“Then it’s too bad you managed to do both.”
“Come on, Rosie.” Prince Liam tried to tug me away, but Alastar grabbed my wrist again to keep me there; my body reacted the same way it had the first time. Ignoring Prince Liam’s protests, he leaned down to my ear and I shuddered as his warm breath caressed my skin.
“Prince Liam’s letter was wrong—night can never separate true love.” Disappointment lined his expression as he pulled away. “You haven’t taken a stroll for several nights.”
“Because we’re enemies now.”
“Even if you’re determined to pretend you now hate me, I thought you’d now be more willing to take a late night stroll with me. You could lead me down to the dungeons to feed me to the dragons in order to conveniently eliminate me from your life. With no witnesses to the murder, no one would be any wiser.”
My lips ached to curve into a smile. I covered the offenders with my hand so Alastar wouldn’t see them, but by the triumph in his eyes, I knew that he had. “Perhaps I want to torture you a bit before knocking you off.”
“How will you torture me, Rosie?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” I smiled exaggeratedly at Prince Liam, who waited with wriggly impatience. “Shall we go for a romantic stroll through the gardens, Liam dear?”
He lit up and offered his arm. I sensed Alastar’s frown behind me as I took it. I stole one final glimpse at him as I left and wished I hadn’t, for fierce pain filled his gorgeous hazel eyes. Despite my determination to hate him forever, this hurt me for reasons I couldn’t put into words.
Chapter 17
I nibbled my fingernail as I looked around my bedroom a few days later, now resembling a garden with the dozens of flower bouquets and potted plants gifted to me by Prince Liam, their perfume suffocating and making me feel faint. Love notes and sappy poems also littered nearly every surface, all full of empty praises. It was surprising how quickly flattery could feel so unflattering. Surely, true love consisted of more than just this? It had to.
Surveying the surrounding chaos, there was no doubt the love spell had worked…a bit too well. Prince Liam—who’d extended his visit in Sortileya just to court me, a thought that no longer thrilled me as it once had—scarcely left my side. Not sure how else to spend the time, we spent hours upon hours strolling the gardens.
While we always found things to talk about—especially when we discussed books we’d read—conversation wasn’t quite as stimulating as what I’d always imagined conversing with my true love would be like—I’d expected more than common interests; I also wanted depth. While Prince Liam was certainly charming, always friendly, and also enjoyed stories, he limited himself to unusual ones he’d heard, whereas I ached for a storytelling partner, one who could weave tales seamlessly with me. I didn’t find that in him, which meant that the fairy tale I’d planned for myself wasn’t turning out at all like I’d always imagined.
I’d been cooped up in my room too long. Was it finally safe to leave? I tiptoed to my bedroom door and opened it an inch to peer out. Prince Liam still paced restlessly, waiting for me to emerge. Deep down I knew it wasn’t a good sign that I’d taken to avoiding the man I’d determined to make my intended, but I couldn’t worry about that now; I had a prince to slip away from.
Prince Liam paused with his back facing me, staring down the hallway. “Good afternoon, Alastar.”
My stomach gave a strange flip at the name, and I risked opening my door a few more inches to catch a glimpse of the guard, the one that had served as my life preserver this past week. He’d offered encouraging almost-smiles in his typical Alastar way, or wry comments that caused me to smile in return. Whenever he excavated one from me, his eyes lit up, as if he were an avid collector of my smiles. It was during these moments I could admit how much I missed him—our midnight strolls, our bantering, everything. This aching only increased the longer we spent apart.
I continued watching Ali through the crack in the door. He bowed in acknowledgement of Prince Liam’s greeting before his gaze flicked towards mine. By the slight widening of his eyes I knew he’d noticed me peeking out at him. How embarrassing, but despite having been caught, I didn’t feel inclined to duck away.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness. Seeking Miss Rosalina’s company?”
Prince Liam gave his usual love-sick sigh. “How could I possibly yearn for anyone else’s?”
“Indeed.” Ali tightened his jaw. “Is she resting in her room?”
“She is. I can’t bear our separation, so I’m waiting out here for her so I may see her the moment she emerges.”
