ONCE UPON AN ENCHANTED KISS

Enchanted Realms Book #3
BY MICHELLE MILES

Excerpt

The doors to the great hall banged open, interrupting her. All turned to see a figure with the sun at her back standing in the doorway. She was nothing but a silhouetted outline as she stood there. Whispered questions hissed through the great hall.

It was Queen Elara who inhaled a sharp breath and whispered, “Rowena.” She snapped her head in the direction of King Stephan. “Did you invite the Queen of the Eternal Court?”

A sickly sensation pierced Stephan as he looked at the figure standing in the doorway. His mouth went bone dry.

“I…I think she was overlooked.”

“Oh, dear,” Titiania said as she rose to her full height. “A grave error, indeed.”

Atlas and Draco also got to their feet, turning to eye the queen at the end of the great hall.

Rowena sauntered from the doorway in slow, methodical, purposeful steps. Dark, baleful eyes alighted on the crowd as she went. She was dressed in a long-sleeved gown of shimmering midnight, a long train trailing behind her. Circling her head was an onyx crown that glittered like mirrored shafts of light. Angled cheekbones and full dark red lips gave her face a severe appearance. There was something sinister, yet beautiful about her. At the end of the aisle, she paused, her sharp gaze glancing from King Stephan and his wife to the baby nestled inside the cradle.

Silence descended on the gathering.

“Well, isn’t this a lovely affair.”

Her voice echoed throughout the great hall. Glittering black eyes paused on each of the Fae royals before resting on King Stephan.

“Pity I didn’t garner an invitation. Though I was able to find my way here after all.”

“Your majesty, my deepest apologies,” King Stephan said as he stepped around Queen Elara. He grappled with an excuse—any excuse—that would appease the dark queen. “Your kingdom is remote and—”

“Remote?” She laughed but it was without humor. “Perhaps you feel that way because it’s on the other side of the kingdom from…” she paused, gave a look of disdain and waved her hand at the other royals, “…them.”

“We want no trouble here, Rowena,” Draco said, stepping forward. He paused next to Stephan.

She flashed him a look so deadly, he pressed his lips together into a straight line. Queen Eleanor stepped forward then, placing herself between Rowena and the baby. Stephan reached for her but she waved him off.

“We meant no disrespect, your majesty,” she said, her voice even and clear. “We would be pleased if you joined us.”

“Would you?” One dark brow lifted in question.

“Of course.” Eleanor gave her a smile. Then she did the unthinkable. She held her hand out to the dark queen. “Come and meet our new princess.”

Rowena’s gaze landed on the crib. She walked forward, ignoring Eleanor’s outstretched hand. The queen dropped her hand as Rowena peered down at the tiny baby with the waving fists in the cradle. The little princess’s skin shimmered with faery dust from the other three royals bestowing their gift upon her.

“What a lovely child,” she said. “I see the others have imparted faery gifts. Allow me to bestow my gift upon the princess.”

Eleanor, still smiling, said, “We would love that.”

Rowena bent over the crib and drew her finger down the baby’s cheek. Her skin still glittered with faery dust.

“Little princess, I see you have been given gifts of beauty, strength, and charm.” She straightened, then held one of her hands down, cupped. A swirling shimmery cloud of purple magic was contained in her palm as she lifted it up. Her gaze met the king’s. “But none of those will be enough to save her, for before the sun sets on her eighteenth birthday she will prick her finger on the thorn of a rose…and die.”

As she spoke the last two words, she blew the shimmery purple faery dust. It trickled down and landed on the baby, who immediately cried out. Eleanor gasped as she reached for the baby, but it was too late. Atlas and Draco both pulled their weapons, their swords pointed at the Queen of the Eternal Court. Even Titania looked distraught at the curse that was placed upon the young princess.

“Arrest her!” Stephan ordered his guards.

But as they charged forward, Queen Rowena disappeared in puff of purple haze. Eleanor, tears in her eyes, held the wailing baby.

King Stephan turned to the assembled Fae royals. “The curse. Can it be reversed?”

Titania shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Rowena’s dark magic is powerful. But fear not, King Stephan, Queen Elara has yet to give her gift to the baby.”

About Author Michelle Miles…