Willa taps her nails against her cheek and smirks. “What are you so upset about?”
Ferdinand’s chair topples as he jumps and slams his fists on the table. “You murdered Gunther, you bitch!”
“And you murdered Mitzi,” Willa says, playing with the end of her hair.
“That was an accident, and you know it. You killed Gunther on purpose.”
“Oh, is that so? I believe you attacked Gisela—on purpose.”
“At least I didn’t kill her!”
Brahm stands and raps his knuckles on the table. “Stop! Neither of you is better than the other. You’re both murdering assholes. If we want to survive—or at least not annoy our host and get tossed to the wolves—you need to calm down. You don’t have to look at each other or talk to each other, but you will shut up.”
They do. Willa and Ferdinand look off into different directions of the courtyard. Brahm sits next to me, and my heart races in excitement. His passionate outburst ignites a flame inside me, and I place my hand on his upper thigh. Brahm grins and kisses me hard.
“Ugh.” Willa stands and sneers at us. “I’m going to find that prince. Fuck the crown; this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I can see it now. Princess Willa.”
She takes the comb from her satchel and fixes her long, blonde hair. When finished, Willa swings her hair over her shoulder and strides out of the courtyard and back into the castle proper.
Shrugging, I turn back to Brahm and kiss him again. Something about this starry night in the overgrown gardens and the rage he just displayed is making me want Brahm even more. His fingers entwine in my hair to pull me closer.
Willa screams from inside the castle, and we jump in our seats. Her shouts echo toward us through the hallway. The pitter-patter of her feet grows near as she returns to the courtyard.
“Help!” she shouts and runs over to the table. “It’s chasing me!”
A large frog hops toward her, and she raises her boot to stomp on it. I swoop in to rescue the slimy creature just in time.
“Willa, it’s just a frog.” I give it a little kiss on the head. “You almost killed it.”
The creature glows with a blinding light, and soon an intense heat burns my hands. I drop the frog only for it to transform into a full-sized man. I jump back in shock and bring my hands to my cheeks.
The handsome man with slick, brunette hair pats his regal clothing and scans his body up and down. He bends to stare at his legs and holds out his arms, too. He turns to me with wide eyes and smiles.
“You’re the maiden who saved me,” he says, stepping close. “I am Prince Franz. Where is Heinrich? He’ll be overjoyed to see me like this.”
I blink in rapid succession, taking in this new form of magic. Sucking in a deep breath, I shake my head and smile. “Um, he’s preparing food and refreshments for us, Prince Franz,” I say with an awkward bow. “We’re Offerings from Bergot Valley.”
Prince Franz touches my cheek and tilts his head, studying me with his deep brown eyes. He sure is beautiful for someone who was recently a frog. Brahm steps to my side, his arm grazing mine.
“No need to bow, beautiful Fraulein. You are my hero.” The prince twists a lock of my hair around his finger. “I’ve never seen such an impressive color.”
Prince Franz leans in, and my eyes flash wide. Brahm clears his throat. I’m frozen as Franz parts his lips and moves closer until there’s a clang of broken dishes and glass. We all spin to find Heinrich, clutching his iron cage.
“My Prince,” Heinrich coughs out as the iron cage bursts into pieces, and he falls to the ground. “The cage.”
Franz sinks to his knees and places a hand on the servant’s chest. “Heinrich, no!”
“The goddess said it would protect me from heartache, but she never mentioned what intense joy might do to my fragile heart.” Heinrich’s breaths are labored as blood drips from the corner of his mouth “It is so nice to see you as a man. My Prince, you will only remain this way until sunrise…unless you kiss a maiden, pure of heart.”
With that, Heinrich closes his eyes and stops breathing. Franz tries to embrace his servant, but Heinrich’s body turns to ash and floats away into the night sky. His skeleton and broken cage pieces remain on the floor of the courtyard.
“No.” Franz hangs his head and weeps.
My heart aches. These two were finally reunited, only for tragedy to strike. I place my hand on Franz’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
“What happened to him?” Ferdinand asks. “Why’d he disintegrate like an Offering?”
“I don’t know,” the prince answers. “It was magic keeping him alive. I suppose it’s what took him, too.”
“Is there anything we can do?” I ask.
“Not for Heinrich, I’m afraid.” Wiping his tears, Franz stands and turns to me. “For me, yes. I shall kiss you, maiden pure of heart.” He touches my cheek again.
“No, no, no.” I take a step back and grab Brahm’s hand. “I’m sorry, Prince Franz. I’m already taken.”
“Oh, I see.” Franz kneels where Heinrich fell and lifts a piece of the iron cage. He rises and hands it to me. “For saving me. I hope your heart is always protected.” He sighs. “I wish you would reconsider that kiss. I need one before sunrise.”
“Oh, I’ll do it,” Willa says, stepping forward. “I’ll kiss you.”
Ferdinand snorts. “Yeah, so pure of heart you are.”
“Shut up.” She glares at Ferdinand and turns with a delicate smile to Franz. “The prince needs a kiss to break the spell, and I’d be happy to oblige.”
Franz studies Willa, looking her up and down. “You are exquisite, but you did try to stomp on me.”
“I was afraid, my Prince. I assure you, I am pure of heart.”
“Alright.” Franz perks up and steps close to Willa, cupping her cheeks. “A lovely maiden with golden hair.”
They lock lips. Franz’s hands slide down, drawing Willa close to his body. A light protrudes from their mouths and spreads over their skin.
Willa jerks back and rubs her glowing arms and face. “Ouch! What did you do to me?”
“Nothing!” Franz winces in pain and grips the table for support. “I thought your friend was joking, but…are you not pure of heart?”
“What does that even mean?” Willa snaps at him before collapsing to the ground.
What’s happening to them? I tuck the iron rod into my satchel and check on Franz, but he writhes in pain. I don’t want anyone else to die. My heart pounds against my chest in fear as the prince’s face blanches.
“It means good person, wholesome, kindhearted…I don’t know!” the prince shouts as he slips from my arms and falls to the garden pavers on all fours. “That witch didn’t specify exactly what she meant when she cursed me.”
“Well, I’m no expert,” Ferdinand sneers, “but I don’t think murderers are on that list of yours.”
“What? No!” Franz grimaces as the glow burns brighter from his skin, and he screams.
An intense light flashes through the courtyard. I throw my arms over my eyes to block the blinding glow. When the light dims, two frogs hop from under Franz and Willa’s clothes. I scramble back, and Brahm helps me stand. The frogs jump toward a gazing pond, but before they make it, Ferdinand blocks their path and stomps them with his boot.