by Danielle Monsch, Cate Rowan, Jennifer Lewis, Jeannie Lin, Nadia Lee, Dee Carney
Melinda raised a hand. “Excuse me.”
The entire court turned to her.
“It’s nice to like…I don’t know, witness a heartwarming family reunion, but shouldn’t you be more worried about other things?”
“I’m not at all worried,” the Evil Witch said. “I’m sure my sister is.”
Everyone looked at Fairy Godmother.
“Ah, well.” She shrugged and adjusted a ruffle on her dress. “I’m sure we’ll find a suitable princess for Edward soon.”
“Will you? I added another condition to the curse.”
“True love conquers all, baby sister.”
The crowd nodded approvingly, but the Evil Witch pointed at Edward. “Love? More like charity. Just look at him! Who could possibly love an animal like that?”
Beauty raised her eyes to Edward and made a keening noise of distress, her sobs redoubling. Edward looked at her and growled in frustration. Melinda, watching them both, found herself stepping forward. “I could.”
All heads swiveled her way.
“What!” the Evil Witch exclaimed.
“I could. Love him, that is.” Melinda swallowed, suddenly nervous. “As a matter of fact, I already do.”
“What a fool you are. Don’t you know he’ll be a Beast until he can make an honorable choice contrary to his self-interest? Do you think that will happen anytime soon? Ha! You might as well wish for Frog Prince to sprout wings and fly!”
“That can be arranged,” Fairy Godmother said.
“No.”
Edward had risen to his full (and very impressive) height. Everyone looked at him, and Melinda’s heart began hammering. What did he mean no?
“Melinda, I cannot allow you to make such a choice. You deserve a happily ever after of your own.”
“So?”
“You cannot have it with me.”
“Why not, Edward?”
“Because…” He heaved a sigh. “You shouldn’t be with something like me. You should be with someone who’s better. Who’s not a beast. Not…cursed.” His shoulders slumped and he whispered, “Someone like Charming.”
“But I don’t want Charming, silly. I want you.” She went to him and held his huge clawed paw in her hands. “Remember how you said all happily ever afters are hard work? Well, you were right. I…I thought they weren’t, and I thought my own would just magically happen for me one day. I was just waiting for something good to come my way.”
Confusion clouded his emerald eyes.
“Now I’m tired of waiting. I want to reach out and take it.”
“That is…welcome news indeed,” he said slowly.
“I know. That’s why I’m going to hold onto you.”
“Melinda.” He gently disengaged his paw. “You promised you won’t give up on your happily ever after.”
Melinda shook her head, flushing at the memory of their kiss. “I’m not.”
The entire court gallery sighed. Knights made ready to assist.
“This is ludicrous!” the Evil Witch said, stamping her foot. Melinda hoped her glass shoe would break, but it was probably enchanted or something. “Get a room, you two! We have minors here. And stop lying for the sake of your audience.” She turned to face the crowd. “He is making a false choice to trick us.” She walked toward Edward until she was standing a hairsbreadth away and glared up at him. “Selfish arrogant nephew, your lies don’t fool me.”
“Look!” The judge pointed at the soft glow of fairy dust that was coalescing around Edward. “His Highness is changing.”
He was right. Light shimmered around Edward, and the fur and mane fell to the floor, exposing human skin. His face began to shrink and reform, and the Evil Witch stared at him with her mouth open.
“Well! It looks as if magic knows the truth,” Fairy Godmother said with a smile.
“No!” The Evil Witch turned to Fairy Godmother. “I won’t stand for this! You’re cheating somehow!”
Fairy Godmother shook her head. “It’s your curse, sister. I haven’t done anything. I swear it.”
“The beacon is weakening. Argh!” The Evil Witch pulled at her hair. “I’m stuck here again!”
The prosecutor stood up, pulling at his collar. “Ah, ahem. If it pleases the court, I recommend that all charges against Miss Lightfoot be dropped. It seems she has done us a great service.”
The crowd cheered, and the Evil Witch turned a dull, poisonous red. (People remembering the event years later said that she somewhat resembled a certain vegetable, but no one would say the name of the vegetable aloud.)
Edward and Melinda held each other. Fairy Godmother turned her attention to a dejected Beauty. “Poor child, you’ve gone through so much. I do apologize…but I think there may be a solution.”
She looked to a particular spot in the gallery, and a large frog jumped off of its chair, the crown on its head falling and rolling along the floor. It hopped through the balustrade, under the prosecutor’s table and to Beauty’s feet. She picked it up in one hand and stared at it, her tears finally beginning to dry. Melinda had never thought that amphibians had much in the way of expression, but this one kind of looked hopeful.
“Let us convene a council to discuss the matter,” Fairy Godmother said. “Methinks Beauty deserves a happily ever after.” She glanced at her apoplectic younger sister over a shoulder. “Would you like to join us? Your council seat is still available.”
