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But who knew what great love and adventure Rosamund might find out there in the world? Surely she wouldn’t bemoan the loss of one ancestral estate when she could have her freedom.
“You will free everyone else under the present enchantment?” Calliope asked, fingers fluttering restlessly at her sides.
Yes, of course.
“If you don’t keep your promise, the enchantment will fade and you won’t be able to hold me.” Calliope stepped closer to the bed, her heart beating faster. But it was right that she do this, that she make amends for stealing so many years of this innocent girl’s life.
You didn’t steal a thing. She’ll awake the same age as when she went to sleep.
And I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to be living in a time when that hideous bustle she’s wearing is no longer in fashion.
Her enchanted castle was a fashion snob. Lovely.
Calliope wondered what other surprises
she was in for during the next few hundred years as the new sleeping princess of the keep.
It will take longer than that, creator. I will last at least another millennium. I’m well made.
“All right, a millennium then, it makes no difference to me.” Calliope closed her eyes and muttered one last spell before she reached down to take Rosamund’s hand.
What was that? You were casting!
“Merely giving myself the same chance at freedom as Rosamund. Surely that’s fair?”
Well…it wouldn’t be much fun if there weren’t young men coming to visit. But I must insist you spell the dog-gon back to life. I’ve missed him and he’s an excellent protector.
“Dog-gon, half dog, half dragon. Ha ha,” Calliope muttered as she added the dog-gon’s rebirth to the tail end of her spell.
Then, before she had the chance to think twice, she took Rosamund’s hand and pulled her from her bed. The young princess’s eyes flew open, even as Calliope’s grew heavy. She fell onto the soft sheets, her lids staying open long enough to see the princes tumble to the floor and all three royals run for the door before she sank into a close, comfortable darkness.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Calliope
The earth was shaking as Calliope surged into consciousness with a gasp befitting a woman emerging from the sea. She immediately clung to the strong arms that held her, not realizing until he spoke that they belonged to him.
“Hold tight, Calliope. The castle isn’t happy with us right now.”
“Aaron?” She blinked, wondering how long she had been asleep. “You’ve come for me? But I thought—”
“Will you marry me, Calliope?” he asked, seconds before the ground shook again, tossing him onto the mattress beside her.
She squealed as the bed tilted on its axis, sending both her and Aaron crashing into the headboard. “What?” she gasped. “What did you say?”
“I said, will you marry me?” The bed shook again, making him cling to her more tightly. “Good God, woman, just say yes, before the damned castle—”
I am not damned, I am enchanted!
And I shall remain enchanted for many years to come. You shall not cheat me of my destiny, Aaron of Outer Kartolia!
Oh Goddess, the castle was angry. Now there was a chance they were both going to die and it was all her fault. If only she hadn’t added the addendum to the spell. But she hadn’t expected Aaron to come to her rescue. He didn’t want to marry her, not really.
He doesn’t want to marry you. And even if he did, he isn’t a prince!
You are a king, sir, not a prince, and are therefore ineligible to break the spell.
“I had Johann crowned king three days ago. I am only a prince, at least until I return to the castle with my bride.” Aaron pulled her to him with one arm, clinging to the massive oak headboard with the other to keep them from tumbling off the opposite end. “Now, Calliope, will you please accept my proposal so we can put an end to this mess?”
