Love Spell: Book 2 of The Grimm Laws (3 page)

Adele laughed. “Splendid! Bree thinks we need a fire too! A fire always makes these situations more cozy, don’t you think?”

Elle blinked and then looked again at the roaring fire. Her jaw dropped. “You’re magic!” she exclaimed with a tinge of awe.

“Yes, you’re remembering already.” She rubbed her hands in anticipation. “Okay, Bree, it’s time to do your thing. And get to it pronto, will you? We haven’t much time before band practice starts.”

The mirror, the key, and now this … it was too much. A wave of dizziness washed over Elle as stars began popping out of the air.

Adele caught her arm. “Don’t you faint on me, dear. Try to relax. Think of the white truffle and how it tasted in your mouth. Concentrate on the book.”

Elle looked down at the blank pages.

“Look closer,” Adele urged.

She had the feeling that Adele’s voice was far away and that she was floating. Her eyes went wide when she saw the gold script on the pages, and then a scene lifted from the book. There were rugged, snow-capped mountains in the distance and dazzling lakes. She was floating over a thick forest that soon gave way to a lush countryside with leafy trees and gentle hills. Then, she saw the massive stone house resting prominently in the center of a meadow. She recognized the crisscrossed, diamond shaped bars over the windows and the large wooden door. A whisper from before wafted over her and seeped into her pores. This was familiar. This was home …

“
L
isten very carefully
, daughter. When the royal procession arrives, you must say exactly what I tell you, else all will be lost. The prince will want an explanation as to why you fled the ball and came here. You were overwrought with the excitement of the ball and the engagement.”

Josselyn rolled her eyes. “More like she was overwrought with the excitement of seeing Squire Rushton alive and breathing.”

Seraphina nearly came out of her seat. Her eyes bulged as she gripped the arms of the chair. “Watch your tongue, Josselyn, or I shall have it carved out!” She forced a laugh. “Thou art being absurd. After all, what use would Cinderella have for some lowly squire when she is engaged to the crown prince?” She turned to Cinderella as a tight smile curved over her thin lips. “Isn’t that right?” Her voice was soft and menacing. “The prince loves you. He has made a commitment—a commitment, which you agreed to. He even had it written into The Grimm Laws. We all know that once something is written into The Grimm Laws, it becomes more indelible than stone.”

A silent scream rose in Cinderella’s throat as she looked into her stepmother’s cold eyes. There was not the slightest hint of compassion in them. She was sick and tired of hearing about The Grimm Laws and how sacred they were. Did anyone even truly know what The Grimm Laws were? She certainly didn’t. All she knew was that the laws governed the kingdom and the king himself was subject to them. But shouldn’t there be some allowance made on her behalf? When she’d agreed to the engagement, she thought Rushton was dead. She balled her fists, thinking of all that had happened. Rushton’s own mother, Wisteria, had tricked her into getting engaged to Edward! A roaring started in her ears, and she got lost for a moment in the chaos of her own thoughts. Then she realized that Seraphina was waiting expectantly for a response. “I am sorry. What was it that you asked?”

“I asked you to rehearse what you will say when the procession arrives.”

“I—I’m not sure yet.” She began twisting the bodice of her gown, looking for a way out of this horrible predicament. As much as she hated to contemplate it, there was no way to undo the engagement, even Rushton had said as much. He’d been so mean and spiteful to her the night before, and they’d both said things they didn’t mean. But despite all of the uncertainty she felt, of one thing she was sure—she loved him. There was no denying that. Edward was a reasonable person. Surely he would understand that her relationship with Rushton had begun when she was a child. They may have written the engagement into The Grimm Laws, but Rushton’s name was written on her heart, and there was no undoing that.

“What will you say?” Seraphina snapped.

Cinderella’s eyes met hers. “I am not sure,” she said honestly.

A smug expression came over Josselyn’s full lips. “See, Mother, I told you! She loves Rushton. She always has.”

She hated the way Josselyn made it sound so dirty and incriminating, but it was true, and she could no longer deny it. She lifted her chin in the air. “I will simply tell Edward the truth.”

“The truth?” Seraphina growled and then jumped out of her chair, her face going as scarlet as the flames burning in the nearby fireplace. She glared down at Cinderella. “You ungrateful, wretch! All of these years … I have fed and clothed thee! Thy father ran up debts and then died like the coward he was, leaving us penniless! This is your chance to make things right and undo the wrongs he did to us!”

