Page 68 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

Rosamund wasn’t sure if that was good news or not. If the dark faery thought she was dead, then perchance Rowena would leave her and her family alone for the rest of their days. But there was still the issue of her in a deep slumber.

She thought of her father, then. If he hadn’t invited the Fae royals to her christening, then she would never have been cursed. She huffed her displeasure.

“Why did my father invite the Fae royals anyway?”

“Because he fears us,” she said. “He fears we want to expand our borders. He fears we will invade and take away his land. That is why he betrothed you to the prince in the north.”

And Phillip’s father, King Reginald, agreed to the match. Rosamund understood, then. But why keep their betrothal a secret? That was something Queen Elara could not explain.

The queen reached for her again, taking her hands and holding them tight. “But there is nothing to fear. Please tell King Stephan that is not the case. Faery does not wish to conquer Stonebridge lands.”

“How can I tell him when I’m under a sleeping curse?”

“Dear child, the curse can be broken,” she said.

“How?” Rosamund asked.

“With true love’s kiss.” She squeezed her hands one last time before releasing them.

Immediately, Rosamund thought of Phillip. But did she love him? And did he love her in return? Certainly, she had felt something for him over the last few days as they traveled together. Was it something more than the spell they were under? Was it real? She wanted it to be real. Shelongedfor it to be real, for after traveling with Phillip and getting to know him, it was difficult to deny the affection she felt for him. Her heart thumped a wild beat thinking about it.

“But I…how do I…” She paced the small area of shadows.

“You must tell him,” she urged.

Rosamund spun to face her. “How can I tell him?”

A knowing smile crossed her face. “You are a resourceful girl. You’ll find a way.”

“But—”

“Farwell, princess.”

And then the queen was gone.

True to his word, Jeffrey returned with a cart in which to transport the princess. He arrived late into the night while Phillip was still awake keeping watch. Charles was fast asleep, curled in his bedroll near the fire.

Phillip used his own bedroll and hers to make sure she would be comfortable. Then he and Jeffrey lifted her into the cart. Phillip carefully tucked a blanket around her. When they were finished, he peered down at her still awash in his guilt.

“There was nothing you could have done,” Jeffrey said, his voice quiet.

“I know that. But perhaps I should have tried harder.”

“Tried harder to defeat the dark faery? You said yourself when she was in dragon form and she blew her breath at you, it paralyzed you,” Jeffrey reminded him. He placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle pat. “Do you know how to break the curse?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been trying to remember the exact words of the curse when the dark faery placed it on her. But that was a long time ago and I was a child.”

Frustration edged through him. He was trying to recall the words of the curse. All he remembered was that she would prick her finger and fall asleep. He recalled it was the second Fae queen who changed Rowena’s curse from death to slumber. But was there something more? Was there a way to break the curse?

“It’ll come to you.” Jeffrey sounded so sure of it he almost believed him. “We should get some sleep.”

“You go ahead. I’ll keep watch,” Phillip said.

His friend was about to object when he merely nodded and made his way toward the circle of firelight. He settled down in his bedroll next to his brother. Phillip couldn’t sleep anyway so he stayed awake to keep an eye on the princess.

Not that he thought the dark faery would return. The damage was already done. He told himself it was because it was the right thing to do. That it had nothing to do with his feelings for her. He refused to believe there was anything more than friendship between them.

Though the way she looked at him sometimes made him think otherwise. The way she allowed him to take her by the hand. She never pulled away.

---