The Hundred Year Curse Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  About Nikki Hunter

  About A.K. Koonce

  The Hundred Year Curse

  The Hundred Year Curse

  Nikki Hunter

  A.K. Koonce

  The Hundred Year Curse

  Copyright 2017 A.K. Koonce & Nikki Hunter

  All Rights Reserved

  First Kindle Edition: 2017

  Cover design by Take Cover Designs

  Editing by Proofreading by the Page

  The content of this book is protected under Federal Copyright Laws. Any unauthorized use of this material is prohibited. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales are entirely coincidental.

  To my cousin, Alexis, who was the only person appropriate to dedicate such an inappropriate book to.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One – A Simple Curse

  Chapter Two – Lost Puppies

  Chapter Three – The Library

  Chapter Four – King Ryken

  Chapter Five – A Princess and Her Guards

  Chapter Six – A Rose by Any Other Name

  Chapter Seven – A Mermaid

  Chapter Eight — The Rightful Heir

  Chapter Nine – An Innocent Woman

  Chapter Ten – Betrothed

  Chapter Eleven – A Bad Idea

  Chapter Twelve – An Apology

  Chapter Thirteen – Threesome

  Chapter Fourteen – Another Curse

  Chapter Fifteen – Strength and Beauty

  Chapter Sixteen – A Mistake

  Chapter Seventeen – Happily Ever After

  About Nikki Hunter

  About A.K. Koonce

  Chapter One

  A Simple Curse

  Cohen

  I thought we’d have more time. It’s funny how a century passes and somehow you feel it isn’t long enough. The gleam in the sea witch’s black eyes should be warning enough of what the future might hold for us.

  The three sons must redeem the curse. My father was once the King of Aveil. I was a prince. My brothers, the heirs to a lifetime of nobility.

  A simple curse took that all away.

  A curse I don’t understand, but I’m being forced to reverse.

  The three sons must redeem the curse. Or live another hundred years as mermen.

  ***

  The witch’s magic is more painful than I ever expected. I was ready to face a changed world that had evolved without me in it. I was ready to track down the new heir to the throne of Aveil to reverse the curse. I wasn’t ready for the crippling pain of having my gills ripped from my ribs. I wasn’t ready for the sound my bones would make as they tore apart to make legs.

  “Shit, she could have made them a bit stronger.” Cormac whines as he stumbles. He kicks up white sand as he flails to the ground. “Mine are broke. She gave me broken ones.”

  A heavy exhale releases from my lips as I press my fingers to my temple, trying to ignore my youngest brother. Trying to ignore this ache in my muscles, as if I’ve brawled with a hundred men and lost. The air is dry here. A taste similar to fish eggs clings to the breeze.

  “Did you ever think that you might have just forgotten how to use them, Cormac?” My spine stiffens as I stand from the clear sea. Cold water drips down my torso. My knees burn in protest from the strength I’m using to simply stand for the first time in a hundred years.

  A feeling of nostalgia seems to surround me as I glance at my feet. Today, more than ever, I’m thankful for my toes. Curling them into the grains of sand under me, I marvel and let a small smile grace my lips.

  With a bit more patience than Cormac and quite honestly more intelligence, Cason braces himself as he carefully stands from the crashing waves, his feet sinking into the sand. I nod at him. At least one of them is getting the hang of it.

  Cormac rolls his clear blue eyes, the color of sea glass. The same as our mothers.

  I smirk at his annoyance until our attention is drawn by the soft footfalls of another and all three of us are staring at her.

  Layers of mossy green silk caress the sand, an out of place, smooth texture that shouldn’t exist here at the shore. A tight bodice hugs her slender frame, accentuating her lean curves. Long hair the color of nightfall tumbles down her back in waves. Full lips have my tongue begging to taste her. My mouth runs dry just looking at her.

  Princess Wren is the reason we’re here. The witch told us she’d be the one to break the curse.

  She didn’t tell us how fucking beautiful she’d be.

  Chapter Two

  Lost Puppies

  Wren

  The heat rushes to my cheeks as my gaze lingers on their bodies for longer than necessary.

  Hard lines divide their muscles, carved into their lean frames.

  I’ve never seen a man naked before. I certainly didn’t think they’d be so… perfect. A little bit… confusing. A little bit… alluring.

  The man lying on the ground gapes at me, his beautiful sky blue eyes trace along my lips. The larger man behind him, with the enormous… everything catches my eyes, so I quickly shift my gaze up to the hesitant smile that’s tilting his lips in a lazy but excited way. His long dark hair is pulled back, the sea breeze whipping at it aggressively.

  Today is definitely turning out to be a peculiar day. For once, sneaking out of the castle brought something interesting into my life.

  The final man surprises me most. With a few slow steps, he’s before me and he sinks into the sand, his body brushing down my new silk gown as he kneels before me.

  “Princess Wren,” he whispers in a gravelly tone that seems to tingle through my veins. He takes up my hand, making it look ever so slight in his much larger grasp. Soft, full lips press against my knuckles as he holds my gaze, a look of stars in his amber eyes.

