by K. M. Shea
“I believe many of the magic users already know, but I would be glad to speak to her about it,” Odette said. In my heart, I believe that one day, their curse will be broken.
The sun hovered above the horizon, and the sky was dusty with sunset as Odette clung to Alexsei’s hand. This was it, the day she had waited four years for.
She licked her dry lips, and her heart throbbed painfully in her chest.
After four years, I can finally come home!
She had spent so many sleepless days dreaming of her family, recalling the warmth in her mother’s eyes, the boom of her father’s laughter, and the sly wit of her precious little brothers.
But what will they think?
She swallowed, almost choking on her spit.
Alexsei pulled her into an embrace. “They’ll be deliriously glad to see you, Odette. I know it.”
This is why I love him: because he understands. “Thank you,” Odette whispered into his shoulder. She loved her family; it was why she had walked into Rothbart’s castle and offered herself in exchange for their debts. More than anything, she had wanted to hear her father tell one more story, or to watch the fire crackle while her mother braided her hair and her brothers played nearby.
Odette disliked being a swan, yes, but the most bitter and difficult part of her curse had always been her self-inflicted mission to stay away from her family. She didn’t want to hurt or wound them more than they already were. But now, I can come home!
Alexsei released her and took her hand again. “Shall we?” he asked.
She mutely nodded, and together they walked the dirt path to Odette’s home. As they reached the door, she cleared her throat, then knocked. “Mother…Father?”
Footsteps thundered inside the small cottage, and the door was thrown open.
Her father rushed outside and picked her up as if she were a child. “My girl! My little girl is home!”
“Odette? Odette! Mother—Odette is home!” Her little brothers— Daniil and Genya, who were no longer quite so little and were in the gawky and ungainly stage like Anna—raced outside, almost tripping and falling over each other as they circled Odette and her father.
“Odette!”
“Odette!”
Her mother stood in the doorway and held shaking hands to her heart. “Is she…Odette, is that really you?”
She laughed through her tears as her father set her down. “It’s really me, Mama. I’m home.”
Her mother made a sound like a wounded bird and burst into tears. She hugged Odette tightly, as if she were afraid she would slip away. It took two minutes before her mother’s sobs subsided enough for her to say, “You foolish girl! Don’t you ever leave us again!”
Odette cried just as hard as her father encircled both of them in his arms, and Daniil and Genya piled on as well.
She cried until her eyes hurt. Her mother—scarcely in better shape—wiped her eyes with her apron. “And who is this handsome man you’ve brought with you?”
Odette laughed. “That’s Lexsei.”
Alexsei bowed gravely. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Odette’s little brothers glared at him. “Did you take our sister?” Daniil asked.
Alexsei shook his head. “No.”
“It was Rothbart, wasn’t it?” her father asked.
Odette nodded.
He sighed. “I feared as much.”
“When he suddenly told us our debts were canceled, I didn’t know what to think,” her mother said. “Why did you go to him, Odette?” She took her by the shoulders and shook her a little.
“We would have lost everything if I hadn’t,” Odette said.
“You silly girl.” Her mother smoothed her hair and gave her a trembling smile. “You are worth so much more than any possession. Don’t you know that?”
Odette stared at the ground, blinking to keep from crying again. “Lexsei helped free me. I-I love him.”
Daniil and Genya made gagging noises, but her parents turned flinty eyes to the prince.
“And?” her father asked. “What do you have to say to that, Lexsei?”
Alexsei smiled. “It would be my greatest honor if you would allow me to marry your daughter.”
Her father frowned slightly. “I don’t know you at all, Lexsei. And we just got our little girl back.”
“I know.” Alexsei gave them a smile that brimmed with compassion and understanding. “I won’t ask for her to be my wife for a while—for I know she has missed you terribly—but I want you to know that I love Odette, and I would face a thousand sorcerers for her.”
The scowl on her father’s face softened. “You sound like a good man, Lexsei. If you can prove to me that you love her, she is yours.” He raised a meaty finger in the air. “But! We cannot spare her so soon after recovering her.”
“Of course,” Alexsei said.
“You’ll leave again, soon?” Genya asked.
Odette smiled and shook her head. “No. Lexsei will wait. He understands I can’t leave you brats that easily.” She ruffled their hair, drawing complaints.
“Please join us, Lexsei, and come inside for dinner,” her mother said. “It seems like you two have a story to tell.”
Alexsei and Odette exchanged sly glances. At his request, they were going to refrain from telling her parents that Lexsei was, in fact, Prince Alexsei, until they grew to know him. (“I want them to see what you see in me,” Alexsei had said.)
He took Odette’s hand and squeezed it. “I would love to have dinner with you.”
Odette laughed, unable to keep her joy bottled in her heart.
As a swan, this is what she had missed most. Not her fingers nor her thumbs, but the love of her family. Only now, she had that and the love of Alexsei.
I’m home.
The End
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Afterword
Thank you for reading Swan Lake, I hope you enjoyed Odette and Alexsei’s story! If you want to read more of my work, sign up for my newsletter to receive my free K. M. Shea Starter Pack ebook. It contains:
A King Arthurs and Her Knights prequel short story
A Red Rope of Fate prequel short story
An original fairy tale, Princess Snow and Queen Ruby
My newsletter is released every month, and contains information about contests, new freebies—like short stories and extra scenes—free books, and reader opinion polls.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. I am proud to say I have the best readers. Therefore, it is my dearest wish that Odette and her friends made you laugh, and warmed your heart. Thank you.
Other books by K.M. Shea
Life Reader
Red Rope of Fate
Princess Ahira
Robyn Hood:
A Girl’s Tale
Fight for Freedom
The Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center:
My Life at the MBRC
Farewell to the MBRC?
The Lost Files of the MBRC
King Arthur and Her Knights:
Enthroned
Enchanted
Embittered
Embark
Enlighten
Endeavor
Three pack (Enthroned, Enchanted, Embittered)
Timeless Fairy Tales
Beauty and the Beast
The Wild Swans
Cinderella
Rumpelstiltskin
The Little Selkie
Puss in Boots
Swan Lake
The Snow Queen:
Heart of Ice
Sacrifice
About the Author
K.M. Shea is a book lover, champion web surfer, and all around geek. She is a fulltime independent author, and lives in the quaint Midwest with her beloved companion, Perfect Dog.
Follow K.M. Shea on Twitter: KM_Shea
Visit her blog: www.kmshea.com
Visit her Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005A
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