A Grimm Warning (The Land of Stories, #3)(121)

Everywhere Alex went, people bowed to her and referred to her as the Fairy Godmother. It was going to take her time to get used to it.

Alex asked the kings and queens to stay an extra day so she could hold her first official Happily Ever After Assembly meeting as Fairy Godmother the day after the ceremony. The war was over but there were still so many battles ahead—private and public.

Bree and Emmerich asked Conner and Alex if they could stay for the ceremony but agreed with the twins that they should go home as soon as it was over. They didn’t want their parents to worry any more than they already had.

“I am so going to be grounded when I get home.” Bree laughed. “Too bad my parents would never believe the truth—they might go easy on me.”

“What will you tell them?” Conner asked her.

Bree shrugged. “That I fell in love with a circus clown and followed him around Europe,” she said. “We know it can happen.”

“Would you mind letting my mom and stepdad know where I am?” Conner said. “They’ll probably know already—Alex and I aren’t strangers to going missing now and then.”

“Sure,” Bree said. “Maybe they can talk to my parents and soften the blow of my punishment. They can tell them what a horrible influence you are or something.”

A playful smile appeared on Emmerich’s face. “I bet all the kids in Füssen are so worried about me,” he said. “I’m going to tell them I was kidnapped by secret agents—which isn’t that far from the truth.”

“What will you tell your mom and dad?” Bree asked.

“It’s just my mom and me,” Emmerich said. “I never knew my dad. But when my mother was a little girl my grandfather used to tell her about strange things he had seen in Neuschwanstein Castle. She probably wouldn’t even be too surprised if I told her the truth. I’ll still have to do dishes for months regardless of where I was, but it was worth it! Even though my life was put in danger several times, I’ve never had so much fun!”

“I agree,” Bree said. “This has certainly been the adventure of my life.”

That night Conner, Bree, and Emmerich followed Mother Goose to one of the tallest towers of the Fairy Palace. The circular room was very dusty and cobwebs stretched between walls. Clearly no one had been up there in a very long time. An empty archway was the only thing standing in the tower.

“This was one of the original portals we used to travel into the Otherworld during the heyday of fairy tales,” Mother Goose told them. “Those were the good old days.”

Conner put his arms around Bree and Emmerich. “You know, now that you two have seen the fairy-tale world, it’s your responsibility to help us keep fairy tales alive in the Otherworld,” he said.

Both were excited about the task. Having this responsibility made them feel like they were taking a piece of the Land of Stories back with them.

“I think I’m up for that challenge,” Bree said.

“Me too!” Emmerich said.

Mother Goose pulled a lever on the wall and a transparent blue curtain appeared in the doorway. It was bright on the other side of the curtain and Conner recognized the zone of light between the two worlds.

“Looks like the old portal is back in action,” Mother Goose declared.

“Where does it lead to?” Emmerich asked.

“Somewhere in the Netherlands,” Mother Goose said but then second-guessed herself. “Or was it Nevada? Oh well, just ask someone once you get there. Let’s make this quick. I’m not getting any younger despite the potions I drink.”

Conner hugged his friends a bittersweet good-bye.

“Thank you both so much for helping me get here,” he said. “I promise to visit you once we get everything straightened out here.”

“I’ll miss you, Herr Bailey,” Emmerich said. He didn’t want to leave.

“Take care, bud,” Conner said.

Emmerich was first to step through the curtain and disappear into the Otherworld. Bree lingered by the archway before following him. Just saying good-bye didn’t seem good enough.

“I’ll see you around” was all she mustered.

“Yeah, definitely,” Conner said, and looked around the tower as he blushed.

Bree kissed his cheek and stepped toward the portal. Conner was feeling a little daring since he knew he wouldn’t be seeing her anytime soon, so he decided to send her off with a secret.

“Hey, Bree,” he said. “Before you go, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

Conner scrunched his whole face as he told her. “After a lot of thought and self-reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that I might—possibly—maybe—do have a crush on you,” he admitted.

Bree laughed. “I know you do,” she said. “And by the way, I have a crush on you, too.” She winked at him and quickly stepped through the curtain before either of them could say another word.

Conner’s mouth dropped open and his heart felt like it was going to flutter out of his chest. He was happy and confused at the same time. If they both liked each other, what happened next? It was an electrifying yet misery-inducing mystery and Conner didn’t know what to do with himself.

Mother Goose turned the lever and faced Conner with a very serious expression in her eyes. “C-Dog, I’ve got to talk to you.”