Free Keys to the Kingdom by Fiona Wilde Page B

they laid eyes upon Prince Quentin.
    His face was puffy from the welts now and his hands were everywhere as he frantically dug at his clothes to relieve the unbearable itching.
    "What on earth happened?" Kier asked.
    "She...she..." He could not even speak as he continued to scratch while pointing at Angelica with the other hand.
    Lenora sighed. "Angelica, how could you?"
    The third-born daughter of Randor looked at the ground, suppressing a giggle.
    "Sit down, Quentin," Lenora instructed. "I'll fix you and antidote."
    "There's an antidote?"
    "Of course," Lenora said. "I recognize itch-flower lesions anywhere. It was Luna who discovered it and we all suffered its effects one time or another. I had thought if this happened to anyone it would be poor Ivan. But I shouldn't I have put it past Angelica. Liars also make good pranksters."
    She glanced at Kier. "Would you please take Angelica out for a bit?"
    Kier looked down at the girl, scowling. "Gladly." He took her arm. "Come, Angelica."
    "Where are you taking me?" she asked as they were back in the hallway.
    "To your suite," he said. "You and I are going to have a little talk."
    "I have nothing to say to you," she said.
    "Well I have plenty of things to say to you," he said. When they reached her room he pushed her roughly inside and slammed the door. Angelica backed away as Kier advanced on her. This was certainly more than she bargained for.
    "Are you aware that your little trick could have seriously injured or hurt my brother?" he asked, his voice steely with anger. "We had a servant once who suffered ill effects from such an herb. Only there was no antidote to be found in time. The swelling went beyond his skin. His tongue swelled, then his throat. He died, Angelica."
    Angelica shook her head. "I'd never hurt anyone!" she said. "Not like that!"
    "You might not know until it's too late," he said. "Such risks are not to be tolerated, Princess. And I mean to impress upon you this instant that they will not be."
    Kier grabbed her and sat down, pulling the wildly struggling girl across his lap. Angelica cried out, fearful, for Kier was the largest and strongest of the princes. He had no problem subduing the fiery girl with minimal effort.
    The elder prince flipped up the outer gown but not the under dress. This was, after all, to be his brother's wife.
    But the spanking he delivered hurt just the same, the force of the blows more than sufficient to penetrate to flimsy layers of fabric. Within moments Angelica was bawling hysterically as the heat in her bottom built to a burning, intolerable pain.
    "Please stop!" she cried, and after a few more well-placed swats he did. For Kier did not want to outdo what he knew his brother would shortly have to do. Provided of course, his brother was recovered enough to do so.
    Angelical would have been even more fearful to know that was why Kier had stopped, and twice as fearful to know that Quentin was indeed making a full recovery down the hall.
    "Better?" Lenora asked.
    Quentin nodded. "I feel like a fool. How can I ever make her respect me if she fools me so easily?"
    "Don't believe her lies," Lenora said.
    He gave a sad smile. "How can I love a woman who lies?"
    Now Lenora sighed and shook her head. "That is something you will need to ask my sister," he said. "Let her know there are consequences, Quentin. Your brother has taught me that it is time to grow up and put these games of our aside. You must teach Angelica the same thing. Let her know that your trust and respect are not gifts to be given, but treasures to be earned."
    "You are right," he said, standing. The welts on his face were nearly gone now.
    He looked at Lenora. "You know this means I shall have to spank her."
    Lenora shrugged. "She deserves it. What she did to you was wrong. Having suffered the effects of the itch-flower I know how excruciating it can be. And I do not believe the dose I ingested was nearly as large as what she managed to get in you."
    He raised Lenora's hand