I risked opening my door further, grateful for the well-oiled palace hinges as it swung open silently. Prince Liam kept his back towards me, but while Ali faced me, his expression didn’t betray any hint that he saw me.
I wondered if I could risk recruiting Ali’s aide for my escape plot. Aside from his frequent efforts to sabotage my love spell, he’d proven himself more friend than foe throughout our acquaintance. Would he be willing to play the part of a noble knight now?
When I caught his attention, I pointed to myself, made a walking motion with my fingers, and pointed down the opposite end of the hallway before clasping my hands to give him my best “I’m a heroine in the gravest distress” pleading look.
His expression still didn’t falter, but by the look in his eyes, I sensed his acceptance of his new accomplice role. Excellent. If my escape succeeded, I’d bake Ali a batch of cinnamon banana muffins in gratitude.
“How will you spend your romantic afternoon with Miss Rosalina?” Ali asked Prince Liam, playing his part as my accomplice well via distraction.
“Quite likely another garden stroll. How fitting I spend time with my own flower in the wondrous outdoors, considering Rosie is the most beautiful flower of all.”
“Indeed she is.”
I’d slipped from my room and was just quietly closing the door behind me when Ali’s agreement caused me to freeze. My heart flared to life as my gaze sought his, seeking an explanation, but once again he betrayed no emotion, leaving me burning with curiosity as to his meaning behind such a comment.
“She’s like my ray of sunshine after an endless night,” Prince Liam continued. I rolled my eyes as I crept down the corridor on tiptoe, only increasing my pace when I breeched the corner. From there I hurried down the hallway.
“Rosie petal?” Prince Liam’s voice drifted from the corridor I’d just escaped from. Drat, he must have seen my attempts to slip away. I had to hide before he found me. Where would the prince be least likely to look for me? I flung open a random door and discovered a cupboard. Perfect.
I settled comfortably amongst the brooms and waited. A moment later, his footsteps passed my hideout. I breathed out a sigh of relief at having succeeded in my escape but stayed still in case he returned. The thought niggled my mind that I likely shouldn’t be trying to hide from my future husband—and how once we were married, I’d never be able to get away from him—but I hastily shoved it away. Prince Liam was perfect for me. I reminded myself of this over and over, despite my beginning to no longer believe it.
Time slowly ticked away while I told myself stories, but even those quickly became tedious. I was just second-guessing the wisdom in shoving myself into such a confining cupboard and wondering how many more pages I’d be trapped here when the door suddenly flung open.
“Rosie! There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
My stomach sank. How had he found me? I peeked up at him and offered a weak, “Good afternoon, Your Highness,” all while silently cursing his uncanny skill at hide-and-seek.
His blue eyes widened as he took in my surroundings. “It’s Liam, my sweet, and goodness, what are you doing in here, darling?”
“Hiding from the dragon.”
I waited for him to play along like a certain guard would have done, but Prince Liam only laughed as he offered his hand. “There are no dragons, dearest.” He helped me to my fe
et and looped my arm through his before I could brew up another escape plot. “I’m so relieved I’ve found you. I missed you fiercely. Now that we’re reunited, shall we go for a stroll through the gardens?”
Of course he’d suggest that. We literally did nothing else together. “That sounds quite nice,” I lied. “But how about we do something else instead. Perhaps we could go to the kitchens and bake.”
He flashed his princely smile. “But petal, a flower such as yourself deserves to be somewhere where your beauty can truly shine.”
I sighed. The gardens it was. I braced myself as if we were heading for the gallows rather than the warm sunshine and splendor of the outdoors. It was amazing how quickly I’d grown to loathe the once-wondrous royal grounds. We’d only gone a few steps when Prince Liam suddenly reached for my hand.
I yanked mine away with a gasp. “What are you doing?”
“Holding your hand,” he said. “It seems appropriate, considering how we feel for one another.”
He was right, for if we were soul mates as I’d believed since the moment we’d met, hand holding seemed natural. Still I hesitated. I’d never held a man’s hand, but I’d always imagined the moment as magical as one’s first kiss. Shouldn’t the moment be more special?
