Free The Wild Swans by K.M. Shea Page B

and gorgeous instead of resembling a muddied street rat, as Elise suspected she did.
    “I didn’t manage to break the curse or off Clotilde ,” Angelique said, dismounting from her odd horse. The eerie creature shook its mane, and its black fur seemed to swirl in the moonlight.
    “ But we’re back to normal,” Steffen said.
    “Not quite ,” Angelique said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Forgive me for my ill-timed introduction. I am Angelique.”
    “It is good to see you again , Lady Enchantress,” Steffen said, taking Angelique’s hand and bowing over it.
    “I echo my b rother’s sentiments,” Erick said, smiling enigmatically.
    Elise grasped the important part of the introduction. “What do you mean not quite?”
    “I laid a trap for Clotilde. Although I was able to attack her, I did not win. She is not very good with magic; in fact, she is quite bad at it,” Angelique was silent for a moment, as if waiting for a wave of complaints. None of the Arcainian royals protested—they had been brought up to mind their manners better than that. “However,” Angelique continued. “She has an impressive arsenal of premade curses. As a person, she is not strong—she is barely above petty magics like temporary love charms. But she has gotten hold of some strong magical tools. They were what she used to curse you. There are two of them, I think.”
    “You were unable to break the artifacts?” Steffen asked.
    Angelique shook her head. “No , I am afraid not. I did weaken the curse. I made a crack in it so you will be human for an hour every night when the sun sets, but that is the best I could manage.”
    Steffen slowly nodded. Mikk and Nick moved to stand on either side of him like hulking bodyguards. “I see. We thank you; it is more than we ever could have done.”
    “Will we be like this forever?” Gerhart asked.
    “No,” Angelique said. “All hope is not lost. Clotilde can be defeated. I am too weak to defeat her on my own, but if I am joined by a colleague or two, we will be more than a match for her.”
    “How long will it take you to gain support for our situation?” Falk asked.
    Angelique pressed her lips together. Her eyes were sorrowful and heartbreaking. “I am afraid it will be all summer, if not a year.”
    “If you excuse my manners, could you elaborate, Lady Enchantress?” Gerhart asked, bowing when Angelique looked in his direction.
    Angelique flipped her hair over one shoulder. “It’s unfortunate , but the Veneno Conclave knows what I did. They have sent couriers after me, most likely with instructions to bring me before the council. I am not much worried by the prospect of a punishment, but it would be most…inconvenient for me at this time as most punishments involve several years of imprisonment.”
    “You will have to run,” Rune said, grappling for a moment when he discovered he had no sword belt to hook his thumbs on.
    “I can , and I will. I plan to go to Erlauf. I will return to Verglas when I am certain the Conclave is no longer looking for me.”
    “Will they give up on you so easi ly?” Erick asked.
    “A s soon as another issue captures their attention, I will be forgotten. I merely need to outwait them. After my misdemeanor is forgiven, it will take time to find another enchanter or enchantress to aid me in fighting Clotilde.”
    “So we will remain here while we wait? There isn’t much we can do if we’re human for one hour a night,” Nick said.
    “ We cannot rally support outside Arcainia,” Mikk said. “We are easy targets in our swan form.”
    “So we waste time, kicking up our heels and waiting?” Gerhart asked.
    “Sometimes inaction is the best course , little Gerhie,” Erick said.
    “Don’t call me that,” Gerhart snarled.
    “I am forced to agree with Gerhart ,” Falk said, his voice quiet and shadowy. “It seems unwise to waste valuable months while Clotilde is raiding the castle. In our absence, she will have access to