“Of course.” She swallowed the lump of emotion still weighing her down.
As she stood, she braced one hand on the trunk of the black oak. The second she placed her palm on the rough bark, a pulse of magic from wherever the hartstone resided in these woods pumped a beat through her palm into her body. She sucked in a sudden breath, relishing the tingle of enchantment coursing through her veins, washing her anew with an electric serenity. A message that all would be well. The forest, the hartstone, was speaking to her.
“What is it?” he asked, having let her go, but still standing close, his features schooled into his grave expression. “Did you hurt your ankle?”
She couldn’t explain this sensation to him. It was a knowing she couldn’t put into words. She dropped her hand from the tree and smiled. “No. I’m fine now.”
With a nod, he gestured up the path. “We’re almost to Sienna’s cottage.”
A cacophony of voices overlapped in the near distance. Then high-pitched laughter.
Mina touched Mikhail’s arm, puzzled. “Children?”
He smiled. “Yes. Remember I spoke to you of Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, and his new wife, Brennalyn?”
“Yes.”
“They have a cottage not far from Sienna’s.”
“A duke in a woodland cottage?”
“Aye,” added Aleksei, on her right as they rounded the bend where Dmitri waited for them. “And wait till you see how full with children their home is. I daresay the duke has never had to live in such a tight space with so many bustling bodies before.”
“Nor has he been happier,” added Dmitri, walking on just ahead of them.
Mikhail nodded with a wider smile but said nothing.
“You are close to this duke?” asked Mina.
“Yes. I served him at Winter Hill, knowing he wasn’t in league with his grandmother the queen or with his uncle, King Dominik. I’d hoped to discover he might be willing to fight against them. What I didn’t know then was that he was already allied with the Black Lily.”
The energy of vampires grew, sparking the air with a familiar aura. The stone cottage came into view, its yard full of soldiers—vampire and human. Not quite the same scene she met last time she was here, when the Black Lily had held her captive in hopes of bargaining with the queen. Instinctively, she drew closer to Mikhail as the entire company stopped and turned. Two men who were sparring with short swords paused and looked their way.
“It’s all right,” he murmured with a comforting hand at her back.
Mina didn’t recognize anyone. The cottage door flew open and out hurried Sienna, her beautiful smile bright as she opened her arms.
“Oh, Mina!” she cried as she swept Mina into her arms and embraced her close.
When Arabelle had kidnapped Mina as a means to negotiate with King Grindal and Queen Morgrid for the Black Lily, Sienna had kept her here at her cottage. Sienna had treated Mina like a dear friend, rather than a captive. She still felt that kinship they’d formed those months ago.
“We were so worried about you.” Sienna pulled her at arm’s length, gripping her by the shoulders. “You look lovely as ever.”
“Thank you, Sienna. It’s so good to see you.” Her heart melted at such a welcome into the arms of a true friend.
“You look a little tired as well.”
“I am.” Mina glanced nervously at the entourage of fierce-looking men still staring. “Where is Arabelle?”
Sienna wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the cottage, where she saw the former lieutenant Nikolai leaning in the open door. “Let’s get you inside and away from prying eyes so we can talk.” She flashed a chastising look over her shoulder. “And prying ears. I know they look rough, but they’re harmless. Well, to us anyway.”
Dmitri, Gavril, Aleksei, and Gregoravich joined the black-clad vampires with brotherly handshakes and pats on the backs, muttering greetings as to old friends. So, these men were other members of the Bloodguard.
Mikhail stood and watched her go, an unreadable expression fixed in place. Part of her wanted to beckon him to follow, to insist upon it, but many eyes watched them. And one thing she was certain of: Mikhail was uncertain of their relationship, if they even had one.
“We expect another snow tonight,” said Sienna sweeping her into her pretty little home. “We’ve had none for over a week, but Nikolai tells me it will certainly snow tonight. We’ve got a small cottage set up near Brennalyn’s home. Actually, it’s one of the children’s art studios that Friedrich built. The poor duke dotes on those children.”
“Or he wants his youngest, Izzy, more occupied,” added Nikolai, closing the door behind them and strolling to a cupboard.
“Oh, Nikolai. As if. Izzy has that man wrapped around her little finger. You’ll adore Brennalyn’s children. They are all so lovely. Seven orphans she took in on her own. Can you imagine?” Sienna urged her to sit on her sofa next to the crackling fire.
“Seven?” Mina was genuinely shocked. “No. I cannot imagine. Brennalyn must be a very energetic woman.”
“She’d have to be in order to keep up with Friedrich’s demands,” muttered Nikolai as he poured three glasses of red wine.
“Nikolai. Stop saying such things. Her Highness will think ill of you.”
Mina laughed. “No, I won’t.”
Nikolai arched a brow at Sienna while he handed them each a glass of wine.
“Thank you,” said Mina gratefully, taking a large sip. “I must say, I was surprised to see your yard so full.”
“Ah, yes. Well, the training encampment is closer to Hiddleston. We’ve commandeered a wide meadow and valley along the edge of Silvane Forest, but the Bloodguard knew their captain was returning today.”
“They did? How’s that?”
“Captain Mikhail had told them the precise day and near the hour you all would return, which was this afternoon.”
“And no one thought he might’ve been held up or prevented from his timely return?”
Nikolai scoffed but said nothing, as he gulped his wine while standing at the mantel.
Sienna smiled and shook her head. “Not the captain. If he says he’ll do something, it will be done.”
Mina understood the man was efficient and resourceful, but she hadn’t quite grasped the depth of his own fortitude in achieving a goal. Her heart warmed at his utter devotion to her rescue and her care for the duration of their mission in getting her here. She wondered whether his mission with her was now over. A sudden panic gripped her. What if he moved on and left the encampment for another mission? She hadn’t had time to consider that. The stab of loss pricked that soft organ beneath her ribs.
“Is everything all right, Mina?” Sienna asked, placing a hand on hers.
“Oh, yes. Where are Arabelle and Marius?” She sipped her wine, changing the subject, though Nikolai observed her more keenly. He hadn’t missed her anxiety at the thought of Mikhail.
“They should be returning soon. They left with a party to speak to King Agnar of Pyros.”