Hearing the news, Karina’s blood turned to ice. “Who said that? Your father?”
“Yes, and the king. They’re going to try to find a wizard to help,” Mariselle added and bit her lower lip. “I forgot his name.”
“Gaylen?” Karina asked, looking at the message.
“Yes. That’s it.” Mariselle frowned. “Papa always said that Angelique was nothing more than a fairy tale. Why did he lie?” she asked, setting the basket of kittens down on the floor. Mariselle opened up the lid and they instantly began crawling all over each other to try and get out.
“He didn’t want you to be frightened.” She looked down at the kittens, who were racing across the floor to investigate their new surroundings. “Why are there four? You were only supposed to pick out one.”
“I know, but they need each other. Anyway, Papa said it was okay,” Mariselle said, picking the black one up. She tried snuggling him against her neck, but the kitten was far too excited about exploring and put up a struggle.
“I’m sure he did after a little persuasion from you,” Karina said, putting the message on the table.
Mariselle set the antsy kitten down. “King Edward said that Angelique might be back for revenge. Did she really get banned from the kingdom?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
“Why?”
Karina walked over to the bean pottage she had bubbling over the fire. She picked up the ladle and began stirring it. “For disobeying the king and breaking the laws of the land.”
“Was it true that she practiced dark magic?”
“From what I hear, yes.”
“Is she going to try and kill the king?” The very idea was too terrifying for Mariselle to imagine. If he was murdered, what would happen to the royal family or… the kingdom for that matter?
Karina threw up her hands in frustration. “Gah, all of these questions. Don’t worry about Angelique. They’ll find Gaylen and he’ll take care of her.”
She knew her mother was frustrated, but Mariselle still felt like something bad was about to happen. “Is he more powerful then Angelique?”
“Gaylen is the one who made her disappear in the first place. Now, enough. Remember when I said that it’s rude to pester people with too many questions? That goes for your mother as well,” she said wearily.
“I’m sorry,” Mariselle replied, lowering her eyes.
“I’m sure your father will be able to explain more about what’s going on when he comes home. Now, you’re going to need to do something with those kittens. Bring them out to the barn before it gets too dark outside.”
Mariselle began to protest.
“Mariselle,” Karina scolded. “They’ll be fine out there.”
“What if a wolf gets to them or some other wild animal? They’re so little and helpless.”
“The chickens and the ducks haven’t had any problems. I’m sure they’ll be just fine. Show them to their new home and then come back inside for supper.”
Mariselle sighed and then gathered up the kittens, who were still exploring the kitchen. She brought them out to the barn and let them out of the basket. As she watched them wander away, Mariselle made a decision.
If her mother wouldn’t allow the kittens in the house, she would sneak out and sleep in the barn with them.
Feeling better, she carried each of them over to where the water trough was and then ran back into their cottage.
“How did they like their new home?” Karina asked as she set a bowl of stew in front of Mariselle.
“They were frightened to death of being out there,” she said with a wide-eyed stare.
Karina bit back a smile. “Oh, they told you that, did they?”
“No, but I could tell from their expressions.”
Shaking her head in amusement, Karina sat down. “You’re going to be a good mother someday, Mariselle. I can tell already.”
She smiled. “I’m a mother already. To my kittens.”
Karina nodded. “Indeed you are.”
They held hands, said Grace, and then ate supper.
3
ANGELIQUE WAITED UNTIL nightfall before returning to Castle Rothhaven, this time as a raven. Revenge had compelled her to return to the place where her dreams had been shattered, and her heart broken, by a man who’d once promised her the world, but instead took hers away. If only she’d known how quickly he would turn on her after Gaylen filled his head with lies, accusing Angelique of performing Black Magic. Instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt, he’d believed the wizard’s accusations, banishing her from the kingdom and everything she cared about.
But now, she was back to make sure that Gaylen would get what was coming to him. As for the man who’d broken her heart, King Edward, she’d vowed long ago to strike back at him, too. She just didn’t know if she’d have the willpower to do it now that she’d actually returned. Part of her still loved him and always would. Of course, even if he fell down to his knees and asked for forgiveness, she wouldn’t give it to him. Her pride wouldn’t allow it. Couldn’t.
Angelique landed on Griffin’s balcony. He was a handsome lad who would, no doubt, be a heartbreaker like his father. The other boys were also attractive, as was the princess with her lily white skin and jet black hair. In fact, Princess Eva looked a lot like her father, although she had her mother’s eyes. Angelique wanted to hate them all, and was admittedly jealous of Queen Lizbeth, but she mostly felt sadness and regret. If things had gone differently, she would have not only been the mother of his children, but the queen of all of Syracuse.
Finding the prince’s chamber empty, she transformed from raven to mouse and went in search of the king. She was curious as to whether Aiden had mentioned seeing her in the courtyard, the night before, and what his reaction had been. Of course, Angelique had made sure to turn into something terrifying to really cause a stir: a black dragon. She had to admit, seeing the shocked look on the boy’s face had been quite amusing.
Angelique wandered through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, preparing herself mentally for what would come very soon - the confrontation between herself and Gaylen. As before, his arrogance would make him believe that he still had the upper hand. This time, however, things would end much differently. Especially now that she had the Wand of Aberdeen. She’d been gifted the magical item by the Goddess of Witchcraft herself, Hecate, after serving her for the last twenty years. It happened after the newly appointed King, her beloved Edward, had banished Angelique from Syracuse. She could still remember that fateful night; Hecate had taken her under her wing after finding her sobbing in the Forest of Ezernon and learning of Gaylen’s treachery.
“It does not surprise me that he’s up to his old tricks,” Hecate had said, a disgusted look on her face. “My question is why does he hate you so much?”
“I don’t think that he wants Edward to marry me.”
“You’re not a noble. The king would never marry you and even Gaylen must realize that.”
Her words had cut Angelique deeply. Of course, Hecate had been just stating the facts. Both she and her mother, Beverly, had been mere peasants, working in the castle. Beverly, a cook, and Angelique, a chambermaid. Still, Edward had once claimed that he’d loved her, before being crowned King of Syracuse, and there hadn’t been any talk of him being betrothed to another. If anything, she’d been invited into his chamber more than ever after taking his rightful place on the throne, after the death of his father.
“Still, Gaylen must feel threatened by you, somehow. You’re very beautiful,” the goddess said, eyeing her curiously. “Did you ever refuse any advances from him?”
“No.”
Gaylen had never even given her the time of day, let alone tried to woo her. And if he had, she would have never let him touch her. The wizard gave her the creeps. Not only was he quite homely with his long, pointy nose, beady black eyes, and oversized chin, but there was an evilness about him that always gave her the chills.
“What of your mother?”
“She died last year. The plague.”
“I’m sorry. You were close?