Read Online Just A Kiss: (The Frog Prince) (Tangled Tales Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online

there.”
    “But what about mother?” She looked back over her shoulder as they quit the room.
    “Your mother won’t know the difference if you’re married or not. She’ll be lucky if she ever wakes up again.”
     
    * * *
     
    Arnon leaned against a trestle table near the fire, a large tankard of ale gripped in his hand. He raised it to his mouth and quaffed down the liquid, then banged the tankard on the table and let out a loud belch. Only . . . it didn’t sound quite like a belch. It sounded more like the loud croak of a frog.
    “What the hell was that?” asked Stefan, laughing at the absurdity of it all.
    “I – I don’t know.” Arnon held his hand over his mouth and sank down onto the wooden bench. Freya’s pet frog hopped around the table, landing in one cup of ale after another. “I think it was Freya’s frog.”
    “It was you, brother,” Stefan pointed out. “What is wrong with you today? You’ve already had at least five tankards of ale and the meal has yet to start.”
    “I’m just really thirsty. I can’t get enough liquid. Plus I keep having the urge to go back to the jousting yard and dunk myself in that rain barrel.”
    “You’re just nervous about wedding the witch,” said Wolf in a low voice. “It’s not uncommon for a man to have questions and doubts at a time like this.”
    “I don’t even know her,” Arnon said in his defense. “Then there’s the fact she’s a witch. I’m not sure I should do this. I’m going to tell the baron I’ve changed my mind.” He got up to find the baron, but stopped in his tracks as Freya walked into the room followed by her handmaid who was carrying her long train.
    She looked like a princess. She wore a long, velvet bright blue gown over a long-sleeved white undertunic. Long tippets, or sleeves, were trimmed in gold lace and hung down past her knuckles all the way to the floor. Instead of her usual boots, he saw two soft silk, pale blue slippers on her feet peeking out from under the gown as she walked. She held up the edge of her skirt and headed over to the dais to meet with her father and the priest.
    Her long, dark hair was plated and trailed down her back and her head was encircled with a crown of fresh flowers. He saw rings on her fingers, and she held onto a bouquet of fresh multi-colored wildflowers as well.
    “Still want to change your mind?” Wolf chuckled. Wolf and Stefan’s eyes were fastened on the girl as well.
    “She looks – quite different. And beautiful.” Arnon swallowed deeply, feeling very thirsty again.
    “You’d better get over there before she changes her mind about you since you’re no prize,” Wolf jested with him.
    “Aye, I agree, brother,” said Stefan.
    Arnon quickly made his way to the dais, where the priest had already opened his book ready to start the wedding ceremony. He honestly didn’t hear a word the priest said, as the girl’s beauty took his attention. He found himself repeating the vows and then before he knew it, everyone was clapping and the priest told them they were married and that he should kiss the bride.
    With all the ale he drank, he suddenly felt nauseous. He needed to belch, but held it in, because he didn’t want it to come out sounding like the croak of a frog again.
    “What’s the matter?” Freya asked, looking up shyly with a small smile. “Are you afraid? After all . . . it’s just a kiss.”
    At those words, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his mouth against hers. Once again he felt a bolt of energy dash through him just from being in such close contact with this girl.
    “Let the meal begin,” shouted the baron. They all climbed the dais and took a seat at the wedding table. “I’d like to propose a toast to my new son by marriage,” he called out. “Arnon, pick up your goblet of wine and drink with me. To success and an alliance between Babeny and Slapton.”
    The last thing Arnon wanted to do right now was drink more liquid. He already felt a need to