that hurt worse than being sent to live in that tower. It infuriated Bodin on her behalf.

He knew finding out about Richard was a monumental discovery, that it had shaken her to her core, but he was glad for it all the same. She deserved to have a family who loved her unconditionally. And he knew without a doubt that Richard did. He had, even before this revelation.

“So, why weren’t you there that day?” she asked, finally glancing up.

She looked so young in that moment, sitting beside her father, waiting for answers. Bodin could see their resemblance as they sat like this, but only because he was searching. It was subtle. They both had green eyes, but the hue was slightly off. Their blond hair was a different shade. But their mannerisms were almost… identical. The way June chewed on her lower lip while he seemed to bite the inside of his cheek, and how they both held themselves.

“Because I’m a man, and I made a grave mistake,” Richard whispered. Then, he met Bodin’s gaze. “I was here when the royal family of Forosse came to visit fifteen years ago.” He took a deep breath, but Bodin could already see where he was going with this. Everything made sense now—June’s behavior and what she told him earlier. “I was supposed to be with her the day Prince Elias was killed.”