Page 1099 of One More Kiss

Chapter15

I covered my mouth,then clutched my throat, willing words to come, but nothing… Mother stared at me with a gleeful expression on her face.

I was mute.

“Step away from her.” Wand raised, Renora rushed to my side.

“Or what?” Beatrice cackled. “You’ll use your puny wand against me? I’d love to see you try, traitor.”

“Traitor? I am the traitor? Look at what you’ve done…what you plan on doing to your own flesh and blood. No, Beatrice, your definition of the word is quite skewed.”

My mother’s ice-blue eyes were cold and unmoving. “Silence, Renora, before I quiet you as I did Tatiana.”

I had to do something, anything to stop her. I had no idea what she planned, but if it were to harm the Crown or the people of Fairy and Wisteria, I would not allow it to stand.

I closed my eyes, tuning out the hushed whispers, the shouts of the king and Edan, and focused on my magic. If Mother could use magic without a wand, that meant it was quite possible I was capable of the same. However, I would use the light granted by the goddess Inanna.

And so, I prayed.

Most gracious goddess, Inanna, hear my plea.

Restore what was taken with your love and mercy.

I lift my hands toward the heavens above.

In adoration.

In worship.

And with your power, set me free!

Suddenly, I could feel my body hum with innate magic of its own. It flowed through my veins and felt like that of a warm summer’s breeze. My hair whipped around my face—the strands silky as feathers against the vibration of my skin. Inanna had not only freed me, but she’d opened my true sight—the power bestowed upon all fairies yet hindered by the guild.

Thank you, most blessed goddess.

I opened my eyes to see everyone had stopped and now stared at me.

Even my mother.

And I only had eyes for her.

With my hands now aglow by the bright-white magic of the goddess, I touched my throat, and my voice returned. “You shall not harm me or mine again. I am done.” I stepped toward my mother, releasing myself from Renora’s grasp. “Beatrice, whatever it is you have planned is now over. I will win. I no longer fear you or your evil deeds.”

Instead of backlash as I’d expected, my mother clapped her hands with a smile. “It is about time, daughter. Now you know what real power feels like, our power, not that of a wand.” Then her smile disappeared, replaced with a frown. “However, if you continue with this wedding, I shall cast a curse upon your union for all of Fairy to see. You shall do as I command by the stroke of midnight or feel my wrath.” She spread her arms wide with a mad gleam in her eyes. “All of Fairy shall feel my wrath!”

Before I could say a word, King Fredrick came forward. “Beatrice, stop this, now. The past is the past, and you should allow it to remain there. Why punish your daughter and my son because they fell in love? Was it not love that you sought all those years ago?”

I had to keep my jaw from smacking the ground. She was the fairy he’d spoken of. The fairy who’d broken her wand… Oh. My. Goddess…

Mother laughed in his face. “And that love, dearest Fredrick, what did it ever do for me? What did you do?”

Fredrick’s face paled. “Now is not the time. Do not punish my son or your daughter for the sins of our past.”

Beatrice pressed a hand to his bearded cheek. “Does anyone deserve true love when all it does is break one’s heart?” A tear slipped down her face, and my heart clenched.

“Beatrice, please.” Fredrick held her palm to his face.

She jerked her hand away, her long, blue-streaked blonde hair flying, and quickly faced me and Edan. “You have until midnight to wave your wand and cast the wish, or you shall be cursed until the end of time.” Then, in a dusting of purple magic, she disappeared.

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