“That. Belonged. To. King. Harry.” Percy pushed back as Aurora pried the giant ruby from the center of the cross at his neck.

She turned back to the open door. “Listen here, Gubler, this means no more visits, no more threats. Maya,” she glanced over her shoulder, “get a picture of him accepting the bribe so we don’t run into any more trouble.”

She heard Maya’s phone capture the image over her shoulder.

“Good God, what is this witchcraft?” Percy hissed, but Aurora ignored him.

She narrowed her eyes. “We’re not going to have any more trouble, are we, Gubler?”

Mr. Gubler couldn’t take his rodent eyes off the gem, which sparkled in the hall light. “No trouble at all.”

Aurora slammed the door, nearly catching Gubler’s nose.

Percy was breathing hard. “That ruby, apart from being a crown jewel and not even meant to be touched by commoners, much less pried from the royal cross, was intended for Princess Isabella, and she will be greatly distressed to find it gone,” he barked.

Aurora narrowed her eyes. “It’s so weird the way you’ve mispronounced Thanks so much for saving my ass from deportation, Aurora. I’m forever in your debt.”

This stopped Percy, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “I am honor-bound to acknowledge that you have done me a service. I am, indeed, in your debt,” he finished, looking pained.

When Maya rubbed her eyes, Aurora looked over. For a moment, she had forgotten Maya was there.

“I’m going to fall asleep standing up, girl. I gotta go home.”

She stepped toward the door, but Aurora caught her arm.

“You cannot leave,” she hissed.

“Why cannot I? It’s late,” Maya whined.

“You can’t leave me here with this freak.”

“I am still within range of your voice, you know,” Percy said, coolly.

Aurora ignored him. “Maya. Come on.”

“It’s after midnight. Unless you want to make his highness sleep in your car, I don’t know what to tell you.” Maya gave Aurora a long look. “He was your wish, you know.”

“You can’t be serious,” Aurora dropped her face into her hands.

“Get some sleep, okay. We’ll figure this out tomorrow,” Maya said, opening the door. She shot a glance at Percy. “Sweet dreams,” she said, winking at Aurora.

The door clicked shut, and Percy and Aurora looked at each other in the silence that followed.

He had a cleft in his chin, and, for a moment, Aurora had a crazy desire to step forward and press her finger into it. Instead she spun on her heel. “There are blankets in the trunk under the window. Enjoy the couch,” she said over her shoulder as she walked to her bedroom.

She shut the door and leaned against it, breathing like she’d just finished a sprint.

*****

“IF THIS IS WITCHCRAFT, TOSS ME IN THE RIVER AND LET ME DROWN!”

Aurora sat bolt upright.

She waited as the puzzle pieces fell into place.

Two things became clear: the voice she heard was Percy’s, and he was in her room.

In the shower, more specifically. She could see him, through the open door. Standing, fully clothed, turning the water on and off.

She tossed her blankets aside and walked into the bathroom. “You’re supposed to take your clothes off to do that. It’s like a standing bath,” she said, leaning against the door frame.

Percy looked over, startled for a moment. Then he let his eyes drop down to her bare feet, and make their leisurely way up to her eyes, taking in the shorts and tank top in between.

“Very well,” he said, slowly, and his hand moved to unbutton his jacket.

The heat rising in her cheeks, Aurora stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

“This is amazing!”

“How is this happening?! I don’t even care!”

“Too hot! Too hot!”

“Too cold!”

When she had done everything she could to get ready for work, short of taking a shower, she knocked on the bathroom door. “Percy, could you wrap it up? I have to get in there. There’s a clean towel in the cupboard over the toilet.”

“Over the what?”

“The to—in the white cupboard. It’s a blue towel.”

There was a moment of shuffling, then the door opened. Percy stood in the frame, the blue towel wrapped around his waist, beads of water on his chest gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the bathroom window, sparkling like diamonds. His dark hair was nearly black, and for a moment Aurora stood speechless, looking at him.

“My lady,” he murmured, stepping out of the doorway. “You are free to use the enchanted rain.”

Aurora pulled herself together, barely, and walked into the bathroom.

*****

“I turned on the TV and left him a box of cereal. I didn’t know what else to do.” Aurora stashed her lunch in the bottom drawer of her desk.

“What’s he going to do all day?” Maya asked, perching on the edge of Aurora’s desk.

