When they stood, she placed her hand on his arm and smiled up at him. “Thank you for being here and helping me. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
His heart melted. How could he not love this woman with all of his soul? “If I get my way, you’ll never find out.”
###
CLARISSA SAT ON THEedge of the bed, holding her mother’s frail hand. Outside, the rain beat against the house, making the dreary mood even drearier.
She’d never seen her mother like this...and she never wanted to see her this way ever again. The once vibrant woman was too thin and lacked energy. Her eyes didn’t even sparkle when she stared at her own daughter. It was almost as if the life had been sucked clean out of her.
Clarissa had been mentally beating herself up ever since they left the tower. Why hadn’t she realized that the woman in the palace was not her mother? Of course Clarissa had seen the signs—the queen’s short temper, most of all—but she never would have thought her mother could just become someone entirely different. And when had the switch happened? How could she have missed it? Sighing, Clarissa struggled to hold back tears. She really should have realized that woman was not her mother!
Before Clarissa could reconcile her thoughts, Ryder had delivered them safely to his mother’s house, who was indeed very honored to care for them. Mrs. Grey allowed the queen to sleep in her bed. Ryder’s mom fixed some soup and fed it to the queen. The other woman even helped Clarissa change her mother’s nightgown into something clean and warm—after giving her a sponge bath, of course. Color actually shown in the queen’s cheeks now, and Clarissa was relieved her mother was recovering so quickly.
Within a few hours of arriving, her mother had perked up considerably. Ryder had been in the other room with his own mother while Clarissa sat with the queen. He’d told her he would figure out a way to put a stop to the witch. Clarissa just prayed he could.
“Mother? Do you feel strong enough to tell me what happened now?”
Nodding, the queen struggled to sit up. Clarissa stuffed a few pillows behind her back until she was comfortable, and then she adjusted the blankets over her again.
“I honestly don’t know what happened, my dear,” her mother began. “One minute I was preparing myself for bed, and the next minute I woke up in that cold, dark cellar, all tied up. My head ached as though I’d been hit, but I cannot recall anything.”
“Did the witch feed you or give you water?”
Her mother shook her head. “Not every day. Sometimes I thought she was trying to starve me to death.”
Tears gathered in Clarissa’s eyes again, knowing the pain and fear her mother had suffered. “How long had you been there?”
The queen shrugged. “I’m not certain. How long have you been home?”
Gasping, Clarissa’s blinked with wide eyes. “You weren’t there when I returned from my trip?”
“No.”
“Oh, Mother.” She lowered her head to her mother’s hands as she tried to hold back the tears. “I’ve been home for a week now.”
“Then I think I’ve been gone nearly a fortnight. I recall being excited that evening because you would be home in seven days.”
Clarissa couldn’t take any more of the agony plunging through her...and the anger for what the witch had done. She snapped up and looked back at her mother. “Ryder will find the witch and kill her for what she’s done.”
“Now, my sweet daughter,” the queen patted Clarissa’s cheek, “killing isn’t always the answer.”
“Well, then...” she took in a deep breath, trying to think clearly, “I’m sure Ryder will arrest her and then Father can throw her in the dungeon...as long as someone takes her powers away first.”
“I’m sure your father will deal with this woman in the manner she deserves.” The queen smiled sweetly.
Calmness spread over Clarissa. Nowthiswas her mother...not the mean woman who yelled at the servants daily over tiny things. The queen had always been sweet and kind. She never said a mean thing about anyone. Clarissa smiled. It was good to have her back.
Boot steps creaked on the bedroom floor and she whipped her head around to see who was coming. Ryder, with his two-day-old goatee, mussed brown hair, and dirty clothes, still looked as gorgeous as ever. Her heart lightened, and she held out her hand to him. He took it and stopped by her side, looking down at her mother.
“My Queen, I am going to leave you and your daughter in the care of my mother. I need to find the witch and arrest her.”
The queen frowned. “I fear it won’t be that easy, especially since she’s a witch.”
He nodded. “True, but I cannot let her get away with kidnapping you.”
“Talk to my husband first. He will know what to do.”
Ryder scratched his bearded chin. “I pray the king will believe me.”
