Page 56 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

“Does he now?”

“He said I was touched by Fae magic.”

When they came to a halt, he turned to her. “You were. But you sound as though you don’t believe me.”

She glanced away, her gaze on something in the distance. “I don’t know if I do. My parents certainly never told me that story.”

“Your parents also never told you that you were betrothed,” he pointed out.

Nodding, she said, “That’s true.”

She released his arm and turned her face into the gentle wind. Her scent wafted to him. For the first time, he noticed she smelled faintly of roses and lilacs. Her nickname, Rose, seemed to fit her so well. The wind lifted wisps of hair from her neck and the side of her face. Her braid had nearly come undone from the troll attack, leaving tendrils to drift around her head.

“When I was a little girl, my father had every rosebush in the kingdom removed and outlawed. I didn’t understand then why he did it, but I do now. He wanted to protect me.” Her gaze met his. “He wanted to keep me safe. Part of me wants to believe that the truth is because the faery cursed me. The other part of me wants to scoff at the very idea.”

He tipped his head to the side in question, his eyes searching hers. She had delicate features and the most amazing green eyes he had ever seen. Her full lips demanded he kiss her, but somehow, he managed to resist.

“Which part of you wants to believe?” he asked.

“That the curse is real.”

He had no words for that, so he merely nodded. He watched her intently as she pondered his words. She chewed on a corner of her lip.

“I don’t believe you’d lie to me,” she added.

“I didn’t nor will I.”

Suddenly, she turned to face him and clutched his hand, gripping it in her ice cold one. “Then tell me true. Do you wish to marry me? Do you wish for our kingdoms to be united? Because my father believes there is a threat from Faery to the east, that they will invade.”

Phillip was momentarily taken aback by that and he floundered for an answer. His mouth had gone dry as he thought about a future with her. As he looked at her, he tried to decide if there was hope in her eyes that they would marry or if it was dread.

“For the last few years, my father groomed me to become a ruler because someday I would inherit his title. I sat in many council meetings and listened to them discuss this threat from Faery. My father, like I, do not believe there is a threat. They have no interest in our kingdom.”

“Then why did my father invite them to the christening?” she demanded.

“I do not know. Only that King Stephan’s desire was to unite Myst and Woodhaven and that my father agreed to it with a marriage bond,” he said. “It is the way of such things.”

She released his hand. Again, she turned from him and peered out into the distance, her expression pensive. She chewed on her lower lip.

“I cannot help but think that something is pushing us together.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I mean despite every thought I have that what I’m doing is wrong, that it’s hurting my kingdom and my family…I cannot seem to quell the desire to find this dragon and its treasure.”

A prickling sensation went through him and his stomach lurched. He dropped his voice. “I have felt the same.”

When she looked at him, he saw the fear and worry in her eyes. “You have?”

“Though I know we should return to Myst Hall, I also know I cannot ignore the need to find this treasure. To hunt this dragon. And that I must not let you out of my sight.” He reached for her hand, clutched it in his. Her fingers were still cold. “The troll attack should not have happened.”

“What do you mean?” She tilted her head to one side, pursing her lips.

He tugged her closer, glancing around the tiny camp. Jeffrey was still busy with the horses. Charles was resting against the fallen tree with his eyes closed. Still, he dropped his voice so only she heard.

“Trolls do not frequent these woods,” he added.

“Then someone sent the troll to attack us,” she said.

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