Page 122 of Happily Ever Witch
“Fuck.”
Esmeralda was gone and hehadto get her back. He’d never felt like this before. The dragon was going insane, insisting their mate was in danger and the goddamn palace was freezing. Without Esmeralda, nothing in the whole world felt warm.
Trystan Airbourne nodded sympathetically at the muttered curse. “I have been where you are.” He repeated. “So, I know that you must either adapt to this new chaos, which is an essential part of your mate’s maddening glow… Or you must return to the familiar darkness alone. Where you will never be challenged. Where you will be comfortable in your old ways.” He paused with great meaning. “Where you will always be cold.”
Trevelyan unconsciously shook his head.
No.
No to all of that. No to everything that didn’t get him what he wanted. He was a dragon! He wasn’t settling for half measures with his mate. Hedidn’twant separate lives. Hedidn’twant to panic when he opened his eyes, not knowing where she was. Hedidn’twant any ambiguity as to their relationship.
Trevelyan wanted Esmeralda.
His brow furrowed. So what was he willing to compromise to get what he wanted?
Trystan Airbourne seemed to read the conflict on his face. “Galahad and I are leaving in five minutes.” Big palms rested on the countertop, like the gryphon was no longer anticipating a battle. “Pick your own destination carefully, dragon. Your past or your future? Which looks to be the brighter path for you to travel, this morning?” He arched a brow. “Decide.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
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The Club Castle
“I’m going to put the witch’s heart in an enspelled box.” The Queen of Clubs decided with a firm nod, as she paced around in the morning chill. “Very classic and simple. I have a friend in the Spade Kingdom who can help me keep the heart beating, so I can still access the spell. Then, I’ll be able to decapitate the witch and get the tiara. Trevelyan’s magic probably didn’t account for that.” She looked over at Marrok. “Do you think his magic accounted for that?”
Marrok didn’t respond verbally, but his lips curved like her question amused him.
The Queen of Clubs’ own mouth thinned, resisting the urge to gut him right there on the veranda. For the moment, the house was quiet and she intended to keep it that way.
The Mad Hatter was in his workshop, fiddling with his pocket watch. The damn thing was mystically linked to his heartbeat, so he liked to keep it in proper working order. Hopefully, he didn’t accidently kill himself by removing some vital cog or spring.
Snow White was at a session with her dwarf therapist, who was vainly trying to cure her memory loss. It wouldn’t work. The Queen of Clubs knew that. But, her optimistic mother’s soul wouldn’t let her give up on her poor, wounded child. She insisted that Snow White spend hours each day with the man, although they wasted most of that time on silly complaints Snow had dreamed up about her loving family.
Mothersalwaysgot blamed in therapy.
The Queen of Clubs had been forced to kill at least three of Snow White’s former doctors, because they encouraged her daughter’s ridiculous tendency to find fault with her supportive, stable, two-parent home. Those quacks were now fertilizing her rose garden. This dwarf psychiatrist would no doubt be joining them soon.
Everything else was going well. The Queen of Clubs’ plan to become empress was working. Her carefully plotted plansalwaysworked. Self-confidence, organization, and positivity were vital tools for any successful woman.
Her gaze flashed towards the Chess Tower in the courtyard. Most of the pieces were shifted towards the white side of the game. See? Perfect for this time of Tove. Right on schedule.
Except, the red queen was standing alone, in the center of the board.
That was a bit odd. Nothing to worry about, of course. Just a small blip. The white pieces were all but guaranteed a win, regardless. Most importantly, the pesky red pawn was positioned at a2, far from promotion and safely under control.
The Queen of Clubs refocused on Marrok. He wasn’t any worse for wear, after a night in the dungeon. She wasn’t aboutto leave him alone with Snow White, so he’d slept down there. Heseemedrestrained, but best to be certain. Presently, he wore magic inhibiting chains tethering him to the patio table. Level five powers or not, the Queen of Clubs wasn’t about to risk tangling with a wolf. They could transform into monsters. But really the shackles were just a precaution, given his enspelled state. It was safe to keep an eye on him by herself.
That wouldn’t be a hardship.
Galling as it was, the Queen of Clubs half-understood Snow White’s fascination with the wolf. He was truly,trulybeautiful. And ever since Bluebeard had enspelled him, Marrok had been a perfect gentleman with her daughter, despite his bestial DNA. He could do the same with her. The wolf was the only one who could offer information on Trevelyan and the damn sealing wax spell. His cooperation was mandatory.
She arched a brow at him. “Trevelyan sealed the spell inside of that dreary little witch. It’s obviously designed to keep me from killing her, the second we meet. Would he have anticipated me carving out her heart to beat his little trap?”
“It’s impossible to fathom how much evil Trevelyan can anticipate.” Marrok told her, with dark certainty. “I hate the man and even I’m consistently stunned by how horrible he is.”
