Her lips were carmine red, and the angles of her face were slightly too sharp. On her shoulder sat a raven, watching Phillip with black eyes. Behind her, lightning needled across the sky, although there had been no storm on the horizon earlier.

She raised a finger as though to curse him.

“Uh, hello,” he said, taking several involuntary steps back, his heart speeding. Despite his knowing that she was Aurora’s loving godmother—well, sort of her godmother—he still found her frightening. “I am sure you were looking for someone else, but—”

“I overheard you and your sickly love speeches. You did not ask for my permission to court Aurora,” Maleficent said, her eyes blazing with suspicion. “Like most faeries, I am a stickler for all the little courtesies. Not to mention easy to offend.”

Prince Phillip took a deep breath, trying to quash his fear. Squaring his shoulders, he began. “May I have your permis—”

“You may not,” she said, interrupting him.

“I thought you liked me,” he said with what he hoped was a friendly smile.

“I do not,” she told him, eyebrows lifting. “Although, most of the time I can barely tell you apart from the others. The only thing that is memorable about you is that you’ve overstayed your welcome in this kingdom.”

“We both love Aurora—” he began.

Maleficent narrowed her eyes at him. “Do not speak to her of this foolishness. Do not declare yourself. And do not cross me, princeling. You would not want me for an enemy.”

“Of course not,” he said. “But I don’t understand what I’ve done to offend you.”

She inclined her head toward him in a way that made him wonder if she was considering spearing him on her horns. “You offend me by behaving as though your fleeting feelings are of some consequence. You intend to fling them at Aurora and leave her pining for you as you return home and forget about her.”

“I would never—”

“I know about fickle hearts. I know that a love like yours is weak when set against your ambition.”

“You’re wrong,” he said. “About me and about love.”

“Do not test me and I won’t test your claims.” With a sweep of her cape, she went to the edge of the balcony and hurled herself into the night. Her great wings carried her up toward the moon.

Prince Phillip stood still, drinking in gulps of night air until his heart quieted. Until his breathing became normal again.

Until he realized just what he had to say to Aurora, and it turned out to be nothing like what he had practiced.

Chapter 13