Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 1

with a deep blue blade. Cupping her hand in his, ignoring the way she shivered slightly, he slit the scar open anew. As the blood pooled in her palm, he slit his own left hand, riddled with more scars than he could count, and joined their bloody palms.
    He could feel the spell— the curse— placed on her, like swimming into a patch of freezing water in a warm current or into a dark cave only to find too late that someone within had rotted to pieces. Repressing a shudder so as not to alarm her, he began to chant a spell of exchange, still clutching the blue-bladed knife.
    When it was done, the curse struck him like a blow, leaving him momentarily breathless and weak. He released his knife, dropped to the sofa, and curled in on himself as the poisonous magic wove its way through him.
    "Are you okay?" Lana asked tearfully, petting him cautiously, fluttering about.
    "Fine," Seree said. "Just a little out of breath; I haven't taken a curse in a long time."
    She sniffled and hugged him, then picked up his knife with finger and thumb and handed it back. "I don't understand how you can use those awful things. The black one felt all… crawly, in my hands. Like it wanted to get away or something."
    "It's the Blade of Sacrifice," Seree said. "It wants life blood. You're lucky that it did not get the better of you and take what it wanted."
    "It— it can do that?" Lana paled.
    Seree nodded. "The Blades of Magic have a will of their own. They are not mere knives. Pay more attention to your lessons, Lana. You should have already known that."
    He expected her to make a face or roll her eyes, but she only nodded. "I'll listen. I'm rather tired of adventures right now."
    "Good," he said and stood up. "Let us get you back to the—" He broke off as the door opened and someone stepped inside.
    "Lana! They told me a stranger had come to see you, and I had to come at once to make certain…" He trailed off, eyes going wide when he saw Seree.
    Whoever he was, he was beautiful for a human. Small and finely built, skin the color of wet sand with a touch of sun-gold, dark gold hair, and eyes the blue of the deepest parts of the sea. He wore sand-colored breeches and a white linen shirt and nothing else. Seree found it hard to look away.
    "Highness," Lana said, slipping away from Seree to greet the young man. Highness. This was the prince? He was as incongruous as his palace. "I did not mean to disturb you, Highness. I am quite well. This is my eldest brother, Lord Seree Knarian. Seree, this is Prince Aimé LeVaughn."
    Seree bowed. "An honor to make your acquaintance, Highness."
    To his astonishment, Aimé flushed. "Uh— the honor is mine, my lord. Lady Lana always spoke well of you when she said very little at all about the rest of her family. I am glad you have come to see her." Sadness flickered across his face. "Oh, I suppose this means you are going home?"
    "I must, your Highness, I am sorry. Apparently my family is more distraught than I believed about my absence."
    Another sad look, tinged with wistfulness, flickered across Aimé's, face. "Then certainly you should go, Lana. One should always take hold of a chance to be with family." He kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly. "I am glad you washed up on my beach, Lana. You've been like a sister to me. If ever you can visit, please do. I hope you are happy, wherever you go, whatever you do."
    Lana's eyes misted with tears. "Thank you, Highness. I wish all the same to you. If ever I can visit, you will get a letter informing you of such immediately." She kissed his cheek, then slipped back to Seree.
    "Have you gathered your things, Lana?"
    "I will see to it," Seree interjected. "I am seeing my sister off, but I must linger a few days to attend some business matters for my father. I'll see any belongings of hers are packed and shipped off and that I reimburse whomever I need for her care."
    Aimé shook his head. "No reimbursement required, but I do insist you stay as my guest while you are here, my lord. I could do no less for such a dear friend as Lana."
    Seree nodded. He should have been pleased everything was proceeding so smoothly. And until the prince had walked into the room, he would have been. Annoyed with himself, Seree bowed to the prince and said, "You're too kind, Highness. I can only accept such a gracious offer, thank you."
    "It's my pleasure," Aimé said with a smile, cheeks flushing again before he looked away. "I will go and see that a room is readied and, um,