I was tempted to hang onto Serge as we moved towards the house, but it would be a dead giveaway and I wanted my father to hear my words before he figured it out himself and freaked out.

I went up the stairs and Serge followed me. Our ordering displeased the curse and sent shivers over my skin, but I kept climbing.

Moramay opened the door before we had a chance to knock. She smiled widely.

It was strange to be home. I had avoided coming here since I had been cursed. My first sight of the kitchen looked exactly the same as I remembered, but at the same time somehow foreign.

It was unnerving, as if the curse's terrorizing fury against my plans was not enough.

"Elise, Serge, we didn't know you were coming," she said. There was not a trace of suspicion in her voice.

I forced a smile and hoped it did not look as fake as it felt. "Is dad home?" I asked.

"Yeah, he's actually taking the day off. Right now he's watching hockey. Sean's off running rounds, though."

I was glad. I remembered how Sean had sat idly by while my father threatened Serge's life at that disastrous supper. He would be no help, so it would be better to deal with him separately.

"That's okay. I actually need to talk to you and dad," I said. If we were truly allies against the barbaric wolf men, then I wanted her to be there. I hoped my fairy step mother would be able to keep my father at least a bit calm.

That hope might be a tad unrealistic. My father was going to lose his mind and his temper and anything else he could possibly lose.

I really did not want to do this, but it would be so much worse if he found out some other way. I swallowed.

Her slightly furrowed brows were the only sign that she thought there was anything odd about my request. She smiled as we took off our shoes and she preceded us into the living room.

"Shut that off," she told my father cheerily as she entered. "I told you Elise was here."

My father was sitting in his favourite recliner with a bowl of peanuts and a beer on the side table next to him. He smiled at me as he tapped buttons on the remote and the television shut off.

"Sorry we're interrupting the game," I said. That seemed a poor way to begin.

"Not to worry, it's recorded and I threatened to banish anyone who told me the score," he said amiably.

I smiled. At least he seemed in a good mood. I took a deep breath before I completely destroyed it.

"So, um, you know how I got that idea on how I might be able to remove the c-curse?"

"Yes," he agreed, but his pleasure at my visit diminished. "What are you thinking?"

"Well, I've um, decided to go for it. I think it will work and I don't want to wait."

"Go for it?" he asked flatly. Any trace of his smile vanished. His reaction was not going to better than I had imagined. He got out of his chair, his afternoon relaxation forgotten.

I struggled to find words and I glanced at Serge helplessly.

Serge had been quietly standing next to me while I had my say, but he spoke now that I needed him to. "Nicholas, I proposed to your daughter and she accepted."

The house was so silent that I could have gone deaf and I would never have known. My father said nothing. Moramay's eyes were wide and gaping. Apparently neither of them had seen it coming at all.

I felt around with my hand and grabbed Serge's. "Dad, I accepted because I want this."

My words seemed to break the spell on my father. "You want this? How do you know what you want? How do you know that he isn't making you want this?" he asked, his voice very near a growl.

I inhaled sharply. "You don't know what it's like, Dad. It makes me feel things that aren't my own, but I can sort it out now, and it doesn't tell me what to think."

"Of course I don't know, Elise. We have no experience with the curse because I never cursed anyone. Your grandfather never cursed anyone. The previous leader before him never cursed anyone," my father ground out. His temper was very near the surface again.

He shifted his gaze to Serge. "Have you no shame?"

"Apparently not," Serge agreed flatly.

Their words were like lead in my stomach. This was going terribly.

"Dad, he's not doing anything wrong!" It was like he could not even hear me.

Moramay stepped in between the two angry werewolves, and gave my father a sharp look. Then she turned her gaze to me. "Elise, this is not going anywhere. I'm going to take Serge outside to chat. You talk to your father while I do that, okay?"

I nodded gratefully. Serge's hand pulled away from my own as Moramay led him from the room.

All I could do was make my way over to the couch on shaky legs. My father sat next to me. His anger disappeared, only to be replaced with a more distressing worry. "What are you thinking, Elise? You don't have to do this."

I swallowed. "Dad, when I was first c-cursed, I had thought I would never be free again."

"You will be, Elise," he promised. "But—"

"Dad, there are still no guarantees. This might work, but even if this doesn't, I need to find a way to live."

