Page 97 of The Nightmare Before Kissmas
“Prince Hex?” comes Wren’s voice from the hall. “I have your itinerary for the day.”
Her presence crashes over me.
I’m in Hex’s room.
At six-something in the morning.
And he’s still playing the role of unwilling fake possible fiancé to Easter to stop Dad from screwing things up with their collective; and I’m doing that too, only now also trying to unravel my dad’s whole blackmail scheme in what is effectively treason and—
And I’m holding the Halloween Prince while we’re both in our pajamas.
“Put me down.” He squirms against me and that doesnothingto help break my fog, but I comply.
“Coming!” he shouts at the door. To me, he mouths, panicked, “Hide.”
Hide?
Hide.
God, this fog won’t lift—I whip around the room, settle on his bathroom, and bolt for it as Hex moves to the door.
“Wait!” he whisper-shouts. “The tray!”
The tray of an embarrassing amount of food,waytoo much for one person, and the cup that’s on its side and currently dripping English Breakfast tea onto the carpet.
I wheel around. “Damn it.”
“Yes. That.” He’s closest, grabs it, and I meet him to take it from his hands.
I cock my head. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you cuss.”
“Halloween’s magic doesn’t like when I curse.”
I’m halfway to throwing myself into the bathroom when I come to a full stop.
“What?” I had to have misheard him.
“Prince Hex?” Wren knocks again. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine! Just a moment!” Hex growls out a frustrated breath and glares at me. “Go!”
“No—wait, hang on, you’re saying your magic doesn’t let you cuss?”
“It’s not that it doesn’tletme, it’s that it—I cannot have this conversation with you right now!” He puts his hands on my shoulders and pushes, and I’ve got a good half a foot on him, but I take a few small steps backwards.
“Why? What happens if you do?”
“Coal—”
“If Halloween’s magic is hurting you—”
“It isn’t anything bad. It’s… irritating.”
“Irritating? How?”
“You areimpossible.” He shakes his head in aI can’t believe I’m doing thisway, which makes me grin. “Our magic evolves based on the beliefs and traditions that feed the joy we create, yes?” he whispers, and I nod. “Well.Cursingis a rather serious item for Halloween. In every classification of the word.”
“Okay…”
