“All the royal hounds are out with the guards, searching for their scent in the towns.”
“Your Highness,” called a Torestan soldier in his native tongue. “We shall return to our king at once with an update.”
“I thank you for your assistance, sirs. Please give King Gavriil my regard. And . . .” She swallowed her pride. “Any assistance he can spare would be greatly appreciated.”
The men nodded and set off.
Aerity had a dreaded feeling her parents were nowhere in Lochlanach. She hitched her heels into Jude and took off. They still had two days of hard riding before they’d reach royal lands. And though things weren’t stable in their kingdom, and she had no clue what to expect upon her return, it felt so, so good to be home.
Chapter
25
Upon their arrival at royal lands, one thing became distinctly clear to Aerity: their military forces had been stretched too thin, to the point that the royal lands may as well have been unguarded. Soldiers had been sent all across Lochlanach—to try to keep peace in the towns and to secure the borders. But it wasn’t enough to have a few men everywhere. If any of those places were attacked, it would be overpowered in no time. Young men were being trained as quickly as possible, but it wasn’t enough.
They were not safe.
The royal lands were too quiet. The market had been closed and people were not allowed in. Everything appeared eerie: the trees barren of their leaves; the stalls empty; thewind-whipped sea, lined with ready vessels. A winter-gray sky loomed, blowing frigid air along the paths.
Harrison waved down a fellow officer and called him over. It took the man a moment to recognize Aerity as she dismounted her horse, sore and cold. He bowed.
“Princess! Thank the seas for your safe return.”
“Get her inside where it’s warm,” Harrison told him. He was still atop his horse with Furball bundled in a blanket on his lap. “I’ll be in shortly. We’ll need a debriefing on every detail.”
Harrison clomped away, most likely to find a safe place for Furball. Aerity, Vixie, and Tiern climbed down and relinquished their horses. The three of them took the stone steps to the castle, dried leaves crackling underfoot. The moment they reached the top of the stairs and the doors were opened, Aerity heard a familiar voice.
“Princess!” Caitrin rushed forward and hugged her hard, earning headshakes from the guards. Aerity didn’t care; she hugged her back just as tightly.
“Oh, seas, look at you, Your Highness. Your hair.” The girl had tears in her eyes. “Come, let’s bathe you and get you into warmer, proper clothes.”
“Not yet, Caitrin,” she said gently but firmly. “After I meet with the council. But I could use some help with the color at that time. And I need a guest chamber readied for Tiern Seabolt.”
Caitrin twiddled with her apron, seeming reluctant to letAerity go a moment longer looking the way she did. “I’ll alert the guest maids and start warming the water for your bath.” She rushed off.
Wyneth heard voices and she ran to the library window. The sight of Harrison’s back as he rode down to the stables sent a jolt of pure joy through her. He was here! And safe! Did that mean Aerity had returned as well? She grabbed her warm cloak and threw it over her shoulders as she sprinted through the castle to the entrance. The guards held open the door, and she nearly fell down the steps moving so quickly.
She finally caught up with Harrison near the stables. But instead of going inside he dismounted and sent his horse away, heading toward the hounds’ kennels. He had a bundle in his arms.
“Harrison!” she called, jogging.
His head shot to her and his face lit up with a joyful smile that made Wyneth catch her breath—he must have been happy to be home, and she was certainly glad to see him again. The bundle shifted and jumped from his arms—he swiped out to catch it but missed. Wyneth stopped in her tracks, skidding in the sandy dirt as something strange and furry charged at her. Harrison yelled. Wyneth saw thick fangs and claws as long as her fingers. She gasped and choked on a scream as she turned, only to fall over her twisted skirts like a clumsy oaf.
She scrambled to her feet, but it was too late. The beast jumped onto her back. She turned, screaming, and felt a wetlick up the entire side of her face. She walloped the creature and it fell to the side with a pained yap.
“Wyn! It’s okay!”
Harrison got to the creature and grasped it by the scruff of its neck. Wyneth pushed herself into a sitting position and crab walked backward a few feet. She stared at the creature, panting.
“It’s okay,” Harrison said, softer this time. “It—he . . . he won’t hurt you. He got excited, is all.”
“He— What is it?”
She stared at its lion head with a short, furry mane, and its bear-like body with thick, coarse fur of brownish black. The creature tried again to get to Wyneth, but Harrison lifted it into his arms and held it tight.
“I think he likes you,” he said, squatting on one knee. “He wants to meet you. We saved him from Rozaria. He’s just a cub, but he’s nearly doubled in size already since we took him.”
Rozaria?Wyneth’s mind spun.This was one of her beasts? But . . . how? What in Eurona had happened while they were away?The more Wyneth looked at the wiggling monster, the more she could sense its innocent excitement. She pushed to her knees and moved forward, holding her palm out. When she got to the creature, it sniffed her hand fervently and then set to licking. Wyneth laughed. She met Harrison’s eyes, and they both stared at one another in wonder.
