Loving a Prince Charming - By Danielle Monsch Page 0,25
because his desire, his love, his devotion had always belonged to a flame-haired woman who fit him, always at his side and always in the center of his soul.
His love belonged with Kira. His promise to Rosamund had been broken before it had ever been made, because he already had a true love.
The white flash of realization had not yet faded from his vision when he yelled out, “Reina! Reina!”
“No need to shout, love. I was hanging around on stand-by.”
Since she appeared out of nowhere, there was no doubt this woman was a fairy godmother, but this was not the Reina he remembered from that long ago meeting. Her skin was much darker and her hair close-cropped to her head. “Who are you?”
“I’m Laura. Reina got married and switched divisions, so I have taken over all her open cases. Let me tell you, yours was one of the more awesome ones. All the FGs are really excited to see how this turns out. Now, how can I help you?”
She spoke so quickly he almost got lost in the flow of words, but what was relevant penetrated. She was a fairy godmother, and she was here to help him. “I want to cast my wish, the one Reina promised me. I wish to be the one affected by the spell.”
Rosamund’s gasp was loud in his ear, but his focus was on Laura. The fairy godmother’s features became a study of puzzlement, her lips and brows moving in odd ways as she thought on his words. “Clarifying here—you’re saying you don’t want Rosamund to fall asleep. Instead, you want to go into Eternal Slumber?”
He nodded. “Exactly. I know you can’t change the spell and I don’t want a single condition of the spell changed. What I want is to be the one it affects.”
Laura held up a forefinger. “One moment, please. I have to double-check on something.” Laura pulled out a wand from the side of her skirt and tapped it against her forehead, her eyes closing in concentration.
Rosamund pulled at his hand. “Don’t do this. I never wanted you to do this, not for me.”
Seth removed his hand from her grip and stroked her cheek. She was as smooth as porcelain, but he preferred the rough vibrancy that marked Kira. “Promise me that you’ll go on that picnic. Better yet, jump in that lake. Make sure you start at the shallow end.”
“I’ve finished conversing with my supervisor.” Laura’s voice broke through and both Seth and Rosamund turned toward the dark-skinned fairy godmother. “Seems the switch is a go. Say goodnight, Prince Charming.”
Lethargy infused his limbs and his vision blurred. He closed his eyes, but when he opened them again he was on the bed, his legs too long for the mattress.
Rosamund was crying. He tried to lift his arm to wipe away her tears, but no hand reached her face. His limbs wouldn’t obey the commands of his brain. “You shouldn’t have done this,” she kept saying. “Why did you do this?”
“Don’t cry.” That was his voice? It was so small, so far away. How could he lead his kingdom with a voice as unimpressive as that? Focus. Focus on Rosamund. “It will be all right. I have a true love and she’s going to be here soon. And if a dragon is dumb enough to stand in her way? She’ll hand him his ass.”
Not to mention his ass was in trouble. Kira was going to be so upset with him over this. But… His eyes slid shut, impossible to keep open anymore.
But first I’m going to get another kiss.
Chapter Eleven
Kira should have been riding, as hard and as fast as she could push her horse to go.
Instead, she did what? Waited just outside the town, where she would have a spectacular view of Seth and Rosamund when they entered and proclaimed to all that the curse was over and their wedding would be forthcoming.
The cheers would be deafening.
She picked up a rock and threw it hard against the trunk of the tree across from her. The thunk was hardly satisfying, and she looked around for a bigger one.
Then vibrations began under her feet, and within moments it went from a low buzz to throwing her around like a ragdoll and knocking her into the tree. She wrapped her arms around the trunk to stabilize herself just as the last vibration hit, and the ground stilled once again.
What was that? And then came the answer as a roar bellowed over the