Page 33 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

She followed him, her heart pounding a wild beat as she thought of facing adventure with him. She hoped it was a grand one.

For a moment, Rowena thought the two were going to split in the town near Mystwood Forest. Relief spread through her like wildfire when she saw them continue to travel together.

Curses on those Myst Hall soldiers. They nearly ruined everything. She used a bit of her Fae magic to send them on a wild goose chase to keep them from finding the girl. She couldn’t have that. Not yet.

The girl’s birthday was in three days. By then, the two of them would be exactly where she wanted them. A broad smile crossed her face.

It was time for her to sift and greet them at last.

Chapter 14

Phillipcouldnotbelieveit. Here he was journeying with the woman he was supposed to marry. He was to meet Princess Rosamund upon his arrival. Yet, he had run away for the same reasons. He didn’t want his life controlled and planned for him by his parents or hers.

The fact she didn’t want to marry him either was almost humorous. And for a moment, he was offended until he cast it aside and thought about what she’d told him. How awful she didn’t know of their betrothal until a few days ago, for he knew when his parents left Haven Castle and when they arrived in Myst. He was supposed to be with them.

Perhaps they were not so unalike after all.

He almost wanted to laugh out loud at the coincidence that they felt the same way about each other. Was their meeting simply chance or something more? Kismet, perhaps?

He, of course, was aware of the betrothal from the time he was six years old. When he stood at the baby princess’s christening and watched the Fae royals from the Fae Courts arrive and bestow their gifts upon her.

As he and Rosamund rode on deeper into the forest, he searched his memories for those Fae gifts. What was the first one the strange and elegant queen bestowed upon her? Ah, yes. Beauty, charm, and grace.

He glanced at her. Beauty. She certainly had that with hair reminiscent of spun gold. Her eyes were big and bright and the darkest green he had ever seen. Like emeralds. She had grown from the squalling baby he recalled into a beautiful young woman.

Charm and grace? At the cabin, she had gone out of her way to see to his comfort. As far as grace, she walked in a way with her shoulders squared, her head held high, her back straight. If he was paying attention, he’d realize she was more than a mere peasant girl. Even now as she rode in the saddle, she held her head high and kept her back straight.

Phillip tried to recall the other gifts of the Fae, but could not. Except for one in particular. One from a dark faery who was inadvertently left off the guest list for the festivities. She exacted her wrath on the baby girl.

The words leapt to his mind.

Before the sun sets on her eighteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on the thorn of a rose and die.

It was only due to the remaining Fae queen who had not yet presented her gift to the princess that she was able to change it from a death curse to a sleeping curse.

He looked her way once more, eyeing her as he remembered the horror that had rippled through the assembly. How her mother, Queen Eleanor, had wept with despair when she thought her daughter would die. How her father, King Stephan, ordered the removal of all roses from the castle grounds immediately.

She said the wedding—their wedding—was planned a few days after her birthday. Hereighteenthbirthday. Judging by the fact she was still awake meant she had not yet pricked her finger on a thorn. Which also meant her birthday hadn’t come to pass. Did she know she was cursed to fall into a forever slumber?

If she didn’t know about their betrothal, it seemed reasonable to him she wouldn’t know about the curse.

Rosamund must have sensed him looking at her for she turned her head and met his gaze. A hint of a smile played at the corners of her mouth.

“You’re staring,” she said.

He turned away. “Apologies. It’s just that I was wondering if I should address you as your highness now.”

“No,” she snapped. “You will address me as Rosamund. The princess disappeared the moment I fled the castle.”

Surprise flickered through him at her statement. She was determined, it seemed, to cast aside the princess and become someone else. Was the thought of marrying him so terrible?

They rode on in silence into the forest. He tried to coax more information out of her.

“You mentioned your birthday,” he said. “Is it soon?”

Her eyes remained forward, pinned on the trees ahead. She stiffened. “Soon enough.” She paused for a long moment, then said in a low voice, “My birthday doesn’t matter.”

Oh, but it did. If only she knew how much it mattered. Now that he knew her true identity, vigilance was his constant companion. He’d make sure she wouldn’t prick her finger on any thorns and fall into a deep sleep.

---