“That, I guess.” Aurora shook her head. “Just as long as he doesn’t burn down my apartment, I’ll be happy.”

“Who makes you happy?”

Aurora looked up. Jen was standing, looking down over the top of her cubicle at them.

“Ummmm,” Aurora didn’t know how to answer.

“Who’s he?” Jen asked, with a sly smile.

Aurora looked at Maya, desperately.

“Aurora has a . . . houseguest,” Maya finished, looking uncomfortable.

“A man?” Jen asked, her smiling widening.

“Uhhhh,” Aurora floundered.

“A cute one?”

“God yes,” Maya said, her eyes nearly rolling back in her head.

“Really?” Jen’s eyebrows nearly shot off her face in surprise. “Nicely done, princess,” she said, approvingly.

Aurora rolled her eyes. “It’s not really like that, Jen. I’d prefer if that didn’t get
around—"

Jen was already gone to spread the news.

With a sigh Aurora woke up her computer and opened her inbox. She stared at it for a moment, then clicked refresh.

She stared again.

“What are you looking at?” Maya asked, craning her neck to see the screen.

“I’ve been offered a full-time position.”

“Holy shit,” Maya said, under her breath. “That’s two wishes come true.”

“Maya,” Aurora’s voice was low, scared, “we have to find that godmother. She has to—”

“Hey, Aurora.”

She looked up, quickly, into the brilliant smile of Peter Prince.

“Hey, Peter,” Aurora said, feeling a flush bloom in her cheeks.

“Sorry I missed your party last night, but I wondered if you were free Friday night. Thought we could grab some food. Hang.”

“Yeah, sure,” Aurora fought hard to keep her voice casual.

“Cool. Pick you up at 8.” Peter winked an ice blue eye as he headed back to his desk.

Aurora put her head down, trying to catch her breath.

“Such a prick.”

She looked up. “What?”

“Okay,” Maya searched for words, “let me just start by saying that any guy would be lucky to date you. But, I think that Peter heard you had a man in your place and marched over here to stake his claim.”

“Maya!”

Maya held up her hands. “Sorry, that’s what I think. Maybe I’m wrong.”

Aurora sighed. “You are. But you can make it up to me by babysitting Percy tomorrow night.”

“I have not needed a nursemaid since I cut my baby teeth,” Percy growled, following Aurora into the kitchen on Friday evening. Two days in, Percy had stopped wearing the red jacket and boots, and, also, thankfully, his sword. He’d spent the time Aurora was at work reading and watching reality television. Aurora had her concerns, but Percy swore it helped him make sense of the insensible.

“Don’t be so dramatic. Maya’s just going to keep you company.”

“And where, exactly, will you be going?”

Aurora dropped a stack of dishes in the sink. “I . . .” she started, “have a date. Do you know what that is?”

Percy looked almost casual in his black pants and snowy white shirt. He’d pushed the flowing sleeves up and opened the neck, and, as he leaned against the kitchen counter, Aurora felt her heartbeat tick up.

“Yes. It is where a man takes one or more women on some kind of voyage where, at the end of it, they have an intimate conversation and then share a kiss.”

Aurora stood, stunned, for a moment. “What?”

A slight crease formed between his eyes. “Is this not so? I have spent the last two days observing a man do just that from inside your witch-box.”

“Oh,” Aurora said, after a moment, “the TV? Were you watching The Bachelor?”

“I believe that is what they called the man. I was interested, as a practitioner of courtly love, myself.” He gave a mirthless laugh. “I used to be, in any case.”

She paused. “Before Isabella?”

“Yes.” He looked past Aurora, his eyes dark.

“I know it’s not my business, but, why are you marrying her?”

That muscle in his jaw twitched again. “I was born with a great deal of responsibility awaiting me. Bella is from a family whose alliance will benefit my family. In many ways, Aurora,” he looked over, meeting her eyes, “my life is not my own.”

“That must feel very lonely,” Aurora said, holding his gaze.

She watched as his eyes softened.

“Yes,” he said, quietly, “it does.”

The moment stretched, and, in it, Aurora let her eyes drift down to his mouth. His lips parted slightly, as though he were about to speak, but didn’t.

She took a deep breath, and, half decisively, half unconsciously, stepped toward him, fitting her thumb into the cleft of his chin, pulling him closer and closer, until…

Am I about to kiss a real prince?