Sleeping Beauty (Not Quite the Fairy Tale Book 7)(7)

Then.



Not every man in his shoes would have had the same reaction, he knew, but from the moment she was born, he loved the kid. His daughter. Well, his daughter as far as the world was aware of. Never mind that the kid had no features in common with him and that no Evermore blood ran through her veins. It didn’t matter. She called him Daddy and threw herself in his arms with an infinite trust; they’d claimed each other and that was what had changed him into a father.

“This woman’s greed knows no bounds,” Mal screeched on her way in, as she often did now. “She wasn’t content with your Kingdom – she wants to poison mine now!”

The accusation hurt, probably because it was true. Marina had poisoned his land, and in his quest for peace, he’d let her. She had no say in the ruling of the Kingdom, but Court was his domain and for the sake of keeping appearances adequate, he’d let her do as she pleased there. Her games, her competitions, had progressively changed the people of Ferren. The poor were poorer yet, as the resources were depleted by their incessant festivities. The rich were constantly quarreling, begging for a flicker of the Queen’s attention.

Rupert had spent so much time away, seeing to his lands far from Court, that he hadn’t seen it at first. Now that he knew, he had to do something to make his Kingdom strong again.

“What now?” he sighed.

“Your wife has authorized a hunt. In my lands.”

No; surely not. Marina couldn’t possibly be that stupid…

He retracted his protest before it had even escaped his lips.

“Tell me they killed nothing.”

“A Pegasus foal, not even a few months old. I’ll have her heart on a stake for this, mark my words!”

She meant it and Rupert was quite tempted to tell her to have at it.

“What’s this?” Maleficent asked, frowning in confusion.

Rupert followed her gaze and broke into a humongous smile as he took in the little curly-haired, rosy-cheeked princess hiding behind his throne.

Maleficent looked perplexed, inquisitive, and her lips twitched when the girl shot her her best toothy grin. The Fay managed to prevent herself from returning the smile, but most of her ire vanished.

“This,” he said, recalling that Mal hadn’t been in for almost a year, now, “is Aurora Evermore. My daughter.”

Mal sniffed the air and grimaced.

“This is not…”

Never had he said anything that could possibly resemble an order when addressing her, for Maleficent didn’t belong to the world of man; she certainly wasn’t a subject of his. but he interrupted her, using his most demanding voice to dictate, “Never allow those words to cross your lips in her presence.”

Someday, when she was old enough to comprehend these things, perhaps he might mention it to her, but the little bundle who’d just started walking and mumbling would not yet hear that her mother was a faithless idiot.

Mal nodded, sniffing again.

“There’s Fay around her, not enough to be in her blood though. She’s been blessed.”

“Yes, she has. By Rumpelstiltskin, Fernan, Wench, and just about every Fay who has responded to our invitation.”

Rupert didn’t hide his hurt; he had really not thought that Mal’s dislike for his wife would keep her away for his daughter’s baptism.

The Fay’s dark eyes narrowed.

“I was sent no invitation, old friend.”

The King immediately shook his head, recalling the event, but his mouth clapped shut. He’d said he’d invite her and Marina had replied that she’d already sent a letter to every Fay she knew of.

Why, oh, why had he believed her?

“Your wife’s doing?” Mal guessed.

There was still something dark in her gaze, something he’d never seen before and never wished to see again.

“It would appear so. It’s nothing but petty jealousy, Mal. We’re friends and she can’t stand it; why, I don’t know, as she doesn’t want me for herself either.”

“I’m done playing nice, Rupert. I’m done controlling myself around her. I swear her next offense will be her last.”

That’s when he should have at least tried to placate her, told her that he’d handle his own wife. But he was tired of the Alenian madam’s antics, so he shrugged, and said the words that condemned his daughter, his reign, his everything.

“Do as you please.”





Chapter 6





Close Call





Now.



Everything had gone off without a hitch, at first – no differently than what had occurred with Hook. This time, Aurora was prepared for the eyes to be shut, prepared for the long seconds it took before the heart started beating progressively. That didn’t stop her from losing the ability to move, think, or breathe properly as she helplessly observed the medical instruments supposed to detect vitals.

Bip.

Bip. Bip.

She breathed out in relief. Done. It was done. Anytime now, her King would open his eyes and…

Bip. Bip. Bip. Bip. Bip. Bip.

She watched in hopeless horror as the rhythm increased; the rates recorded by the heart monitor were off the chart, exactly like what had occurred with their Queen, according to her research.