Love Spell: Book 2 of The Grimm Laws (24 page)

“She will live regardless.”

“
Live
is a loose term. How will she live?”

“If she has broken the law then she will have to be punished. The law is the law.”

“You pompous coward. She has broken no law! ‘Tis not against the law to love! To choose one’s own path.”

“She made her choice when she accepted my hand in marriage,” Edward spat. “No one forced her into that.”

“There were elements at play which you know nothing about. Had Cinderella not thought me dead, she would never have accepted thy hand in marriage.”

Edward’s face paled. “I will hear no more of these lies!”

They eyed one other. “Fair enough, but I will not have her chained in the dungeon like an animal.” A crazed look came into his eyes. “I would rather see her dead!”

“She will not be chained.” Edward shook his head. “I would never put her in the dungeon. Wait, are you admitting that you did not cast a love spell over her?”

“Nay, I am simply weighing all of the options.” His voice became musing. “My mother’s spells are persuasive, persnickety little things. Once they take hold, a person loses all reason.”

“My neck can attest to that,” Jack piped in. “Ye should have seen him when he drank that potion. He had the strength of ten lions—”

“Silence, you babbling bag of puke! I will not tolerate another word from thee,” Edward roared, shocking Jack into silence.

“I will fight thee,” Rushton said, “but I do have one or two conditions.”

Edward chuckled and motioned at the guards. “While I admire thy courage, you are in no position to be handing out conditions.”

“As I said, always getting someone else to fight thy battles.”

“Name thy conditions!” Edward said through gritted teeth.

“If I win, I get my freedom … and the gold.”

Edward’s eyes went wide. “You really expect me to give thee the gold?”

“How badly do you want to know the truth? You have an entire treasury full of gold. All I am asking for is one small sack. You will never miss it. ”

Edward’s mouth started working. “Agreed.”

“Cinderella goes free—regardless of the outcome.”

Edward shook his head. “I cannot do that.”

“Cannot or will not? Do you really want to be shackled to a woman who doesn’t love thee?”

Blood rushed to Edward’s face. “Are you admitting—”

Rushton held up a hand. “I am speaking in generalities. If she doesn’t love thee.
If
.”

“Agreed,” Edward relented, “regardless of the outcome, she will be free to come and go as she pleases.”

Rushton nodded. “Fair enough.”

One of the guards went to Edward’s side. “But sire, how do you know that ye can trust him?”

“The same way I know that I can trust him,” Rushton said.

A look passed between Edward and Rushton, each of them sizing the other up.

“Swear it!” Edward said.

“I swear.”

“He will live and die by his word,” Edward said, satisfied.

“One more thing,” Rushton said, jutting his thumb at Jack. “The scalawag goes with me.”

Edward chuckled. “You will not receive any objections from me on that accord. If I had to spend a day with him, I would slit his throat for sure.” He looked straight at Rushton. “Now, my conditions. If I win, you will tell me the truth about the love spell.”

Rushton nodded. “Agreed.”

“And I arrest thee and bring thee back to the castle where you will stand trial for thy treachery.”

Rushton let out a breath. “Agreed.”

“Furthermore, you will never attempt to so much as look at Cinderella ever again. You will stay away from her.”

Rushton rolled his eyes. “If you drag me back to the castle then I will surely be sentenced to death. Methinks thy last condition is null and void.”

“You must agree!” Edward persisted.

“Very well. I agree.”

Edward picked up his sword. “We fight!” He struck with all of his might, but Rushton blocked it. They met each other, blow for blow, until the tip of Edward’s sword cut through the tunic on Rushton’s midsection. Rushton jumped back to avoid an injury that otherwise would have been fatal, but he wasn’t fast enough to keep from getting slashed by the tip of the sword.

He looked down at the wound and then at Edward. “You always were better at the sword than the joust. ‘Tis nice to know there is at least one skill at which you are proficient.”

“This mocking attitude is beneath you,” Edward countered coldly.

They kept clashing swords, their breath coming in heavy gasps.

“You will not win,” Rushton said with certainty.

Edward gave him a smug look. “I already have, for ‘tis me that she will marry. My bed she will share. My children she will bear.”

At this, Rushton started slashing wildly, pushing Edward backward until he had him pinned against the wall. “Like I said, you are skilled with the sword, but you will never best me.” His eyes glittered in a challenge.

Edward pushed him off, and they went at it again. Rushton stepped back and lost his footing on a loose stone. He fell backward, giving Edward the advantage he needed. He stood over Rushton, his sword pointing at his chest. “I have won,” he said triumphantly. “You will now tell me the truth before I haul thy miserable bones back to the dungeon where you will await your trial.”