“Oh, I suppose.” The Evil Witch grabbed Beauty’s free hand. “Come along, we’re going to discuss your fate. Perhaps I should give you a pox so that you and that toad will match.”
“He’s a frog, not a toad,” Beauty said, but it was lost in the Evil Witch’s muttering.
When the crowd had gone, Edward took Melinda’s hand. “Are you sure this is your decision? You may not be able to return to your world. Your ‘Charger’ and dwelling and so on…what are you going to do?”
“It’s not as difficult as you make it sound. We overcame the Evil Witch, Edward. We can do anything.” She put her arms around his neck and gave him a big smile. “My love, I have everything I want as long as you’re with me.”
…and they lived happily ever after.
The End
Thank You
Thank you for reading A Happily Ever After of Her Own. I hope you enjoyed it. The Ever After series continues with One Kiss (A retelling of The Frog Prince).
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Titles by Nadia Lee
Ever After Series
Book 1: A Happily Ever After of Her Own (A retelling of Beauty and the Beast)
Book 2: One Kiss (A retelling of The Frog Prince)
Billionaires in Love Series
Book 1: Vengeful in Love
Book 2: Reunited in Love
Book 3: Redemption in Love
Book 3.5: Sweet in Love
Book 4: Forever in Love
Book 5: Merry in Love
The Pryce Family Series
Book 1: The Billionaire’s Counterfeit Girlfriend
Book 2: The Billionaire’s Holiday Obsession
Book 3: The Billionaire’s Secret Wife
About Nadia Lee
Bilingual former management consultant Nadia Lee has lived in four different countries and enjoyed
many adventures and excellent food around the globe. In the last eight years, she has kissed stingrays, got bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
She shares an apartment overlooking a river and palm trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found digging through old Asian historical texts or planning another trip.
To learn more about Nadia and her projects, please visit nadialee.net. To receive updates about upcoming works from Nadia, please visit nadialee.net to subscribe to her newsletter.
A Happily Ever After of Her Own
Copyright © 2009 by Hyun J Kyung
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
http://www.nadialee.net
Kiss That Frog
A Modern Fairy Tale
Cate Rowan
In this romantic fairy tale remix, a cynical Los Angeles artist reluctantly pet-sits for her young niece’s frog and discovers magic in the terrarium—in the form of a sexy enchanted prince.
This novelette with a Regency time-travel twist is 12,000 words/45 pages. Cate Rowan’s sensuous fantasy romances have won more than thirty awards.
Praise for Kiss That Frog
“What little girl (and big girl) hasn’t kissed their share of frogs hoping to have their prince appear? A fun, fast-paced, enjoyably modern fairy tale.”
—Sizzling Hot Books
“An enchanting good time!”
—Manic Reader Reviews
Praise for Cate Rowan
“If you love magic and romance, you will love Rowan’s books.”
—The Pen & Muse Book Reviews
“Cate Rowan is a writing force to be reckoned with.”
—Smexy Books
“Rowan is definitely an author to watch!”
—Alyssa Day, New York Times bestselling author
“Utterly delicious fantasy. Better than chocolate!”
—Kendra Leigh Castle
Kiss That Frog
A Modern Fairy Tale
‡
Kingdom of Nemerre, 1820
When Prince Alexander spied the glowing tip of the witch’s wand, he knew his day was about to be shot to hell.
Not that it wasn’t bad already. Having twenty prospective brides staying in the castle and stalking his every movement was exceptionally bothersome. But his father’s word was law, and King Julian was not a man most cared to cross—even Alexander. Not even when the king’s dictate forced Alexander to become prey within the walls of his own home.
He enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, and the latest prospective princess and her duchess mother had cornered him in the solar, where he often secluded himself with a good book after a morning’s ride. Unfortunately, there was only one exit from that room, and the ladies were blocking it. This was a nuisance, especially since the mother had just revealed herself to be of the witchly persuasion.
“Your Grace,” Alexander said, with all the civility he could muster, “your daughter is lovely indeed, and I am fortunate to be honored by her visage.” He began to maneuver slowly around them, and suppressed a wince when his polished boots squeaked against each other. “It’s simply that I’m not of marriageable mind at this time.”
“Harrumph,” said the duchess witch, and her wand glowed brighter still. “I’ve not traveled all these miles to hear that.” She tossed her head, sending her chestnut curls over her shoulder and displaying the fire and beauty that must have caught the old duke’s eye years ago. “My Jesynne’s lineage is a fine match for yours, and you’ll take her to wife.”
Alexander’s gaze slid to the daughter, whose milky face and flaxen locks were indeed pretty, but her muddy eyes held all the zest and intelligence of a fence post. Under her mother’s watchful eye, Jesynne simpered, and Alexander’s stomach tied itself into the first knot of dread.
