For a split second, alarm twisted Lucien’s face. He cleared the expression and instead stood taller and laughed. “You can't mean to...” His words died as he shook hishead.
Angelique’s smile turned saccharine as she flexed her fingers, and the spells she had worked on previously roared to life, ready to be used. “Oh, but I do. Please allow me to assure you that I take great pleasure in this act. Prince Lucien, I curse you to take the form of what you really are, afrog.”
Her magic started to churn. Lucien eyed it, then ran. He made it three steps before Angelique gave the spells a little push with her magic, and they pounced onhim.
He disappeared into a cocoon of silver magic, his angry yowls assuring her that the spells were proceedingbeautifully.
Angelique sauntered up to the sparkling cloud of her magic. “UntilIbreak your curse, or until a girl who finds you as distasteful as I do comes to love you and gives youtrue love’s kiss, you shall remain afrog.”
She felt the spell take, settling into Lucien’s bones. She allowed her grin to show, and barely refrained from clapping at the delivery of poeticjustice.
There was a splat—probably Lucien in his new amphibian body falling to the ground. When her magic finally faded, having finished the transformation process, it left behind Lucien, who had taken the form of a very largefrog.
Angelique smiled broadly down at the transformedprince.
Lucien—still able to talk thanks to the adjustments Angelique had made to the spells—howled in anger. “What did you do tome?!”
“Exactly as I said: I turned you into afrog.”
“Afrog?” Prince Lucien’s words were nearly lost in a croak. “Why?!”
Angelique studied her nails. “You needed to besmall.”
“Then you should have turned me into akitten!”
“I could have,” Angelique agreed. “But I just didn’t want to. Now hold still—there are a few more spells I have to place onyou.”
Angelique could see the glowing spellwork of the indestructible spell and transformation spell, but there were a few other protective measures she meant toadd.
There was a scuttle in the hallway, and Angelique glanced up from Lucien to smile at a tidy and pretty youngmaid.
The maid gave Angelique and Lucien a hurried curtsey, then scurried down the hallway without meeting Angelique’sgaze.
But Angelique saw the way the maid had her lips pressed together in what was obviously barely suppressedlaughter.
It seems I’m not the only one who thinks Lucien deserves this temporarybody.
“Change me back,” Lucien demanded. (There was a slight croak to his voice that was almost certainly a result of his form.) “Now.”
“I could not—not after agreeing to cast these spells at your father’s request.” Angelique batted her eyelashes at the frog prince as her magic twined around herfingers.
“You—” Lucien growled, but he wisely cut himself off. (He didn’t have to be atalkingfrog, after all.) “Take me to Severin andElle.”
Angelique quirked an eyebrow. “Was that a request or an order?” she asked, her voice deadlypleasant.
Lucien was silent for several moments, then he began hopping down the hallway. “I’m going to summon a servant,” hegrumbled.
Angelique pressed her lips together, then called after the angry prince. “Severin requested this because he loves you, Lucien.” She hesitated, then added. “He cares for you as much as you care for him. This, Iknow.”
Lucien paused, then nodded—or at least it appeared that hetriedto. (There must have been some adjustment to his new froggy body, for he nearly faceplanted with thegesture.)
Angelique watched him hop off.I hope he proves worthy of the esteem Severin holds him in. I hope he becomes the terror of whatever enemy we face. Or I’ll forever regret not turning him into a giantslug.
* * *
The Summit’sinformal opening was a large and lavish dinner. It was a glittering affair with porcelain place sets, a troupe of Torrens musicians plucking away at their instruments in a corner of the room, and flowers placed on nearly every surface. Of course, the royals in attendance were turned out in their best clothes, making the hall a sea of colorful silks, polished boots, and floralfragrances.
Angelique stood at the banquet hall entrance feeling a little green around the gills as she spotted the tables set aside for the magic users. Sybilla was absent at the moment, but Finnr—most notably—was not. (Clovicus had confirmed days prior he wouldn’t be able to attend, so there was no use hoping forhim.)
