Page 19 of The Frog Prince (The GriMM Tales #6)

Nine

Alwin

A lwin kept his eyes closed as he ran his fingers over the dry skin of his forearm, around and around and around, like he was in a trance.

The dew on the grass wasn’t enough to soothe him, nor the shade of the tree he was braced against.

His skin was gasping from thirst, the basin in the room not enough to combat the heat of the fire and the sturdiness of the walls that insulated it. He could not even lie in bed, the sheets sticking to him and sapping him of precious moisture.

To persist was foolish—he should have snuck out and sought out a pond. Yet he had longed to be human again for so many years that it was hard to let go. He wished to pretend for a moment that he was himself again.

Alwin.

It had been so very long since he’d heard his name said aloud. The name only the most precious to him had known.

And now Otto.

His heart stuttered, not faring any better than when he’d first laid eyes on the golden figure.

Worse, now that he understood him more. Underneath the fear that had made his tongue sharp was someone exhausted and trying his best, who puffed his chest at the world during the day but cried out in the dark.

Someone like him.

Even if Otto couldn’t see it.

Something felt like it had shifted in the early morning light, however. Otto had reached out for him for reasons unknown, his words softer.

Alwin slipped his fingers down to his wrist, his skin feeling branded with the shape of Otto’s hand.

Prince!

Alwin opened his eyes and looked down. A dozen common frogs had gathered at his bare feet, led by none other than Farwin. They croaked in happiness, hopping in place.

Alwin summoned a smile to hide his bruised heart. “Hello, friends. How are you this fine morning?”

How are you? How are you? they echoed him, springing onto his legs and lap affectionately. Farwin took his spot on his shoulder, round eyes staring at him without guile or artifice.

“Any news?”

Heard a man mated with a wolf, Farwin told him. Howling through the woods. Keep frogs awake.

Alwin choked. “Farwin! That is far too salacious!”

Truth! Frogs tell. Frogs saw.

“That may be the case, but do you need to repeat it?”

Prince asked!

“About our kingdom. Not about tawdry deeds in the dark of the forest.”

No news. Kingdom happy , Farwin croaked. Jurgen says stop asking.

Alwin blew out a breath of relief. This was the first time he’d ever been away from them, and he’d worried continuously over their safety.

“Let me know immediately if anything happens. I’ll be right there,” he told Farwin for perhaps the third time since he’d sent him on his way last night. It had only been one night.

Prince come back? Farwin asked, his throat expanding in happiness.

“Perhaps.”

He didn’t know how any of this would turn out, or whether this was all futile, but it was closer than he had ever come before, and he had to see it through to its end. Good or bad.

Farwin made an unhappy croak, deep and loud, and Alwin’s lips twitched.

“I can always count on you to be happy to see me, can’t I?” Alwin whispered, sighing as he threw a single brooding look at the village, unable to shake his mood.

Loneliness tugged at his soul.

Water, a spadefoot said, resting tiny fingers against his dry arm and drawing his attention again.

Alwin pulled his shirt cuff back down and fixed it tightly. “Yes, friend.”

Go now? We show.

“I cannot join you. I’m waiting for someone.”

Frog?

“No. He’s no frog.”

Many sets of eyes blinked in confusion.

Not frog?

Alwin smiled. “Much too big to be a frog, I’m afraid.”

So toad?

Alwin stuttered out a laugh. “Don’t let him hear you say that.”

“Let who hear what?”

Alwin and his frogs startled, turning to see Otto standing there with a satchel slung over his shoulder and his cloak in hand. He looked beautiful, with the wind playing in his hair and his shirt collar pulled askew to reveal more of one shoulder than the other.

Alwin felt a little scandalous just viewing it, and adjusted his own collar nervously, making sure it was still firmly in place.

Otto shifted on his feet at the prolonged silence, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck and stretching the shirt even farther. “Sorry…I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s perfectly fine.” Alwin got back to his feet, happy that he couldn’t blush where anyone could see.

“Farwin, right?” Otto guessed, looking at his shoulder.

“In all his infamy.”

Otto smiled, as if remembering the stories. His gaze moved back to the frogs on the ground, alight with interest. “You communicate with them?”

“Of course.”

“That’s”—Alwin braced himself for the next word, taking Farwin from his shoulder into his hand protectively—“amazing.”

Alwin stared in wonder.

“I, uh, met some this morning. I thought it was foolish to speak to them. They haven’t…well…they haven’t mentioned anything have they?”

Alwin tilted his head. “Should they have?”

