I laid awake in a foreign bed, my body tossing, restless despite the comfort of the feather mattress beneath my exhausted body. I struggled to grasp everything King Adrastan had told me earlier today. It felt like a torrent of chaos was crushing down on my life, my lungs gasping for breath. Sitting up on the bed, I let the blanket slide down, piling onto my lap as I gazed out the window. Moonlight spilt through the panes, dancing across the marbled flooring as clouds drifted across the night sky.
Slipping my toes out from under the warmth of my bed, I let them fall to the floor as I made my way to the bedroom door. Slowly, silently, I inched the door open, then walked down the empty corridor toward a partially hidden staircase I had noticed on my way in earlier that day. Following the spiral stairs, I felt a slight breeze begin to blow as I climbed higher, the pressure in my lungs lessening the higher I circled. Emerging at the top of the tower, I gently pushed the door open, leading out onto a parapet.
I walked along the outer wall, running my hand along the stone, the soft scraping of the roughened edges grating my fingertips as I let the night air surround me. A few guards stationed along the wall gave me disapproving looks; however, I blocked them out of my mind, instead focusing on the grounds surrounding the Palais. Even with darkness attempting to encase the night, the moon shone through, illuminating the Sea of Avyz and grass covered fields swaying in time with the breeze. I watched as the moon's light slowly made its way along the sea, drifting one way, then another, dancing on waves of black water. As though hypnotized by the light, I stood along the tower, watching time pass as the moon traveled across the sky.
Moments like these allowed me a chance to pretend that everything was right in the realm. That I wasn’t part of the answer to a looming power war. That I was back home in my apartment, curled up with a good book and a cup of tea. Simply staring at the moonlight as it danced across the sea. I wallowed in the beauty, my mind drifting to happy memories that flitted on repeat.
“Is it a habit of yours to take strolls in the dead of night?” A warm, husky voice sounded from behind me.
Whirling around, surprised, I answered, “Is it a habit of yours to attempt to sneak up on me each time?”
I would recognize his voice anywhere. Even though I’d grown to despise the words that fell from those freckled lips, his voice was like the moonlight on the sea, both hypnotizing and enchanting, with darkness reflected underneath.
A dark chuckle filled the silence of the night as he gazed at me before replying, “That is what a predator does best, is it not?” His voice grew closer as warm breath crawled up my ear. His arms reached around my body, resting against the ledge in front of me, his palms inches from mine. “Stealthily stalk our unsuspecting prey.”
A scoff slipped from my throat. “If your aim is to threaten me or scare me into listening to you, that’s not going to happen. If you don’t mind, I’d like to enjoy the rest of my night in peace.” I pushed his hand away, turning toward the doorway I came from.
“Why are you out here, princesse?”
I spun on my heel, red threatening the corners of my vision as I marched right up to Sébastien. “Stop calling me princesse. I don’t know why you insist on it to begin with. I’m not royal. I have no powers.”
“I’ll call you what I like, princesse. Every nickname has a purpose, non?
“And yours?” I prompted, intrigue thick in my voice, my anger diminishing for a brief moment. “How did you get yours?”
“Well, I am the Commander of the Wolvyn Guard, recall?”
Scoffing, my voice caught the air. “That’s a bit lackluster, non? I was hoping for a bit more of a story than that.”
“Well, maybe one day you will get it. Now, did I not make myself perfectly clear earlier? I’m not the type of man you want to play games with.”
“I’m not playing games with you.” The frustration bubbled back to the surface in an instant. “I didn’t leave the Palais. Or do you wish to confine me to my room too, hmmm? So now, just do what you do best, and Fuck. Off,” I snapped.
“Now,” he drawled, a smirk snaking up his face. “Wouldn’t that be a sight to see? Yes, I could picture it.” He paused, his eyes darkening. “You. Confined to your room.” His voice lowered as he advanced toward me, my steps matching his as I backed up, only stopping as my back hit the staircase wall.
My heart pounded heavily as he towered over me, my head tilted back, meeting his gaze. “Never. In. Hell,” I spat back.
