A Prince among Frogs Read Free Page B

might have been frightened into running away.”
    “I’m sorry it took me so long,” Millie replied, turning to face Moss and Trillium, “but it took me a while to get my carpet out of storage. Audun, if you’re ready …”
    Millie leaned forward and the carpet drifted to the ground, allowing Audun to climb on behind her. He gave her a searching look as he sat down and crossed his legs. After all they had been through together, he was attuned to her moods more than anyone and often seemed to know just what she was thinking.
    “This should be fun,” she said over her shoulder, giving him an encouraging smile.
    Audun nodded, although his eyes showed that he didn’t believe she meant it. She’d told him many times how worried she was about her lack of nondragon magic and how ineffective she felt in a family where most of the women were witches.
    “Then let’s go!” Poison Ivy announced. The next instant she was no bigger than Millie’s little finger and sported iridescent green wings. She was the first to dart over the castle wall with Trillium only a heartbeat behind her.
    “I’ll show you the way,” said Moss, and then she too was tiny.
    Millie had never flown with fairies before. By the time the carpet rose above the walls, both Poison Ivy and Trillium were out of sight. Moss was careful to stay where Millie could see her, however, although she had to circle back if Millie and Audun didn’t move fast enough. Soon they landed in a small clearing in the heart of the enchanted forest.
    “Where is this plant?” Millie asked, looking around her as she climbed off the carpet.
    “It’s a tree, actually,” said Moss, settling on the forest floor a few feet away. The air shimmered as she turned back into a full-sized fairy in time for her to raise her arm and point. “It’s down that path. Just look for the tree with the red berries and the dead bird by its roots.”
    “Aren’t you coming with us?” Millie asked, feeling a touch of unease.
    “We wouldn’t go near that thing for all the pollen in the kingdom!” said Poison Ivy, who was already back to full size. “It’s up to you now. We just wanted to make sure that someone came to take care of it. Come on, Trillium, I hear they have a new batch of dandelion wine at the old stump.”
    Moss shook her head as the other two fairies darted away, tiny once again. “I’m sorry, but she’s right. We’re not able to go near that tree safely. Thank you so much for coming. We weren’t sure that even a strong witch like your mother could handle this. Let us know how it goes!”
    The air had begun to shimmer around her when Audun called out, “Are the berries poisonous?”
    “Maybe,” called Moss, her voice becoming fainter as she shrank. “I don’t know. But it’s not poison you have to worry about.” And then she was gone, leaving Millie and Audun alone in the enchanted forest.
    “What do you suppose is wrong with this tree?” asked Millie. “What could be so awful about it that no fairy will claim it?” Now that Poison Ivy was gone, Millie’s temper had cooled and she started to wonder what she’d gotten herself into.
    “Is that what they said?” said Audun. “I thought every plant had a fairy to watch over it. It must be pretty serious if none of the fairies likes it.”
    “Maybe we should go back,” said Millie. “The fairies said this would take really strong magic. My mother should be home soon and we can bring her here, now that we know where to come.”
    Audun frowned. “You shouldn’t second-guess yourself, Millie. There’s no need to worry. We’re dragons. We can handle anything. Unless it’s your human side speaking now, in which case—”
    “Are you implying that my human side is any less than my dragon side?” Millie asked.
    Looking surprised, Audun backed up a step. “You’re the one who has doubts. Lack of confidence is rarely a dragon trait. As far as I know, humans are the only creatures who are ever uncertain