Chapter 21
Angelique feltit when Clotilde died—mostly because the land itself seemed to gasp in relief once the darkness polluting itdisappeared.
The princess was able to do it—bless her, she thoughtnumbly.
She felt better…ish. Every so often, her stomach would roll and she’d gag, so she wouldn’t be trotting off after the princes, but she was able to lie on the bed, safe in her inn room, while feeling only mildlyuncomfortable.
It was late—if not near the midnight hour—but she couldn’t sleep. (Her stomach made certain ofthat.)
A knock shook thedoor.
Angelique snapped upright and regretted it immediately. “Yes?” She cautiously eyed the door and pressed a hand to her grumblingstomach.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Enchantress,” the innkeeper—a lively woman—said through the door. “But there is a visitor who insists on seeing you despite the late—andrudehour—”
“Oh, bother this!” a familiar voicesnarked.
The lock toggled before the door blew open, and Roland saunteredin.
“That was entirely unnecessary, Master Puss,” the innkeepersaid.
“Quite the contrary. Thank you, Lena. You may go now.” Roland’s tone was imperious as he lifted his black-and-pink nosehigh.
When the innkeeper raised her gaze to Angelique, Angelique smiled. “Thank you, but we’ll befine.”
“Then good night, Lady Enchantress, Master Puss.” The woman closed the dooragain.
Angelique raised an eyebrow. “MasterPuss?”
Roland sniffed. “I am not unknown in these parts from Gabrielle’s adventuringdays.”
Angelique chuckled, but she let herself flop back on the straw-stuffed mattress. “Then it worked? Elisewon?”
“With help fromme, yes,” Puss confirmed. “She broke the artifacts and defeated Clotilde ratherswiftly.”
“I am very glad to hear it,” Angeliquesaid.
“I assume so. But I am rather worried about whatever it is that has you rolling around like a beached whale,” Puss said. Though his tone was haughty, Angelique heard the notes of concern init.
Angelique briefly closed her eyes, as if she could so easily shut out the knowledge that she had used her war magic. “How did you arrive soswiftly?”
“As Gabrielle and I are no longer in hiding from Clotilde, I used the Carabas carriage.” Puss jumped onto the bed and sauntered around the mattress. “There are some advantages to having a titled mistress who is independently wealthy of the royal family.” He climbed onto her stomach and curled up in a tightball.
He purred deep in his chest, which made Angelique’s belly tingle and, strangely, soothed her stomach. She rested her hand on his back, relaxing slightly as the cramping in her stomacheased.
Minutes passed before Puss spoke again. “When Steffen told me you were here, he mentioned you faced off with abasilisk.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?” His voice was soft but unyielding. He wasn’t going to let her screen her answer as the princeshad.
Angelique sighed. “I used my war magic,” she admitted. “It was going to get Pegasus, and I justcouldn’t—I can’t see another sacrifice forme…”
“Basilisks are difficult to fight, particularly alone,” Puss said. “It was a wisemove.”
Angelique covered her eyes with her hands. “Was it, though? I didn’t just levitate sharp stakes of wood or a dagger, I stabbed the thing through with buried weapons my magic ripped from the ground. My powers came out so strong, there was anexplosion.”
Puss sniffed. “Hardly surprising given how you’ve kept it lockedup.”
