He concentrated until his froggy eyes sunk into his head, and he felt a measure of himself get drained from his body with the effort.It occurred to him that the magic had to come from somewhere, and if the enchantress was not here to create it, it would be pulled from him, the only enchanted thing around.
‘Twas too late to recant his wish, though, for he sensed his desire coming to fruition.He grew sleepier and weaker until an image of a small golden chest came to him.He struggled to dive and collect it, holding it between his front feet as he awkwardly emerged, weak and breathless with effort.He placed it on the shoreline with the coins, then carefully lifted the lid.
Inside, on a bed of red velvet, were two perfect sugar cubes.
His old insecurities flared about women only wanting him for what he could offer them.
Riven sincerely hoped Bella was the trustworthy sort.
Otherwise, he just fished out a veritable treasure trove of coins for her to steal, plus the very means to outrun justice.
And that worrying thought weakened him more than the magic.
Chapter 10
Bella shivered herselfawake, tucking into a tighter ball as the sunrise aimed a sharp beam at her eyelids.She raised her hand to block the light, then took in her bearings.She huffed and sat up, resentment filling her that Albert never made an effort to speak to her at all last night.“Fickle frog.”
“Wum wum.”
The sound was near her ear, making her gasp.She lifted one of the dresses she’d draped about her shoulders and found a scrawny Albert scrambling through the fallen fabric.A warm spot on her upper arm told her he’d been perched there awhile.
“Are you alright?You look quite thin this morning,” she said as she lifted him and set him near the water.He stumbled into the goo and spun to face her.
“I will be fine.It was so cold last night.You had no shelter or fire...and...I wanted to keep watch over you.”
Bella felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.Hehadmade an effort.
He continued, “I am sorry for what I said yesterday.I overreacted.Wum.”
“I agree.”
He blinked.“You are supposed to say, ‘I accept your apology.’”
“Have I, though?”She raised a brow at him, and Riven dropped lower into the water as if no one had ever called him out on any boorish behavior before.
“You do not have to accept my apology, though I am sorry.”He straightened.“And you are correct; I am Prince Riven, or, at least I was.”One tiny hand waved in the air.“Before this.”
