Page 56 of Of Curses and Moonlight

He dug his heels into the rough cobblestone under his feet, his fingers flexing as he watched the scene in front of him. It left him with an uneasy feeling, and it wasn’t just due to Zoya’s panicked reaction.

The women glanced at each other, frowning. “As you wish, your highness,” Elna said.

His eyes narrowed. Theydidknow something.

But what was it?

And how?

His jaw ticked, the muscles starting to ache for how long he’d been clenching his teeth. This wasn’t right.

As Zoya moved away and the women headed in the general direction of the garden, Rothbart determined he better make sure they didn’t cause more problems. He threw a bean. A portal opened and suddenly he was standing in front of them, ready to take them on if they made a single wrong move.

“Time to go.”

He flipped another bean behind them and used his magic to push them through the portal. They landed in the grass next to the gazebo, eyes wide and mouths open. Rothbart’s nerves calmed as the portal slammed shut.

The threat was nullified.

He moved among the garden plants to remain hidden from the guards and anyone that might recognize him.

Now to make sure Zoya was okay. He adjusted his position to see past the long length of horses and carriages lining the cobblestone. She needed to let the prince down as soon as possible. They had discussed her doing it before entering the castle to avoid making a scene in front of the entire court. But the swans had thrown that off, and now they were already on the steps with people surrounding them. Peering through the leaves of a bush, he barely made out Zoya as she tugged on the prince’s arm, while he remained engrossed in the conversations around him.

He wasn’t even paying attention to her.

Prince Torsten had a lot to learn about women.

The crowds closed even further around them, and Torsten led her in through the castle’s large wooden front doors.

Zoya glanced back and somehow found Rothbart’s gaze. Her eyes widened, and she mouthed one word. “Help.”

Dammit. He should have known she’d be in over her head. Zoya was only sixteen, and according to her most recent developments, had no interest in men. How could he expect her to handle a prince?

He must find a way into that party.

Rothbart’s transformation magic had a catch: he could only use it on others and not on himself.He wanted to teleport into the ballroom with his beans, but this was a masked ball. The guards at the door handed ivory and ebony feathered masks to those who presented an invitation. He’d need one to both fit in and disguise his appearance.

A man stood along the stone steps talking to a group of attendees, his mask laying to the side on the stoneworks. Perfect. Rothbart focused on his power and with a flick of his wrist, the mask fell into the bushes below. He rushed over and grabbed it, donning the mask. After switching the amethyst crystal and his beans into his pants pocket, he shrugged out of his robes, leaving him wearing his father’s best dress tunic and trousers. He had suspected he’d need to leave his sorcerer's robes behind.

Focusing on the exact spot in the ballroom that would give him the most cover to enter, he threw the bean at the giant granite wall. The portal opened, and he walked through, entering the party behind a large potted plant.

Warmth from the mingling guests struck him. The whole place was alight with candles. Music from a quintet of stringed players swirled in the air. The attendants chattered and mingled about in small clumps, dressed in their finest.

He moved through, searching the press of people for Zoya. He thought he caught sight of her and started that way, but when he noticed the woman’s elegant gown, he stopped. Shit. While the mask provided Rothbart with a convenient disguise, it also hid Zoya from him. He carefully examined the outfits of those in the throng.

He finally found her across the room where the crowd was the greatest. She stood at Torsten’s side and people shoved up close to speak with the prince and the mysterious woman on his arm.

“Don’t be timid, Zoya,” he muttered to himself.

He let out a breath of relief when he saw his sister begin to tug Torsten off to the side, clearly making excuses while she tried to find a moment alone with the prince.

Queen Emiranda rose from her chair and the entire room turned to watch her. She came down the steps and, as if the masks were no concern, she headed straight for her son and Zoya.

She confronted the pair, and Zoya bowed low before the queen. Emiranda’s hand came out, and she touched Zoya’s chin, bidding her to rise. They exchanged some words, though Rothbart couldn’t hear them above the noise from the festivities. But then his sister was walking behind the queen, leaving even prince Torsten behind.

They disappeared into a room toward the rear of the gathering.

Chapter 21

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