Tears brimmed in Cinderella’s eyes as she looked up at this woman who was the only mother she’d ever known. For so long, she’d lived with the hope that she would gain some form of acceptance from her. That perhaps Seraphina might come to love her, but Rushton was right. It hurt to admit it, but Seraphina was only using her. Today was the first and only time she’d called her
daughter
. She didn’t care how Cinderella felt. She didn’t care that Cinderella had been tricked into getting engaged. All she cared about was going to the castle and the riches that she would receive when Cinderella became a princess.

“Have ye nothing to say to me?” Seraphina yelled.

“From the time I was a little girl, you have worked me like a servant. I have done everything you asked of me, getting nothing in return. It wasn’t until I gained the favor of Edward that you would even acknowledge that I was your daughter. You can’t keep placing the blame of my father’s sins on me.” Her voice broke. “I’m begging thee, Seraphina. For once in thy life, do the right thing! Stand by me now as I make the hardest decision of my life. Prove that it is me you care about and not what I can give you.”

Seraphina rubbed a hand across her brow. “This is utter nonsense! Of course I care about thee, girl! That is precisely why I am trying to persuade thee not to throw everything away! Think of what marriage to the crown prince will mean. You will one day become queen. You will want for nothing.”

“And neither will you, Mother!” Josselyn sneered.

Seraphina moved so quickly that Cinderella’s mind barely registered what was happening as she slapped Josselyn hard across the jaw. Josselyn rocked back in stunned silence, holding her cheek. “Thou wilt do well to watch thy tongue, Josselyn!” Seraphina barked.

A look of hatred crossed Josselyn’s features as her jaw grew hard. They eyed one another for a moment until Seraphina’s shoulders fell. “This is getting out of control.” She walked to the desk in the corner of the room, pulled out the middle drawer and retrieved a document. She went over and thrust it in Cinderella’s lap.

“This came while you were at the palace.”

Cinderella looked down. “What is it?”

“A notice—calling in our debts.” Seraphina’s lower lip trembled. “I have held off the creditors as long as I can, but we are now in danger of losing everything we have—the land, the stables …” she motioned “ … this house.” She looked at Cinderella. “Say what ye want of me … call me selfish or insensitive, but the cold, hard truth is that we are in serious trouble.” Her eyes pled with Cinderella’s. “And in a strange turn of events, only you can save us.”

“
E
lle
, wake up, dear.”

The voice was coming from far away. Elle blinked and then opened her eyes. “Where am I?” she said groggily. She sat up in the chair and looked around at Adele’s study. “Did I fall asleep?”

Adele was sitting in the chair beside her, studying her intently. “What do you remember?”

Elle searched her brain. “Not a lot.” Then it all came tumbling back. “I came here to ask you about the girl in the mirror and the key.”

“Do you remember anything else?”

A dull headache was forming across the bridge of her nose, and she pinched it in the hope of making it stop. There was something she was supposed to remember, she was sure of it. She glanced at the silver tray on the ottoman, which was now empty. When she’d followed Adele up to the study, she’d brought up two truffles. Had she eaten them? It’s strange that she couldn’t remember.

“Do you remember what I said about the key?”

“Um …” Elle pushed back her hair. “Yeah … something about not telling anyone.”

“When you find the key, you bring it here … pronto! Do you understand?”

“Okay,” Elle said automatically. What did it matter what she agreed to anyway? The entire thing was crazy. She’d come here, searching for answers, and it was clear that she’d not gotten a single one. This was probably some elaborate hoax. There had to be a logical explanation for the mirror and the key. There simply had to be!

“Knock knock.”

Adele looked in the direction of the door and smiled. “Jack, come in.”

He stepped in and glanced at Elle before brushing back the mop of hair on his head. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here a little early.”

“Elle and I were just finishing up.” She patted Elle’s hand. “Weren’t we, dear?”

“Yes.”

Adele stood. “You’re always welcome here,” she said warmly.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked around. “Wow! Cool place.” He pointed to the wood model on the small table. “Can I have a look?”

“Sure.”

He stepped up to it. “What is this of?”

Adele stood beside him. “You don’t recognize it?”

He made a face. “Well, it’s certainly an elaborate gingerbread house, and then there’s the young boy and girl.” He stroked his chin. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say …”

“Yes?” she prompted.

“Hansel and Gretel?”

She clapped her hands. “Precisely. Very good.”

He nodded. “You like fairy tales.”

Rae stepped into the room. “Hey, I was on my way up to the attic when I heard you guys talking.”

Elle stood.

Jack had moved over to the bookshelves and was studying the titles. “Adele, you must really love fairy tales.”

She chuckled. “I suppose it reminds me of home.”

Rae cocked her head. “Home … huh. Where are you from?”

Adele gave her an enigmatic smile. “From somewhere far, far away.”

“Okay,” Rae said slowly, shooting Elle a look that said,
Your aunt is loony
.