“As it happens, ladies, while my father believes it’s come time for me to wed…” He eased himself closer to the half-open door… “I’ve not yet reached that conclusion, myself. He may have acted a bit hastily in his zeal.”
He was nearly level with the ladies now; only a few more feet to the doorway, so he continued to babble. “Be assured you have my complete apologies for any inconvenience. I’ll direct my secretary to reimburse your travel costs, and to notify you when the proper time for a courtship does arrive. I’ll be charmed to see Lady Jesynne again.” He screwed up his face and sent the poor half-wit the most charming smile he could muster under pressing circumstances, and then reached for the door…
“Nay, Your Highness, you’ll be marrying her now.” The duchess witch punctuated the remark with a jerk of her wand.
Damn and blast. “Ah, well, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. My father is out hunting, and he’d be rather affronted if I were to wed in his absence. But when he returns this eve I could, indeed, speak to him of the suitability of such a match.” In truth, he’d be pleading for his father to remove them from the vicinity. Having a witch in the family had been known to cause as much harm as good, and he was certain his father wouldn’t have knowingly invited a witch in with the rest of the marriage mob, duchess or no.
“On the contrary,” said the witch in a singsong voice that tightened the second knot of dread, “I doubt the king will mind a wedding, since he filled your castle with hopeful brides. It’s simply that my daughter is the winner. Jesynne,” she barked, “stand beside him. I’ll fetch the priest.”
She waved her wand in the shape of a cross and Father Kelles appeared, clearly flustered by his sudden travel; he stumbled back, knocking one of Alexander’s favorite paintings askew. He seemed to be just awake from a nap, one boot on and the other missing, with that stocking puddled at his ankle. Fortunately, his tunic and belt were on and he was reasonably presentable. Not that these ladies cared overmuch for proprieties.
“Father,” the witch said, “you’re to marry the prince to Lady Jesynne.”
The priest stared at her wand with widening eyes and then swiveled toward Alexander. “Your Highness?”
Heavens. If only Nemerre required marriage banns, or some other convenient way to delay a wedding for a few weeks. For the first time, Alexander wished he were the heir to France. “Hold, please, Father Kelles.” He turned and spread his palms. “I think we may still have a misunderstanding here. Your Grace, as I’ve said—”
“Now.”
The witch was clearly not fond of diplomacy. Alexander turned to the maiden. “Lady Jesynne,” he began, hoping she might be more amenable than her mother. “Would it not be better—”
“I’m to become a princess today,” she confided shyly to him, as if he hadn’t been standing here throughout the fracas.
He shut his mouth, his insides churning with sympathy. Clearly Lady Jesynne was too dim to realize the coercion involved. Even the scent that wafted from her was as young and sugary as candy.
And yet her simple mind might be easier for her, considering her mother’s ways and the complications of the world.
“Begin, Father,” said the witch.
“Your Grace.” Alexander pulled himself up to his full height, a head above all the others. “This headlong rush simply won’t do. When the king returns from the hunt—”
“You wish time to change your mind?” she said. “I think not.”
“Change my mind?” He couldn’t help a flare of temper at long last, for there had been a wealth of provocation. “I never said yes.”
The duchess witch stepped toward him, her wand’s tip blazing like an ember from Beelzeb
ub’s furnace. “Am I to understand you’re saying no?” Her voice resembled the growl of a rabid bear.
Would it be so bad to be married to a pretty fence post? Certainly Jesynne would never engage his mind, except in sympathy, nor offer more than a sweet and empty face when he looked at her. He had known some other men content with that.
But it was far from what he’d want in a wife, and in the princess who’d stand by him: the wit to match him, the brains to rule with him, and the heart to love him. Nor did this mental child in a woman’s body deserve an empty marriage to someone who’d think of his marital duties with her as just that: a duty.
The third knot of dread formed, taut and implacable. In good conscience, he could not depart the narrow path of his principles, no matter the circumstances—or the cost.
“Madame,” he said, letting his voice ring through the room as sternly as his forefathers’ on the eve of battle, “that is precisely what I’m saying.”
And so Alexander’s fate was sealed with the witch’s wand.
*
Modern-Day West Los Angeles
“You want me to watch what while you’re away?” Sofia Couronne halted in the messy living room of her modest, one-bedroom apartment and gripped the smartphone tighter.
“Toad. My frog.” Through the video chat, her angelic blonde, seven-year-old niece Livia gave one of those smiles Sofia usually found impossible to resist.
But not for lack of trying. “Oh, no,” Sofia said. “Unh-unh. I don’t know anything about frogs. I’m sure you have a friend who could—”
“Everyone’s away for vacation, and Mom said I can’t take him on the plane.”