Page 69 of The Mirror and the Curse

The girl nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. I’m honored that you remember.”

“C’mon in. I’ve gotta start prepping for our flight now, because I want to go watch the maiden-filly race.”

Annette stepped inside. “That’s why I was sent here early to help you, Your Highness.”

Eddi gave her another look, noting the girl’s rather fixed smile. “Is something wrong? You look . . . on edge.”

Annette’s round blue eyes briefly met Eddi’s gaze. “Well, I got scanned and interrogated before I could approach your pavilion. I mean, for magic or curses or whatever. This huge white rabbit with glowing red eyes is slinking around, and two trees are standing behind your pavilion.” She shrugged helplessly. “I mean, trees don’t grow on the playing fields . . . and one of them is . . . raining.” Her forehead crinkled. “I swear I’m not making this stuff up!”

“I believe you. ThisisFaraway Castle. Weird things are part and parcel.” Smiling, Eddi maintained an unruffled appearance while processing the girl’s news. So, Geoff Bryant was on the job. After not seeing him all day, she had started to wonder. But . . . the rabbit and trees? Weird. “I don’t remember this much security last year, but maybe I wasn’t paying attention.”

Annette relaxed slightly. “Geoff told me I’m clean—no bad magic on me—so that’s good. But I don’t know why he worried. I mean, I’m a weakhembez. Even if I had wicked intentions, I couldn’t give you more than maybe an ingrown toenail.”

“Ingrown toenail? That sounds brutal.” Eddi grinned. “I expect the precautions are standard procedure.”

“I don’t know.” Worry lines persisted between the girl’s brows. “There’ve been weird rumors going around the stables this summer. I’ve told Geoff about them, but he always tells me not to worry.”

“Well, this higher security might be his response to your concerns.”

“Do you think so?”

“You never know.” Eddi beckoned toward White. “C’mon. I’ll introduce you and explain what needs doing.”

“I’m really honored to work with you and a winged horse,” Annette said, sounding more relaxed and pleased. “Especially him. I mean, isn’t a snow-white winged horse every girl’s dream?”

When Annette sighed, dreamy-eyed, Eddi found herself relaxing. Last year’s race had been fun—no pressure. This year’s felt fraught with tension and expectations. But why? It wasn’t as if she would have to sell White if they didn’t win, and racing was supposed to be fun for him and for her.

You really are every girl’s dream,she informed her horse, who gave her a startled look and shook out his mane, which made her smile.Flurry’s too, I’m guessing.

By the time the announcement for the maiden-filly race’s post parade rolled over the playing fields, Eddi was ready. “I’m going to sneak across the way and wish Kai luck. I’ll be back in plenty of time for my post parade, I promise,” she assured Annette before slipping through the pavilion’s flap.

She was just in time to see Kai and Flurry emerge to a burst of applause and encouraging shouts from the semicircle of summer staffers surrounding their pavilion. Kai’s surprise quickly switched to shy pleasure. “Thanks for the support. We intend to give you all a race worth watching.”

Then he caught sight of Eddi and seemed to freeze. “Just a moment,” he told his assistant, and made his way through his eager fans with Flurry at his heels. Without a thought, Eddi moved forward to meet him. Before she’d taken three steps, White emerged from the pavilion and clopped past her to meet Flurry.

Annette burst through the pavilion’s door flap in a panic. “I’m so sorry! He—”

Eddi waved the girl back. “It’s okay. White’s just giving Flurry a pep talk. Go back inside. We’ll be there in a minute.”

“He’s . . . oh. Okay, if you say so.” Wide-eyed, Annette ducked back inside.

When Eddi turned around, Kai was right there, his blue eyes intent. Holding that gaze, she reached to grip his gloved fingers and tried to say something light and teasing, but her throat felt thick. “Please be safe.”

“We will be.” He dropped his gaze to their linked hands, but his voice was friendly. “Geoff plastered us with protections.”

“I’ll be watching and cheering you on.”

“You’d better be.” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze.

Eddi’s heart swelled in her chest until she could hardly breathe. “You’ll win. I know you will.”

“Hope you’re right. We’ll do our best.” He maintained a light tone. “I probably won’t see you again until your race is over.”

She tried to copy his mood. “You’d better be there when I land!”

Oops. That sounded . . . needy.

He looked up once more, his gaze dark and deadly serious. “Be cautious, Eddi. Don’t trust anyone during the race.” He glanced to his right, where their fterotá stood with their cheeks together, evidently conversing in silence. “White, win that race but look after Eddi. I’m counting on you.”

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