Elle could’ve told her that. She had the feeling that there was something she was supposed to remember—something important. Something about the truffles.

Rae gave Jack a speculative look. “Well, Jack, it seems that someone else shares your love.”

Jack blushed and ducked his head slightly.

“His love?” Elle scrunched her nose.

Rae flashed a smile, her jade eyes sparking with mischief. “Yes, Jack is quite the artist, and he is consumed with drawing these crazy pictures of castles, beanstalks, and a giant.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Oh, and my favorite is the one of Rapunzel with her long red hair trailing down the tower.”

“But I thought Rapunzel had blonde hair,” Elle said.

“Not this one.” Rae flashed him a teasing smile. “Jack’s Rapunzel has flaming red hair.”

“Like yours,” Adele said, giving Jack an admiring look.

Elle never could figure out her aunt. Of all the things to be impressed with, why that?

Rae’s face turned as red as her hair, and it was obvious from her befuddled expression that it had not even entered her mind that Jack might’ve been drawing her.

Elle bit back a smile. It was fun to watch the witty exchanges that went back and forth between Rae and Jack. There was obviously a spark between them, but they hadn’t brought it out in the open yet. Maybe they weren’t even aware of it themselves.

“I was not drawing Rae! Geez!” There was a mortified expression on Jack’s face. Rae also looked uncomfortable.

“How long have you been drawing these pictures?” Adele wanted to know.

“I dunno. A few days ago, I woke up with them on my mind, and I couldn’t rest until I put them to paper.”

“Interesting,” Adele mused. “Very good.”

Jack made a face. “Huh?”

Adele looked thoughtful. “Jack, you should keep drawing those pictures. It might help you to remember.”

He shot Rae a questioning look to which she shrugged. “Remember what?”

Elle tried to make eye contact with him to remind him that her aunt was crazy, but she couldn’t get his attention. Adele looked at Elle and chuckled. Heat crept up Elle’s neck. She’d forgotten that her aunt could read her thoughts. Oops.

Adele gave Jack a patient smile. “Don’t worry, dear. It’ll come back to you.”

“But I’m drawing pictures of fairy tales.” He pointed to the model of Hansel and Gretel. “Fairy tales?” He scrunched his nose. “They’re not real.”

Adele sighed. “So you say … so you say. Youth,” she muttered, “so impetuous.”

Rae looked at Elle who gave her a sympathetic smile. If they didn’t all realize by now that Adele was bonkers, they’d realize it soon enough.

Rae got down to business. “Okay, we’ve got to practice.”

“Where’s Rush?” Elle didn’t want to appear overly concerned about Rush, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself from asking about him. She still wasn’t sure how she was going to act around him. A part of her was super embarrassed that she’d confessed her feelings, and the other part was steaming mad at him.

A devilish smile flittered over Jack’s lips. “Oh, he’ll be here soon. He had some things to wrap up first.”

A stab of jealousy went through Elle. Surely Rush wasn’t late for practice because he was out with Lynessa Miles! Her face twisted into a sour expression, and then she realized Rae was studying her, so she offered a placating smile. She could tell from the knowing look on her face that Miss Hawk Eye had read her like an open book.

“No, we don’t know what you mean,” Rae cut in. “Care to explain?”

Jack winked. “Guy stuff.”

Rae crossed her arms over her chest. “Uh-huh.” She motioned. “Let’s go. We’ll run through a few chords while we wait.”

T
hey’d been practicing
about twenty minutes when Rush finally made his appearance. “Well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence,” Rae said dryly.

“‘Bout time you got here, man. The girls are getting antsy.” Jack twirled a drumstick through his fingers.

Rush strolled over to his guitar and strapped it over his shoulder. “Sorry,” he said breezily, “couldn’t be helped.”

Rae lifted an eyebrow. “Care to tell us what kept you?”

His eyes briefly met Elle’s. There was a guarded expression on his face. “Not really.”

A myriad of emotions flooded through Elle. Every inch of her body was aware of him the moment he stepped into the room. He was so devastatingly handsome with those rugged looks and fierce blue eyes that it hurt to look at him, especially considering that she’d opened her heart to him, and he’d turned her down flat. Even despite all of the confusion with her memory loss, she’d chosen him! A hot anger coursed its way through her as she clenched her jaw. He must’ve felt her animosity because his eyes met hers. There was an amused expression on his face.

“What?” she shot back.

“You seem a little tense.” His voice was casual—too casual.

“Really? Is that what I am?” she said icily.

Rae looked wide-eyed between the two of them and then shot Jack a concerned look. He gave her a lopsided smile and jerked his head back, so that his hair would flop back into place. “Love and hate are two sides of the same coin, Red.”