Oblivious to my doubts, Prince Liam took my hand. I waited for this romantic gesture to stir the deeper feelings I’d been yearning for—ones which had been strangely absent up until this point—but still they didn’t come. Instead, I noticed all sorts of other things, like how after only a few steps, His Highness’s hand seemed rather hot and sweaty. I ached to wriggle free from his firm grip and wipe the feel of his hand away.
Once again, this was not how I’d expected my happily ever after to go, but then again, everything on this path to true love had been rather underwhelming up to this point. Perhaps it’d get better with a bit more time; it just had to.
Just as we reached the entrance hall and before we could step outside, Aiden arrived with Eileen on his arm. He froze when he saw us together, his expression fierce. “What’s going on?”
Prince Liam beamed. “I’m spending time with my Rosie petal.”
“I see.” Aiden tightened his jaw. “Have you forgotten we had a meeting a half hour ago, which I was forced to reschedule because of your absence?”
Prince Liam blinked at him. “A meeting?”
“Yes, a meeting,” Aiden snapped. “While you’ve always been irresponsible, ever since your infatuation, it’s gotten entirely out of hand. I suggest you stop mooning over Rosalina and start taking your duties more seriously.”
Prince Liam’s eyebrows rose in shock, the most coherent expression I’d seen from him since the spell began. “Of course. If I can manage to find a way to leave Rosie—”
“Find one.” Aiden’s look became dangerous. Prince Liam glanced at me, seeming on the brink of laughter, not an expression I’d expect from one being so thoroughly scolded by the Dark Prince.
“He doesn’t understand our love,” Prince Liam whispered. “I must leave you, darling petal, but please be assured my thoughts will be only focused on you.”
“They should be focused on the meeting.” Aiden stood watching, arms folded.
Prince Liam sighed. “Fine, I suppose I can spare a few thoughts on the meeting. Until afterwards, petal.” He kissed my hand and departed. Aiden watched him go through narrowed eyes before he turned the full force of his gaze to me.
“Rosalina,” he hissed, taking a menacing step closer. “This has gone on far too long. You will unspell Liam.”
I shrank beneath the sharpness of his disapproval. “But Prince Liam is my true love. I can’t just—”
“Enough,” Aiden snapped. “You will reverse that spell. He’s not only betrothed to a princess, but his infatuation is causing him to shirk his duties, and I won’t stand for it. The only reason I’ve allowed it to go on for this long is because I was convinced it would fade, which it clearly hasn’t. Enough is enough.”
“Dear.” Eileen rested a calming hand on Aiden’s arm. He glanced down at her, his expression still hard.
“What is it?”
“You’re clearly in no state to speak calmly. I’ll talk to Rosie. You go to your meeting.”
He released a long breath. “Please talk sense into her, because if I have to be the one to deal with this, she won’t like it…” Aiden swept a hasty kiss across Eileen’s cheek before leaving with long, agitated strides.
Eileen immediately turned to me, her grave expression speaking volumes. “This can’t go on, Rosie. If word of Liam’s condition leaks out, it could cause not only problems between him and his betrothed, but also for Aiden. You need to reverse the spell.”
She launched into a myriad of reasons why, but as much as I tried to pay attention, my mind quickly drifted. She didn’t need to remind me of the potential consequences of my situation—I knew I’d created quite the mess, and the situation was made all the worse considering I wasn’t sure how to wriggle myself out of it.
I sat in the parlor with Eileen, nursing a cup of tea a parlor maid had just handed to me—the very maid I was certain Ali fancied. My hand tightened around my cup as the increasingly familiar envy festered within me. I yanked my gaze away and took in the parlor, anything to distract myself. It was my favorite room in the palace—a vision of soft pastel rose walls, cream rose-carved molding accented in gold, and vases of blooming roses. My best friend sat curled up on the loveseat with her sketchbook perched on her lap and several pencils tucked into her hair.
I sipped my tea as my mind drifted to the last several days. While I’d finally achieved everything I’d always wanted, something was…missing. I was so lost in my thoughts that it took me a while to notice that Ali wasn’t at his usual guarding post. My heart jolted. Wait, where was he?
