Page 140 of Happily Ever Witch
“What about the decapitating part?”
“Oh, that’s hardly ever fatal for witches.” The Queen of Clubs assured him airily.
Marrok seemed to accept that explanation.
The spell must be messing with his mind, because anyone sober could tell she was lying. At least she wasn’t focused on Bluebeard or on the undercurrent of not-quite-rightness filling the dining room, though. That was the important thing.
Bluebeard’s eyes stayed on Marrok, who went back to attentively listening to Snow White jabber about how pretty his tawny hair looked. The wolf couldn’t have seemed more enthralled with every word the weirdo spoke. Except his left hand was on the table, shackles on his wrist and his fingers restlessly drumming.
And his wedding band was still visible.
A wheeze escaped Bluebeard, as he finally realized what was wrong. His spell should have erased the ring, as Scarlett vanished from Marrok’s mind. His spellwouldhave erased it, if it had actually worked. Nothing could remove the ring totally, of course, but it should have become invisible. Nobody else would understand that detail, because they didn’t understand Bluebeard’s specialized magic.Heknew it, though.
Just like he suddenly knew that Marrok was faking.
The wolf wasn’t under a spell, at all! He was pretending and plotting and…holy fuck.This was terrible. This was so,soterrible. Whatever Marrok was up to, it was a disaster for Bluebeard. Brunch was for sure going to end in a bloodbath. He could tell.
Bluebeard must have made some sound or the smell of his increasing fear must have hit the wolf’s senses. Marrok’s topaz gaze swung his way, like a hunter spotting game in the woods.
Bluebeard glowered at him. Hating the man for not being enspelled, like he was supposed to be. For screwing up everything, with his stubborn, unbreakable, animalistic loyalty to his damn True Love. For beating Bluebeard’s wonderful magic.
Marrok’s head tilted to one side and there was something predatory in the movement. Beneath the campus-hero good looks and affable charm, the Big Bad Wolf was a villain. He couldn’t presently transform into his lupine self, but he could still sniff out the perfect weak spot.
Marrok slowly smiled.
And Bluebeard knew he was in a race for his life.
His frantic gaze cut over to the Queen of Clubs. Shit! What could he say that wouldn’t get her enraged at him? He couldn’t admit that the spell hadn’t worked, because then she wouldn’t need Bluebeard anymore. He’d have demon-mom trying to kill him, too. No, he needed someone else to blame.
Scarlett.
He’d blame Marrok’s True Love! He’d convince the Queen to turn her wrath on that ugly stepsister. He’d say that as long as Scarlett was alive, the magic wouldn’t hold, because wolves were too primitive. Bluebeard would insist that getting rid of Scarlett would solve the problem. Hell, that might do the trick for real. You never knew, right? Might as well give it a go.
“Majesty, we need to talk about…”
“Who wants strawberry jam in their mice and eggs?” The Mad Hatter asked, talking right over him.
Marrok leaned closer to Snow White, whispering in her ear.
“Don’t we have apples?” The Queen of Clubs complained to her husband. “Hatty, you know I like apples in my omelets.”
Bluebeard spoke louder, desperate now. “Majesty! I’m sensing that Scarlett Riding-Wolf is doing something to disrupt…”
Snow White let out a bloodcurdling scream of rage.
Everyone turned to look at her, except Marrok. The wolf leaned back in his chair, his smug gaze on Bluebeard. His expression was the same victorious taunting smirk that had pissed off everyone who’d ever crossed the man… Right before Marrok reallyfucked up their day.
Bluebeard felt himself pale.
“You’re trying to ruin my happy marriage!” Snow White shrieked at Bluebeard. Her face was a thunderous mask of fury, her black curls bouncing as she leapt to her feet. “Marrok says you’re trying to drive us apart!”
Marrok nodded, like it was nothing less than the truth. “Don’t let him get away with it, honey.”
“Snow,” The Queen of Clubs began, flashing a suspicious look Marrok’s way, “let’s take a moment and calm down.”
“Nothing will get in the way of our love!” Snow White stomped her foot, her face flushed with the force of her passion. “Nothing! Nothing!Nothing!”
“Snow!” The Queen of Clubs said again, more sternly now. “You’re becoming overwrought. The wolf isn’t going anyplace. Calm down.”
