heart.
“Come out, come out,” I called and then slowed to listen to her steps. She was one row over, and I had enough glances to know it was the same child who confronted me the night before.
Her breathless laugh came through the thick bushes before turning into a shrill scream.
Chapter Four
My heart thumped in fear as I raced down the row, unable to find the path that would take me to her. I raised my hand, commanding the vines to unfold and the tree to pull back, and a path opened through the hedge for me to pass through. I found her on the ground, her legs pulled up to her and a black-and-white diamond-backed adder raised to strike. Its hood flared in warning, mouth open in a hiss.
“Incendium,” I murmured, and the adder burned and turned to ash. I felt the world shift, as if it were pulling away from me, a magical shunning or recoil as it disapproved of my actions to kill so easily.
I kneeled by the young girl. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, but I could see the faint scratches from thorns across her arms and skin. With a quick spell, I ran my fingers across the cuts and they healed.
“Can you walk?” Again a headshake. “I’m going to carry you, okay?”
Her eyes went wide; she couldn’t look away from the pile of ash that was the remains of the adder. I picked up the girl, but my skirt that I had just spent an hour adding length to was now too long and hindered my steps. Gently, I placed her back on the ground and regretfully tore off the edge of my servant skirt to expose my ankles, knowing I was really ripping my green gown.
She wrapped her wrists around my neck, and I carried her back out of the hedgerows, never making a turn, just whispering to the plants and bushes to move out of my way. Through each row we passed, I heard her squeak of fear as she watched the hedge close up on itself again.
My eyes closed and I bit my lips when I heard her utter the word “witch” again.
“What’s your name?” I asked as I stepped through another row of hedges. We had to be nearing the edge soon.
“Ameline.”
“That’s a beautiful name,” I murmured. “I’m—”
“I know who you are,” she said impudently, but immediately regretted her tone and cast her eyes down.
After trudging through the next row, we were through the maze, and I came out one hundred feet from the entrance to the palace. Turning, I adjusted my course across the lawn to head to the doors, but none other than Prince Xander was standing at the fountain, scanning the grounds.
“Ameline!” he cried out in alarm. “Are you all right? What happened?”
She began to pout, and even though she had been calm mere moments before, the waterworks turned on for Prince Xander.
The light of day did not diminish his looks but highlighted them, accentuating his tan skin. His brows furrowed and he glared at me, taking her roughly from my arms. “Explain yourself,” he snapped. His eyes were bloodshot, and I would dare guess that he was sporting a terrible headache from his drinking last night. It was obvious he remembered me very clearly, based on the heated glance he gave me and the hatred that was now rolling off him in waves.
My cheeks burned in embarrassment, but I was able to gather my thoughts. “I was playing with Ameline, and we were startled by a Sion adder.”
“You must be mistaken. There are no such adders in our land.”
I scowled and snapped. “I can only tell you what I saw, and I don’t lie.”
“Then show me this creature.” He carefully put Ameline down on the stone path and took a step toward the maze.
My heart plummeted and I murmured, “It’s gone.” There was no way he would look upon a pile of ash and believe I, a young maid, had destroyed this enchanted creature on my own. He would surely call me a liar.
Xander sighed and looked up at the palace; then his face darkened and his voice became bitter. “It must be the curse brought on by the daughter of Eville. Only she could bring forth such a creature.”
“Oh really?” I said in disbelief. I balled my hands into fists, ready to summon forth a fire elemental into his trousers, but he wasn’t finished with his tirade.
“First my marriage is ruined, then Florin arrives, and now