Once Upon a Spell by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lost Plot Press
Published: 2021-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

Anahita watched in stunned horror as Philemon's robe fluttered to the sand, seemingly empty but for a tiny bulge she knew had to be his frog body, especially when it moved. She rushed forward and scooped him up, robe and all, then dropped him back on her bedroll. She wasn't sure what magic let him become a man there, but she intended to find out. She might not be an enchantress, but she still was a witch, even if all she could do was understand animals.

Though understanding Philemon was proving quite a challenge. She'd never met a frog like him – or a man like him, either.

The robe ballooned out as the magic in him turned him into a man again, or at least she hoped so. Philemon groaned.

"I'm going to check on the camels," Haidar said pointedly. "Like Asad, I will be a while."

Anahita didn't pay him more than a fleeting glance and a distracted nod as she patted down the robe to find the man she hoped was inside. He felt...normal.

A sigh of relief whooshed out of her as his head emerged from the neck of the robe. "Thank heavens," she breathed.

Philemon sat up suddenly, and his face was dangerously close to hers. It was now or never.

Anahita took a deep breath, then pressed her lips to his.

Please let this kiss break the curse, she prayed to anyone who was listening.

For a second, they stayed there like that, before Philemon leaned back and broke the contact between them. "What was that?" he asked.

Her heart sank. "A kiss, of course. Asad thinks that a kiss from me might break your curse, and as we arrive at our destination tomorrow, you might appreciate being able to walk around and talk to people as a man again, as I will not be as...available."

"Yes, I have heard that women can be quite busy at weddings. Especially if they are close to the bride," Philemon said drily.

Anahita wet her lips. Dare she tell him the truth? No, she could not risk it. "Yes, I am close to her. So if I can help you break the curse, it must be tonight."

"You must kiss me tonight?"

Curse him, it almost sounded like he was holding back laughter.

"I already did," she snapped.

He did laugh then, a rich sound that echoed off the dunes. Nothing like the reedy voice of a frog. It did things to her belly. "That wasn't a kiss. Definitely not something a spell would recognise."

Anahita pouted. "What sort of kiss does a spell recognise? Tell me and I shall do it."

"I don't know for certain, never having broken a spell with one before, but I imagine a kiss with the power to break spells would need some passion behind it. You'd need both your heart and soul in it. And your tongue."

"My tongue?" What was she supposed to do with her tongue? Lick him? Desperately, Anahita wished she'd brought Maram along. She knew about kissing, and such things. For all her husbands, Anahita had never kissed a man in her life.

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