It would be risky—curse modification was an advanced magic she hadn’t learned much about. But though Evariste was who-knew-where, Angelique could almostfeelhim proddingher.
The danger didn’t matter—she had to savehim.
“I’ve got it,” Angelique said. “I can save him—or his mind and servants atleast.”
“Do it!” Luciencommanded.
Not so fast, Mr. Impatient—I can’t afford any misunderstandings as long as I’m wandering around without a master.“There’s nothing I can do to dismantle the curse of his physical appearance,” she warned him. “But I can give him a chance to do it himself by harnessing romantic love. He’ll be able to reverse whatever effects the spell has already inflicted on his household aswell.”
“Whatever is necessary, I don’t care. Justsave him!” Lucien growled, sounding a little like the animal prowling the rosegarden.
Angelique nodded and made her way to the enclosure. Lucien tried to follow her, but based on his complaints, his men were holding himback.
“Excuse me,” Angelique murmured when she reached the wall ofsoldiers.
The guards bowed their heads in respect as they parted, letting Angelique edge her waythrough.
Angelique’s heart throbbed in her chest as she stepped into the garden, leaving the protection of the guards. The metallic scent of blood and the fragrant smell of blooming roses created a gut-wrenching combination that made her feel a littleill.
Prince Severin didn’t notice her right away—he was harassing a soldier on the far side of the garden, blood flecking his whiteteeth.
She held in a shiver.No fear—I haven’t any room for it right now. Besides, in comparing abilities to kill, I crush him with my warmagic.
She eyed the spellwork twining around him again, confirming her observations about the formation of hiscurse.
He roared when a soldier jabbed him in the chest with the butt of a spear, and he swiped, his claws grazing the guard’sbicep.
Angelique pushed her shoulders back. She had better get started, or he would attack her before she could stophim.
Hesitantly, Angelique reached for her magic. This time, instead of taking in the smallest wisp, she let it floodher.
She hissed as her cold, sharp magic enfolded her. Her mind felt clearer, but it was the heady weight ofpowerthat made her nervous. It ran from her itchy palms to the soles of her feet, an intoxicating sensation that made her clench herteeth.
Enough!
She widened her stance and stopped her magic from further invading her senses, then slightly shook her head inwonder.
If this is how it felt for other enchanters and enchantresses, no wonder Evariste had always been after her to let her magic go free. It was so much easier to wield, but it was also dangerouslyintoxicating.
Prince Severin’s amber eyes yanked Angelique back to the present. He was watchingher.
Whispering under her breath, she started crafting two spells at once—one that would stop the prince if he tried to jump her, and another that would serve as the modification to hiscurse.
Silvery puffs of mist started to ebb around Angelique as she built her spells, and soon her hands glowed silver aswell.
Prince Severin growled, a noise so loud Angelique felt it in her belly, and his triangular ears twitched, but he didn’t attempt to approachher.
Wise move, kitty-cat, Angelique thought as she sucked on her teeth.I’m not even half as confident as I appear to be, and a wrong move might make all the guards’ weapons turn onus.
She was confident in her defensive spell to be sure, but the modification? No. Curse modification required a precise and calculated use of magic—something she didn’t exactly have time for at themoment.
But I have to try to save him. If Evariste were here, he would make me attempt it, even if it isdangerous…
Angelique cut her thoughts off before she could start mentally despairing her wretched powers—now, with a prince covered in blood and fur, wasnotthe time for a tea party ofpity.
Prince Severin snarled and took a step towards her, crushing a fallen rose beneath his foot (or rather his paw, considering hisstate).
She hurriedly heaped her magic, forging the modification to the spell and preparing to forcibly insert it. (That was where the real danger was: trying to squeeze her work into the curse.) There was a perfect spot for it—a piece in the chain of the curse that was clearlyweakened.