I stroked my finger along the rim of my cup as I frowned at the strange guard standing against the wall in Ali’s place. “Where’s Ali?” I asked casually.
Eileen smirked but didn’t look up from her drawing. “He’s training with a regiment of guards.”
Training? How annoying. I pursed my lips. “When will he be finished?”
Eileen shrugged. “I don’t know; Aiden deals with the guards.”
“Do you think he’ll be back by tonight to guard you at dinner? What about for tomorrow’s picnic excursion?”
Eileen finally looked up with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “It’s strange how often you notice Alastar, considering his job is to be invisible.”
“I don’t; I just noticed he wasn’t here,” I replied hotly.
“And you sure talk to him quite often,” Eileen continued, laughter in her eyes. I knew exactly what she was thinking—that I harbored feelings for Ali—but I refused to acknowledge anything to her. “And whenever he’s not around you talk about him.”
“I do not.”
She raised her eyebrow like he always did, only his was much cuter. “Are we not currently discussing Alastar?”
“No, we’re not. I just wanted to know where he was.”
“Hmm.” A smile tugged on her lips as she returned to her picture. “Rather than Prince Liam?”
I pursed my lips. I didn’t care where Prince Liam was, as long as it wasn’t with me. I returned to my tea. For the next minute I wriggled about on the sofa, trying to keep my next burning question firmly in my mouth where it belonged. Unfortunately, this battle against my slippery tongue was one I always seemed doomed to tragically lose.
“What type of guard training?”
Eileen smirked but didn’t look up. “Whose guard training, Rosie? Forgive me, I’m not sure to whom you’re referring.”
“Ali, of course,” I snapped.
“Oh, the guard we’re determinedly not talking about?”
My cheeks burned. “I’m just asking a question.”
“I see.” Her mischievous grin widened as she glanced up. “I’m afraid I don’t know the details except that all the guards go through routine train
ing exercises. Aiden would know more. We could ask him.”
“No, don’t!” That would be utterly mortifying.
“But aren’t you curious?”
Not that curious. “I’ll simply ask that elusive guard next time I see him…if he ever returns to his post.”
I glared accusingly at the replacement guard standing where Ali was supposed to be. Even with his absence, strange feelings continued poking my heart, encouraging me to examine them. I pushed them away. The storyteller had mentioned only a prince, meaning I had no reason to be thinking of Ali…but for some reason, despite not wanting to think of him, the man refused to leave my thoughts.
“Still thinking of Alastar?” Eileen asked. My cheeks flamed.
“No,” I lied, sipping my tea through pursed lips. “Why would I?”
“I just thought you’d want to think of your prince, is all. You two are very well matched, don’t you think?”
“Ali isn’t my prince!” But even as I denied it, the emotions swirling within me intensified, bathing me in warmth. It was an extremely frightening sensation. I seized a cookie from the tray to dunk into my tea; splotches splattered my gown. “Ali is as un-prince-like as anyone could possibly be. For one thing, he doesn’t look the part of a prince; not only is his hair the wrong color but so are his eyes. Hazel, Eileen. Princes are to have blue or green.”
Eileen’s forehead furrowed. “Alastar has hazel eyes?”
“Such pretty ones, just like honey. Not that I've noticed. I most certainly haven’t.”
Eileen gave me a searching look. “Indeed not.” She suddenly ceased drawing and flipped to a blank page.
“What are you doing?”
“Inspiration has just struck, and I must remain on good terms with my muse. Now tell me, Rosie, what other things about poor Alastar deem him unworthy of being your prince?”
I shoved my now thoroughly soaked cookie into my mouth, dribbling crumbs. “Princes are to have dazzling smiles—a dimple being an added bonus—but Ali is far too serious and never smiles at all. Well, he does, sort of; his lips twitch when he should be smiling, so I know he feels something behind his stoic mask, but pretends not to. And he doesn’t laugh, either. Instead he lifts his left eyebrow to mock me. He’s also the opposite of a gentleman; instead of treating me like a lady, he feels the need to ruffle me.” The warmth in my chest deepened and I smiled. “Yet he always goes along with my stories, as if we were cowriters in a never-ending tale…”
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