Carina was vaguely aware of the frog pulling her cloak. She stumbled backward. Another tentacle shot out of the water. It gleamed in the moonlight.
She blinked and backed away from the ship. The new tentacle wrapped around Gruff and Timon. The man’s yellow eyes glowed as he shook loose of their grip. He stopped screaming, but the sound echoed around the dock and faded slower than it should.
The cloaked man gave up on holding the man with yellow eyes, ran across the ship, and jumped down the gangplank. A tentacle smashed the wood and swiped at him. He dodged it and disappeared into an alley.
Carina knew she should do the same. It was the smart thing to do during a sea monster attack.
Instead, she reached into her pocket. Finally, she’d have proof. She could show her father-
Her fingers closed around empty space, and her heart sank. The golden ball was back in her room. She had no way to show her father what was happening.
The bow of the ship broke with a loud crack. Tentacles wrapped around the stern and pulled. Ropes snapped as the Seawolfe drifted further from the dock.
“He’s getting away!” Carina yelled to no one in particular.
“Heinrich!”
The frog jumped off her shoulder and hopped towards the water. Carina dove and grabbed him before he leaped off the dock.
“What are you doing?”
“Heinrich is on that ship!”
“There’s nothing you can do!”
And there wasn’t. The tentacles pulled the Seawolfe away from port and disappeared into the darkness.
The frog wriggled out of her grip.
“I could have saved him!”
“How? You’re a frog! And you keep insisting you don’t have magic. How were you going to stop a sea monster?”
“I could have done something. Heinrich can’t swim. He shouldn’t be on the water.”
The frog’s voice shook. Carina knelt and held out her hand.
“We should go. That noise will bring guards. I can’t let them find me here.”
“I might still be able to catch them.”
He stared at the dark ocean. Carina shook her head.
“There’s nothing you can do now. Come back with me. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
The frog watched the dark ocean a moment longer. Then he hopped into her hands.
Carina took the long way home. She didn’t have the energy to run across the field and scale the tall wall. The frog stayed silent and trembled in her hands.
“Heinrich was the friend you wanted to help?” Carina said. “The one who asked you to sail to Aeonia?”
He nodded.
“What did he need your help with?”
The frog didn’t answer.
“I’m sure they’ll send out a search party,” Carina said. “We have a lot of ships.”
And a lot of ships that had gone missing.
“I have no way to prove to my father that this attack was magical. Or even that there was an attack. I still don’t have proof of sea monsters.”
Her voice quivered. The night had been a disaster after all. The frog twisted in her hands until he faced her.
“Why does that matter so much?”
Carina lifted him to eye level.
“They want to send me away. I’ll be allowed to stay if I prove my worth.”
“Are you sure you want to stay?”
“They’re my family.”
He blinked at her.
“They’re very rude to you.”
“I know. They think I’m a failure. But I love them. All I’ve ever wanted is to find my place here.”
“I understand. I think. My family-”
His voice trailed off.
“What about your family?”
Carina tried to hide her eagerness, but the frog shook his head.
“Is nowhere near as bad as yours. I don’t always fit in, but I know they love me. They must be so worried about me right now.”
“Where are they?”
Carina didn’t expect him to answer, and he didn’t. He simply stared at her with those round eyes.
Family. Seagulls. Could he be related to Alaric? Or someone in Aeonia?
“You’re sure they’ll send a ship to look for Heinrich?” the frog said.
“I’ll make sure of it,” Carina said. “This attack must be connected to the treasury somehow. All these happenings can’t be a coincidence.”
“We don’t have a choice then. We have to solve the mysteries and prove your worth.”
She smiled at him.
“And find Heinrich in the process.”
“I hope so.”
“How do you know him? Is he the one who taught you to speak?”
The frog narrowed his eyes and turned away from her. Carina sighed. Even now, he wouldn’t answer her questions.
The moon was low in the sky by the time she reached the garden. She climbed the wall and ducked into her room. The frog hopped out of her hands and settled onto her pillow without a word. Carina knew she should change. Her nightgown was dirty and torn beyond repair.
Instead, she collapsed into her bed. She would deal with everything in the morning. She hoped the maids wouldn’t wake her for breakfast. She’d rather sleep.
Sea monsters. Men with yellow eyes. Red light from magic rings. Carina had plenty of mysteries to think about, but she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
30
“Carina, wake up!”
“Ugh. Leave me alone.”
Carina waved a hand in the air. The gesture was meant to dismiss her maid. Instead, someone grabbed her arm.
“Young lady, wake up this instant!”
She opened her eyes.
“Mother?”
Queen Cosima glared down at Carina. She released her daughter’s arm and stepped back.
“Get up, Carina. You’ll be late for breakfast.”
Carina blinked. It was a dream. It had to be a dream.
“I don’t want breakfast. I want to sleep.”
Her mother crossed her arms.
“I don’t care if you want breakfast or not. The King of Montaigne sailed into the harbor this morning. He’ll be at the castle any moment, and you will be there to eat breakfast with him.”
The harbor. Sea monsters. Carina threw her blankets back and jumped out of bed. The queen gasped.
