Page 22 of The Beauty and the Griffin

Soon after our plotting session in the cave, Pukai and I had begun happily conspiring to snatch Beatrice out of her doldrums (I’d arranged everything with her employers weeks ago) and whisk her away to Faraway Castle at Christmas. We’d figured a week or two should be time enough for her to reconcile with our beastly fool who was convinced he’d ruined everything.

But when Pukai still hadn’t contacted me a few days after her mission should be complete, my bad feeling developed into worry. The merqueen and I always had our differences, but she’d become like a big sister to me: bossy, often annoying, and utterly necessary in my life.

Currently the resort bustled with preparations for a top-secret doublewedding in the castle’s chapel on Christmas Day. Only a few trusted friends and certain family members were invited to the ceremony; more guests would arrive the following day for a big reception.

Surely, I told myself, Pukai would return before the wedding. But as the big day approached and guests began to arrive, still no merqueen.

On Christmas Eve, I stole into the castle’s rose garden, which was warm and fragrant despite its snow-covered surroundings, and silently called for the Gamekeeper. A breath later, he stepped into view, mostly concealed in shadow. “Any word at all?” I asked, my voice a mere whisper.

“None.” His voice rumbled like distant thunder. “I suspect foul play from our supposed allies on the council.”

Fear stole my breath. Surely a sahira as powerful as Pukai could handle any number of council members. But if they’d taken her by surprise . . . “What can we do?” I croaked.

“Pukai is well; I sense her soul’s presence in this reality,” he stated. “She is furious, mostly at herself.”

I heaved a relieved sigh before he continued: “I have already assigned the royal twins to accomplish her rescue immediately after their brief wedding reception. Both couples chose to delay their honeymoons until this crisis is averted. They and Pukai will return in secret and go underground.”

“Literally and figuratively.” I nodded my approval.

“I shall convene as usual with the remaining council members and attempt to identify the traitors, who, we must assume, have claimed the Mirror,” he continued. “They will most likely use the Mirror to overthrow the entire council, unaware until too late that the Mirror has taken control of their own minds and actions just as it controlled Miss Cambout.”

“It is that powerful.” I felt numb.

“It is.” Despite the discouraging words, he sounded indomitable. “The fay creature trapped in that Mirror is desperate to throw off its magical chains and rule over our world. What better place to begin than the World Magic Council?”

Hearing our possible fate spelled out so clearly sent a chill to my old bones.

“What can we do?”

“Faraway Castle’s outer defenses are already on alert, prepared to defend and delay. Our troops and allies understand the importance of this stand against a fay invasion and are guarding their minds. I have also fortified the boundaries of the Forbidden Lands, and the creatures who have taken shelter there are prepared to defend or escape in case its barricade falls.”

“Have we any hope at all?” I asked in sudden weakness.

“Never give up hope, Bella.” Hearing the old brotherly affection in his voice buoyed my spirit. “When we first captured the Mirror back in September, the fay in it attempted to hide itself from us. Both Briar and I let it believe that it had succeeded—an instinctive move we hadn’t coordinated ahead of time. I’m telling you, Bella: that young man is wise beyond his years, immensely powerful, and just beginning to discover his abilities.”

I gave a quick nod. “I promise to play dumb about the fay influence around any council members I might encounter, and if anyone asks about Pukai, I’ll say she must have decided to visit family while in the Dynamic Ocean. Of course, she often travels there and back in a matter of minutes from her magical island, but I can hope they’ll swallow the story.”

“The fay creature is subtle. I keep thinking we might be missing something . . .” He shook his shaggy head and squared his shoulders. “We’ll conquer this, Bella.”

“I’ll make myself scarce during the wedding celebrations,” I warned him, “but I promise to be ready for battle when it’s time.”

He didn’t need to know exactly how “scarce” I would be. And this time, Beatrice and I would return by magic.

Beatrice

After a quiet Christmas Day with my father at the home of some old friends, I was dozing in a chair beside the kitchen hearth in our drafty little castle when I heard, “Wake up, Beatrice! I need your help.”

I nearly did a sitting high jump. “Auntie! When did you get here?”

She leaned forward slightly in the opposite chair and gave me a look I couldn’t ignore. “Child, there’s no time for social niceties. You must come with me to Faraway Castle. Now.”

“What?” My heart jumped into overdrive, but old habit compelled me to correct my “social solecism,” as Auntie would call it. “I mean, I beg your pardon?”

Auntie Bella raised one hairless brow. “No pardon. You heard me clearly.”

I frequently forgot my grandaunt’s age, she was so lively, strong, and . . . well,odd. In the flickering firelight, with her gnarled hands gripping the knob of her walking stick, she could’ve easily been mistaken for a haunting spirit.

“I believe you’ve attended winter camps with that flighty princess.”

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