One Kiss (9 page)

Shocked, Robert stared at the high lord. Could the Lustreans recognize him solely from his voice? A tiny ray of hope appeared. Perhaps things would yet work out. Well…to some extent, as the curse would remain without the kiss. “You are correct, Lord Kelsey. I am Robert of Lustrea.”

Another lord said, “How can we be sure? The prince disappeared years ago. I’ve forgotten what his voice was like.”

“I was cursed,” Robert explained. “Surely there must be others among you who remember me. You, Viscount? Or you, Lord Sirran?”

“Don’t listen to that charlatan! He certainly is not my cousin!” John cried, addressing the high lords. “He is an evil wizard, trying to trick the princess into kissing him, so that she will be bewitched into marrying him instead. In this underhanded manner he can become a prince by marriage, perhaps to take over this kingdom.” He put a hand delicately to his chest. “Lords, my beloved cousin Robert, rest his soul, is dead. If he weren’t, he would’ve returned to us by now to claim what is rightfully his. It breaks my heart, but as the next heir my duty is clear. I must accept the crown, willingly though I would give it up if only I could see my dear cousin returned to us safe and healthy.”

“I’m not dead!” Robert started hopping in anger then stopped—drat the frog habit. Did the high lords really buy his cousin’s ridiculous act? Did they truly believe him dead without any evidence? “If Serenia had been an honorable woman, my curse could have been undone, and I would stand before you all as a man once again. But she is not, so the point is now moot. Still, will you accept me as I am and allow me to inherit?”

The high lords shifted, unable to meet his gaze. “Ahem.” An old duke cleared his throat. “Difficult, inasmuch as we cannot be sure that you are indeed Prince Robert. Sir Frog, would you allow yourself to be governed by a cricket of uncertain origin? How can we let some amphibian we know nothing about rule over us?”

The others murmured agreement, though they still avoided making eye contact with Robert.

He pressed his lips, swallowing a rant about their shallow nature. He had expected this would be their reaction, but witnessing it in reality was far worse than the imagining. Had he truly been foolish enough to hope that the high lords would be wiser and more farseeing, like Molly?

“He is not Prince Robert,” Serenia said finally, fluttering her eyelashes at the high lords. “As the good Prince John has said, he is a foul black wizard intent on dividing us. Let us not be foolish.”

“It is but his word against the princess’s and mine,” John said. “He doesn’t even have a witness to take his side.” John looked around challengingly. When no one stepped forward, he laughed and spread his hands. “You see? So the matter can be closed, and we ought to punish this frog for its impudence. What is the sentence for insulting the royal house?”

A royal secretariat stepped forward smartly. “Death by hanging.”

“Well, then. Death by hanging it is,” John said, his eyes glittering with triumph.

“So you would kill me, cousin?” Robert said. A part of him wanted to flee and save himself, but the reckless part of him wanted to confront these idiots. If he were to lose everything—his crown, his human form, his dignity and reputation—was there really any reason to live?

“He has no cousin like you.” Serenia sniffed, then lowered her voice. “Finally, I’ll be rid of you, you disgusting talking frog. What woman in her right mind would kiss a foul reptile?”

“Actually, frogs are amphibians,” came the clear voice of Molly.

Robert’s heart skipped a beat.
No, Molly.

“And you did promise to kiss him for the third ball.” She held out her hands. In them were the three golden orbs, each of surpassing beauty. Molly came and stood by Robert. “I found them in your room, Princess Serenia.”

The old duke stretched his neck, trying to see over the younger and taller lords around him. When they didn’t move out of the way, he smacked their knees smartly with his cane, making them step aside with cries of pain. The quicker ones moved out of the way with alacrity. Satisfied, the duke peered at the spheres in Molly’s hands. “Aye, those are indeed Prince Robert’s,” the old duke said finally. “There cannot be three more like them in all the world.”

“Obviously, the frog stole them from the prince!” Serenia shrilled.

The duke stiffened. “But—”

“There is no but! Arrest the frog now!” Then Serenia faced Molly. “And you. You’ll pay for your impudence.” She gestured to the porcupines. “Arrest that one too!”