“Carina! What in the world have you done to your nightgown?”
Carina looked down. Blast. Her nightgown was muddy and torn from her escapades at the dock last night. She knew she should have changed.
“I- I-”
Something rustled behind her. She had thrown her blankets on top of the frog. He crawled out from under them with an indignant expression.
“My frog jumped out the window last night. I chased him through the garden.”
He croaked at her but said nothing. Of course, he wouldn’t.
“You let that creature sleep in your bed?”
The frog stuck his tongue out at the queen. She glared at him.
“You will be ready for breakfast, Carina. You will charm King Gustave into proposing. And you will not bring that frog to the table. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, mother.”
“Don’t be late. I’ll send a maid to help you get ready.”
The queen gave the frog one last glare before she left the room. Carina ran her fingers through her tangled hair. The frog hopped onto her pillow and stretched his legs.
“So much for sleeping in. What did she mean about making King Gustave propose?”
“That’s how they’re sending me away. King Gustave is looking for a bride, and they volunteered me for the job.”
His jaw dropped.
“You can’t marry him!”
“Why not?”
The frog rubbed his head. Was he embarrassed?
“You just can’t. What about solving the mysteries and staying here?”
“Why do you think I’m so eager to prove my wor
th? My mother agreed to let me stay if I can prove I’m useful. But King Gustave is early. This complicates things.”
“A sea monster took a ship from the harbor last night. You don’t think they’ll take that as proof?”
Carina shook her head. If only it was that simple. She pulled her golden ball out of her dress pocket and held it flat on her palm.
“This is the only way to get proof. It is a communication charm. I use it to show things to my father.”
“That explains a lot. I thought your attachment to that ball was strange.”
“You and everyone else in the kingdom.”
The frog jumped to her window and stared into the garden.
“You’re sure they’ll send a ship? What if the monster has already destroyed the Seawolfe?”
“We’ll find them,” Carina said. “My father might not believe me about the sea monster, but I can prove that a ship is missing. The navy will search for it.”
A maid burst into the room.
“Your Highness, we must get you ready. Oh, you’re filthy! What have you been doing?”
“Chasing my frog through the garden.”
She picked the frog up and set him on the bed. The maid grimaced.
“You need a bath! But we don’t have time.”
She grabbed the nightgown and pulled it over Carina’s head.
“Your Highness, this is filthy!”
Carina turned to wink at the frog, but he had turned his back. He seemed to be very interested in the window again. He stayed interested in it while the maid removed Carina’s muddy clothes and helped her into a frilly pink gown. The frilliest Carina owned.
“We’ll leave your hair down,” the maid said. “Maybe just a few flowers for decoration.”
She pulled daisies from a nearby vase and jabbed them into Carina’s curls.
“Thank you,” Carina said. “That will do perfectly.”
The maid stepped back and fanned herself.
“Well, that is a miracle and no mistake. Don’t you dare be late to breakfast.”
She left. Trumpets sounded in the distance, and Carina grimaced. The King of Montaigne had arrived at the castle.
“Are you dressed?” the frog asked.
“Yes.”
He turned around and stared at her. Carina frowned.
“Is something wrong?”
“You look nice. That’s all.”
“That’s all?”
He swallowed.
“You’re beautiful. We’ll have to work hard to make sure the King of Montaigne doesn’t propose.”
Carina laughed. She held her arm out, and the frog hopped onto her shoulder. She turned to look at herself in a mirror.
She was beautiful. The pink lace dress complimented her complexion and golden curls, and the frilly skirt made her waist look tiny. The daisies in her hair were a nice touch.
“You look like a garden in bloom,” the frog said. “A very pink garden.”
Carina winked at him.
“Exactly what I thought when I designed it. The tailors here prefer military uniforms, so I had to add most of the ruffles myself.”
“What will you do about the King of Montaigne?”
She frowned.
“Ignore him as much as possible. While looking like I’m trying to charm him. And while searching for sea monsters. A typical day for a princess.”
“You’re wonderful, you know that?”
“What?”
The frog blinked.
“Did I say that out loud?”
She nodded.
“Oh. Blast. Must be the lack of sleep.”
Carina grinned.
“You’re not bad yourself.”
A bell rang, and she flinched.
“I’m late!”
She turned from the mirror and ran.
31
The royal family was already seated by the time Stefan and Carina made it to the dining room. A man with dark hair and a trim beard sat to the left of King Giuseppe. He wore a golden crown. The King of Montaigne.
The chair to his left was empty.
“Your Majesty, you remember my daughter Princess Carina,” Queen Cosima said.
The King of Montaigne nodded. A man sitting next to the queen gestured to the empty chair and nodded to the king. He had bushy eyebrows and a white beard that fell to his chest. The King of Montaigne jumped up and helped Carina into her seat.
“May I introduce you to Marquis Corbeau?” he said. “He is my most trusted adviser.”
The old man nodded to Carina. She smiled back at him. Well, she curled the edges of her lips up. Stefan wouldn’t really call it a smile.
“Pleased to meet you,” Carina said. “Lovely to see you again, King Gustave.”
