Page 80 of The Mirror and the Curse

Geoff cleared his throat.

Abruptly recalling their audience, they pulled apart and glanced around to see their parents literally frozen in place. “Don’t worry,” Geoff said, “they won’t remember a thing. I’ll give you three minutes to clear up all the misunderstandings of the past ten years or so”—humor laced his voice—“or to enjoy another kiss or two. Choose wisely.”

Eddi whirled toward Kai. “Please forgive me for being stupid and stubborn all those months. All those years, really.”

“Please forgive me, Eddi,” he responded. “I was so afraid . . .”

“So was I.” She swallowed hard, reaching up to touch his scruffy jaw. “I guess we both listened to our fears. I was a fool to chase after Fidelio when I really wanted you all that time.”

His mouth pulled to one side in a wry smile. “And I let my mother’s doom-and-gloom predictions scare me off. When I figured out that you entered Flurry and me in today’s race, I began to hope again, but there was no time . . .”

“Fidelio stole a kiss from me during your race. It didn’t end well for him.”

Seeing that Kai appeared upset as well as amused, Eddi caught his cheeks between her hands and kissed him, feeling his tension melt away. “Now that we know . . .” she began.

“We can handle whatever life throws at us, together,” Kai finished.

“Time’s up,” Geoff announced in an annoyingly cheery tone. “Cue parental meltdowns.”

“Beatrice, I know it all sounds crazy, but—”

“No, it doesn’t. It sounds like the beginning of a perfect happy ending to me.”

Smiling, Eddi flopped back in the seat of Kai’s car and gazed across the mountain road at a vista of peaks, forest, and endless blue sky. “I should be napping, but I had to sneak away and tell you everything before the banquet. Kai has to work, or he would have come with me. I still can’t believe he had the courage to outright tell my dad that he hopes and intends to marry me. He said it right there in the barn, in front of our parents and Geoff Bryant.”

“That took guts.”

“Kai’s got guts and enough to spare. And get this! When Dad brought up how I still have three years of college to go, Jakinda told him a three-year courtship would allow the perfect amount of time to plan a royal wedding.”

Beatrice laughed.

“I know, isn’t it awesome? She’s the best stepmother of all time. No contest.”

“So, you and Kai are officially a couple?”

“Yes, and not just dating. We’re sort of betrothed or pre-engaged. Kai will be training winged horses at a racing stable in Biscarosse, probably not far from your dad’s estate. He and Flurry can fly over the mountains to visit me and White on weekends and holidays, and we’ll get together at race meets too. Jakinda convinced my dad to let us have only two bodyguards when we go out on dates, and she offered to chaperone us when we’re at the palace. If I know Jakinda, she’ll let us sneak outside for a few kisses now and then.”

“I’m so happy for you, Eddi girl. You and Kai were made for each other.”

Eddi sighed. It was so true. “I can’t believe Dad hasn’t made a fuss about Kai’s lack of rank. But then, Dad married Jakinda, and she’s just the daughter of a wealthy businessman who got knighted by my grandfather.”

“If rank becomes a problem, your father can always give Kai a title. He did save your life more than once, after all—I mean, if you stretch the point here and there to make it a really exciting story.”

Eddi chuckled. “You mean how he rescued me from an ogre and a centaur? No need. The truth is exciting and romantic enough. Cog is happy for us, and Tea is under an enchantment, so it’s not really her fault. The potion making, I mean.”

“Under an enchantment?” Beatrice sounded surprised.

“Yes . . .” Eddi paused, wrinkling her nose in indecision. “This is all really hush-hush, but I know you won’t tell a soul. Geoff Bryant gave Kai permission to tell me, so I got the whole story today. Raquel’s grandmother is an enchantress—she used to be powerful, though not one of thesahirae. Anyway, somehow she got possession of an ancient artifact called the Mirror of Alviss that gives whoever holds it the power to persuade people to do whatever they want done.”

“Even a person without magic can use it?”

“Yep. The granny gave it to Raquel, who used it to persuade Tea to provide potions she could use against me. Nothing fatal, but any one of them had the potential to kill me indirectly.”

“Wow. I knew Raquel was mean, but a murderer?”

“Geoff says using the mirror changes and warps people. He figured out someone was using it, but whoever owns it can hide it in another dimension where no one else can reach it. Even if he arrested her, he couldn’t get the mirror from her. He had to bide his time and sort of use me as bait in the Cup race.”

“Eddi.” Beatrice’s voice was quiet. “That is . . . terrifying. An artifact like that in the wrong hands . . .”

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