Curse of Magic (The Fairy Tale Enchantress, #2)

by K.M. Shea

“The term to ending your curse is this: you must perform the deepest, darkest desire of your heart.”

“Angelique,” whispered a voice that sounded like his own. Evariste froze. “You must give Angelique a kiss of true love.”

“Angelique, you were Evariste’s student for fourteen years. He jokingly referred to me as your joint child. If your bond isn’t strong enough for the spell to work, no relationship would be able to weather it.”

Falling in love when your country is on the line seems impractical and silly.” Puss twitched his whiskers. “I’m not surprised to hear you say so. You have the romantic sense of an angry badger.”

“Naturally,” Puss said. “I retain the right to criticize your husband no matter what circumstance, or there will be a terrible imbalance to his ego.”

“The Veneno Conclave’s strength lies in its size. It gives them the ability to do large things and achieve peace with the greater power backing it,” Clovicus said. “Unfortunately, its size is also its greatest weakness as it takes a great deal to get the Conclave moving.”

“Please.” Angelique smiled. “They are not what I was searching for, and I have no use for them.” In other words, let me pawn my unnecessary belongings off on you, please.

“That’s a basilisk!” Prince Touchy-Feely shouted. “Thank you, Manual for Field Identification of Magical Creatures,” Steffen drawled. “Have any other useful tidbits to share?” “It’s poisonous, and there’s no way we can outrun it,” said Straight-Nosed Twin. Smashed-Nose Twin flung a dagger at it, which bounced off the scales of its back. “Seems like it’s impervious to blades.” He scratched his broken nose as he peered at the hissing creature. “The softest scales are on its underbelly,” Prince Touchy-Feely said. “Aim there.”

What’s Evariste’s apprentice doing here?” “She was ordered to appear before us,” Primrose loudly said so the elderly enchanter could hear her. “For putting all of Ciane under a sleeping enchantment.” “What a terrible idea.” Lazare yawned and scratched his beard. “Would have been far easier to sink it underwater.” Tristisim shifted a disturbed gaze to Lazare, but Primrose merely patted the old man’s hands. “She’s here because she broke our core belief and involved herself with country politics.” Lazare squinted in the light. “I thought we called her here because she scares us with her sheer amount of power, and we have to keep her in line.” Hallowed Hall was silent for several long and uncomfortable moments.