Jason revived once we’d reached the other shore. Technically, this was because I dunked him in the lake. I wasn’t being mean. I just didn’t know how long frogs could be out of water and was afraid he might dry out.

Jason didn’t appreciate this thoughtful gesture. He came out of the water swearing and flailing his slimy little hands around. I held onto him, and tried not to laugh. I didn’t mean to be insensitive about his suffering, but there’s something absurd about a cursing frog.

Jason’s big, googly eyes blinked angrily at me. “You think this is funny? Magic is real. I’m in a place with fairies. One just turned me into a frog. And you’re laughing?”

“Sorry.”

“That stuff you told me about your fairy godmother sending us here—that was the truth?”

“Yeah. Again, sorry.”

He kept fidgeting in my hands like he wanted to jump somewhere. “Sorry? That’s all you have to say?”

“I’m going to do everything I can to help you. Really.”

Jason tucked his legs underneath himself and squatted down in my palms. “How?”

“Well, you’re a frog prince, and I’m a princess. Sort of. So my kiss is supposed to break the spell.”

Jason perked up. “That’s right—the whole princess and the frog thing. Why didn’t you already kiss me?”

Yes, why? I shifted Jason in my hands. His skin was clammy on his stomach and bumpy everywhere else. “Well, frogs aren’t that attractive. Plus, I’m seeing someone else.”

“You’re seeing someone else?” Jason repeated incredulously.

“Yeah. The invisible guy.”

Jason’s eyes momentarily dipped down into his head. Freaky how frogs can do that. “You’re seeing an invisible guy,” Jason said flatly. “That must be tricky.” His throat sack puffed in and out making him look like he was panting. “Stop making excuses and kiss me already.”

Donovan was standing beside me, but he didn’t offer a commentary on the situation. I lifted Jason closer to my lips. His bulging eyes stared back, waiting. Frogs don’t have a lot of kissable real estate. I repressed a shudder and quickly kissed the top of his head. Then I set him on the ground so he could change back into a person.

Nothing happened. He didn’t transform. Jason held up a hand and moved his wormy fingers back and forth. “It didn’t work. Maybe you have to kiss me on the lips.”

“Um . . .” Frogs probably have the least attractive lips in the animal kingdom. Wide and slimy. When you look at them it’s hard not to think about the nature films where frogs zap flies and other disgusting things with their tongues.

Jason hopped toward me, his back legs stretching out like webby flags. “Go on, kiss my mouth.”

Off to my side, I heard Donovan laughing. Yeah, it was easy for him to think this was amusing. He wasn’t the one who had to put his lips on a frog.

“Don’t say it,” I told Donovan.

Jason cocked his head in question.

Donovan knew I was talking to him, though. “Don’t say what?” he asked.

“Whatever frog joke you’re thinking about right now.”

“I wasn’t thinking of a frog joke. I was thinking of a Jason Prescott joke.”

Jason’s googly eyes scanned the area around us and he took a step backward. “Who said that? Who’s talking?”

I pointed in Donovan’s direction. “The invisible guy.”

Jason’s mouth hung open. “Your imaginary friend talks?”

“Yeah. He’s invisible, not mute.”

Near my ear, Donovan said, “Don’t tell him anything about me.”

“Why?” I whispered back. “Don’t you trust him?”

Donovan took my hand and pulled me a few feet away from Jason. “It’s not that I don’t trust him. I just don’t think he’s that bright.”

“Hey,” Jason said, throat sack puffing. “I heard that.”

Who knew frogs had such good hearing?

Donovan ignored him. “He’ll do something stupid to give us away, and we’ll all be changed into frogs.”

Jason’s eyes bobbed up and down, blinking. “I resent that.”

“I don’t mind,” Donovan said. “Go ahead and resent it.”

I wasn’t sure whether Donovan had a valid point. Jason wanted to go home as badly as either of us, so I doubted he would purposely do anything to jeopardize our plan; but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t accidently do something. I never should have told him about Donovan or even said his name.

Jason hopped over to me and stared upward. “I’m still waiting for you to kiss me the right way.”

There was no way around it. I had to kiss him again. “Oh, all right,” I muttered, picking up Jason. He opened his mouth—I suppose in an attempt to pucker. The inside of a frog’s mouth is even less attractive than the outside.

“Stop that,” I said. “Lips closed.”

Jason rolled his bulgy eyes and clamped his mouth together. It was a good thing I already had my first kiss or this incident might have put me off kissing forever.

I lifted Jason to my mouth, shut my eyes, and gave him a peck on his slimy lips. Then I set him back on the ground, shivered with disgust, and wiped off my mouth.

Jason’s throat sack flared in and out in indignation. “For your information, it wasn’t that great for me either.”

“Sorry,” I said. “This isn’t as easy as the fairy tales make it sound.”

Nothing happened. No transformation. Jason slumped on the ground, a pathetic green lump, and eyed me resentfully. “Maybe it didn’t work because you’re not a real princess.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him Queen Orlaith had said true love’s kiss would restore him. I didn’t love him, and that sort of attachment wasn’t likely to develop any time soon.

Could Chrissy help him? Would she? The words of the contract echoed in my mind. The results of your wishes are real and lasting.

There had to be more than one way to break a magic spell. I kneeled to be closer to Jason’s eye level. “If you promise not to tell anyone about Donovan being here with me, I’ll take you to my castle. We might be able to find someone there who’ll know what to do.”

Jason was breathing so fast he rocked back and forth. Could frogs hyperventilate? He gulped unhappily. “The other princesses live with you, right? So one of them should be able to break the spell.”

“You have to promise not to say anything to them about Donovan,” I repeated. “No one can know he’s been here.”

“I promise. I promise.” Instead of waiting for my reply, Jason hopped in the direction of the lanterns, making arcs through the air.

“It’s a long way,” I called. “I’ll carry you.” I ran to catch up, then picked him up and slipped him into my pocket.

“Hey!” He thrashed around inside my cloak until I opened the edge of the pocket. “Why did you stick me in here?”

“Where did you expect me to put you? I’m not a pony.”

He frowned, an expression that did nothing to improve his appearance. “You could carry me on your shoulder.”

“I’m not a pirate either.”

“Hey, Frog Boy,” Donovan said, coming up beside me. “Pipe down and sit still. We’re not out of the woods yet—pun intended—and wild animals live here. You wouldn’t want one to see you and think you look appetizing.”

Jason shrunk into my pocket so that only his eyes stuck out. “Wild animals?”

“Don’t worry,” I said. “You don’t look at all appetizing.”

Jason glowered at me and sunk back into my pocket. Muffled frog complaints came from that direction for the fifteen minutes it took us to walk through the forest. I ignored him and spoke to Donovan. Mostly we swapped stories about our high schools. It was easy to talk to him because he had a way of making me feel like my opinion mattered.

We went across the meadow, up the stairs, and finally tiptoed back into the princesses’ chambers. Madam Saxton was still asleep on the couch, snoring softly. I filled one of the wash basins with water, placed it on an end table, and set Jason inside. Donovan took off his cloak and instantly became visible again.

Now that Jason could see him, he watched dourly as Donovan and I sat down, close together on a couch.