“I was hoping to talk to you privately, Angelique.” Gabrielle glided up to their bench, a small frown edging across her lips. “To be brutally honest, you look much more tired than when we firstmet.”
“Current events have taken a toll on us all,” Angeliquesaid.
“Maybe, but I don’t see any kind of difference in your fellow mages.” Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and scowled back at the castle, Puss mimicking theexpression.
Their anger thawed some of the iciness that ate at Angelique, but she knew her smile was sad. “Hopefully that will change now that they see the scope of what we’re facing, even if we haven’t a name for the enemy,yet.”
Gabrielle snorted. “They should have seen it years ago. All this Summit does is compile the evidence in a stack so thick that if they ignore it, they’ll look like flamingdolts.”
“Hear, hear,” Pusssaid.
Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest and appeared to be settling in for a good lecture when the chateau door creaked as itopened.
“Lady Enchantress Angelique?” Severin bowed slightly to Gabrielle, then turned his gaze to Angelique. “If I might have a moment of your time—alone?
“Come on, Puss.” Gabrielle held her arms out and open. “Let’s see if the others are ready for dinner, shallwe?”
Puss glared at Severin. “I don’t feel so inclined. I am almost certain this man is going to ask Angelique for additional help when she’s already done more than one could hopefor.”
Angelique laughed, but the humor died in her throat when Severin bowed seriously to the magiccat.
“Though I cannot refute your words, I can promise I will make every effort that I personally can to see the continent throughthis.”
“Hmm,” Pusssaid.
“Puss,” Gabrielle said, this time her voice more coaxing. “We can help herourselves.”
I doubt that. There’s only one thing Severin is likely to approach me about—that sorcerer inKozlovka.
It seemed such a thought hadn’t occurred to Puss, for he sniffed. “Very well.” He jumped into Gabrielle’s arms and snuggled into her, resting his furry white chin on her shoulder—which also happened to give him the perfect angle to glare at Severin as Gabrielle glided away. “I’ll be watching,” he warned Severin before Gabrielle disappearedinside.
Chapter 14
Angelique stoodand brushed off her skirts. “What seems to be the problem,Severin?”
The prince was quiet for a few moments as he rubbed his eyes. “There was another attempt on Lucien’slife.”
Angelique stiffened. “What?”
“A snake tried to eat him when he was in the gardens. Thankfully, the maid that’s been escorting him was there and kept the thing from eating him until soldiers arrived and were able to kill it.” Severin sighed, and the planes of his shoulders stooped deeply. “He survived and is unharmed thanks to the spells you cast on him, but the snake was clearly of magicalorigin.”
“I’m glad my work was able to protecthim.”
Severin nodded. “I’m bringing in more soldiers—I will not let my brother be killed, and there’s no telling if whoever is behind this won’t go for an easier target—like one of the other royals.” He hesitated. “What bothers me most is that they were able to get past all ourdefenses.”
Angelique curled her hands into fists and crumpled the fabric of her skirts. “You think there is a betrayer amongus?”
Severin rested his hand on his sword’s hilt. “Not among those we have here. There’s no indication of it; I fear we simply have been outmaneuvered in this case.” He bitterly shook his head. “They’re stronger than we imagined and far morecunning.”
“There is a mage with healing magic present. Do you wish for him to seeLucien?”
“No, though I must thank you for your thoughtfulness.” He hesitated. “Instead, I ask that you speak to the other mages about the sorcerer in Kozlovka and request theirhelp.”
Angelique almost smiled.I’m not particularly excited to bring the matter up, but it’s better than being asked to handle the sorcerer myself.“I can, but you might have greater luck asking themyourself.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t believe so. I’m hopeful the mages who are here were moved by Yevgeniy’s report, but going by the comments Rumpelstiltskin has made, they may belessmoved to help if I ask them in any official capacity, as they will then feel they are meddling in politics. Stil says most Conclave mages are…emphaticabout staying out of such issues. You, however, can portray the request as a matter of duty.” Severin furrowed his brow, making his face look severe. “We need Kozlovka’s help, Angelique. This latest attempt on Lucien is more proof that we are dealing with an actual enemy, not a series of coincidences. If we are unable to organize, it might be the end of the continent.” He raised his eyes—which were nearly as cat-like as Puss’s. “Do youdisagree?”
“No.” Angelique sighed, what little good humor she had accumulated leaving her. “We’ve had some wins to be sure, but every time I turn around, there is a new problem that must be tackled. I don’t know if they are distractions or strategic strikes, but it is clear: we have anenemy.”
