One Kiss Read Online Free

but smile at the weight of coin in the small bags hidden among the many pockets of her dress.
    Five hundred gold pieces. More than what she could make in her entire lifetime. When she closed her hands around the other five hundred, she would never have to work for others again. She could buy a house in the country and live well so long as she wasn’t foolish with the money.
    Most importantly, her mother would finally have the kind of life she deserved.
    Suddenly Molly stopped, the fine hairs on the back of her neck rising. She looked around, but didn’t notice anything unusual. Maybe she was just nervous about carrying so much gold.
    Come now, Molly. Nobody knows you have any money with you, and the small bundle of smoked duck you carry is hardly worth the trouble for a would-be thief.
    She forced her shoulders to relax and picked up her pace, reaching the cottage without incident. When she was finally inside, she relaxed against the closed door. The feeling of being spied upon, however, remained.
    “Molly? Is that you?”
    She pushed away and went to her mother, who sat by the fire. “Yes, it’s me.” She held her mother’s frail and bony hand, which squeezed hers with a faint strength.
    “You’re late,” Mother said, her milky eyes searching. Blind though she was, that didn’t mean she couldn’t see what really mattered—the truth. Nothing could obscure her Vision, not even the most powerful magic. She always knew when somebody was lying, a skill many of the highborn valued far above anything else. Molly’s ability to see through curses came from her mother, though she wasn’t able sniff out lies the way her mother could.
    “Sorry. It was very busy today. A prince arrived to court Princess Serenia.” She looked at the wooden plate on the table next to her mother. Only the crumbs remained, which was good. “Would you like some smoked duck?” She knelt by her mother’s chair and unwrapped the small bundle.
    Mother’s face lit up. “How lovely! Yes.” Then it immediately dimmed. “But can we afford it?” Her cheeks hollowed briefly. “What about your dream?”
    “It’s all right,” Molly said. She didn’t want to speak of the gold she got from Robert, not when she couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. “There’s plenty to go around,” she said vaguely.
    “Did it come from the palace? Did Princess Serenia give it to you?”
    “No.” Her mother had seen the princess. She’d never believe Serenia capable of any type of generosity. “Not her. Somebody else.”
    She turned her face toward Molly, then raised her eyebrows. “I see. Please convey my thanks.” She picked up a small slice and chewed it slowly. Her eyelids lowered until only slivers of her eyes showed, while her lips curved upward in bliss.
    Molly clasped her hands together and watched her mother enjoy the duck. The town butcher had given her the most tender fowl he had.
    “By the way, Molly,” her mother said around a mouthful of duck, “Who is that young man behind you?”
    “What?” Molly jumped to her feet and whirled around. “I don’t—” Then she noticed the green frog from earlier. “You!”
    “Hello, Molly.” He took a small hop toward her mother. “And who is this lady?”
    “I’m Molly’s mother. My name is Ether.”
    Molly put a hand over her eyes. She didn’t want Robert to know about her private life. She didn’t want anyone to know much about it. Things were better that way, safer for her and her mother.
    “Hello, Ether. My name is Robert. Very pleased to meet you.”
    “The pleasure’s mine.”
    He eyed her curiously. “Can you see my true form?”
    “Yes. You’re very handsome.” She added, “Tall and manly as well.”
    Molly immediately put herself between her mother and the frog before they could speak more to each other. “How did you find this place?”
    “Quite easily. I merely followed you from the palace—”
    Oh, the gall. “Out! Out now!” When he didn’t move