“Well, fair is fair, after all. And since you are standing over me with the point of thy sword aimed at my chest, I suppose ‘tis time to tell thee …” He paused long enough for Edward to lean in slightly to hear, then he used his leg to sweep Edward off his feet. In the time it took to draw in a breath, the scene shifted dramatically. For now Edward was on the ground, disarmed, and Rushton was standing over him, pointing both swords straight at Edward’s heart. Rushton flashed a mirthless smile. “You broke the cardinal rule.”

Edward shot him a hateful glare.

“You called the battle prematurely, underestimated thine opponent.” He shrugged. “A pity you will never know the truth. A pity you will never know whether or not she truly loves you.” He looked him in the eye. “You will never know for sure if it is you … or me she is thinking of when her lips touch yours. I will always be there between you. You will never be rid of me.”

“I need to know the truth.”

Rushton got up in his face. “The fact that you keep asking tells me that you do not deserve her!”

“Please, you owe me that much.”

“On the contrary, I do not owe thee anything.” He raised one of the swords to Edward’s neck. “Any debt that I owed thee was scratched out the night when you wrenched away my love and hauled me off to the dungeon! Do not dare speak about my owing thee a thing!”

The guards stepped forward to intervene.

Rushton smirked. “Here they come to save thee. Just as I thought!”

“Stay back!” Edward warned. “I gave my word.” He gave Rushton a scathing look. “And unlike the present company, my word is still worth something.”

Rushton stepped back and lowered the swords. He tossed Edward’s back to him with a shrug. “I always was the better fighter.”

Edward’s eyes burned. “And I am the better man.”

“That remains to be seen,” Rushton said quietly. He motioned to Jack. “Get the gold.”

Jack jumped to action and went to retrieve the bag from one of the guards who was clutching it with a death grip. He held out his hand. “If ye please …”

The guard looked to Edward for permission. He would not release his grip until he saw Edward nod. Jack looked at Rushton. “We must go, before he changes his mind.”

Edward stood and faced Rushton. A world of memories flowed between them, seeping out and running dry, as they stood, eyeing each other.

Rushton clamped his lips together into a thin line. “I am sorry it had to be this way. Despite what you think, I do wish thee well, for you were like a brother to me once.”

Edward’s jaw went hard. “Run! Run away from my kingdom and never come back. I am letting you go this time, but if I ever see you again, we will end this thing once and for all. I promise you that.”

“Goodbye, Edward,” Rushton said quietly. He threw down the sword and walked away, not looking back.

“
M
y dear
, do you realize what time it is?”

Elle didn’t have the slightest idea. She looked to Rae for help, but she was just as clueless. She gave Adele a dubious look. “Almost time for band practice? As soon as Rush and Jack get here?” The three of them were sitting in the attic, waiting for Rush and Jack to arrive, so they could begin their practice for tomorrow night’s gig.

Adele chuckled. “No, silly girl, it’s almost time for your birthday. And we need to have a proper celebration.”

“It is?” Elle tried to think. Ever since the accident, her life had been a jumbled mess. Strange, but she’d not given a single thought to her birthday. A flutter of panic went through her. She couldn’t even remember the date. This was getting ridiculous!

Adele picked up on her dismay. “No need to fret. Your birthday is next Wednesday.”

Rae gave Elle a funny look. “Did you really forget the date of your birthday?”

How humiliating! She hated this memory loss thing! She’d not even thought to ask when her birthday was. “Yes,” she said glumly, “I did forget my own birthday.”

“Oh, don’t be too hard on her,” Adele countered smoothly, giving Elle an encouraging nod, “she’s had a lot on her plate lately, and it’s about to get worse … much worse,” she muttered to herself.

A jolt of fear stabbed through Elle. The sides of her throat felt like sandpaper as she swallowed. She had to force the words out. “What do you mean … things are about to get worse?”

“Oh, fudge pudding! Did I say that out loud?” Adele looked at the ceiling. “Are you sure? I could’ve sworn I’d only thought it.”

Elle wanted to scream! Her aunt could be so dang frustrating! Before she could say anything, Rae put a comforting hand on her arm. “Don’t pay any attention to her,” she whispered. “She’s a sweet lady, but she’s a couple short of a dozen, if you get my drift.” She made a circling motion over her ear. “Cuckoo. Look at her, she’s carrying on a conversation with the ceiling.”

Adele gave Rae a sharp look. “I’m disappointed in you. Contrary to what you think, I am not cuckoo.”

