Page 36 of The Mirror and the Curse

Kai’s eyes went wide. “Wait, maybe we should—”

But Eddi had already taken a tiny bite.

“Okaaay, never mind.” He watched her warily.

Eddi chewed for a moment while a marvelous sensation spread through her body and mind. Happiness. Not a sudden burst of joy like she’d felt when White shared his emotions with her, but a warmth that flowed gently through her spirit. “This is delicious,” she sighed. “I have never felt happier than I do at this moment. Being with you makes me happy.”

“You’re a crazy woman, but you seem to be all right,” he admitted gruffly.

“I’m fine. Go ahead and eat yours,” she ordered with a wave of one hand. “I don’t want to crunch all by myself. Oh, and I need to tell you something.” She frowned slightly. “I was afraid to tell you this before, but that’s silly. I have dwarf blood. Most people in Bilbao do, especially in the royal and noble lines. My mother was even shorter than I am.”

Kai’s face was very still for a moment, and she saw him swallow hard. “Interesting.”

“Maybe our mixed ancestry explains why you and I are about the same height,” Eddi observed, taking another bite of apple and feeling strangely content and grateful. Telling the truth was . . . liberating. She really should do it more often. “Do these apples make people tell the truth?”

He frowned. “They don’tmakeanyone do anything. I haven’t yet figured out how the magic works or what it does, but I do know it’s always beneficial.”

“Might it put thoughts or emotions into my head?”

“No,” Kai answered without hesitation. “Compulsion or deceit of any kind would be dark magic, and this magic is good. But it might bring thoughts and emotions into the light. I mean, bring them to your attention. What you do with them is your choice.”

Eddi nodded. “That sounds right. I suddenly knew I needed to tell you about my dwarf blood, so I did. And I also realized how happy I am.”

Other thoughts and emotions surging in her heart and mind were less clear. Rather, they were distinct yet confusing.

While Kai sat back and crunched his apple, gazing out at the view, she sneaked glances at his profile and physique. Despite his claim to fay blood, he wasn’t the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, and his people were dwarfs. As in, cave-dwellers. Miners. Short people.

He would laugh if he even guessed at her silly thoughts.

This afternoon she would walk with Fidelio, her sweet prince. He wasn’t as pretty as Kai, but he was a whole lot taller and easier to figure out. Perfectly suited to Eddi’s temperament and lifestyle in every respect, and the son of a powerful king. Best of all, her dad approved. And maybe, just maybe, Fidelio might ask her to the Summer Ball during their walk that afternoon.

Thursday afternoon passed, and Fidelio didn’t ask.

He didn’t ask on Friday either.

Smiles, laughter, friendship, but not even a hint of an invitation to the Summer Ball.

When Saturday evening finally rolled around, Eddi’s only consolation was that he hadn’t invited Raquel either.

Since Ianthe had a date to the ball this year, Eddi and Maria donned their masks and headed down to the ballroom together. “I plan to ditch this stupid mask after the first dance or two,” Maria confessed. “I can hardly see out of it.”

“Your mask is better than my bird beak,” Eddi remarked. “Not to mention the wings. I’ll be snagging other people’s clothes with this rig.”

“You look adorable.”

Did she imagine it, or did Maria sound ready to burst out laughing?

Two years ago, the last time Eddi attended a Summer Ball, guests had worn everything from ball gowns to cocktail dresses to historical costumes. But according to Maria, last year’s ball had featured a variety of beasts and creatures in the mix. Under pressure, Eddi had agreed to add the beak and wings to her beautiful red-satin frock and call it a firebird.

“Why did I listen to you? My wings are shedding red feathers, and I can hardly breathe in this beak. Everyone will know who I am anyway; no one is as short as I am.”

“No one older than twelve,” Maria amended. “You look beautiful anyway.”

“Thanks.” Eddi didn’t believe it for a moment.

Her frock’s strapless bodice had stretchy drop sleeves, and the full skirt stopped well above her ankles, ideal for dancing. Her clutch purse had been dyed to match and decorated with rhinestones. She wore more makeup than usual, which wasn’t saying much, and she’d had her naturally curly hair styled in an upsweep of soft ringlets.

And then she’d spoiled the entire effect with feathered wings and a beak.

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