  My guards storm the coast. I hear them before I see them, their armor clattering through the air, a war cry all on its own. None of us move as they continue to near. My eyes sweep over the mysterious men before me once more. By now, I’m sure my face is pure crimson but I still can’t pull away.

  “Stand back, heathens,” a guard says as he pulls his sword on the man that lies at my feet. A stillness continues to sit upon us. These guards, the bothersome intermission to the scene I’m just getting into.

  My lips part as I hold the strangers gaze, my skin still tingling where his lips kissed my hand. Something blazes through me, something curious and dangerous, so unlike my normal obedience.

  His long lashes brush across his cheeks, fluttering along his bronze skin. Finally, he tears his gaze away from me. His attention falls to the glittering blade at his neck, a look of careless defiance in his dark eyes.

  “They’re fine.” My words come out slow and unsure, even as the man still holds my hand warmly in his. “Take them inside. Get them clothed and fed.” I finally pull my hand away from his, sand clinging to my gown as I sweep past
the guards.

  “Princess, I don’t think that’s a good—”

  “And don’t tell daddy.”

  ***

  “You just stumbled upon three gorgeous naked men on the beach?” Hazel stomps her heel into the tile, an angry clicking sound accompanying the jerking movement. “You get all the luck, it isn’t fair!” Her perfect red lips pout a little as she pulls the heavy curtain back and peeks at the men once more. The blonde ringlets surrounding her face bounce at each dramatic move she makes.

  The guards brought them to my father at once, of course. The strangers told my father they have no recollection of where they’re from. They’re brothers. That much is easy to see. Can they be trusted? Something in my gut says yes.

  “Something about them is intriguing, isn't it?” I tell my cousin absently as my gaze locks with the one who has messy dark hair. His teeth are a brilliant white, making him even more attractive as he smiles, a small dimple kissing his left cheek. A smile threatens to overwhelm my features as I finger a strand of my hair.

  “Yes, intriguing. It couldn’t be that their bodies are like walking sex toys.”

  “Hazel!” I whisper in a scolding voice that sounds dangerously like my mother’s. My attention scuttles nervously across the room again. My face flames red as I jerk the curtain until it’s almost closed, securing our hiding spot from my parents as we listen to their conversation.

  “You poor boys.” My mother’s warm voice drips like honey through the room; a voice she never reserves for me. Towels are tied around their waists, attempting to cover up their nakedness. “You must be terrified. Rondal, they will be our guests,” she tells my father. Lines of silver stream through her black hair but it doesn’t tarnish her beauty.

  Perhaps my mother is also smitten by their good looks. I'm sure she’s taking pity on the broader, more muscled brother who’s very much my mother's taste. The thought turns sour in my mouth as the words tumble inside my head.

  The heavy silence in the castle tells me my father disagrees. As he typically does.

  “Do you have any skills?” he asks them.

  Seconds pass without response and I’m suddenly aware of how hard my heart’s pounding. Why am I so worried about them? They’re not lost puppies. They’re grown adult men.

  “I can wield a sword, your highness.”

  Of course they can. Their bodies are practically forged from hard iron and raw power.

  “Our daughter, Wrenley, will be the next Queen of Aveil. She could use better guards. Our current men seem to think it’s acceptable that she walks the beach alone. That’s not safe. She must be kept safe.”

  His tone grows more severe with each passing word, putting me more and more on edge. The towering walls of the castle begin to press in on me and I pull in a small and insignificant breath.

  Dropping my hands to my side, my fingernails dig into my palms while my arms tense. Hazel’s delicate hand slips over mine and she squeezes, her warm reassurance soaking into me, loosening my grip.

  “Do well over the next few weeks and perhaps you’ll find a home here. Do poorly and you will find yourselves naked on the streets. Again.”

  My father’s sharp words are spoken with intimidation, but it doesn’t stop the silent cheers Hazel and I are doing as we squeal without sound. A soundless celebration held in hiding.

  Chapter Three

  The Library

  Cohen

  The past one hundred years have flown by, but weirdly enough, mere hours away from the princess seem to just crawl. Her image is burned into my mind.

  I didn’t expect her to take us in so quickly. She was kind but commanding all at once.

  She is a princess, I suppose.

  As she had asked, we've been clothed, fed, and escorted to our own chambers. Our rooms are nothing like the grand rooms we had kept before, one I'm sure the princess herself is sleeping in now.

  I hear nothing from my brothers as they separate to their rooms, and hopefully, that means they’re getting the sleep they need. My hand lingers along my ribs where they still ache from the magic. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up from my small cot, huff a breath to blow out the humble candle lighting my bedchamber and cross the narrow space to the old oak door.

  What exactly would it take to break this curse? I’m going to find out.

  Entering the hall the cold air hits me, a bitter lashing worse than that of the cool current of the ocean. Each breath lifts into a fog before my eyes as they adjust to the darkness. I listen as I pass my brother's doors hearing nothing, but … oh yes, there it is; Cason's heavy snores.

