Page 61 of Kiss and Spell
“I’m going to need another drink,” she said.
Gwen pointed to the treat case. “You didn’t hex him on the spot. I’m getting you a cupcake with sprinkles.”
Ursula picked up her spell book and flipped around for another solution. The answer had to be here. She couldn’t keep fantasizing about Xavier when he could be halfway to wooing Ms. Paige at this moment. Then what would happen? She’d have to pine over Xavier while he waxed on about his lady love. No way. Her brain rejoiced at this scenario. The sooner he found his perfect kiss, the sooner he could go back to the Realm and Ursula could stop dreaming of him.
Her heart called her out of her obvious bs. Who are you kidding? That fae man could be orbiting Neptune and he’d still be on your mind. Ursula snapped the book shut. No matter how many times she thought about leaning in and kissing him, she couldn’t allow herself to forget the truth. His kisses weren’t meant for her. Princes didn’t make out with witches.
Xavier glared at his warped reflection in the drinking glass and frowned. The beige liquor sloshed against the rim, spilling on his hand. His eyeglasses were slightly askew on his nose and his hair still had a few stray leaves. He didn’t want to deal with his contacts, so he wore his backup pair he had packed in his luggage. Glasses or no glasses, it made no difference to him. He was a hopeless mess.
“You embarrassed me today,” he hissed.
The words came out slurred and muddled, but his reflection shrank back from him. Xavier glanced around the bar. Patrons lined the bar top, nursing their drinks and watching the muted movie on the TV screen propped up in the corner. The bar back displayed high-end spirits and empty drinking glasses.
The bartender, a wide-shouldered vampire with inky-blue hair, approached Xavier. Her voice was tender, almost like a murmur. “Who is she?”
Ursula’s lovely face flashed in his mind. He tried to sit up, but he couldn’t quite get the hang of it. “Oh. She’s… so beautiful, like… like the waxing moon in the middle of the night. Like even if the clouds are covering her splendor, she’s still there shining.”
Vamp crossed her tattooed arms and eyed him for a beat. “Is she the reason for your current state?”
He straightened, and his witch vanished from his mind’s eye. “I… No… it’s not her. I did this to me. She’s a sweetheart. Literally. Everyone loves her.”
“Everyone?” Vamp asked. She raised her brow in silent expectation.
Xavier rubbed his face.
He couldn’t go home. Whitney would take one glance at him and know that he had failed again. But this time, it was his own fault. Paige was nice. She was the ideal fae lady with her glitter wings and attractive dress. They’d strolled in the Grove Garden path, discussed Faerie Realm politics, and chatted about the lovely weather. There was eye contact. They shared a good laugh. The date was going well. Paige stepped up, offered her lips eagerly, but Xavier froze, his mind pulling him into two opposite directions.
If you kiss her, you can go home. The Realm waits for you.
If you kiss her, Ursula’s gone for good. She doesn’t deserve to be a second choice.
As he was begging the universe to guide him on the right path, something caught his attention and made his ears turn cold. The old lamppost he studied the other day glowed red, yellow, then green. It cycled through the colors again. He blinked.
As the colors flashed, one word repeated in his brain: Ursula.
Xavier looked down at Paige’s waiting lips. He wheeled backward as if his ears had been yanked. Stunned at the lamppost’s flashing light, Xavier stumbled back and landed head over ass right into a huge bush.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?” she had asked.
No. He didn’t know if he was ever going to be okay. He was a fool for believing he could want Ursula for a little while. Xavier let her warmth in, and it wasn’t going away.
He ordered a ride for Paige and made sure that she made it home safely. Mortification rippled through him at today’s actions. Alder princes never behaved in such a goofy way. Dismay burned in the space right underneath his heart. Only Ursula’s kiss would do for him, but she wanted love. She deserved more than he could ever give. He had walked the Grove, the streets occupied with nocturnal ghosts hovering over the pavement and gargoyles patrolling high buildings.
Xavier found solace in the dark of the night with every buzzing neon sign he passed. The world was asleep, but every part of him was awake. Eventually he found his way into this dimly lit bar located in West Grove. The lights were turned down low and patrons minded their business.
Xavier pushed his empty glass over to the waiting bartender. “Do you have any fries?”
Vamp slid a menu over to him. Xavier wasn’t leaving this bar until he rid himself of this feeling of complete failure.
In the meantime, there was one action he could do successfully. He took out his phone, opened his EnChant account, and clicked on the Profile Status section. Xavier scrolled down until he found the right link titled To permanently delete your profile, click here.
He clicked it and a pop-up warning appeared. This action can’t be undone. Are you sure you want to delete? Make your choice. Yes or No.
This time, Xavier didn’t hesitate to make the best choice for him and his aching soul.
Chapter Seventeen
Rumor has it that all the fun magic happened before and after midnight in Freya Grove.