Someone called out, asking if there was an age limit on submissions. Giselle said there wasn’t, and I could see several kids start smiling. I hadn’t expected thunderous applause from either announcement, but it was nice to see a little enthusiasm from some of those present. Which made me wonder how they would let the rest of the court know about the contest.
I leaned a bit toward Badru and whispered, “How will they spread the word about all this?”
“Oh, there are hundreds of news riders nowadays who’ll take the message far and wide. We didn’t used to have so many, but when the farms started failing, the prince began to pay anyone who could ride to take messages to every village or homestead.” He nodded toward the back of the crowd where people were climbing onto horses. Others were already riding off into the distance.
“And do they bring news back with them as well?”
“They do.” He grinned at me. “We are a well-oiled gossip machine.”
I laughed with him. It was possible someone needed to invent a printing press, but I had a feeling everything newsworthy in the court—from the arrival of a human to the fact he was bedding the prince—was getting around just fine.
Giselle thanked everyone for coming, Flurry waved to the crowd and, when he turned to go back inside, he held out his hand for me. I took his hand and walked with him quietly all the way up to his bed chamber.
I was surprised to find six people dressed like they’d just graduated high school standing around the breakfastnook. Their hats and robes were either yellow, black, or baby blue, and they had these huge old-looking books with them. All six bowed at Flurry when we walked in.
“Anything?” he asked them.
A woman in yellow shook her head. “Apologies, Your Highness, but the area seems well and truly closed still. We can still see the remnants of the magic, but it is definitely fading.”
Flurry sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. I guessed they were talking about the fairy ring and how I’d arrived through it. That it was completely shut off and even the evidence of it was disappearing had me feeling terrible. Like they’d had hope but now it was gone.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to him.
He gave me a sad little smile before gesturing toward the door. “Thank you, everyone. Please return to your normal duties now.”
They walked out and closed the door behind them as Flurry went and sat down on the bench at the end of his bed. I wasn’t sure if I should stay or go.
“They’ve been here every day since your arrival,” he said, leaning over on his knees.
“And now they’re done?”
He nodded. “It’s always the same answer.”
I couldn’t stand how sad this was making him and went over to kneel on the floor in front of him. I sat back on my heels and held his hands. “I’m so sorry, Flurry. I can see how this would’ve made you all so hopeful that there was a solution to the curse.”
“It’s not that. Or, well, it’s not just that.” He squeezedmy fingers and leaned in to kiss me. “Milo, you’re trapped here. No one can figure out how to send you home.”
I blinked at him and realized I hadn’t been thinking about that. Like hardly at all. I’d thought about it a time or two, worried for my friends, but I wasn’t longing to leave here. I didn’t…
“I don’t want to go back.”
“What?”
He looked surprised, and I worried that maybe he didn’t feel the same way. But I’d said it and I wouldn’t be taking it back. I gulped a little to admit it, but said it clearly. “I don’t want to go home. I want to stay here. With you.”
Flurry’s blue eyes got glassy and pink tinged his cheeks as snowflakes suddenly fell from above.
I smiled and sat up to grab him to me. He sniffed and squeezed me tight. With my lips pressed to his pointy ear, I whispered, “You don’t have to say anything. It’s okay. I can still hear you.”
Silently, he clung to me as perfectly magical snow gently covered us. I didn’t need the words yet to believe that he loved me, too.
All of a sudden, I heard a giant crack thunder. Or stone breaking? I flinched back and stared at Flurry staring back at me. “What was that?”
He shook his head, looking spooked. “I don’t know.”
I got up and went to a window. “I don’t think it was thunder. It’s sunny out.”
The sound of feet running reached my ears just before someone pounded on the door. Flurry rushed toopen it. “What’s happened?” he asked the guards in the hall. “Are we under attack?”
