Page 7 of Randall
“I don’t need you to protect me, Tolly. Besides, I was following Kat, and you know she’d keep me safe, as well as Randall.”
Tolliver peered at Kat, who looked entirely too content, lying with her eyes closed on Valter’s lap. “She’s a cat. I’m pretty sure my knives are sharper than her claws.”
Kat hissed, her eyes pinching open with a glare for the bodyguard.
“Tolly! Don’t be mean. It’s okay, Kat.” He stroked her fur until she settled. “I think you’re the fiercest one in this room.”
Knuckling my mouth was the only reason I didn’t snort humorously at how right he was. In time, all would be revealed. Tolliver quirked an eyebrow at me, but I shook my head, unable and unwilling to answer. Knowing She was trapped wouldn’t make a difference until we figured out how to break the curse.
“That may be, Your Highness, but with more and more nobles arriving daily, it would be best for all involved if I stuck close to you. It’s Her Majesty’s will, and it should be yours. Besides, ifanything should happen to you beforetheyarrive… I’m not sure I’d survive an encounter with a pissed-off vampire.”
“Thank the gods,” I cheered. “He finally told you.”
“Underhandedly.” Tolliver harrumphed. “Tolly, I need two more rooms prepared,” he mocked two octaves above his own.
“Ugh. Don’t be such a brat, Tolly.” Valter carefully lowered Kat to the floor, then stood and brushed off his clothes. “They didn’t even tell me they were bringing entourages until yesterday. I thought it would just be them… in my room,” he finished in a whisper.
Tolliver bent and scratched Kat behind her ears when she threaded through his legs. “No one travels alone, child. The roads are too dangerous.”
“The Fae do.”
“They have potent magic,” I clarified. “Wolves and vampires would be at a disadvantage in a fight with a powerful Fae. The dragons of Wintervale, and perhaps a mage like me, are the only ones who could win against them.”
“Are you truly that powerful, Randall?”
“Among my clan, I am one of the strongest, yet even I can be stymied by a Fae enchantment if I don’t know what to look for.” I crossed to my spelled mirror and caressed its gilded edge as I gazed at my reflection. I could see Valter and Tolliver standing behind me, staring at my back. “Until you told me who your mates were, I only knew that somehow you’d been contacted. Your Fae blood kept me from scrying past your outermost thoughts.”
“My Fae blood? Are you saying I’m stronger than you?”
I wanted to smack the gloat off Valter’s face. Either that or take those sweet, blushing cheeks between my hands and squeeze his face into a fish-shaped one. He needed to be brought down a peg or three. “Maybe… if you ever practiced.”
Valter wrinkled his nose. “Don’t be mean.”
I stared at Valter until the prince looked away with a huff. I relented but didn’t retract my remark. Valter could be powerful in his own right if he’d bothered to take the time to learn and practice. In the meantime… “The ball is only a few days away. We have much to prepare for. His Majesty has tasked me with keeping an eye on the gates and the city, so if there’s nothing else…”
“Hint taken. Come on, Tolly, let’s go see what Samantha’s got cooking.” Valter scooped up Kat and left. Tolliver followed, slower, nodding goodbye before he disappeared out the door.
Putting action to words, I whispered the spell to bring my mirror to life, then swept the view outward to the southwest, locating Alpha Duke and his wolves. Seeing they were fine, I turned my sight southeast to find Master Baron and his vampires.
Baron and his companion, Marius, shivered as my power passed over them. They glanced around, settling only once I pulled my presence back to where I could carefully observe them, nestled in their dark carriage. The three other vampires slept deeply, marking them as younglings. Valter had mentioned Baron had “made” sons.
I found that fact humorous. Oh, to see Valter’s face when or if one of them called him “Daddy.” I chuckled darkly as I drew my power away, scanning the roads and waterways, my stomach rumbling with hunger.
Breathing deeply, I recentered myself, blinking away the haze of “sight” to discover a tray had been left for me. “Thank you, Valter,” I whispered, hearing the faint footfalls of his retreat.
Feeling his responding joy made all ofthisworth it.
Chapter 5
Darvon
They snuck through the gates of Onamond, shielded by one of Sylvan’s spells. Almost immediately, Darvon felt a tug pulling him toward the castle located high on a hill overlooking the city. He pushed the feeling aside, assuming it was Jarrah’s will that nagged at him. He wanted time to explore the High City before sending word to his brother. The capital of Obrusa was and wasn’t what he expected.
Sylvan disliked it immediately, hating the lack of trees, flowers, and unimpeded views. Darvon had mixed feelings as they strolled the city streets. Those feelings changed as they traveled closer to the castle, set atop the highest point of land. Hovels and refuse-lined paths had lined the inner walls, but as they neared the inner gates, the houses were larger and more ornate. The crushed shell-and-rock roads gave way to paved streets, and the dingy, blank storefronts boasted clean, colorful signs, windows, and doorways.
They reached the home Jarrah occupied when in Onamond as the sun dipped below the horizon. Upon seeing the green grass and blooms of flowers, they both let out relieved sighs. Stepping through the waist-high gate, Darvon’s heart lightened further, hearing the tinkle of sweet chimes dancing in the breeze coming off the ocean.
The front door opened, and the Fae overseeing the ambassadorial residence stepped out. “Your Highness, welcome. We expected you days ago. You’ve missed the ball entirely.”
