“No,” Odette said. “It’s notwise.”
“It will be that much faster to break the curse if you have the modifier,” Zinaargued.
Odette scowled. “What are you talkingabout?”
Her friend frowned. “Do you really notknow?”
When she stared back blankly, Zina glanced pointedly atAlexsei.
(Apparently the young prince’s smitten act was obvious to everyone except Odette, if her pursed lips and stubborn expression were anything to goby.)
“I believe there might be a misunderstanding,” Odettebegan.
Her statement was met with total rejection by hersmugglers.
“I agree with Zina and the LadyEnchantress.”
“It is only right that the modifier be placed on our SwanQueen.”
“Hear, hear!” Yakov declared. “Worry not, fair Odette. We can break the curse together.” He slung an arm over Odette’sshoulders.
Odette promptly shrugged his arm off. “No, thankyou.”
“Then it’s settled,” Angelique started pulling on her magic, letting it flow through her once again. “I need a little room to work the spell, if youplease.”
It seemed, however, Odette was not ready to give in just yet. She spun around and called out to a female smuggler. “Nadia. Please, explain tothem!”
The female smuggler, Odette, and Zina exchanged a hushed conversation—one Angelique ignored as she focused on creating a tiny, subtle strand of her magic that could safely be slipped into Rothbart’s curse without making the whole thingexplode.
It needs to be delicate, but strong enough to slice through the spell when the specifics of the modification aremet.
Odette, her face tight with anxiety, turned to Angelique. “Is there anyothermodifier you canuse?”
Angelique was unable to smooth over the cracks in her smile as Odette unknowingly poured salt in a festering wound. “Would you rather have true love’s first kiss?” Her eyebrow twitched, and her voice was a tad too…dark.“Because that’s your only otherchoice.”
Stinking curses. I shouldn’thaveto know more than that, but apparently the black mages have decided to base theirentire strategyoncurses!
Odette cleared her throat. “No, no. Falling in love is fine.” She guiltily drew back for a moment, then took a breath and squared her shoulders. “What must Ido?”
Angelique forcibly released her self-irritation. “Just stand there. This won’t take any effort on your part. I do apologize in advance, however; it might sting alittle.”
Odette stood as directed, her chin raised with confidence. She winked at her smugglers as Angelique circledher.
“Hold still.” Angelique nudged her carefully crafted spell, drawing her magic’s attention. It surged around her, letting her see the angry red glow of the curse’s script. The curse encircled Odette, hovering a hand’s width from herbody.
Carefully, Angelique pinched a part of the spell and drew it back a fewinches.
It didn’tgive.
“How charming,” Angelique grumbled under her breath. She tapped her magic again, then blew on her fingers, her magic clouding her breath likestardust.
The spell flared, and Angelique could tell by the gasps and whispers around her that it was now visible to those without magic. But, goaded by Angelique’s war magic, it also gave a little more now, allowing her to pull the rope-like spellfarther.
Though it was a cool spring night, sweat beaded on Angelique’s forehead as she pulled the strand again, making it loosen a littlemore.
Thankfully nothinghappened.
I didn’t expect it to explode, but why did Rothbart tidy up his spellwork like this if not to plant atrap?
