Page 62 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

They exchanged a glance, each knowing what the other was thinking. It was as though the torch was conjured for them. Whoever was pushing them into the cave was listening. He stared at the unlit wick.

“Now, if only we had a way to light it.” As he said it, he gave her a pointed look of anticipation, as though waiting for his wish to be granted. His voice echoed through the cavern.

Seconds later, the torch sprang to life, emitting a yellow-orange glow all around them. Again, their eyes met. He lifted one brow in a silent question. Her nerves were on high alert.

“Magic?” she whispered.

“Most definitely,” he replied.

Still clutching her hand, he held the torch aloft and led them deeper into the cave. The light flickered off the stone walls. The only sound was that of their footfalls. Rosamund held her breath the farther they went, unable to see much in the murky gloom beyond the light of the torch.

The cave abruptly ended. They came to a halt, facing a wall with no other junctures to lead them anywhere. It was a dead end.

“This can’t be all.” Her words were laced with frustration. “This cave is not big enough for a dragon. Maybe this is the wrong place.”

“This cave is the one marked on the map,” he said.

Disappointment flooded her as she peered at the wall in dismay. How could they have been led here only to find nothing? Her hopes of gathering enough treasure to start a new life were completely shattered.

She pushed past him and stood before the wall, looking for any imperceptible crack that would lead them to a secret door or chamber or something. She ran her hands over the roughened stone, pushing here and there.

“What are you doing?” he asked, genuinely perplexed.

“I refuse to believe we were led to a dead end with nothing,” she said, and gave the wall a great shove. Nothing happened. “I’m looking for a secret chamber. A lever or something that will open when I push on it and lead us to the treasure. There has to be something—”

“Rose.” He said her name softly.

She turned to him to see the disappointment in his eyes and she knew what she was trying to do was folly.

“It’s no use,” he said.

“But…”

She huffed out a breath and glared at the dead end, willing there to be something more. Something shiny caught her eye near his boot. She reached down to pick it up and realized it was one gold coin. She placed it in her palm and held it out to show him.

“A gold coin,” he said, sounding defeated. He took it and held it up, letting the torchlight flicker over the shiny surface. “I suppose that’s all that’s left then.”

She stared at it, her eyes dry and hot with the threat of tears. She swallowed hard to keep her emotions in check. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

He held it out to her. “You take it.”

“Why?”

“You’re the one who found it.”

Rosamund took it back from him, her thumb swiping over the smooth surface. She was silly to think she would be able to start over as someone else. Her life was mapped out for her, after all. They would return home. She and Phillip would marry. And that would be the end of her adventures.

Closing the coin in her fist, she looked up at him through her lashes. Would it be so terrible to marry him? He was handsome, after all. He was kind to her even when he didn’t know she was a princess and then when he did. Even so, she had to question if it was the magic at work or if that was his true disposition.

“What is it?” he asked, tipping his head to the side.

Realizing she stared, she tore her gaze away and turned back the way they came. Ahead, there was nothing but darkness and shadows.

“I suppose now we should return to Myst Hall.”

There was a long moment of silence, as though he, too, contemplated the same thing. He reached for her free hand, taking it in his once more.

“It would be my honor to escort you home, princess.”

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