Page 20 of The Mage and His Stolen Prince
“Dammit, you mean I did that fornothing?”
“Not for nothing,” the Grand Chancellor declared. “You’ve earned a certain amount of notoriety, which I understand evil mages like yourself value. You’ve also earned yourself a lovely stay in an imprisonment crystal.” He reached below his podium and pulled out a pale pink, foot-tall tower crystal.
“No.” Brutus backed away from the Grand Chancellor, but there was nowhere for him to go. Good wizards surrounded him on all sides, trapping him within the arena. “No! I will not be imprisoned in apink crystal!”
The end of the word ‘crystal’ stretched into a long wail as the evil mage was sucked inside. A few seconds later, a black smear appeared in the center of the crystal and the structure oozed impotent malevolence.
“You will remain in our custody during our investigation,” the Grand Chancellor explained to the crystal.
Then he turned his focus onto the council members themselves. “We need to understandexactlywhat is going on inside that pocket dimension. Any volunteers?”
Every good wizard remained silent.
Good wizards did not go on quests. They nudgedotherpeople to go on quests for them.
The Good Wizard sighed. He would regret this, buthisspell was the one about to collapse. “I’ll go.”
Besides, he needed to teach that bratty apprentice a lesson—never touch a wizard’s beard.
Chapter Seven: Wilde
Present Day, Using the Term Loosely
The Kingdom of Misfortune, Also Using the Term Loosely
Plan C
I’d wasted too much time on legitimate employment and received nothing in return. Aside from witnessing a ridiculous engagement that should never have happened. Trey hadn’t even learned my alias’s name, let alone my real one. I would not make that mistake again.
I needed to join their quest. Last time, Trey asked for my help and used the opportunity to introduce me to the others as his boyfriend. When he’d come up with our fake relationship on his own, it’d given me some hope that, despite the arguments and his generally rotten attitude, perhaps he liked me, just a little bit.
Everything had gone so well the first time, up until the end.
The second time, everything started terribly and ended worse.
The difference was obvious—I had a connection to Treasurebeforethe quest began. Since I’d failed to recreate that relationship with him, I had to create it with someone else.
The easiest target—the one who wasn’t about to set off on an exhausting journey to another kingdom—was Prince Fitzroy. Though I hadn’t spent much time with him on the first quest, I knew one thing: the quickest way into this prince’s good graces was through books.
Although no one should remember me, Delilah had reacted to me. Since I still didn’t knowwhyshe recognized me, I had to be more cautious this time. During the first quest, everyone had learned my identity—and who my master was. I had to reduce the chances of Fitz recognizing me.
Glamours were the quickest forms of disguise. Unfortunately, there were a dozen ways for a glamour to fail: the image could flicker; someone could have uncanny sight; someone could touch you and realize your true features didn’t match your appearance.
And I very much wanted Treasure to touch me, no matter what I looked like.
I’d always preferred practical disguise methods. The right hair, makeup, clothes, and voice could bring a whole person into existence.
I paused in the street to check my reflection in a store’s window. Long, wavy blond hair hung over my shoulders, with a tiny silver barrette tucking it behind my left ear. The over-sized circle glasses made my eyes smaller and softened my face. I touched the corner of one lip, cleaning off a smear of pink lipstick. I’d chosen a high-necked blouse with a ruffled front to hide my lack of cleavage, and a black circle skirt to hide my narrower hips. I’d been tempted to add heels but didn’t want to hinder my movement if I needed to run unexpectedly.
What would Treasure think if he saw me like this?I didn’t know Trey’s preferences, if he liked women at all. He certainly hadn’t pulled away from Angelica when she’d laid her claim to him. The thought creased my brow and tightened my jaw, giving my new face an unwanted harshness.
Think softer thoughts, I scolded.Books. Silk sheets. Tangling my fingers through Treasure’s curls.
Holding on to the idea of softness, I continued to my destination: The Luckless Library, the largest public library in Misfortune.
The double doors of the front entrance were thrown open, inviting everyone to come inside, not caring if they were prince or pauper, student or curious child. I’d spent hundreds of days in libraries just like this, hoarding books on magic, tucking myself into corners where no one would find me until closing time.
As I stepped inside the Luckless Library, I realized none of the ones I’d visited were this grand. A mosaic of the sun crawled across the ceiling, inching forward like a ticking clock, enchanted to tell the time of day. Since the Kingdom Defense Spell had exiled most magic users, the enchantment either pre-dated the spell, or it’d been cast by a good wizard.
