Page 35 of Bound By Honey

Sage poured herself a glass as she chuckled. "That sounds like him."

Sage couldn't help but wonder if Freddy was lonely. Thoughts of who he may have left behind because of the curse and giving him an unusually long life floated through her mind. She would never pry and ask him directly, but she hoped he had found some peace with what cards fate had given him.

Honeybee

Sageambledthroughthevast aisles of the royal library, her fingers trailing along the spines of leather-bound books. An idea struck her after her incident with the crown prince last night, but she needed to research before she dared to start testing her theory. She had been hunting for a particular tome all day, one that held the secrets of the magical medicinal uses of honey.

She sighed, feeling the weight of her burden. She felt that she was close to figuring out a treatment for the gargoyle curse, and she refused to give up now.

"Sage, is that you?" a voice called behind her.

Sage spun to see Piper standing at the end of the row of books, a massive smile on her face. She was holding Sage's favorite mug filled with steamy liquid.

"What have you got there?" Sage asked, motioning to the mug.

"You seemed off today, so I brought you your favorite drink," Piper said, her eyes twinkling. "It's a white chocolate lavender latte, just how you like it."

Her heart fluttered. No one knew her better than Piper, and she was always thoughtful.

"Thank you," Sage said, taking the mug from her. "This will definitely help me get through this search, at least for a little bit."

"I thought it might," Piper said, still smiling. "Now, tell me what you're looking for. I know you wouldn't be here for hours if it weren't important."

Sage took a sip of the latte, savoring the sweet taste, before telling Piper about her encounter with the crowned prince and her quest for the book.

"That sounds dangerous, Sage. If the crown prince ever figures out what you did to him, you could be in serious trouble. Not to mention when the potion you gave him doesn't do what you told him it would do. What are you going to do then?"

Sage sighed heavily and looked at her friend. "I know it's dangerous, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do if he figures it out. But I'm hoping that if I can find this book and learn more about the magical medicinal uses of honey, I can come up with something to at least slow down Freddy and Prince Finn's curse. Take care of one problem at a time. Deal with whatever happens with Prince Owen when it happens."

Piper nodded slowly and put a hand on Sage's shoulder. "I understand. If there's anyone who can figure this out, it's you. Do you need any help? I know the Charming Four have a lot of magical knowledge. They are also probably your best bet for protection from Prince Finn's brother."

Sage shook her head. "No, I think I need to do this alone. But thank you for the offer. I should probably get back to looking for that book. It’s incredible how some of the older sections of the library are completely in disarray. I can’t find anything. You can really tell which sections Freddy has less interest in."

“And you?”

“Alright, you’ve got me there.”

"If anyone can figure this out, it's you. But Sage..."

"Yes?"

"Promise me something. Talk to Freddy and the Charming Four. Maybe you can stay here with Freddy when they are gone on missions. I wouldn't be surprised if the crowned prince showed up last night specifically because he knew they were gone. You're not safe."

"I promise. I'll talk to Freddy and the Charming Four today." She hugged her friend and then took another sip of her coffee. "I guess I better get going and find that book. Wish me luck!"

Piper hugged her and gave her a warm smile before heading back to the cafe downstairs.

Sage wandered to the shelves of ancient texts, feeling more energized after speaking with Piper. She scanned the books as she walked, her gaze sweeping from one spine to another. After what seemed like hours, she finally spotted a promising book. It was an old tome with a tattered cover and faded lettering on the spine that readMagical Medicinal Uses of Honey.

Excitement coursed through Sage's veins as she gently pulled the book from its resting place. She ran her fingers along the soft leather cover before carefully opening it. Detailed illustrations and long passages about honey and its various uses in medicine throughout history filled the pages. It was precisely what Sage had been searching for.

As Sage flipped through the pages, taking in all the information, something shifted within her. This was it; this book held the secrets to unlocking her theory about how to cure Freddy and Prince Finn's curse.

***

When Freddy and Sage reached the Charming Four's mansion, the gates were open, and light filled the windows. The grounds were bustling with activity as servants hustled about their business carrying packages of all sizes. Sage could feel the tension in the air. Something was going on.

They walked up the cobblestone path, and Sage looked up at the grand manor house. It was beginning to feel like home, something she hadn't expected.

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