He leaned down, one arm above my head holding him up, his face paused inches from me, ice-blue eyes piercing mine as they tracked my every movement. The air around me felt as though it dropped a few degrees, my breath coming quicker.
“We’ll see about that, princesse. I guarantee you’ll be begging to be by the time I’m done with you,” he purred into my ear. His fingers trailed up my side, drawing circles of heat across my skin as he moved them up along my ribs. My body burned beneath his touch; an ember sparked deep within me. “You played with the wrong wolf, princesse. And for that, you will pay.”
His fingers paused beneath my breast as he finished speaking, a heated breath splaying across my neck, crawling down my body. And then he was gone, chilled air settling in his place, leaving me staring at the Avyz, wondering what I had just gotten myself into.
My mind shifted through the day’s events as my breathing returned to normal, putting pieces of information in folders in my mind as I planned a way out of this mess. My thoughts were rough, but I knew what needed to be done. Kateya and I needed to hold out until we found the pendant. If the king found it first, it was likely he would want me to help in the war that would brew once the power was discovered, and I couldn’t let that happen. Once we had the necklace, Kateya and I could then use it to get home and this whole nightmare would be over. I just needed to play nice until we found it. If only it was that easy…
* * *
A constant, loud knocking on the barred wooden door woke me from my sleep. Mumbling some incoherent words, I stumbled out of the bed toward the never-ending knocking. Opening the door, Kateya rushed into my room, excited as ever.
“Oh good! You’re awake. I thought I was going to have to burn down the door to wake you up. I haven’t seen you all morning. But ohmygosh, Cass, I have so much to tell you. First”—my mind struggled to uncloud the words that rushed from my sister’s mouth as I partially woke up—“which is in two nights. So, of course, we will be going. I know the circumstances are kind of insane. But I mean, who actually gets to say they’ve been to a festival in an actual Palais?”
Only truly processing half of what she said, I half smiled and half grimaced while attempting to understand the continual shriek of words flooding my ears. “That’s awesome, Kat. Sounds like you will have fun.”
“Oh, you know I will! I thought perhaps you would want to know. Also, I have a date.”
My heart froze for a moment as I snapped awake. “A date? Kat. We have been here for less than two days. What do you mean, a date?”
“It’s just a date, Cass.” Kateya sighed. “Look. I know we need to find that pendant quickly. And before you say it, I understand how bad the circumstances are. But just let me have this moment, okay? He’s so hot.”
“Just be careful, okay? We don’t know much about this land, these people, or what they might want from us.”
“When haven’t I been careful?” Kateya practically sang as she skipped out of my room, leaving the door wide open, a smile pasted across her face.
I loved that she was happy, especially since everything that happened was shocking enough. I didn’t know whether I should share all the things I had learned about the pendant yet with her or if I should just let my sister enjoy this ember of happiness before putting out the budding flame. Not even bothering to close the door, I dropped back into bed, sleep pulling me back under.
* * *
Once I had woken up a second time, I noted that the day had already half passed, the sun high in the sky, baking into my room. Hunger scratched at my insides, and I made my way to find some food, only to walk out the door and realize I had no clue where the kitchen was located. Noticing a guard standing further down the corridor, I walked over to him and politely asked for directions toward the kitchen. I watched as he grimaced slightly before informing me that he was under orders not to let me wander around or leave my room.
Of course, I knew who those orders came from. Sébastien. Frustrated and slightly annoyed that he had the audacity to attempt to confine me to my room, I focused my attention on the guard in front of me, pouting slightly. “Sir, I believe you must have misunderstood me… all I asked for were the directions to the dining hall so that I might have a meal. I said nothing about wandering around. If you could simply escort me to the kitchen just for a bite to eat, it would be as if I never left, plus you would be there, and then nothing could go wrong.” He simply stared down at me, pointing me back toward my prison-like chamber.
Sighing, I began to walk away as an idea formed in my mind. I was about to go through with it when I heard the strong voice of the king at the end of the corridor. “Cassandra, how are you faring this morning? I take it you have had enough time following our conversation yesterday?” His question left room for no other answers.