She sounded anything but pleased.
Stefan leaned forward to get a better look at the King of Montaigne. He slid on the silky fabric of Carina’s dress and hopped onto the table to avoid falling.
Everyone gasped.
“Carina,” Queen Cosima said with deadly calm, “What is that frog doing here?”
Stefan glanced back at Carina. Her face was white. Right, the queen had said not to bring him.
He stood and did his best impression of a courtly bow to King Gustave. Massimo and Santino clapped.
“You taught it another trick!” Santino said.
Carina smiled weakly at them and nodded. King Gustave cleared his throat.
“How charming and- and unusual!”
“Indeed,” the marquis said. “Unusual indeed.”
He looked to King Giuseppe for an explanation. The king sighed.
“Carina is so kind hearted, she wants everyone to be included. Even the frog she rescued from our garden.”
Serafina choked on a bite of porridge. Stefan snorted. Kindhearted indeed. If he remembered correctly, Carina had threatened to squish him several times.
“I hope you will forgive this unusual addition to our table,” Carina said. “My frog is such a charming companion that I rarely go anywhere without him.”
She smiled at King Gustave. A real smile this time. Gustave smiled back.
“It is charming. I have never been to a state breakfast with a pet before.”
Everyone at the table relaxed. Queen Cosima and the marquis still glared at Stefan, but the conversation moved on.
Carina crumbled a boiled egg into small pieces and set it by Stefan. He ate a few bites, but he didn’t have much appetite.
Heinrich was gone. Pulled out to sea by a monster and a mermaid’s henchman. And the iron bands around his heart made him too heavy to swim.
Stefan should have done something. He should have stopped them. But how? As a human, he might have been able to challenge Leander. Maybe. Combat had never been his strong suit.
He didn’t stand a chance as a frog.
He needed to get Carina to kiss him. Fast. Or he needed to go back to the docks and find another ship sailing to Aeonia. Lina’s magic might be able to break the curse and track Heinrich.
Might.
Frustrated with his lack of progress, Stefan turned his attention to the King of Montaigne. It was his fault they were at breakfast and not out looking for Heinrich. How dare he try to force Carina into marriage?
Gustave. Even his name was annoying.
The king was a few years older than Stefan and Carina. Young to be a ruler, but he sat with a quiet confidence that grated on Stefan’s nerves. Or maybe it was the beard. The king’s dark brown hair fell into place under his crown, and his trim beard made his jaw look impossibly angular.
“I apologize for arriving unannounced,” King Gustave said. “You must think me quite rude.”
He directed the comment to King Giuseppe. The king gave his daughter a pointed look, and Carina cleared her throat.
“Not at all, King Gustave. It is always nice to see you. Did you have a pleasant trip?”
Gustave looked from Carina to Giuseppe.
“Um, yes. Thank you. King Giuseppe,
I did not make this trip on a whim. There has been an incident in Montaigne’s harbor. I heard you’ve had similar troubles. I thought perhaps we could work together.”
The King of Santelle smiled.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I will be happy to meet with you after lunch. I am engaged in council meetings until then.”
“After lunch?”
The marquis cleared his throat.
“Your Majesty cannot expect King Giuseppe to clear his schedule on such short notice.”
Gustave blinked.
“No, of course not. Forgive me if I seemed rude. It is only that this incident has everyone concerned. There are rumors-”
“Rumors we’ll deal with after lunch,” Queen Cosima said. “But in the meantime, Princess Carina has expressed an interest in showing you around the garden.”
She cast a pointed look at Carina.
“Oh, yes,” Carina said. “You’re always so kind to give me a tour when I visit Montaigne. I’d like to return the favor.”
Her voice lacked any trace of enthusiasm, but Marquis Corbeau beamed at Queen Cosima. King Gustave frowned and nodded to Carina.
“Of course. I would be honored to see the gardens with you.”
Stefan swallowed another piece of his egg. He noticed Massimo and Santino watching him and winked at them. They giggled, and Serafina glared at them. Adria matched Serafina’s glare, her young face looking sterner than should have been possible.
The royal family of Santelle was intimidating. Stefan ducked behind a bowl of oatmeal. Maybe it would be better for everyone if he stayed out of sight.
Carina was quiet. Well, as quiet as Queen Cosima would let her be. The queen kept directing questions at her daughter, forcing her to speak to Gustave.
So Carina wasn’t the only one in her family with the gift of making conversations go her way. Queen Cosima seemed determined to marry her daughter off, even when Gustave had news he wanted to share. Avoiding the King of Montaigne would be difficult.
The least Stefan could do was make him a little more uncomfortable. Carina deserved better than to be pushed at this obnoxious man.
Gustave noticed Stefan’s gaze and smiled. He had a nice smile. He had nice teeth.
He had teeth, period. Stefan missed his teeth. He watched the king chew. Gustave had no idea how lucky he was to be able to chew.
Stefan glared. He had been decently handsome as a human. His hair was unruly, but he was at least as tall as Gustave. He probably could have competed with the king. But as a frog-
The Frog Prince (Fairy Tale Adventures Book 2) Page 15