by Anna Santos
He had denied her only request since she arrived at the palace. But how could he explain to her that the witch was waiting for a chance to do something terrible? Edana knew that Claire was making him happy. The witch had shown up uninvited to the palace, ready to ruin their night and the ball. He had managed to send her away. Edana wasn’t a match for the number of fairies in his palace. Yet, she had managed to rattle him that night and put a dent in his happiness. Then, she attacked Claire outside, the night when she and his godmothers went to see the fireworks. If he hadn’t arrived on time, Claire would be dead.
If Claire left the safety of the palace’s walls, Edana would hurt her to affect him.
William had hoped to spend the night of his birthday with Claire, even if that meant losing the chance to shift into a dragon that year. The night hadn’t gone as planned, and Claire was now mad at him and locked herself in her room. She didn’t want to talk to him or visit his library, which meant it was serious and not just a tantrum. Not that Claire was that type of woman. She wasn’t a wimp, either. He needed to let her calm down.
Since he was alone, he might as well find some solace in turning into a dragon and soaring through the dark skies while experiencing the rush of adrenaline that flying gave him. Yet shifting meant an unwanted visit from the red dragon witch queen, Edana.
Every year, on his birthday, she showed up with the same proposal. All this strife started because she couldn’t accept rejection or recover from heartbreak. His denial and her sick obsession with him released a raging fire of revenge. The war between both kingdoms only brought more sorrow to the innocents caught in the middle. His father died in battle. His dear mother was murdered with a diamond dagger through the heart. No one rejected Edana and didn’t live to regret the decision.
She was an obsessed lunatic who would release him from the curse if he kissed her and became her husband and lover. It was a repulsive offer since he didn’t care for her, and she was the reason why his parents were gone. The alternative was waiting for true love.
He had Claire now. She had come close to softening his hard outer shell. But did she love him? Did he love her? Not as just an attraction or an enchanting feeling of a new passion. True love that could break a curse. Many had tried before Claire. Could anyone truly love him? Was he even deserving of love?
Claire’s tears made him miserable. He couldn’t feel sadness, or the winter would return. That would make Claire feel worse. She always asked him if she made him happy. She did. Like he never thought it could be possible. He believed he made her happy, too. However, she missed her parents.
He couldn’t blame her.
Edana knew Claire made him happy. She would hurt her. Worse, kill her just to make him suffer and return him to the vicious depression that made him not care about anything or anyone.
William heard the flapping of her wings before catching sight of her. Edana circled the tower a few times, a taunt that had long grown old. Then, she flew in through the large window and landed a few feet from where he was seated.
His refusal to shift into his form didn’t keep her away for long. Why waste the one night a year she could genuinely revel in my misery?
Seeing him staring at her unimpressed, Edana rained fire on the inner walls. He turned his face away from the brightness but did nothing more. He was tired of her silly mind games. Fire couldn’t hurt him.
“Shift to your human form at once,” Prince William commanded. “Stop acting like a beast. I’m in no mood to deal with your childish games.”
Edana turned her red dragon eyes to him. Soon, she shifted into her human form. A woman who was as elegant as she was wicked with golden brown eyes and long, black hair.
“I came to see why you haven’t shifted yet. It’s past midnight, and it’s your birthday today. My gift to you to prove my love was to allow you to shift into your true form on this day.” She sashayed to his throne. “Do you want to tell me what’s troubling you?”
“Not really.”
“Isn’t your new pet making you happy anymore?” Her red lips curled into a smile, and she leaned closer, gripping the arms of his throne. “Did I scare her the other night?”
“You know you did.”
“You came to her rescue. How noble of you.”
“Stop with the games. I have no wish to see you today.”
“It doesn’t matter what you want. I came here to celebrate your birthday and to ask you again.” She smirked. “Did you miss me?”
“Not even a bit since the last time we saw each other.” William clenched his jaw. “Aren’t you tired of waiting for me to change my mind? It’s been fifteen years. It’s about time you find someone new to obsess over.”
“Only true love can break your curse, darling. Even if, someday, I get over you, the curse will remain unbroken without a true love’s kiss.” She spoke close to his ear but didn’t dare to touch him. “A true love’s kiss like mine.”
“Your chances to convince me are slim to none. As you can see, the winter is over this year. I’m happy. Claire makes me happy.”
Leaning back, she flipped her hair behind her shoulder and looked around the room. “Where is she, then? Why isn’t she here to celebrate your birthday? If you love her, you should tell her who you are. What you are. You should kiss her and make her your queen. Isn’t that what they all want? To be queens?” She sneered. “Humans can never love us with all their hearts.”
“You know nothing about me, Edana. How can you claim that you love me?”
“We’re both dragons, William. Even if your father decided to be a benevolent king and treat humans as equals, the fact remains that you’re not a human. Stop searching for love outside of your kind.”