My father exhaled. "Elise, he's not your only option."

"I know, but I've made my decision."

"I believe Matthias is in love with you," he told me.

My guilt reared up past my fear and attacked me again. "I know, dad. I know. He told me."

"And still you choose Serge?" He sounded like he could not believe my words.

I nodded. "It was a hard choice, but I think h-he's my best shot.

"Why?"

"There's something about h-him, dad."

He frowned. "He's taking advantage of his position."

"He's really not, but I know how it looks. H-he's been trying to convince me not to choose him, if anything. But, I need your support on this."

"You want me to support this?" His forehead furrowed like he never would.

"Yes, of course. But I'm doing this even if no one stands with me. Whether you like it or not, S-Serge and I are in this together."

"Elise," he said, his voice entreating.

I narrowed my eyes. "And it's not the c-curse making me say this. It doesn't want this at all. If you don't believe me I can get him to order me to tell you the truth." I frowned and continued before he could interject. "And in case you're curious, I can count the orders h-he's given me on my thumbs. One, to find out why I had collapsed and two, to see if he could order it away. Which he could not."

"After what he did to you—"

"He would change it if he could and if I've forgiven him, then the rest of you can, too."

My father smiled at me and put his arm around me and pulled me closer affectionately. "Elise, if Serge had inadvertently cursed me, I would probably forgive him, too. But he cursed my child so it's a lot harder than you make it sound."

I frowned, but I still let the warmth of my father's arm help calm the ever present ice.

"But if you're mind is set, there's nothing I can do but stand by you. You're my little girl, but you're also an adult."

I smiled. "Thanks, dad."

"Well, I can't really say you're welcome, honestly," he said. "If I thought it would help I'd beat him to within an inch of his life."

I paused, "You know, if I did not think I could be happy with h-him whatever happens, I would not try this."

"Well, that's something," said my father begrudgingly.

"I know this might not work and if that is the case, I can still cope."

My father sighed. "This is not how I wanted to give you away, sweetie."

I nodded. "Me neither. I wish Mom were still here," I admitted. I regretted my words when I saw my dad's expression. He loved Moramay, but at the same time he still missed my mother. Maybe he knew a thing or two about loving two different women.

"I know, Elise, I know."

* * * * * * * * *

I sat like that with my dad for long minutes. At least he was willing not to fight me on the matter, and at least he understood assaulting Serge would not get him anywhere. I trusted that, as long as his temper held.

"I'm going out to talk to him," he announced.

I grabbed onto his arm as tight as possible. "No," I said.

He frowned. "Is the curse making you protect him?" he asked suspiciously.

I considered. "It's both me and the c-curse right now. You've accomplished the impossible. I'm getting along with it."

My father gave me a half smile. "I promise I won't lose my temper, Elise."

I considered whether I believed him or not. My father had a policy of not lying to me, although he sometimes sugar coated the truth a bit. I narrowed my eyes. "If you break it..." I let my words trail off menacingly.

We both knew it was an empty threat.

I forced my cold hands to unclench. My muscles seemed reluctant to listen to my commands but I forced them to all the same.

"I'll be back," he promised.

I did not like it, but I would trust him to be civil, or at least nonviolent. I curled up in the corner of the couch as he left.

I told myself that Serge could take care of himself.

The curse ran through my blood for letting this happen, when his wellbeing should be my highest priority.

But this had to happen.

The door opened and I was disappointed to see Moramay come into the room. "You left th-them out there alone?" I asked.

She smiled. "Sorry, but it will be fine," she said.

"Uh huh." That seemed likely.

"They're just going to talk," she assured me. "Your father has excellent control of himself, you've known him longer than I have."

"Yeah, but this is extreme."

"True, but you calmed him down. That's why I took Serge away. Don't get me wrong, your father is probably going to still be furious with Serge on his deathbed, but he'll be reasonable. He doesn't want to lose you."

Moramay had a point.

"I'm not doubting you, Elise, but you're sure you want to do this?"

I nodded. "As much as I can be. We never really know, but..."

I did not think my father would want to hear it, but I believed Moramay would keep this in confidence. "I wish I had met him before all this happened."

"Don't we all?" she agreed.