Elicia's Ice-A Descendants Novel BOOK 1

How To Train Mal To Be A Dragon

None of us could have possibly guessed that was what Ben wished he could explain. 

The entire boat gasps and Mal's is above all of them. Belle and Beast watch, along with Fairy Godmother, in horror as Ben leaves Mal behind and climbs the steps to take Uma's hand. Mal looks like she can't breathe. Carlos turns with his mouth open to stare at Mal. So does everyone else. I don't think she notices. 

As Uma and Ben pass them, Belle and Beast give her surprised greetings. She smiles back nervously, an expression I never thought I'd see on that shrimp.

Once down the stairs, Ben takes Uma's hand and kisses a ring on her finger. My hand involuntarily jumps to my mouth when I realize it's Ben's ring. The gold one he gave Mal!

And then Ben and Uma come forward, to Mal's hurt expression. "I'm sorry." Ben says happily. "It all happened so fast. Something happened to me, while I was on the Isle with Uma."

"Yeah, it's called getting kidnapped." I mutter. What is going on?

"A connection." Ben says, looking at Uma the way he used to look at Mal. A pained almost whimper escapes Mal. 

"What are you saying?" She whispers. 

Ben rolls his head around, still smiling. "I'm saying---"

"It was love!" Uma interrupts, almost girlishly. "It was! I just---I realized how alike Ben and I are." She turns to look at Mal. "You know?"

"We are." Ben tells her. "You're so beautiful." He murmurs. 

"Ben." Mal pleads. "Ben!"

He turns to look at her, surprised. 

"Did you go back for her?" Mal asks, her voice cracking. 

Ben turns more towards her, like he's realizing something, but Uma shakes her head. "He didn't have to." She tells Mal. "I dove through the barrier before it closed and I'm an excellent swimmer."

"You are!" Ben says. 

"Thank you!" She giggles. 

Mal is still standing with her hands in front of her, looking like the world is ending. How could Ben do this to her?

Uma moves from Ben and takes Mal's hand. "Listen. Mal." Mal flinches under Uma's touch. "I just really wanna thank you." Uma tells her. "I do! For everything." She hugs Mal, and Mal looks as disgusted as I feel. Mal looks short if breath now. I don't think she's actually breathing right anymore. 

Ben moves next to Uma again. "Don't you see, Mal? You were right! You knew that we weren't meant to be together." He leans closer. "That's why you never told me that you loved me."

Is this why he's doing this? Because she never said that? Because even the Duke of Weaseltown could see right now that Mal's heart is breaking. 

"Be--Ben, I---" Mal can't talk. Uma looks a bit smug as she hands her purse to a girl and starts dancing with Ben. Right in front of Mal.

I rush forward and take her arm just as Evie takes her other one. "Come on, Mal." I hear the song playing. Oh, typical. It's 'Kiss The Girl.' Evie and I pull Mal back with our group, and Carlos looks angry. 

"Not too thrilled I risked my life for him." He says loudly. Ben doesn't even glance away from Uma.

"I can't believe this. Look at Mal." I whisper. She doesn't hear me, but Carlos looks at her. 

"I never thought I'd see Mal look scared." He mutters. 

Lonnie comes up behind Mal. "We're with you, Mal."