Page 90 of Cursed Crowns

“I am positively starving!” declared Prince Ansel as he staggered into the dining room, ignoring the butter knife Celeste was pointing at him. He beamed at Wren. “Good morning, my flower! You’re looking radiant, as ever.”

Wren watched Ansel lumber toward her with a sinking feeling in her gut. His skin was an odd graying hue, and the whites of his eyes were yellow. She was certain he’d looked more human yesterday. “What a feast!Oooh, is that syrup? My favorite!”

He plonked into the chair beside Wren, dunked five pieces of bacon directly into the jug of syrup, and shoved them all in his mouth.

Anika, who was still frozen in shock, managed to eke a word out. “Ansel?”

“Yes, dear sister?” His head lolled to the side for a moment before snapping back up with a sickening crack.

Anika grasped the back of her breakfast chair. “I think I’m going to pass out.” Her fox hissed at Ansel before leaping to the floor and hiding under her skirts.

“Calm down,” said Wren, trying to take her own advice. “Breathe. Everything is fine.”

“Fine,” said Anika, inhaling the word. “Look at his skin. His smile! I can practically see his tonsils!”

Celeste set down her butter knife and leaned across the table, trying to get a closer look at the prince. “I don’t understand. Where did youcomefrom?”

Ansel grinned again, revealing a mouthful of half-chewed bacon. “Celeste, that really isn’t proper breakfast conversation.” He lowered his voice, his head flopping to one side as he spoke. “My mother and father loved each other very much, and over time, and indeed under covers, that love resulted in Alarik, Anika, and me.”

“Why is he being like this?” said Anika.

“Because it isn’t really him,” answered Celeste. “The real Ansel is dead. Whatever this is... it isn’t natural.” For a moment, she looked like she wanted to leap across the table to throttle Wren, but then she sat back in her chair and folded her arms. “What the hell did you do, Wren? Andhowon earth did you do it?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Then you’d better begin.”

Wren would sooner eat her fist than utter a single word to Celeste about forbidden blood magic. She was not about to admit she was guilty of one of the worst things a witch could do. Or play into those fateful words Glenna had whispered to her back in Anadawn.Beware the curse of Oonagh Starcrest, the lost witch queen. The curse runs in new blood. It lives in new bones.

“Time for tea!” Ansel reached for the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, not stopping as the scalding liquid spilled over the rim of the cup and into his lap. “Do you remember our tea in Eana, Rose? I told you we could have tea here, too. We have everything you’ll ever need.” He held the teapot aloft, as steam rose from his lap in curling tendrils.“That’s why we’ll be together forever. And ever and ever and—”

“Ansel, put down the teapot.” Wren had to pry the now empty pot from his fingers.

“This is a trick,” said Anika, stepping away from the table. “This is a curse of some sort. You cursed him!” She brandished an accusing finger at Wren. “I’ll see you hang for this.”

Wren raised her hands. “Now, Anika, let’s not do anything rash.”

Celeste rose from her seat and went to Anika before she could fling herself at Wren. “Wren didn’t trick you, Anika,” she said, planting her hands on the princess’s heaving shoulders. “She just didn’t know what she was doing.” Celeste tossed a withering glance over her shoulder. “She rarely does.”

For once, Wren bit her tongue. It pained her that Celeste was right.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Anika. “I’m going to speak to Alarik about this.Now.”

“You must mean King Snoozington!” crowed Ansel. “He’s upstairs slumbering like an ice bear. We stayed up all night, chattering like parakeets, but the esteemed king of beasts couldn’t keep up with me in the end. Ha!” His yellow eyes widened, until the irises floated inside them. “Would you believe I haven’t slept a wink?”

“Yes,” said Celeste flatly.

Anika’s fox growled at his feet. Ansel growled back, and the fox scampered away in fright.

“Naughty fox.” Ansel chuckled as he reached for more syrup, accidentally knocking his pinkie finger against the jug. To Wren’s horror, it fell off and landed in the bacon. The prince didn’t even blink.

Wren swallowed the bile in her throat and gingerly reached for the finger.

“Leave it,” hissed Celeste. “It’s only going to get worse.”

Anika raked her hands through her hair, tearing her perfect chignon apart. “You mean Alarik alreadyknowsabout this?” she said, her voice rising dangerously.

Celeste shook her head in disbelief. “Whatpossessed you to do something so stupid?”

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