The School for Good and Evil #2: A World without Princes by Soman Chainani

follows it wherever it goes. Now he’ll stop the pen from writing ‘The End’ to your story—until he has his new ending.”
    Agatha’s stomach went cold. “What’s the new ending?” she rasped.
    Lady Lesso stared through her. “Killing Sophie.”
    Sophie slowly lifted her eyes, red and raw.
    â€œTedros believes killing Sophie will fix your fairy tale as it should have been,” said Professor Dovey. “The witch dies. The princess free to her prince. Your ending rewritten, just like Agatha wished.”
    Agatha couldn’t breathe under Sophie’s scorching stare.
    â€œWhy don’t you save Tedros the trouble?” Sophie hissed. “Kill this witch yourself.”
    â€œThat would solve everything,” sighed Professor Dovey.
    Both girls turned.
    â€œOh dear,” said their teacher. “Did I say that out loud?”
    â€œShe’ll die soon enough,” Lady Lesso snarled. “Tedros counted on Sophie coming here for protection. Now he and his army will come to kill her.”
    â€œArmy?” Agatha blanched. “He has an army?”
    â€œYou’ve forgotten about his school,” said Lady Lesso.
    Agatha swung her head to the window. Through the sheets of rain, she could see the red hoods skulking around Evil’s towers, in black leather uniforms crested with scarlet snakes and shiny black boots. Slowly she lowered her eyes to the gate on the castle shores, rusted iron words arched over it:
    T HE S CHOOL FOR B OY
V ENGEANCE AND R ESTITUTION
    â€œOne wish has so many consequences, doesn’t it?” Lady Lesso said, leering at Agatha. “Tedros has promised whoever kills Sophie half his father’s treasure as a reward. Needless to say, both the Ever and Never boys took up the challenge.”
    â€œAs did all those princes outside,” Professor Dovey said, watching the filthy masses swarming the gates. “Tedros knows he can’t attack us with just his school. Our teachers wouldn’t give up Sophie without a fight.”
    â€œSo he’s using the princes to force our hand,” Lady Lesso groused. “I cast a shield around the perimeter of both schools to keep them out. But if the princes get through, Tedros will have enough men to storm our castle and kill Sophie.”
    Agatha stared out at the red fortress, still numb. “The Storian’s in a boys’ school ?”
    â€œEither free it and get Sophie home alive . . . or kiss Tedros before he kills her.” Professor Dovey met Agatha’s shocked eyes. “Kiss your prince and mean it, and you’ll stay here with him Ever After. Sophie will be gone from your story forever . . . and vanish home alone.”
    â€œHome alone ?” Sophie gasped as if she’d been shot. “Gavaldon alone ? While she gets . . . him ?”
    â€œThese are the only two endings that can prevent war,” Professor Dovey said.
    The only sound in the room was the echo of murderous princes.
    Sophie gave Agatha a horrible look and curled back into her ball.
    Tedros , Agatha gritted. How could she wish for a boy who’d take love this far? How could she wish for a boy who’d kill her best friend? Her old witchy self would never have let this happen.
    â€œThird option,” she said, storming to the door. “Tell Tedros he’s a delusional ass.”
    â€œNo.”
    Agatha turned.
    â€œYou wished for him,” Sophie spat, blotched with rage. “And you want me to trust you two alone ?”
    Agatha stepped back. Sophie looked even more a witch than she did in the graveyard.
    â€œI won’t intervene in your lovers’ quarrel, but I suggest Agatha make her choice soon,” Lady Lesso snapped. “Once Tedros breaks the princes through my shield, all our lives will be in danger.”
    â€œWe’ll hide you and Sophie in the Blue Forest until you have a plan,” Professor Dovey said to