Angelique let herself laugh. “I appreciate your intuition. Thankyou.”
“Of course! Tell Oliver he can ride back with you as your guide, if you like. The staff have already prepared a room foryou.”
“Thank you for yourthoughtfulness.”
“Not at all—it is we who should be thankingyou.”
Angelique accepted the comment with a nod, then paused when she realized Elle had stopped walking. She turned back to the princess with an inquisitive look and was surprised at the seriousness that glimmered in Elle’s normally laughing greeneyes.
“I mean it, Lady Enchantress,” she said. “I don’t know that any of this would have happened without you—the Summit, certainly not Severin surviving his curse…anyofit.”
Angelique felt the tension that made her hold her shoulders back and her head up decrease slightly. “It is my duty and my honor. I only hope that mages can continue to step in as help and support—as we should have longago.”
Elle nodded. “We can hope,” she hesitated, then added, “Do you have time to meet with my father-in-law before you leave forChanceux?”
Angelique tried not to let her surprise show on her face. “By father-in-law, you mean King Rèmy—ruler ofLoire?”
“Yes.” Elle bit her lip and glanced at Angelique. “Both he and Severin wish to make a formal request that you place protection spells on Lucien. After that little meeting, I suspect they’ll ask you to cast the indestructible spell onhim.”
Angelique arched an eyebrow. “Even if it means turning him into a smallanimal?”
Elle nodded. “Lucien doesn’t have the greatest sense of self-preservation. My father-in-law thinks he’s oblivious to how bad things on the continent are rightnow.”
Angelique considered the princess’ words. “Youdisagree?”
“I think he just doesn’t care very much about hisownlife,” Elle said. “If it was Severin experiencing these assassination attempts, Lucien would be foaming at the mouth. I suspect he thinks Severin’s life is worth more thanhis.”
“That’s a very sad thing,” Angeliquesaid.
Elle sighed. “I agree. But will you meet with them? As soon as he can give Lucien the slip, Severin will joinus.”
Angelique pursed her lips.This is another piece of political meddling that would give the Council a conniption. But if something happens to Lucien, it will have repercussions in Loire. Given that they are the strongest ally I have right now, I can’t afford to let themstumble.
But even beyond that…Angelique stared at the ground as she recalled the bone deep fear in Lucien’s eyes the night Severin had been transformed. It wasn’t fear for his life, but rather fear for his half-brother.
Lucien deserves to be protected. He might act like a toad, but when he truly loves, he lovesdeeply.
“I agree to a meeting,” Angeliquesaid.
“Thank you, Angelique.” Elle laid a hand on Angelique’s forearm and squeezed, shocking Angelique with the sudden affectionate contact. “It seems Loire will always be in yourdebt.”
* * *
The following afternoon,a knock roused Angelique from work. She tossed a lock of her hair (a champagne/brunette color today) over her shoulder and stared down at the scrawl of spells she had made while forging the transformation spell for Lucien. (King Rèmy had indeed asked her to protect Lucien, as Elle thought he would.) “Comein.”
A maid opened the door with a curtsy. “Lady Enchantress, several other magic users have arrived and wish to call upon you. May I show them to yourroom?”
Angelique glanced around the chamber, eyeing it to make certain she hadn’t made anything too untidy during her short stay. “Yes, of course. Thankyou.”
The maid slipped from the room, and Angelique set about stacking her sheets of paper, studying them one last time before she set them on hernightstand.
I’m reasonably certain I have the pre-work correct. All I need to do is cast it onLucien.
A twitch of her fingers, and the spells—which Angelique had been carefully constructing all morning—faded. (The spellwork was set in all the parts. It would just take a nudge from her powers and a twist of her magic to bring them back. But she wasn’t keen to have the other mages see exactly what she was doing. It was doubtful any of the mages attending the Summit—with the exception of Sybilla—would approve of turning a prince into afrog!)
Angelique glanced at the armchairs and settee placed in her room. (Elle had arranged for Angelique to stay in the family wing of the chateau rather than stay with the other guests. Angelique assumed it was because they were short onrooms.)
It’s likely Sybilla. I don’t believe anyone else that she wished to invite would ever think of actively seeking out my presence. Unless it’s Stil andGemma?
