Page 58 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

“To find the treasure,” he said at last. And then released her.

Disappointment flooded her when he didn’t kiss her. He made a motion for her to come closer. She held up her boots and he suppressed a laugh. He gave her a nod as if to say hurry.

She balanced on her good ankle and pulled the boot onto her other one. Then she wobbled when she tried to balance on the other foot. Pain lanced through her sore ankle, objecting to the movement. He was there in an instant, though, making sure she didn’t tumble to the ground. He placed his body behind hers, giving her something to lean against.

Her heart did that silly little tumble again as she glanced up at him, giving him a weak smile. Did he know what he was doing to her? Likely not.

Leveraging her weight against him, she managed to pull on the second boot. Then he turned to her, placing his hands on her waist. He paused, their eyes meeting again making her heart thud. She was sure he could see the frantic beat of her pulse. One corner of his mouth lifted in a quirk of a grin.

“Happy birthday, princess,” he whispered.

He remembered. Something about that endeared him to her and she flushed hot.

“Thank you.”

Then he helped hoist her onto the horse. He settled into the saddle in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he gripped the reins and gave a low click of his tongue and then they were at a brisk trot. Heading away from the camp to seek the dragon’s treasure.

She glanced back one last time to see Jeffrey and Charles still fast asleep. Ahead, the sun peeked over the horizon and morning dawned.

“Do you really think there will be treasure?” she asked.

“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” he replied.

“It seems silly to think there is a cave with hidden treasure,” she added.

“I agree, it does. But shouldn’t we at least check?”

Despite her reservations, she smiled. “We should.”

But she knew, as he did, neither of them had a choice. They were both compelled to continue onward to the mysterious dragon’s cave.

“Won’t Jeffrey be angry when he wakes to find us gone?” she asked.

“He will, but he’ll get over it.”

“Will he come after us?” she asked.

He was silent a moment before he finally answered. “Yes, Jeffrey is an excellent tracker. He can track anything or anyone.”

“That’s how he was able to find you in the woods, then,” she said.

“It is.”

“So, it means we have to hurry to get to the dragon’s cave before he finds us.”

“Exactly.”

But she wondered. Was it because he didn’t want to share the treasure with him? Or was there some other reason? She, herself, had her own reasons. Despite the guilt running through her, she was still determined to take what she could from the treasure and make a new life somewhere else.

“How long will it take us to get there?” she asked.

“You ask a lot of questions.” There was a smile in his voice as he said it.

“I’m curious,” she said.

“We should be there this afternoon.”

This afternoon, as the day waned and sunset neared. The curse sprang to her mind. She only had a few more hours left to avoid roses and thorns. Hopefully she would make it without pricking her finger.

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