Cursed Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lilah

Noah and I are on another date in the Charming Kingdom. Well, if hanging out in his room counts as a date.

   This is my first time seeing his room, it's painted a forest green and his bed has matching green sheets. The color makes it feel cozy and I like it compared to the sad beige room Archie has.

   "So tell me something you've never told anyone before," Noah says to me and holds my hand while we're sitting on his bed.

   "Well, I think Archie deserved to be a beast. He's an asshole," I say.

   I don't have many secrets to share, so I just tell him my true feelings about his brother.

   Noah laughs at me. "Come on Lilah, we all thought he deserved it. He is an asshole. You were too busy falling for him to notice."

   I laugh. He's not wrong at all. I fell in love with a monster before the monster physically looked like one.

   "Well if you wanna know a real secret, I'm mad at you for not talking to me sooner. You literally made me think you were another one of Archie's dumb brothers! I didn't even know you until the carriage ride to Oz. If you would've talked to me, then maybe we could have already been married or something!" I say.

   "Woah, Lilah, you thought I was just another one of Archie's brothers? That hurts," he says as he pretends to stab himself and falls over.

   "Noah! You didn't even talk to me!" I argue back.

   "Well, you're kinda intimidating," he says and laughs.

   "What? I am not!" I shout playfully.

   It's like this for hours, playful jokes and sharing memories of each other when we were strangers. I love the way I can just be myself around him, with Archie, it was another story.

   "So I have a secret," he says and looks right at me.

   I stare into his peaceful baby-blue eyes.

   "Tell me!" I say and jab him playfully.

   "I've never been kissed before," he says.

   I didn't think that he had, I mean, he is super shy and quiet. Noah's the opposite of Milo and Archie the two asshole princes, and I obviously love that about him.

   "Well, you want to know what it feels like?" I ask him.

   We haven't kissed yet and I've been wanting him to make the first move, but I guess I just did.

   He pulls me close and places a quick little peck of a kiss on my lips. He pulls away fast while I'm still leaning in.

   Yikes.

   He really has never kissed a girl before.

   "Was it bad?" he asks, looking extremely embarrassed.

   "No!" I lie. "Here, let me show you how to make it better."

   I lean into him and place his lips on mine. I brush my tongue around his lips and slowly slide it into his mouth. I place my hands on his face, hopefully trying to get him to feel something. I slowly put them in his hair and start working my way around.

   "Woah, okay," Noah says as he's pulling back.

   All I do is smile at him. I can get through awkward first kisses with him as long as I get to have him forever.

   A sudden knock on the door shocks us.

   "Dinner is ready!" a maid says. Noah and I get up from the bed and he holds my hand.

   The dinner table is full, as expected since the Charmings have five children. I look around and don't see my ex-fiance. As far as I know, he's still a beast and doesn't want to be seen until he figures out how to fall in love and break his curse.

   I bet he'll be a beast forever.

   Two people I don't know are sitting at the table and I assume they're a couple. The girl is super pretty with her shoulder-length dark hair and olive skin. The boy looks super familiar, I just can't put my finger on where I know him from.

   "Everyone, this is my stepsister Tessa and her boyfriend Freddie," Queen Ella says to all of us.

   I'm shocked that the queen would invite her stepsister, from what she's told me, they treated her like shit growing up.

   "We were just in the kingdom and thought we'd stop by the castle," Tessa says. "Nice to meet you all!"

   "These are my children, Asher, Noah, Oliver, and Amelia," Queen Ella says and points to her kids. "Archie isn't here right now but I'm sure you guys will meet him next time."

   Yeah right.

   Archie will probably rot in his bedroom forever.

   "Oh, and this is Princess Lilah of the Beauty Kingdom, Noah's girlfriend!" the queen adds.

   Noah and I share a look. We haven't officially labeled anything but I'm not mad at the title his mom has given me.

   Freddie recognizes us instantly. "You two were in Oz for your curses! My good buddy Teddie is having a baby with the queen of East Oz, Aurora!"

   "Yep, we were," is all Noah can get out.

   The day in Oz was a little interesting so we both try to forget it.

   That was the day that Archie became a beast, the day Noah decided to risk everything and be cursed to sleep with me for one hundred years, and the day I found out my brother knocked up Wonderland's princess. It was an odd day, to say the least.

   The group continues to talk about the kingdoms and their travels, and Ella explains to us why the couple is really here. Ella has two stepsisters: Tessa and Colette. Her stepmother, Nancy, just passed away and Colette went on a killing spree after the loss of her mother and was sentenced to life in the Pied Piper Prison. Tessa was here to say her goodbyes.

   What has the Fairy Tale World turned into?

   Sage just went to prison, now Queen Ella's stepsister. If more murders start happening, I'll wake up to hell in one hundred years.

   "So Lilah, are you friends with Brielle? My other buddy Eddie is head over heels in love with that princess," Freddie laughs.

   Friends would be an interesting term to describe whatever relationship she and I have. We barely know each other but we've experienced so much trauma together.

   "Not really. We've only talked a few times but she's a good person. I'm sure she and Eddie will make a great couple!" I say.

   I mean what else am I supposed to say?

   I really don't know the girl and I don't even know who Eddie is.

   After dinner, I shower in Noah's bathroom and get ready for bed. Queen Ella is letting me spend the night and it's not unusual. I've spent so many nights here with Archie.

   But tonight, it feels different. I'm not feeling pressured to have sex with Noah, unlike how things were with his brother.

   I mean I do eventually want to have sex with Noah, but I want to take things slow. Tonight I just want to cuddle and be next to him if he wants me to.

   "Do you want me to sleep in a spare room?" I ask him.

   "No! Not unless you want to. I wouldn't mind falling asleep next to you. I mean we should practice for when the curse happens." he laughs.

   We get under the covers and I'm laying right next to him. His body is warm and I'm lying on his chest. He's playing with my hair and a small tingle fills my body.

   I could get used to this.