Turning, a smile made its way onto my face. “I’m doing perfect, Your Majesty. And yes, of course, more than enough time. Thank you,” I replied, the lie dripping like honey from my lips. Because did he honestly expect me to be okay with life-altering news after one day?
His eyes narrowed at my reply before nodding his head once. “Very well. I have some matters to attend to before the Festival of Nightloc begins.”
“Nightloc?” I questioned.
“Yes, Nightloc is a time-honored tradition in our land. A time when powers are most heightened. As such, we celebrate, holding a festival for all those with magic and power flowing through their veins. With magic at its strongest in two nights, it should be possible to send out a power call to locate the rough location of the pendant,” he informed me.
Nodding at the news the king shared, I responded, “If you can send out a power call, does that mean that others may be able to as well?”
“Yes.” The harsh tone of his voice took me by surprise. “The Nordak have been searching for the three artifacts since they were sent into the winds 100 years ago. Now, with the presence of the pendant on our land, others will be able to sense it, too. We must locate it before it falls into enemy hands.”
“Your Majesty.” A young man’s voice rang out from a distance.
“I have matters to attend to,” King Adrastan stated. “I look forward to your willing participation to put this behind us, Cassandra.” His piercing stare burned into me as he turned around.
I stood still for a moment, processing his underlying threat, before remembering my original dilemma. “Excuse m—” But at that moment a throat cleared from behind me.
“Miss, if you would return to the room, please.”
Sighing, I walked back into my room.
* * *
My backup plan proved to be far easier than I anticipated. As it turns out, Sébastien posted guards by the door only. It took mere minutes to fashion a rope with the sheets from my bed. I secured the knot over the bathroom railing, thankful once again for the balcony-style layout of the bathroom. Climbing down the sheets brought back memories of Kateya and me when we were younger. As young girls, we had competed to outclimb each other on everything, and I found myself thankful for that skill.
Wandering through the garden, I let myself relax as I mapped my surroundings. According to the king, locating the necklace was probable. But the question was who would get to it first, and if the king’s men did, how would I ensure I could get it without raising questions? I would play the part if it meant I could get my sister and myself home safely.
With the Festival of Nightloc approaching in two days, the increase in guards and patrols was imminent, meaning my hands were tied to wait for the king’s patrols to locate the necklace.
I wondered how Nightloc affected those with magic and power. Did that mean their powers weakened over time? The king had described it as a night of power where those with magic in their blood were at their strongest. My distant thoughts were interrupted as I felt something warm and furry pummel into my legs and fall to the ground at my feet. Glancing down, I noted rusty red fur sprinkled with streaks of darker brown, tiny, pointed ears perked up as it looked around in confusion.
I heard a quiet rumble before a larger wolvyn appeared in front of me. My feet involuntarily moved back, as I watched the wolvyn shift before my eyes. In the wolvyn’s place stood a woman a few years older than me, amber hair braided to the side and warm emerald eyes meeting mine. “I’m so sorry. I hope he didn’t scare you.” She rushed on to say, “We are still working on the running coordination of shifting, aren’t we, Theo?”
The small wolvyn at my feet nodded its head in remorse as he padded over to his mother. “I’m Gea,” she said in greeting.
Smiling, I replied, “Cassandra. And no worries, no harm done.” I laughed.
She studied me for a moment before stating, “You’re her, aren’t you?” I stared at Gea, confused by her statement. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that most of the men have been sent off on patrols today for the king. I heard rumors around the Palais about a woman losing something valuable to the king and given that I haven’t seen you around here before, I’m guessing you’re the reason?”
“Um, yes,” I replied, taken aback by her direct statement and unsure of what I was supposed to reply or how much I should share.
“Well, whatever it is that you lost. I hope for your sake it’s found. You don’t want to be around if the Capetians don’t get their way,” she replied before shifting, little Theo following along after her as I stood there wondering how my pendant had suddenly become the most sought-after object in the Vanaiyer realm.