“You know, I can still hear you,” I said, a moment before my eyes flicked open. I could tell by their expressions they had not known.
I stood and walked down the steps in front of the throne. “It doesn’t matter now. I’ve taken care of it.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chevelle’s face turn to anger before I walked from the room. I picked up my pace.
I found one of the servants to guide me to my room. I was fairly certain her name was Ena, though I couldn't be sure because she looked peculiarly similar to another of the servants (whose name I could not remember at all) with their long dark hair and sharp features. I'd seen a number of servants moving about the castle during the weeks since I'd woken but I hadn't stopped to examine them. Not that I wasn't interested, but I'd noticed their gazes drop as I met their eyes or felt as if they'd found a new task just as I'd taken note of their presence. It seemed awkward for some reason. And even if I didn't recognize them, it wasn't as if they didn't know me. The castle staff was in on the secret, though not formally. The details weren’t explained but they had seen clearly enough. No one had been worried about them though, they had proven their loyalty by staying in the empty castle, waiting for their lords to return.
I felt a flush of irritation when Ena stopped outside my door and I kept walking at least a half dozen more steps before I noticed. How could I still not have any idea where it was? And why couldn't I simply follow her instead of having to be led from behind?
The lost feeling wasn’t any better after I was inside. Sure, from there I could tell it was the room I’d been sleeping in, but it didn’t feel like home. Not that the tree I’d lived in would now, either. I sighed. Sleeping outside had begun to feel like home. How strange.
I ran a finger over the table by the door on my way past. It was near bare, a few books of no interest, an empty marble dish, a rather plain jeweled pin in a style I couldn't imagine ever liking. There wasn't much of anything personal in the room at all. I wondered if someone had removed my things, maybe in the years I was gone. Or perhaps this was all I had. The nightstand held a worn assortment of short, thin blades and a boot clip, and I avoided examining anything further. I passed the large bed draped with sheer silks and mounded with pillows, heading to the window instead to look out, over the mountain.
It was only a moment before my thoughts turned once more to Chevelle. It was obvious he was avoiding me, keeping a formal distance, but I wasn’t sure how to change that. I’d tried, a few days after it became clear what he was doing, but it had ended in disaster.
We’d been alone in the practice rooms, trying to develop my control. We had been close as we worked and I decided I could be aggressive, break his resolve. But I had been concentrating so hard on my seductive face, my wanting eyes, that I’d forgotten to pay attention to my stupid feet. I’d been moving in for the kill when I tripped, falling flat on my face at his feet. He was turning away when I looked up, and I was sure I’d seen a smile, laughing at me. A flush tore back into my cheeks at the memory of him fighting that smile, a laugh, and I flopped on the bed, buried my face into the pillows and prayed for sleep to come quickly.
I’d vowed to myself I would keep my dignity, but that was forgotten early the next morning when Ruby woke me for training and I found myself groaning like a child. She dragged me to the practice rooms to work with fire.
We hadn’t been at it long when the cats showed up.
“Frey, Chevelle would like a word with you.” Anvil spoke in the tone of official business but I saw a smile teasing the corner of his mouth.
I took a deep breath as I followed him out, Ruby and Grey behind me. Near the entrance to the castle, we found Chevelle, as well as Steed, Rhys, and Rider.
Chevelle did not look happy. “Can you please explain to me why there are a pack of wild cats waiting for entrance to the castle, Frey?”
A pack? There should have been more than that. I’d found as many mountain lions as I could, impressing upon them to come here. I tried to see past him and then, subtly, raised to my toes to see over his shoulder. I barely caught a glimpse of golden fur, glistening over a sleek, muscular body before he stepped forward. My gaze went to his and it was unmistakable he wanted to put a strong hand on my shoulder to flatten my feet and keep me still. Instead, he peered into my eyes and attempted to force the answer from me with sheer will.
I sighed. “Well, you told me what the problem was so I fixed it. We can all go now.” He looked angrier after my response, downright seething. I tried to fix it. “The cats will watch the castle for us.” Obviously.