Page 54 of Of Curses and Moonlight

“Good evening, Odette.”

Rothbart stood in front of her, his jaw clenching and unclenching, his eyes black and menacing.

She raised her chin, determined not to let him intimidate her. “Rothbart.”

He prowled closer. “Word is you’ve been busy. Seducing me, seducing Torsten.” He came so close she had no choice but to step back.

His obvious contempt speared through her. But before she crumpled, she stiffened.

“So what if I have?” She lifted her chin. If he was going to attack her, she’d strike a blow in return. “You don’t own me, Rothbart. This.” Her fingers brushed the pendant around her neck. “This.” She touched the swoop of black surrounding her eyes. “Only means you have imprisoned me. It doesn’t actually make meyours.”

He came closer, and she moved back. The dark energy rolling off of him mixed with his heat, his hate. “I imprisoned you to protect my sister. I imprisoned you because you and those damn assassinskilled my parents.”

Reaching out, he grabbed the pendant, yanking so hard the chain snapped, and he flung it across the small clearing.

Odette swallowed, her defensiveness evaporating in an instant. He’d backed her to the gazebo steps.

“I’m sorry, Rothbart,” she whispered, fighting the burning behind her eyes. “I’m sorry about your parents. Truly.”

Something flashed in his gaze that almost looked like surprise, but then he hardened. He took another step toward her. “You won’t be going to the ball tonight.” A cruel smile crossed his face. “I have arranged a replacement.”

He stepped aside to reveal a woman standing behind him. The image of Odette flickered in and out with the image of his sister. Zoya. He’d magicked Zoya to look like Odette. Except, due to the skull pact, Odette saw through the disguise. She didn’t know how, but it must be part of the power of the pact. No matter what magic was used, it would always allow Odette to find her mark. But Rothbart was unaware of that, because she’d never told him.

She sucked in a breath. He planned on sending Zoya to the ball.

The ball where the queen was currently presiding. The queen who headed the skull pact and would most likely be able to see through Rothbart’s spell as well.

“Rothbart, listen to me, you can’t—”

"I don’t have to listen to a damn thing you say.” He moved right up into her face and she saw the hollowness behind the fire, the flames guttering out, becoming frigid. He’d never looked at her likethatbefore. She shivered and stepped back but instead of climbing the gazebo steps she fell backward onto the ground, the air around her felt different, her fingers sinking into unexpected grass and when she looked up at Rothbart, she saw the sides of the portal he’d sent her through.

“No! Stop! You can’t send—”

The portal slammed shut, and Rothbart disappeared from view.

With a roar of frustration, she rushed to her feet, shoving her hands into her hair. That idiot man!

She spun in a circle, taking in her surroundings. The great walls that encircled his estate. The front gate twisted into the form of a lion head loomed before her. She pulled at her hair until it hurt. She had to get to that ball, or Zoya was as good as dead. Dashing forward, she raced for the gate. If she got inside his manor, perhaps she’d find where he kept his portal beans. When she tugged on the bars, a shock spread out from it, shoving her so hard she nearly fell onto her ass. She tried again, this time attempting to climb them, only to have the same results. He’d spelled the grounds against her entrance.

Odette sank to her knees. After all her planning, she had miscalculated.

She had lost Rothbart’s trust.

And the consequences would be disastrous.

Chapter 20

Rothbart

Rothbart gave Zoya one last reassuring glance before fading into the forest as the approach of others became evident. He shut his eyes for a brief moment and pressed his forehead to the rough bark of a nearby tree, willing the fire in his veins left from his confrontation with Odette to cool so that he could focus on his sister.

Prince Torsten burst into the small clearing, and Rothbart jerked to attention.

“Odette! Are you okay? I was getting worried!” He came straight to Zoya and hugged her.

“I’m fine.” Zoya gave the prince a reassuring smile, though Rothbart could sense her nervousness from his hidden spot across the clearing. He supposed that would work. They all seemed on edge, and it would be believable that Odette would be uncertain about the night’s proceedings.

“Shall we go?” Torsten inquired.

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