Donaigh blinked. “Now?”
“He has to be told about Carabosso’s actions so he can send out the Magic Knights,” Angeliquesaid.
“He’ll try to wrangle you into capturing him,” Odettesaid.
“I know, but he’s not wrong to,” Angelique said. “It is the Veneno Conclave’s duty to confront black magesandroguemages.”
Besides. I’d rather be present when the Magic Knights take Carabosso down. Then I’ll be able to take custody of himorSuzu and questionthem.
Odette nodded, seemingly unsurprised. “Good luck,” she said before turning her attention back to herwork.
“Angelique…” Donaigh paused. “There’s a chance he won’t listen toyou.”
“I know, that’s why I have to go,” Angelique said. “Or his citizens will pay for his actions with theirlives.”
Donaigh nodded, and Angelique edged past Nadia and Misha’s table, smiling as they watchedher.
“Thank you, Angelique,” Firra called afterher.
Angelique nodded, then left the Heart Collection.I hope this isn’t a mistake. If I confront him head-on, it’s possible he won’t hear about Odette, Nadia, and Misha’s presence, and they’ll be free to keep researching andcopying.
She left the library and ambled through the hallways, trying to forge her way to the main entrance. Her memory of the palace was a little sketchy, but eventually she found a foyer filled with guards and a footman standing atattention.
They shifted—slightly alarmed by her unexpected entrance into the room from a doorinsidethepalace.
“My lady,” the footman puffed his chest. “Please state your name and business here,” he glanced from her dress to her face and added, “MadameMage.”
“Certainly.” Angelique put her charm on maximum and smiled at him. “I am Angelique, an Enchantress-in-Training and the magic user responsible for altering Princess Rosalinda’s curse. I’m here to see King Giuseppe, Princess Alessia, and Prince Consort Filippo about the rogue mage Carabosso. It’surgent.”
* * *
Though her officialrequest for an audience sent the palace into a frantic tizzy, it was over an hour before Angelique was escorted deeper into the castle—to the throne room, to hersurprise.
Is he going to turn this into a public meeting? It makes it easier on me—he can’t possibly fail to send Magic Knights after Carabosso with his whole court watching. But it makes me suspect he has a plan of hisown.
The double doors were opened with great pomp, revealing the Sole nobles in their silk and satin finery, weighed down with gemstone necklaces, rings, andbracelets.
At the far end of the room, King Giuseppe was seated on his throne—his gray eyebrows lowered in anger as his giant gold crown haloed hishead.
It was safe to say he was angry with her.I told Alessia he wouldn’t take well to her little sleepingscheme.
Princess Alessia was seated on a smaller throne set to the side and slightly back from the King’s throne. Her husband, Prince Consort Filippo, stood directly behindher.
The princess smiled at Angelique—but it died when she glanced at her father. Prince Consort Filippo shifted slightly, bowing slightly in respect when he met Angelique’sgaze.
It seemed they, at least, were still thankful Angelique had spread the sleeping spell as they hadrequested.
“Lady Enchantress Angelique,” the footmanannounced.
ISAIDI was an enchantress-in-training!But the moment was over too quickly for her to object. Already the footman had bowed and backed out of theroom.
She almost sighed before she remembered herself, then walked down the velvet runner rug—which split the room inhalf.
Giuseppe glared down at her from his raised throne—his expression thunderous—but Angelique didn’t balk. She’d gone through too much in the past few years to be frightened by a mereglare.
Instead, she made her smile sickeningly sweet and only nodded her head rather than bow or curtsey. “King Giuseppe, Princess Alessia, and Prince Consort Filippo—I am glad to see you looking sohale.”
“It is convenient you have arrived so soon after the curse was broken.” King Giuseppe gripped the armrests of his throne and scowled. “So you can be held accountable for your actions. You expanded the sleeping spell to cover all of Ciane—something I didn’t ask you todo.”