The prince pressed two fingers against his forehead. “Your speech is boring me. I’m not in the mood to listen to your ramblings.”
She faked a smile. “Yes. This is boring. It’s about time you understand that I’m the only one who can free you. We can break this curse tonight if you want.”
“Have you considered that maybe I like being cursed?”
“Our kind doesn’t like to be in our human form for too long. We need to shift and flap our wings. Being stuck in a human body for so many days must be hell for you. It’s been so many years already, why do you keep refusing my love? Can’t you imagine how powerful we would be if we married? How many other kingdoms we could conquer?”
His jaw tensed. “You’ve killed my parents. I’ll endure an eternity if that means I get to see you beg for my attention.”
Hissing, the witch lunged forward, ready to attack him with her extended hands that turned into claws.
William didn’t move, and she stopped in front of his face.
“I won’t harm your pretty face. I should disfigure you, but I won’t. I understand your rage.” She recoiled and inspected her clothes. “This is the only night of the year when you can shift into your true form and touch everything without killing it. I came to fly with you, not to start a quarrel.”
“I won’t be shifting tonight.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Perhaps, I should descend on the palace and play with your little human. Maybe my claws can give her a new face.”
Clenching his teeth, he muttered, “If you are testing me to see my reaction, I’ll have to tell you that this new girl means nothing to me. She’s just a commoner they sent. Just another distraction.”
“That’s not what my spies say.”
“Your spies?” He chuckled. “Your spies are wrong.”
“You saved her from me. If she meant nothing, why would you do that?”
“She’s innocent and has nothing to do with our quarrel. I’d have saved anyone else, too.”
“Why the sad face then? Why don’t you want to shift tonight? Are you punishing yourself for something you did? Are you sad because she’s afraid of the big monster outside your palace?”
“No. I was hoping that keeping my human form would dissuade you from coming here.”
> Edana sighed dramatically. “Stop sulking and take flight in the night. If we must do the same dance, at least, commit to the one part you enjoy.”
William was surprised that she would admit how much he hated her but loved taking his dragon form. “If you insist, you red harpy.”
He raced into a run and jumped out the window with ease. With arms outspread, he quickly changed from a falling human to a soaring creature of the skies—a majestic dragon with silver scales and the bluest eyes. He took in the cold night’s air and enjoyed the freedom of flying.
A sharp pain shattered that moment.
Edana, in her effort to always be dominant in his thoughts, had attacked. Her claws dug into his back, drawing blood.
He reacted, tossing her off and breathing ice right at her.
She dodged and sailed around in the usual but still vexing taunt.
“Can’t I have any fun with you?” she asked through their mental dragon link.
“Enjoying the night in my true form is pleasurable, yet you will always be a nuisance I have to tolerate,” William blasted back.
“Temper, temper. Only I can lift your curse. Remember that and submit to me tonight,” Edana countered. “Don’t you miss having someone touching you? I’m here for you, William. Use me.”
“You mean less than nothing to me, evil witch.”
Edana threw fire at him.
He dodged. “Enough! Just let me fly in peace.”
“It’s always good to have company,” Edana said, flapping her wings and diving fast into the void.
William ignored her and spent a few hours flying through the air and exploring his kingdom. Edana kept close the entire time, randomly attacking to catch his attention. By the time he returned to the tower and shaped back into his human form, he was glad she would be gone as soon as the sun came up.
“I guess we have reached the climax.” Edana landed in front of him and changed into her human form. She stopped him from reaching the exit. “Prince William, resistance is futile. Kiss me, and we will unite our kingdoms and rule forever as king and queen.”
William could feel his skin crawling. He despised her. “No, I will not marry you. Now, leave. I want to get some rest.”
Edana stepped back with a sneer. “I have time.” Her lips stretched into a straight line. “You can’t always watch over your new pet.”
William raised his hand, and a whoosh of cold air flew in the witch’s direction.
She stopped his attack easily. Her laughter echoed throughout the room. “Your reaction told me everything I needed to know.”
Raising her hands in the air, she turned into a dragon and flew away.
Her creepy laughter still rang in his ears. Clenching his hands, he condemned his lack of control. His only thought was to see Claire, and he found himself walking to her bedroom.
He stopped. “She’s mad at me.”
That knowledge made his heart hurt. He turned around and walked to his bedroom. After washing up, he put on clean clothes and sat on the bed, looking into the void while thinking about Claire.
“What can I do to make things better?”
It was his birthday. He didn’t want her mad at him. It’s been ages since he wanted to celebrate that day. The fairies always made a cake and tried to cheer him up when the night came, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to transform back into a dragon until it was his birthday again.
Chapter 21
The next morning, Claire was surprised to find the prince in the kitchen. Still, his refusal to let her see her family had hurt her, and she wasn’t ready to treat him in the same way she did before.
Before she could ask any questions, two of the fairies ushered her out to the dining hall with orders to stay at the table until breakfast was ready. Their behavior surprised her, but she decided to wait.
