Ever Fire by Alexia Purdy Read Free Book Online Page A

away, peering through a gap in the great curtains; a faraway look crept across his face.
    Shade looked at him as her eyes widened. She knew who he reminded her of, but it did not seem possible that he could be that person. She shook her head and sank back down on the settee.
    “You shake your head, but you must believe, Shade,” Prince Lotinar said. He approached her so swiftly, she gasped at his sudden closeness. He placed his hands on her arms and smiled. “It’s me, Shade. Ursad. Please remember.”
    Shade squinted her eyes at him, Ursad?
    “What?” Shade’s voice quivered as she absorbed what he said.
    “I’m Ursad. Don’t you remember me at all? I was hoping to find you again. You left before I could show you what happened when you kissed me. I didn’t even know what had happened myself until I walked past the mirror. I woke up and you were gone, but you broke the curse on me.”
    Shade let out a sigh of relief. Of course . She could see it now. His jeweled eyes gleamed the exact same way Ursad’s had, even in his disfigured cursed form. She had never seen anyone else with eyes like those. Soap’s weren’t even that bright.
    “Ursad, it’s really you, isn’t it? I knew it. I just knew that I had met you before. Why didn’t you say anything before, like when we arrived? Why didn’t you tell me?” Shade felt her shock lessen as they spoke. She studied his face more now that his guard was down. He was incredibly handsome. No wonder women had thrown themselves at his feet. No wonder some jealous witch had cursed him for his looks and attitude so long ago.
    “I broke the curse? How do you even know it was me? I did nothing.” She said.
    “You kissed me, Shade. I just know that’s what happened. You did kiss me, did you not? Before you left me behind?” His eyes darkened with the memory of abandonment floating behind them.
    “Uh, yes but, how would that break any kind of curse?”
    “Remember the story I told you? The witch said only a kiss from a Queen-to-be would break it. That means you are a Princess Shade, no doubt about it.” Ursad smiled, his eyes lighting up again. Shade shook her head, but his smile was contagious. She liked how happy he looked. His icy exterior had been just a show. He was the same old Ursad she had met on a cold sandy beach after barely escaping Blythe, the evil Dryad Queen.
    “Ursad, you know, a few months ago I would have told you that you were insane, but so much has happened, and I have to say that I wouldn’t be surprised if I was a Princess.” Ursad laughed and launched into her for a tight embrace, holding her as if to never let go. When he finally did, he lingered to study her face and absorbed it into his memory.
    “Um, Ursad, you know why I left right?” She paused, waiting to see his response. His face melted into a more serious tone as he nodded. “I won’t tolerate you using any kind of magic or Faerie tricks on me. I just can’t let anyone do that to me ever again. You do understand, right?” Shade licked her now dry lips, her mouth felt like a desert.
    Ursad reached up, pushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear and nodded softly. “I promise to never hurt you again, Shade. I am indebted to you for everything.”
    Shade stared at Ursad, studying his face again and wondering what it was that swirled around in his head. “Um, Ursad? I don’t want you to feel that you owe me anything. I just want to be friends and know that I can trust you. Is that alright?”
    Ursad stared back at her. His face seemed to fall in disappointment.
    Great, I just pushed Rylan away, and now I’m pushing another person away.
    “I–I knew you would be upset to see me.” He pulled away, standing to pace the room. His agitation seemed to ripple through the air as his control on his magic wavered. It slipped out into the air around her, shooting across her like short gusts of wind. She wondered how much of his magic had been restored when the curse lifted. It had