Once Enchanted Read online

  Ryder gave her a wink. “Your wish is my command, my lovely Rissa.”

  EPILOGUE

  What a difference a week made!

  A week ago, Clarissa was under a spell that made her believe she wanted to marry Prince Ormond. Now, she knew she loved Ryder and she always would. A week ago, the witch was disguised as the queen, and now her mother was back and the palace was happy and content once again. And a week ago, three of the king’s guards were on their deathbeds. But since the witch’s demise, they were suddenly cured.

  The king was so grateful to have his family back—and that his life was back to normal—he decided to throw a ball. Originally, the celebration was for Clarissa and Ryder’s engagement, but she knew her father was just thankful that the witch was truly dead and would never disrupt their lives again.

  The queen was finally regaining her strength, and her weight. She had color in her skin, and her cheerful attitude had lifted. No longer did she have nightmares about being kidnapped. Instead, she devoted herself to the people of Woodmist, and gave of her time and love, to serve them like the wonderful queen she had always been.

  Clarissa loved parties, but this one she loved even more because she could tell everyone about her feelings for Ryder Grey, who coincidentally, her father promoted to be the Commanding Officer of the Royal Guard—and, in this job title, Ryder was also given the authority to be the kingdom’s special investigator. She couldn’t be more proud of her soon-to-be husband than she was right now.

  On this festive occasion, she chose to wear a new gown. The off-the-shoulder silk gown had a deep blue, heart-shaped bodice. The short sleeves were a baby’s blue and nearly see-through. The sarong of the gown was also a blue color, more like a sky blue with ruffles trickling down the back of the fullness. She’d pulled the sides of her long hair back where she pinned red and white flowers, and the bulk cascaded down her back to the middle of her legs. Although she thought she looked very elegant this evening, her appearance didn’t compare to Ryder.

  He wore the uniform of his new title. A white jacket and trouser with red velvet, and gold trimmings, hugged his muscular frame. On his chest were a few medals the king had rewarded him with during yesterday’s promotional ceremony. Indeed, he was one fine looking man who took her breath away.

  She stood beside her parents as they greeted their guests, but Clarissa’s attention was on the extremely handsome man roaming the ballroom, visiting with the guests who had already arrived. Every so often he would lift his gaze to her and smile. Butterflies danced in her stomach just like what happened that first day they kissed.

  “Good evening, Queen Ruth and Prince Ormond.”

  Because Clarissa hadn’t been paying attention to the guests in line, she was jarred out of her thoughts when hearing the name of that man. She whipped her head toward her father. Standing in front of him and her mother, were the ones mentioned. Silently, Clarissa groaned. What were they doing here? To be sure, she hadn’t invited them. Would her parents have invited them knowing what the prince had done to her?

  “Good evening,” Queen Ruth said sharply as her son stared at the ground, shifting from one foot to the other.

  “What a surprise to see you here,” Clarissa’s mother said.

  Queen Ruth lifted her chin, stubbornly. “Since we weren’t invited, I took the opportunity to come and speak to you, knowing you’d be in a lighthearted mood.”

  Clarissa’s parents exchanged irritated glances. “What do you feel is so important to say that you would disrupt our celebration?” the king asked.

  Clarissa bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Sometimes her father could be so blunt. But that’s one of the things she adored about him.

  Queen Ruth threw a sizzling glare at Clarissa before returning her gaze to the king. “I thought you had promised that our children would join in marriage—for the good of our kingdoms. And yet, here I see you have allowed her to get engaged to another man.” Her mouth tightened in a thin line.

  Gasping, Clarissa looked at her father. Had he really promised the queen of Edan that? Her heart wrenched. Please say this isn’t right!

  Slowly, her father shook his head. “I beg to differ, Queen Ruth. I never promised anything of the sort.”

  Clarissa blew out a relieved sigh.

  “What I did say,” he continued, “is that your son could court my daughter. It’s my daughter’s life so she should be able to find the man she wants to love enough to want to marry. Unfortunately for your son, my daughter was quite put off when he had a witch place a love spell on the flowers he presented to her. My daughter has her own mind. She doesn’t need a spell to help her make a decision.”

  Prince Ormond never met anyone’s eyes. However, his face turned several shades of red, having been caught in his trickery, Clarissa was certain.