  A quiet chuckle breaks from my lips. Three things that I could always be sure of with Cason: you'd hear his laugh before you saw him, he could lift more than you'd ever think possible, and the guy could fall asleep fast and hard, almost anywhere you sent him.

  Hopefully, my memory will serve me right and I can make it to the library. Not necessarily the first place I should be to try to break the curse, but definitely one I'll enjoy seeing after all these years under water. I haven’t forgotten the feeling of an old book in my hands. How the weight of the book suggests you hold the world.

  Each step, I listen for the night guards but hear a whole lot of nothing; silence blankets the empty halls. Only a few more turns and I'll be standing before the world’s largest room of knowledge.

  As I ease around my last corner, I find myself toe to toe with… “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I whisper. Familiar hands push my chest forcing me to take a step back.

  “Shit, Cohen. You almost scared me.” Cormac's eyes dance as his playful smile helps dissolve some of my anger. Some.

  “Cormac, what do you think you are doing?”

  “I believe I could ask you the same thing.” He crosses his arms over his lean chest.

  I could slug him right in the cheek and knock that smirk right off his face. Reaching, I grab the back of his neck, not caring how hard I’m squeezing as I push him behind me. “Get back to your room. Now,” I growl.

  Mockingly, Cormac raises his hands in surrender and turns, jogging off towards our rooms. Where I better find him when I return. What was he doing out here? No doubt, looking for nearest maiden he could find himself rolling around with. The first day back on land and my thoughts go to books, his thoughts go right to his dick.

  If I had to bet on one thing messing this up for us, it’d be Cormac.

  Continuing on, light shines from the doors I'm certain would be the library. Could someone else be up at this time reading? Shifting my weight from foot to foot, an uncomfortable uncertainty falls over me. Will we lose it all if I'm caught?

  With a heavy sigh, I decide it might be best to head back to my chamber, as well.

  A loud bang stops me, each muscle tenses and my eyes roam over the door. The noise, it came from the library. Inching towards the door, I press my ear to the smooth surface.

  The voices are muffled, but filled with anger.

  “I don't care what the fuck you have to do. I don't care what excuse you have to make. You watch them. I don't want them here. I don't want them near her.”

  “Yes. Yes, Lord Turningten.”

  Them? What the Hell? Who the fuck?

  ***

  An eagerness keeps me from sleeping much at all. The feeling of excitement, of something new, mixing with the joy of getting to see Princess Wren today. It’s all much different than the feelings I’ve had the past hundred years. The constant day in and day out of my father’s obsession with the sea witch’s promises for us to break the curse. It’s freeing to be here.

  Slipping into my new guard uniform, I’m finding the boots to be very worn with someone else’s instep already shaped inside. I’m trying to not think too hard about the conversation I overheard on my late night adventure.

  My door swings open, the hinges quietly hissing against the weight of the wood. Cason stands shirtless in the hall behind a much amused Cormac.

  Squinting at the scene before me, my eyeb
rows join together. I begin to question what the hell they’re doing, only to be cut off by Cormac.

  “Cohen, oh man, you should have seen it!” He laughs and confidently walks into my room sitting down on my bed and slaps my shoulder on his way by. It’s like he lives here. It’s like no time at all has passed for him. “Cason put his shirt on... Well, attempted to put his shirt on.” Cormac brings his hand up and starts wiping tears away as he laughs.

  Cormac usually only laughs like this at his own jokes. It must have been good.

  My gaze slowly falls on Cason and his bare chest. He shrugs, cracking a small smile, which allows me to laugh.

  “Been awhile since you had to wear a shirt?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I guess you can say that. Hopefully, they have something in my size or all the maidens will swoon before my form.” Cason grins, flexing his arms in show. I roll my eyes despite the smirk that’s touching my lips.

  I wave my hands in front of me, ushering my brothers toward the door. “Please try to focus on the task we have been given.”

  “Sneaking into as many skirts as possible?” Cormac asks.

  My face falls blank as I stare at him from beneath my brows. You have got to be kidding me.

  “Cormac.”

  “I know, I know, the curse. Blah, Blah, Blah.” He rolls his blue eyes and steps towards the door.

  I sigh but continue behind them, speaking to their backs as they turn to walk away. “I’ll just be happy to get some breakfast.”

  “I’ll be happy to get a new shirt,” Cason answers.

  Cormac saunters forward speaking over his shoulder, “Hey, I’m just happy to have a dick again.”

  This is who my father is trusting his life with? Jesus, we’re in over our heads.

  Chapter Four

  King Ryken

  Wren

  The one with the darkest eyes stands outside my bedroom door this morning. Broad shoulders hold him in a tense posture, he turns to me as I close the door behind me. His eyes search me over for a lingering second, skimming down my flowing gray gown. The staff has never looked at me, never made eye contact with me and for an instant, I feel something I’m not used to feeling: awkward.