Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss by Michelle Miles

Author:Michelle Miles [Michelle Miles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dusty Tome Publishing
Published: 2024-08-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Rosamund couldn’t sleep. It was almost a relief when morning finally dawned. She peered up at the sky and watched it lighten from inky black to indigo. Despair flickered through her at the thought of returning to Myst Hall.

You don’t have to go, a voice whispered in her ear.

A strange voice. A voice she had not heard before. She sat up, listening, but all she heard was faint birdsong in the distance as the world came awake. A quick glance at the others, but they were all sleeping. The voice she heard was distinctly female.

Take the map. Go to the dragon’s cave. Find the treasure, the voice said.

She pressed cold, shaking fingers against her lips. “I cannot go alone,” she whispered to no one.

Find the treasure. Free yourself from a life of drudgery.

Could she? Could she find the treasure? And if she did, would it really free her from her life as a princess? Perhaps so. She would have the means to go anywhere, do anything, be anyone. She could change her name. Blend in as a commoner.

Take the map, the voice whispered again.

She nodded, as if to agree. Yes. Take the map. Find the treasure. Change her life.

She flexed her foot to test it. There was still a bit of soreness, but she was able to pull on the boot. As she sat in her bedroll, she glanced from Phillip to Jeffrey to Charles. All three of them were still sleeping. Good.

She pushed to her feet, and winced at the ache in her left ankle. Ignoring it, though, she managed first one step, then another. It was uncomfortable at best but she had to fight through the pain. She took a step toward the horses, eying the rolled-up map stuck in the saddle bag lying on the ground. Then she paused to glance back at the sleeping men. They hadn’t moved.

Another step and another and she was at the discarded saddle bag. She held her breath as she crouched and slipped the map from it. Triumphant, she clutched it in her hand and rose. Her nerves were on edge, but she managed to get the map. Now, she had to saddle her horse and get out of camp as silent as possible.

“Highness, I’d like to know what you’re doing.”

Jeffrey’s voice behind her startled her. She emitted a tiny yelp as she turned. Her heart fluttered wildly as she came face to face with him. He glanced down at the map in her hand and then back up at her. Finally, she pulled herself together and lifted her head a bit in defiance.

“It’s none of your concern,” she said, keeping her voice low so as not to wake the others.

“Phillip intends to return to Myst Hall. I intend to make sure he does that. With you,” he said.

He reached for the map but she snatched it away and stepped back onto her weak ankle. She whimpered and stumbled into her horse who snorted annoyance and sidestepped a little to counteract her fall.

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