Page 80 of The Dark Prince
I swallowed my retorts back angrily. It was safer for Tyr and Arne if she thought he was truly dead.
Which he might be.
I ignored the pain in my heart and stepped forward. “I want you to place a curse for me.”
The witch laughed and clapped her hands together like a little girl who’d just gotten a pony for her birthday.
“Splendid, splendid! I am in a fine mood. Perhaps you would like a new husband, eh? A handsome one this time? We could find you arealprince! I will rule as queen and make you my daughter if that one dies! Together, we will find you the perfect match!”
I stopped, her reaction throwing me off. Aella writhed on the ground near her, her body wracked with poison. My brain started spinning scenarios and motivations, and I realized my plans would have to change.
I sat at her legs, looking up at her with what I hoped was adoration. “Really? My mother died when I was young,” I admitted quietly.
The witch tutted and gently stroked my hair. “Poor dear. Just like my pretty niece. I feel somewhat responsible. I sent that nasty Dark Prince to your home, after all. I never expected him to bringyouback. But perhaps it was all for the best?”
The desperate hope shining in her eyes had me push her further.
“I’m sorry I stabbed you!” I wailed, hugging her legs as if she were the only person in the world who mattered. I shuddered at her touch, the amount of magick swirling around her making my skin itch. Hopefully she mistook my disgust for terror.
The witch patted my head fondly. “Now, now, it’s all water under the bridge. You are a fierce little thing; I appreciate that.”
Then she did the most extraordinary thing—she gathered up the edge of her cloak, and wrapped it around my shoulders, as though she were protecting me from the world. As though she hadn’t caused all my pain and suffering.
My tears were real, even if the emotions behind them weren’t what she thought. I leaned into her and sobbed my heart out. All of my fear, all of my frustration, and all of my rage laid bare before her.
She cooed, taking it all in like a goblet of cold water on a hot day.
“I will grant you a boon, my poor dear. Anything you desire, and it shall be yours.”
My heart raced. This was what I had wanted. Arne had coached me on what to say next. I opened my mouth, but the witch beat me to it.
“All we have to do first is tidy up our messes.”
The witch clapped her hands, and Tyr appeared before us, just as still and unmoving as he had when I’d left him with Arne. Unlike then, however, his chest was rising and falling.
I couldn’t hide my gasp.
The witch frowned. “The Dark Prince found a witch of his own. No matter. This only makes things easier, don’t you see?”
The witch continued to stroke my hair as if I were a favored pet. I froze with fear.
“Simply kill him now, and I’ll know you’re sincere in everything you’ve said. It’s an easy thing, really. He kidnapped you and forced you into this marriage, after all.”
I’m sure my face went white even as I struggled to maintain an uncaring expression. Aella crawled toward me from the corner. “No! Don’t!” she called out, but the witch flung out a hand at her and she cracked back into the stone wall head first. She slid to the ground, unmoving.
The king’s beast whimpered, and I noticed him for the first time huddled next to the witch’s throne. I had seconds to figure out how I was going to act. My brain was spinning so fast I could barely think, so I stopped trying. I simply closed my eyes and let it spin. Two seconds passed, maybe three, and it stopped.
I opened my eyes.
I knew what I had to do.
“Change him back first,” I demanded, my voice as cold as Tyr’s vast territory.
The witch cocked her head to the side, frowning.
“He kidnapped me, like you said,” I explained. “After my step-sister refused to marry him, she made me change into her dress and pose as her, thinking the Dark Prince would call off the wedding after that. Quite the plan, wasn’t it? She said I was too ugly for him. Only he was too desperate for anyone, wasn’t he?” The self-loathing in my voice wasn’t an act. It still hurt how my step family had thrown me away. I cleared my throat and continued.
“He showed me what was under his mask. He had me in his bed. I want my life back,” I cried, tears easily coming to me as they poured down my cheeks. None of my emotions were false. Nothing that I said was a lie. I simply let her interpret it all as she wanted. “I want to look into his eyes and see his face as it all ends.”
