Bella smiled and gave her a nod before adding, “Let us bring a man of the cloth—or better yet, a pagan priestess—here to honor the animals that have died and commend their bodies to eternal rest.The enchantress should be placated if we treat this as a burial.”
Riven’s eyes lit up.He sprung from the shallows, rolled off in the salty sand, and leapt for her face.
It took Bella a second to realize he kissed her, right on the mouth.
She closed her eyes and cradled him close, knowing it was the strangest first kiss one could ever have, but Bella would have it no other way.
Chapter 19
Riven snapped backwhen he realized he took without asking.“My apologies.I should have asked, but I was overcome with emotion,” he said.
Bella smiled at him.“Yes, you should have, but it was not unwelcome.”Her face turned a delightful pink as her eyes darted to his mother beside her.
His mother only regarded them with a bemused look as Bella continued to cradle him close to her chest.Henriette looked like a child about to turn cartwheels, right there in the field, which made him happy.
He looked at his mother with what he hoped was gratitude.“Thank you for coming, Mother.I know Bella was worried you would not believe her.”
“I didn’t.I still cannot believe my eyes.”
“Then close them and listen with your heart,” Riven said.“I am your son, cursed by an enchantress until this pond is cleaned.I have but seven days until I turn completely into a frog, which she will likely then kill to complete the curse.Please, help me, Mother.I know you never wanted me—”
“That is not true!”she said.
He stalled at her outburst.“It certainly felt like it.Neither you nor Father had any use for me.Everything was always about Luc.”
“That child is a monster,” she said with heat.“Your father thrust that loathsome creature into my arms before we were even wed.I was told I must raise him as a prince yet was forbidden to set any rules or structure or lessons for him.I was not even allowed to teach him his sums, a feat at which I am skilled yet forbidden to enjoy.Your half-brother is lazy and spoiled, violent and cruel.I admit I was overly harsh on you, but only because I refused to letmy childturn into a creature like Poisson.”
“I had no idea,” Riven said.
“Because I have been forbidden to speak ill of the prodigal male, but after seeing you like this....”Worry lined her face, making Riven feel terrible.
“It will be alright, Mother.”
“I cannot let anything bad happen to you.”
“Worse than being turned into a frog?”he joked, but the queen did not laugh.She did, however, extend both palms to him.Riven jumped into them and stayed put as he was lifted to her eye level.
