Page 100 of The Frog Prince

He crushed the second Blue Moon, letting it fall and join the previous one. The glow dimmed. The pile of dust settled and mixed with the first one.

“Pick it up,” Alwin said, and Otto ripped a piece of his shirt off to create a small pouch he could scoop the Blue Moon powder into.

He made sure not a speck of it remained on the ground.

“And now…?” he said, turning to Alwin.

“And now we go back home and see if we can maybe add it to one of your tonics?” Alwin suggested. “It’s how Gisela’s cure was.”

“It can’t be that easy.” Otto clutched the pouch in his hand. “I can’t have been this close to an answer all along and not realized it sooner. I could have…”

“No.” Alwin shook his head, walking over and hurdling over his own walls to reach out to Otto and hold him against his chest. “You have done all that you could within the scope of knowledge you had. You know more now, so you will do more. There is no use despairing or wallowing in guilt, young master.”

Otto nuzzled his neck and nodded.

“So wise, my prince,” he whispered.

Alwin closed his eyes. “I do love it when you call me that.”

Otto lifted his head up imploringly. “You do?”

Alwin looked away, feeling self-conscious. “I do. You are the only one to call me that without it being a thinly veiled insult.”

“You are a prince.” Otto hesitated for a moment before he went on. “And…you are mine?”

The moment of insecurity warmed Alwin to the bone. His entire body sagged against Otto, and he closed his eyes as he leaned his forehead against Otto’s sternum.

“I am,” he whispered into the damp shirt, shivering when Otto placed a tiny kiss on the top of his head. “But we should go now, before I am unable to let go of you.”

“We should,” Otto said, “but it must be known that I do not want to be let go.”

Alwin smiled and helped Otto pack up before leading him out of the clearing. The little frog that had latched on to Otto screamed bloody murder when it realized they were leaving and promptly changed its mind about staying with them.

They pushed their way through the narrow passage in the hedge, emerging back into the damp darkness of the forest.

He tested Otto’s words, reaching out to hold his hand as they walked, his heart singing in his chest when Otto just squeezed back, swinging their joined hands between them. Frogs hopped out to greet them, and Otto pretended he could understand them, telling them the most random things in response to whatever they were saying.

Alwin found it infinitely amusing and endearing.

Invited friends, a frog said, hopping from out of a bush and clambering up Alwin’s breeches.

“We truly feel like strudel is the superior dessert,” Otto said, but Alwin frowned, stopping in his tracks and pulling Otto to a halt alongside him.

“Friends?” he asked.

Humans, the frog said.Searching for Frog Prince and healer.

“Alwin?” Otto asked.

Alwin couldn't answer, turning around and focusing as he realized he could hear rustling leaves behind them that didn’t come from his frogs, or any other animal dwelling in the forest.

“Someone is after us,” Alwin said, releasing Otto’s hand.

“Where?” Otto asked, crowding into Alwin’s space and pulling him closer. Alwin realized he was protecting him. Defending him with the bulk of his body against a threat he couldn’t even see. No question. No hesitation.

“I can hear footsteps following after us,” Alwin said, pointing in the direction of the sounds.

“How far?” Otto whispered, eyes wide.