  “How dare you accuse my son—”

  “Ask him,” Clarissa finally spoke up, pointing to the awkward man trying to hide behind his mother. “Ask him if he didn’t visit with Cordelia Brewster to have her place a spell on the Rapunzel flowers. And let me remind you, Ormond,” she continued, changing the tone of her voice to a warning, “my future husband, Mr. Ryder Grey, the Commanding Officer of the Royal Guards, talked to Cordelia and she told us all about it.”

  As she figured, Ormond wrung his hands. “Well, I...I saw you and that man near the lake and I could tell you were falling in love with him. I...I needed you for my wife. I needed you more than that man did. Marrying you would save our kingdom from financial destruction.”

  Queen Ruth gasped. “Ormond! How could you?”

  The prince finally lifted his gaze and met his mother’s shocked stare. For the first time since meeting him, the prince showed everyone an expression Clarissa never thought she’d witness. The man glared at his mother. His shoulders slowly lifted as anger filled his face.

  “I was only doing your bidding. If you hadn’t been so desperate to find me a wealthy wife, I wouldn’t have had to find a witch to cast a spell on the flowers.”

  Clarissa held in the laugh that bubbled up from her throat. No, she couldn’t laugh now. But she was so surprised to see the prince stand up for himself. Perhaps he would find a woman, after all. Just not in this kingdom.

  The king huffed and folded his arms. “There, you have it. Now I suggest the two of you leave posthaste before you ruin my daughter’s engagement party.” He motioned his arm toward the double doors. “Although your kingdom may need financial help, mine does not. Go find your son some fool to marry, because my daughter will not be his bride.”

  “How dare you—” Queen Ruth snapped again.

  “Excuse me, Your Highness?” Ryder stepped between Queen Ruth and the king. “Is there trouble here?”

  “Indeed there is.” The king threw a scowl toward the intruders. “Kindly show these two out of the palace, and see to it that they never darken my door again.” He paused before adding, “And if she gives you grief, I give you permission not to be kind.”

  “Oh!” Queen Ruth threw up her hands. She turned. “Come, Ormond. We are not going to stay here a moment longer.” She tugged on her son’s sleeve as she marched toward the door.

  “Even a moment is too long,” Clarissa called out, and then quickly slapped her hand over her mouth. She shouldn’t have said that, but sometimes her temper can’t help but make its debut.

  Her mother slid an arm around Clarissa’s shoulders and squeezed. “Now, now. You must show a bit more kindness to people like that.”

  “Yes, I know, Mother.” She offered her mother a weak smile. She wanted to become like her mother, really she did. She just had too much of her father’s temper. Thankfully, Ryder understood that and loved her anyway.

  She watched for him to return, and when he walked through the doors into the ballroom, Clarissa broke away from her parents and hurried to him. He took her loosely in his arms and smiled down into her eyes.

  “I shouldn’t admit this,” he said, “but do you know how happy tha
t made me to be able to kick them out of the palace?”

  Laughing, she stroked his trimmed beard. “Probably as happy as it made me watching you do it.”

  “Yes, probably.” He chuckled. “Are you finished standing in line with your parents?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I want to be with you. I want to dance all night with you and only you.”

  She motioned her arm toward the middle of the ballroom. “Lead the way, my brave warrior.”

  She felt so proud to be escorted to the dance floor by the most handsome man in the kingdom. If only she could have realized she loved him when they were in school, they wouldn’t have had to spend so much time apart.

  Once they started moving together to the music, she stared dreamily into his eyes. “You really are perfect, you know?”

  “No, my darling, Rissa, but I am perfect with you, just as you are perfect with me.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “I’m so very happy that we were able to break Prince Ormond’s spell. I didn’t like thinking you were once enchanted by him.”

  “Ah, but I’m still enchanted, my love.” She grinned. “By you.”

  He gave her a wink. “Thank goodness, because I am also enchanted by you.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. It always did when he was being so endearing. “We make a good pair, do we not?”

  He nodded. “The perfect pair. Now and forever.”

  THE END

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  Author’s Bio

  Marie Higgins is an award-winning, best-selling author of clean romance novels that melt your heart and have you falling in love over and over again. Since 2010, she’s published over 55 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat romances. She’s broadened her readership by writing mystery/suspense, humor, time-travel, paranormal, along with her love for historical romances. Her readers have dubbed her “Queen of Tease” because of all her twists and unexpected endings.

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