“No!” Otto crouched down in front of the frogs, busying himself and holding out a hand to try and beckon them close. They only looked at Alwin in confusion. Otto turned his curious blue eyes back up to his. “They understand everything?”

“Not as such,” Alwin said carefully. “A frog’s mind is simple, though not unintelligent. They have the worries of a frog, not a human, so some things are harder for them to comprehend, but their ability to adapt is unmatched.”

“That’s so fascinating.” Otto shook his head. “You wouldn’t think it.”

“They’re often overlooked,” Alwin said, letting Farwin hop down. “Which makes them excellent messengers. And notorious gossipers.”

Otto’s laughter was as bright as his presence, his eyes crinkling attractively. “I dread to think what they might have heard and spread.”

Alwin gave Farwin a dry look. “A great many tales, I assure you.”

“Your court must hold the secrets to the kingdom!” Otto joked. “One word from you and it could all come tumbling down around Her Majesty’s ears. Wouldn’t that be a sight?”

Alwin tried to hide his flinch, but he was unable to control it.

“Alwin?” Otto straightened back up. Alwin shivered at the sound of his name, still unused to it. “It was said in jest. I apologize if I said anything wrong…”

“No,” Alwin said quickly. “You said nothing wrong.”

“Was it the mention of the queen?”

Alwin turned away, feeling sick to his stomach as laughter echoed in his ears and phantom pain radiated through his body. He looked down at his shaking fingers and what she had done to him.

“We should leave now. We don’t want the sun getting away from us,” he choked out.

Otto was silent, and Alwin could feel his eyes boring into his back.

“I guess frogs really are good at keeping secrets.”

“Yes,” Alwin whispered. “Even if we do not wish to.”

Otto stepped closer, the warmth of his hand hovering over his arm. “Alwin—”

“It’s this way.” He cut the conversation short, stepping away from the comfort.

Not because he didn’t yearn for it, but because his skin was crawling like he had insects inside him.

The idea of Otto touching this foreign body while the queen’s voice laughed at him made him want to scream until his throat tore.

Leaving Otto to trail after him in silence, he strode for the edge of the forest, where it turned dense and dark.

Alwin watched from the corner of his eye as Otto stopped just outside the shadows, cloak now tied tightly. He swayed back and forth, as if unsure whether he could cross that line once again.

“You know, I have always respected the forest,” Otto said, surprising him.

Alwin stared at Otto’s strong profile for a few moments. “You’d be one of the rare ones.”

While he despised the fact that he was forced to live in the forest looking the way he did, he’d never really understood the hatred the others held for the trees or the animals in it. Not even when he’d still been human.

In a weird way, he’d bonded to the place in the years he’d been sequestered here.

It now felt like there was a part of him he’d never be able to leave behind, even if he did manage to regain what he’d lost. The forest had shaped him from within.

While the curse had changed his skin and bones, water now ran through his veins, roots holding him together in place of muscle.

“Bad things happen in it,” Otto conceded. “Bad people find refuge here.”

“That is hardly the forest’s fault, wouldn’t you say?” Alwin said, casting his eyes over the looming canopy. “The trees have very little choice in who gets to hide in their shadows. It’s people you should fear.”

“You’re right,” Otto said quietly. “But people are afraid, and it makes little sense to turn their hatred on those truly deserving because they can retaliate. Hating the forest is safer. Blaming the trees for the wrongdoings of others brings no consequence to them.”

“The trees will also protect those who need protection, hide those who are running from bad things, and provide shelter and food to those who know where to look,” Alwin said. “This forest is not evil, it’s just misunderstood.”

“Like you?” came a soft whisper.

Alwin jerked his body around to face Otto. A bloom of hope filled his chest, and he pressed the palm of his hand over it, willing it both to stay and not to suffocate him.

Alwin couldn’t read the expression in Otto’s face, too many emotions clouding the blue of his eyes as they locked gazes. Did he believe that? Or was he asking Alwin to convince him?

He took a deep breath and looked away, scared to push for anything more. Terrified to hope again, only for it to be crushed.

“We really should get going before we lose too much light,” Alwin said, stepping into the forest and twisting around to look at Otto, who seemed disappointed. It made Alwin’s traitorous heart skip a beat. “Shall we?”

Otto took a deliberate step over the line where the sun kissed the shadow and allowed the trees to envelop him, standing too close for Alwin to be able to breathe properly. “I’m not scared,” he said.

Alwin didn’t know whether he was referring to the forest or him.