Page 173 of Happily Ever Witch
She smirked at the Queen of Clubs and saidjustwhat the bitch had wanted her to. “Goodbye.”
“No…” The Queen of Clubs breathed.
“Oh bother.” The Mad Hatter’s head slumped in defeat.
Grimhilde drew back a palm, ready to fire off a deadly spell. Not ready to give up without a fight. Wanting to strike down Esmeralda, now that her own magic was restored.
Except Trevelyan’s powers had returned, too. His eyes slashed over to Grimhilde and the woman’s hands disappeared. Literally, they weregone. No blood. No scar. Her arms just ended at the wrist.
“Ilovedthat story about your granny.” Trevelyan taunted. “It really did inspire me.”
Esmeralda had no idea what Grimhilde’s grandma had to do with anything, but she had to admit Trevelyan’s trick was effective. It was hard for a witch to cast anything without her hands and Grimhilde was too panicked to try. She cried out in shock, but her jaw was still glued shut. The sound came out as a painful, warbling, wheeze.
“I can be a monstrous villain even without my magic.” Trevelyan assured Esmeralda, casually watching his newest victim suffer. “But using evil spells is justsomuch fun.”
“Good magic has its moments, too.” Esmeralda flashed him a grin and let her full powers explode out.
This time she didn’t question or hesitate. Planning wasn’t her style. It never would be. She let instinct guide her, instead. Good and Bad magic were woven together, like they were always meant to. The detonation of them looked like a graceful dance of swirling electricity, and soaring broomsticks, and dragon fire. The colossal torrent of energy engulfed the Club Kingdom, igniting the world in a cleansing green glow.
And as the spell cleared, she saw frogs.
The Queen of Clubs, and the Mad Hatter, and Grimhilde, and all the other unpleasant residents of the Club Kingdom had been transformed into harmless frogs. They hopped around, makingribbitingsounds, and it was the most beautiful sight Esmeralda had ever seen.
“You did it!” Trevelyan beamed in shared triumph and hugged her close. “Iknewyou could.”
Esmeralda leaned against him, relieved and proud of herself. For the first time in her life, the magic had flowed like a natural extension of her body and mind. It had all felt… right.“When I mixed the Good and Bad together, the spell just seemed to work.”
“Becauseyouare Good and Bad together, my darling. The perfect balance of both.” Trevelyan pressed a kiss to her temple. “And you look incredible in that crown.”
“How incredible?” She tilted her head back to give him an arch look. “On a scale of one to shiny?”
“Veryshiny.” He brushed her lips with his own, visibly relishing the fact he could kiss her whenever he liked. “I can’t wait to see you wearing it and nothing else.”
Esmeralda smiled against his mouth. Forget the frogs. Trevelyan was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen, now and forever.
“Give me back Marrok,right now!” Snow White suddenly screamed, ruining the moment. “I know you’re the one who stole him from me, Trevelyan.”
Trevelyan flinched at the shrill voice saying his name.
Esmeralda turned to glare at the other woman. She hadn’t even noticed that Snow White wasn’t frogified. It seemed like the Good and Bad powers had transformed everyone in the Club KingdomexceptSnow White. Of course they had. Esmeralda wasn’t the type of villain who needed to slaughter all her enemies. Transforming them into fly-eating, pond-dwellers would do just fine.
Unless they’d hurt her True Love.
“Are you about to freak out?” Esmeralda asked, concerned for Trevelyan.
“No. I might have, before I found you. I would have done something crazy.” He squeezed her hand. “You told me not to break you, when we met, butIwas the one broken. From her and Mrs. Clyburn, and all the shit in my past. You made me sort it all out. You put me back together.”
“Youput you back together.” Esmeralda was proud of him. It showed real growth that he wasn’t incinerating someone.
“I want Marrok!” Snow White stalked towards Trevelyan, fury twisting her expression. “Now, now,now!”
“I don’t think she even remembers what she did to me.” Trevelyan’s whole body felt rigid, as he surveyed his abusive doctor. “Killing her for it would be… wrong, perhaps? I’m not sure. I’m only two percent Good, so kindness is always a challenge.”
“Don’t worry.” Esmeralda patted his arm. “I know how to handle this.”
“Do not get close to her.” Even his tone was tense. “She’s more dangerous than she looks.”
“So am I.”