Their paws tight around their swagger sticks, the porcupines rushed out and surrounded Robert and Molly. The quills on the rodents vibrated, as they were wont to do when faced with danger.

Robert looked reproachfully at Molly. “You were supposed to keep silent.”

“I promised to help you, remember?”

“But what about your mother?” he whispered.

“I gave her the all the coins and told her to hide before we left home. She’ll be all right.”

“And you?”

“I have to do what is right. I cannot stand by while you are accused of lying, cheating and stealing, when it was the princess who did all those things and more.”

Robert closed his eyes. Why must he be stuck with a disobedient maid with an excess of honor? A lowborn should act like a lowborn and care only about her own security.

But if she’d done what you expected, would you have cared for her at all?

No. If she’d been everything he’d expected, he would’ve never felt this kind of fear for her, this intense need to protect her.

If he could keep her safe, he’d slay a dragon in his current form, he’d—

He blinked, suddenly unable to breathe. Was this… Could it be…?

By all the gods, he loved her. He, Robert, Prince of the blood, Scion of Lustrea and Heir to the Throne, was in love with…a maid.

His limbs went slack, his jaw loose. How… When…?

“Now that the criminals are properly under arrest,” Serenia began, “let us punish them, starting with my traitorous maid.”

Robert snapped back to reality. Molly was glaring at the princess, showing not an iota of fear. Pride and love filled his heart until he thought it might burst.

“Since you seem to believe that a sane, reasonable person would promise to kiss a frog of her own volition, why don’t we start with that, hmm?” Serenia waved at the porcupines. “Seize the maid and that, that…amphibian!”

Robert leapt and evaded the grabby paws. The one good thing about the curse was that it made him extremely difficult to catch.

“Stop hopping or we’ll stab her!” one of the porcupines said, a long sharp quill in his hand. The tip of the spine pricked Molly’s tender neck; blood beaded instantly.

“Don’t hurt her.” Robert stopped evading the porcupines. They immediately grabbed him, their grip tighter than necessary.

“I’m so sorry, Robert.” Molly sobbed.

“How touching.” Serenia pursed her mouth. “Still, you shouldn’t have committed the crime if you didn’t want to suffer the consequences.” She turned to the porcupines holding Robert. “Take him to my maid. Make her kiss him, with
her own lips
.” She smiled with pure malice. “That’s just the first of the many punishments I have in mind for you, Molly. I still cannot believe I let someone as base and treacherous as you near me.” She started to shake badly, her reaction too exaggerated to be natural. “I do believe I feel faint.”

John stepped closer to her. “My love, allow me.” He put an arm around her shoulders, then gestured at the porcupines. “Get on with it. We have a celebratory banquet to attend.”

The porcupines shoved Robert over to Molly, then pushed their faces together. They had little finesse, and Robert thought he might snap in half as the pressure from their paws pushed him to Molly’s soft mouth. Like princess, like rodent. Molly’s lips squashed against his face with more force than he expected.

Then he felt himself drop. He hit the marble floor, suddenly in agony throughout his entire body.

His skin was raw and his jaw felt loose. All his joints burned, as if he’d run for leagues without stopping. He couldn’t even cry out as his muscles twisted. If this was death, he refused to accept it. No, he had to live and find a way to take Molly away from this horrid place, keep her safe. But the pain overwhelmed him, doubling him over and blackening his vision. He panted, hands clenched, but couldn’t seem to draw enough air. How could he come this far and find the one woman he valued above everything—even undoing his curse—just to writhe helplessly…?

Fairy Godmother, it’s about time you popped in. I don’t care what happens to me. But Molly needs protection.

He hadn’t even told her how he felt.

Forgive me, Molly.

* * *

The porcupines’ grip on Molly’s arms slackened and they took several steps back. She stared at the figure before her. She’d known what Robert truly looked like, but the reality was beyond what she’d been able to see with her gift.

Exquisite silk of the deepest royal blue clothed his crouching form. When he at last looked up, glossy black hair topped a handsome face that would’ve been overly pretty if it hadn’t been for the harsh angles of his cheekbones and a heavy, masculine jaw line.

“Prince Robert!” the old duke from Lustrea cried.

“That’s
Prince Robert?” Serenia said, her mouth hanging open.

