Witchy Tales: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fairy Tale by Amanda M. Lee Page B

a week.”
    “I’m with the FBI,” Landon reminded him. “Saving people is what I do.”
    I was starting to think Aunt Tillie was right about his ego being a personality defect. I cleared my throat, but both men ignored me.
    “She’s my girlfriend,” Sam said. “If anyone is climbing that tower, it’s me.”
    “I thought we were on a timetable here,” Landon countered. “Shouldn’t the one who can climb up there fastest be the one to do it?”
    “She’s my girlfriend,” Sam said.
    “So?”
    “That means she’s my … princess.”
    Landon faltered, shifting a look in my direction. “Can you believe this?”
    Actually, I couldn’t. I was starting to get angry. “I agree with Sam,” I said. “These are fairy tales. She’s his girlfriend. That means they’re supposed to solve the story together.”
    “Are you angry with me?” Landon knit his eyebrows together, conflicted.
    “Why would I possibly be angry? That’s ridiculous. Of course I’m not angry.”
    “If you were Pinocchio, your nose would totally be growing right now,” Thistle said. “You’re obviously angry.”
    “Shut up, Thistle,” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not … angry.” Hurt was more like it, but there was no way I was admitting that.
    “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on here?” Landon asked.
    “Well, if I had to guess, your princess has her nose out of joint because you’re trying to save another princess,” Thistle said, smirking. “Way to go, Prince Charming. Now you don’t have any princesses.”
    Landon shifted his gaze to me. “Is she right? Are you jealous?”
    “Of course not.” I averted my eyes and focused on my shoes.
    “Oh, this night just keeps getting better and better,” Landon grumbled, running his hand through his hair. He took a step back to clear a path to the tower for Sam. “Go nuts. Get your princess.”
    “Thanks so much for your permission,” Sam said. “It means the world to me.” He clapped his hand to his nose, frowning as it expanded again. “Seriously? This is just … crap.”
    “It’s a lesson to teach you to stop lying,” Landon said.
    “Shouldn’t you be paying attention to your princess?” Sam seethed. “It seems I’m not the only one having nose issues. Thistle was right. Bay’s nose is out of joint because you have to be everyone’s hero.”
    “I am not trying to be everyone’s hero,” Landon said. “I am trying to keep everyone together so we can get out of here safely.”
    Thistle sent Landon a sarcastic thumbs-up. “Good job.”
    “Shut up, Thistle.”
    “Is someone going to climb up here and get me?” Clove asked, her patience wearing thin. “I can’t stay up here much longer. I’m lonely.”
    “I’m coming,” Sam said, shuffling toward the tower wall. “Just … hold on.” He gripped a strand of Clove hair and tugged on it. “Does that hurt?”
    “I don’t even feel it,” Clove said.
    “That’s a relief,” Sam muttered. He tightened his hands around the hair, braced his foot against the tower, and started to climb. He moved slowly, taking special care with his foot placement and grip. The higher he got, the slower he moved, and he started to glance down at the ground with alarming frequency.
    “Are you afraid of heights?” Thistle asked.
    “Of course not,” Sam scoffed.
    Even from twenty feet beneath him we could see his nose twitch.
    “I hate this stupid fairy tale world,” Sam grumbled.
    He wasn’t the only one. After a few minutes of watching Sam, Landon slid his eyes in my direction. “Are you really jealous because I was going to climb up there to get Clove?”
    Was I? It seemed an irrational reaction. Still … . “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe it’s this place.”
    Landon slung an arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer, tucking me in close. “You know you’re my only princess, right? Man, there’s another sentence I never thought I’d say out loud.”
    I rolled my