Warped by Amber Hughey

Author:Amber Hughey
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2019-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

Jess peered down at her notes on Lucien’s curse, still open on the library table. “There’s something here that I didn’t see before. Her letters mention the garden...”

“Yes, she was fond of my gardens, as you read.” After tossing a log on the dying fire, he sat by it and thumbed through Marguerite's notes and letters.

“I would be too if it didn’t seem like I was going to get lost in them, ” she said absently, tapping her finger on the letters.

“They were not always so untamed. Before my curse, they were marvelous — roses on high trellises, dozens of hedge animals — some of them bloomed through the summer. When the curse began, the garden began to wither and die. This curse is a festering wound, growing larger and deeper with each passing year.”

She left her notes to join him by the fire. Savouring the warmth it provided, she sank down beside the hearth. “When did you last see the little brown and orange birds — the redstarts?”

He rubbed a hand over his chin as he thought. “A hundred and fifty years? Less, possibly? They stopped nesting in the garden when spring stopped coming, and when the roses stopped blooming.”

“They're back.” She smiled and nudged him with her shoulder.

“Yes, they are. It has been too long since I saw them,” he said as he returned her smile, making her heart ping.

“Things are changing because of you." She turned to look at him, bracing herself with a hand on his leg. "The birds left left when all hope had gone, but your hope has returned.”

“Has it?”

“If your dreams are any sign of it, and I think they are, then yes, part of you is hoping. It’s healing the land.”

“I doubt it.” The look in his eyes was at odds with his dismissive words. He looked down at her hand on his leg, and covered her hand with his. “But I suppose anything is possible.”

“So, there are two more sets of notes in here, and we need to find them. Where are they?” She used his leg to push herself off the floor with a groan.

“One is in there.” He pointed to an ornate writing desk tucked between two tall, narrow shelves. Walking to it, he opened the main hatch. “I’ll need your help to retrieve it.”

“Why?” Jess joined him, and peering into the desk, she found the nooks and crannies stuff full of paper and writing implements.

He made a helpless gesture before curling his fingers into a fist. “Aside from my curse not letting me touch them, I physically cannot retrieve them. My hands...this desk needs a much more delicate touch than mine. Smaller hands — much smaller hands.”

Hands on hips, she surveyed the desk. “Your first point is moot — I don’t think you’ll have any trouble touching any of the notes. You haven’t since I’ve been here, have you?”

He looked at her, surprise etched on his face while he considered the truth to her words. “I believe you are correct.

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