Moments later, the prince joined her at the table, and the fairies served breakfast.
“Why do your eyes look so tired?” William asked, catching her attention. “Did you have nightmares?”
Claire was caught off guard. “No, I didn’t sleep well last night.” She drank her tea.
The prince kept watching her while the fairies brought more cakes to the table. Soon, she wished he would go back to ignoring her presence. Feeling his eyes on her was distracting.
“I had a hard night,” he confessed. “That is why the fairies are fussing over me.”
“Oh,” Claire said. “But you are fine now, right?”
“Yes. I am much better now,” William replied. “Is there anything you want to talk about, Claire?”
“Nothing that has not already been said,” Claire mumbled. “I mean, no. Nothing new to share.”
William seemed unconvinced but continued eating. “I have proper reasons for everything I do. These decisions are best for us, even if you don’t understand why.”
Claire leaned back in her seat. “Frankly, I doubt a prince who’s lived in a palace all his life can know what is best for me. Or what it is to miss someone. I guess, on these occasions, having a heart of ice is advantageous.”
The prince set down his fork. After a long silence, he cleared his throat. “What could a peasant girl like yourself know about what’s in my heart? Do you know anything about my life prior to our meeting?”
“No, since you aren’t willing to share anything with me.”
The prince frowned. “Claire, I’m much older than you might think. I have fought in wars. I lost people I loved. My parents were killed. I know what it is to miss one’s family.”
“Wouldn’t you do anything to see them again if you could?” Claire countered.
“Your parents are well. The Regent makes sure of that.”
“I still miss them.”
The prince breathed deeply. “You’ve accused me of being insensitive towards your feelings. That was never my intention,” the prince apologized. “Life has been hard since the curse, and traveling reminds me of the things I can’t have. Like love and happiness, always fleeting.”
“You gave up,” Claire accused him. “When we first met, you told me you had no wish to let anyone into your heart.”
“Still, you make me happy and feel things. You know that, don’t you?”
Claire lowered her eyes and nodded. “I know. That is why it’s harder for me to get upset when you treat me so coldly.”
“I made you cry.”
Claire raised her eyes. “Does that bother you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Prince William pondered his next words. “You’re kind to me. I don’t want you to be unhappy.” He inhaled. “I don’t want you to believe that you’re my prisoner. You aren’t.”
“Your words, yesterday, sounded as if I was.”
“I know.”
Claire drank her tea. “I’m not upset anymore.”
“Your eyes say otherwise.”
“I’ll try harder to please you,” she stated as she sliced a portion of the cake and put it in her mouth.
The prince tapped his fingers on the table. “Do you like the cake? The fairies said it was your favorite. I told them to make all of your favorite foods.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to cheer you up. I know you miss your family. I’m not entirely blind and uncaring.”
She refused to speak and continued to eat her cake.
“In the capital, the festivals you spoke of. Do you know which one is happening soon and what is being celebrated?”
She shrugged. “The next one is probably the Summer Festival. Like many others, there’s music, dancing, food, and other fun activities.”
“Do you really want to go?”
Her gaze rose to meet his. “To the festival? Alone?”
“With me.”
Claire’s heart leaped in her chest. “Are you being serious?”
“Yes. I’ve thought about this, and I will allow you to visit your home village, attend the party, and see your family. But I have conditions if you wan
t me to come with you on this trip.”
“What are your terms?” She beamed at him. “I’ll accept anything.”
Prince William smiled. “I like seeing you like this.” He cleared his throat with a more serious expression. “We will go to the party and visit your mother with a little walking along the way. No one can know I am the prince, and we are to wear disguises.”
Claire had expected stricter conditions. His demands to visit her parents were easy to fulfill. She wondered how Myka was doing with Tanya. They should be married by now.
“I can agree to those terms. People often use masks and costumes for the parties.”
“Yes, the butler said they did,” the prince said.
Claire grinned. Then, she turned to her dearest friends. “Will the fairies be coming with us?”
“Would you like to join us?” Prince William asked his godmothers. “I think that is a yes,” he said when they squealed and flew around in delight.
“While that’s great, you can’t go wandering around the village in your current form,” Claire warned the fairies. “People will get distracted, and some might try to catch you for fun or profit.”
“We have faced humans before,” Kara said.
Ming added, “Don’t worry, we have a plan to mingle with everyone and stay safe.”
“The real question is, what are we going to wear?” Tasha chimed in, and the entire table broke out in laughter.
Chapter 22
In the Diamond Kingdom, the Summer Festival was a huge event, especially when the nights allowed the citizens to be out in the streets without freezing to death.
The crown jewel of the event was the masquerade party. People from all over came wearing beautiful costumes and colorful masks. Food and drink were plentiful in a festive atmosphere. The music playing put everyone in the mood to tap their feet and join the fun. The capital square became a giant dance floor.