Rae’s face grew crimson as her eyes flew open wide. She started fiddling with the string on her zip-up jacket. “I’m sorry, I meant no disrespect. I was only trying to put Elle at ease.”

Adele began twirling a finger around one of her tight curls. “I see.” She gave Rae a rushed smile with her lips, but her eyes remained somber. “You are a good friend, but even a good friend can’t stop this storm. The only way to survive it is to face it head on—without fear.”

Elle felt a smidge of sympathy for her best friend when she saw the look of confusion that came over her face. Then Rae glanced out the round window in the center of the wall of the attic where the sky was perfectly clear.

She looked at Elle. “There’s no storm,” she said unnecessarily.

Elle shook her head, giving her a warning look that said,
Zip it
! It was futile to argue with Adele.

Adele gave Elle a knowing look. “Yes, arguing is futile, my dear.”

She’d read her thoughts again! There was so much she wanted to ask her about the shadow crawlers and everything else, but she couldn’t—not while Rae was here.

“Yes, the questions will have to wait,” Adele said, her eyes never leaving Elle’s. “Let’s talk about your party. I thought we’d have a big bash downstairs. I’m going to make you a chocolate cake. Would you prefer milk or white chocolate, dear?” She chuckled at her joke.

Elle caught her meaning instantly. “Well, seeing as how I had a hard time remembering my birthday, I’m thinking that a white chocolate cake would be more appropriate—to help me remember.”

Adele looked pleased. “As you wish.”

Rae was looking back and forth between the two of them, a puzzled expression on her face. “You lost me … white chocolate? Remembering? I don’t get it.”

There was no way Elle could even attempt to explain it. She only shook her head. “A family joke.”

“Oh,” Rae said, but she didn’t look too pleased about being left in the dark.

Adele stood. “Rae and I have some birthday plans to discuss.”

“Okay.” Did that mean Adele wanted to discuss those plans only with Rae?

“Yes, dear, that’s exactly what I mean.” She gave her a mysterious smile. “Everyone should have a couple of surprises on their birthday.”

Rae also stood. “Do you want to discuss it downstairs … in the bakery?”

“That would be splendid!” Adele clasped her hands together.

Elle glanced around the attic and at the band paraphernalia scattered around the room. “I guess I’ll stay up here and wait until the guys arrive.”

“No,” Adele countered, “come down with us. You can step outside and sit on the front steps … keep a watch out for the guys.”

She made a face. “Do you really think it’s necessary for me to go out and keep watch? They’ll just come inside when they get here. I can stay up here and go over a few chords—”

“You need to be outside when they arrive,” Adele said firmly. Her eyes met Elle’s. “Trust me on this.”

She stood. “Okay.” She didn’t know what in the heck was running through Adele’s mind, but she knew better than to go against her wishes.

When they got downstairs, Adele pulled her aside and motioned at the cuckoo clock. “It is getting faster still,” she uttered in a low tone, glancing over her shoulder at Rae who was standing by the bakery case, salivating over the truffles. She gave Elle a meaningful look. “We are running out of time!”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Elle whispered, searching Adele’s face. It wasn’t often that Adele got ruffled, but there was an apprehensive current of energy running through her, and Adele seemed to be attempting to convey some sort of message, although comprehending that message was like trying to discern an intelligible snippet of conversation from Pig Latin.

A faint twinkle lit Adele’s eyes. “Pig Latin, huh? I’m not sure I even know what that is, dear. To answer your question, I don’t know what’s about to happen … exactly. Only that I can’t shake this feeling that something pivotal is about to take place.” She ran a hand through her hair, looking thoughtful. “Do you ever get that feeling?”

Elle rocked back, a quiet panic racing through her. Her legs suddenly went as wobbly as rubber bands, and she became lightheaded. “I felt that way this morning,” she whispered through tight lips. She could tell from the knowing look on Adele’s face that her admission didn’t surprise her in the least.

“Whatever this portent is that’s looming over us … it will rear its ugly head soon enough, I suppose.” She placed a hand on Elle’s shoulder and offered her an encouraging smile. “Remember, courage will vanquish whatever darkness may befall us. You are stronger than you think.”

“Okay, you’re starting to scare me.” She cast a look in the direction of the antique door with the oval glass in the center. It suddenly looked ominous. “Now, I’m thinking that maybe I shouldn’t go outside. What’s about to happen?”

“You will know soon enough. Remember, be courageous! You are stronger than you think.” Adele gave her a tender look. “Go on then,” she said brusquely, giving her a slight push toward the door. “You mustn’t keep the future waiting.”