Panting, Robert blinked, then looked down at himself. Even with his dark brows knitted in confusion, he was too magnificent, too wonderful, too royal.

Molly’s heart beat erratically, her face hot. She felt as though she might need to lie down for a bit.

He slowly unfolded his legs and stood to his full height. He took an unsteady step toward Molly.

“Wait!” Princess Serenia said, running toward Robert. “You’re the one I want.” She wrapped herself around his arm. “My previous engagement is hereby annulled.”

He stared at her, then cleared his throat. “I beg your pardon, but you’re wearing John’s ring.”

She yanked the ring off her finger and tossed it away. It hit the floor with a ping and rolled off. “There.”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe that changes anything. You did accept his proposal.”

“I just unaccepted it.”

“What?” Prince John yelled.

“Do hush,” Princess Serenia said. She turned to Robert. “I’m claiming you as my husband.”

“Why in the world would you want me as your husband?” Robert asked, befuddled.

She looked at him quizzically. “Because you’re more handsome than John, of course. I deserve only the best. I
am
a royal princess.”

He tried to pull his arm away from Serenia. “Have you no shame? You tried to have me killed several times. You even lied to obtain my treasures without paying your side of the bargain.”

“Not true!” She held his arm fast and stomped a pink-slippered foot. “You should be grateful.”

Molly couldn’t bear to watch the spectacle any longer. Princess Serenia always,
always
got what she wanted, and Robert had said he needed a royal princess, not simply to undo his curse, but also to marry. It was a matter of time until she wore him down.

Sharp pain robbed her of breath, as layers of cynicism disguised as practicality peeled away from her heart. If she could have held onto even the flimsiest bit of the protective barrier, it wouldn’t hurt as much.

She backed slowly away through the crowd, keeping her eyes on Robert. He looked so magnificent in the hall, even in confusion. Molly had seen many princes during her tenure as Princess Serenia’s maid, and none had ever matched Robert. She knew she would never forget the sight, now etched forever on the very core of her being.

Finally she turned away. As happy as she was for Robert’s good fortune, she had to think about herself and her mother now. Princess Serenia was preoccupied at the moment—thank goodness she was easily distracted—but that didn’t mean she would forgive Molly for embarrassing her in front of everyone. Molly had to flee the kingdom before anybody remembered her and her punishment.

Anger, disgust and disappointment entwined around Molly as she imagined the spoiled princess snaring Robert. That it would happen, she had no doubt. Serenia invariably got her way in the end.

Molly shook her head, annoyed with herself. What happened between the princess and Robert was none of Molly’s business. He’d always made it clear he needed a royal princess, and despite her faults, Princess Serenia was…well…a royal princess. From the beginning, what Molly had had with Robert was a business arrangement. She helped him; he paid her. Since he regained his true form, she could take his money without any niggling sense of discomfiture.

So why was she so miserable?

* * *

“Grateful?” Robert blinked. He had to have been teleported into an asylum. He wouldn’t put it past the Wicked Witch, and there was no other explanation for the utter madness coming out of Serenia’s mouth. “Why should I be grateful to you?”

“I undid your curse.”

“You did?”

“Can you have forgotten already? I had my maid kiss you.”

“No.
You
were supposed to kiss me.” He shuddered at the idea, his stomach suddenly queasy, and finally managed to yank his arm from Serenia’s grasping hands. “Fortunately you changed your mind about that.”

“Exactly. And that’s why I had my maid kiss you, to help you. Can’t you see?”

“As I recall, that was to punish Molly.”

She pouted. “You do me an injustice, good Prince. I was trying to help you.”

“No, you punted me half clear of the garden, and just a moment ago you were planning to execute me. Death by hanging, wasn’t it?”

“That was John.” She fluttered her eyelashes, doing her best to be charming. Somehow, it didn’t have the desired effect. Her dimples now repulsed him. So did her shining hair, which she was busily tossing over a shoulder in a calculated way. “Come now. Since I undid your curse, you really must marry me.”

“I refuse. You can have John—exactly who you deserve.”

“Don’t be silly—”

“She’s right,” came a snake-slithery voice.

Cold ran its finger down Robert’s spine.
Not again.