I grip the arms of his armor, sinking my fingers into the chainmail underneath and drag him closer to my face. “You assholes, she’s been here this entire time. She is on the castle grounds. Find her!” I spit the words into his face, uncaring of the type of monster I may look to be in the moment.
My race through the grounds and into the castle becomes a blur. I push past servants, shrieking at any guards who stop to question my explosive entrance. The halls twist angrily, but in the end, they spit me out at King Iri’s doors.
“Princess,” the guards start but I wave them off with a flick of my wrist, pushing past them and storming into the room.
The open window allows the curtains to flicker in the night’s breath. Clean sheets and feathered pillows appear undisturbed on his bed. The sitting chairs are empty as well.
King Iri isn’t here.
Where are you?I call.
Should you take a moment to unbury yourself from your burdens, you could have a look for yourself.Bear coos through my thoughts.
“Or you could just tell me.” I mutter.
“Princess, the King has not returned to his quarters yet,” A guard says, holding the door open.
I nod, feeling heat blister on my cheeks. With a deep breath, I walk down the hall, slowing my steps as I venture the bond, as I choose to see through Bear’s eyes as I do mine.
Soft plush blankets cozy under his back where he has wedged himself against the headboard of a bed. Books litter the expensive desk and the windows behind it remain closed, pink curtains covering the view.
The bastard is relaxing on my bed. In my hurry to find him, I didn’t allow myself to trust the bond or to call out to him as I should have.
Don’t beat yourself up, my Queen; it takes time to get used to this bond. One day, you will be dependent upon it and talking to me, feeling my presence, and it will all feel like breathing.
Now the halls remain slower, my anger quelling under the sound of his reassuring voice. Soon, he will know the truth as I do. Soon we will find that traitorous bitch hiding just under our noses.
My door is visible with a waiting guard. Rigs drums his finger against his armored leg, a knowing smile on his lips as he sees me. The grin fades. I’m not certain if it is because of my enraged, blushing cheeks or the swiftness with which I walk that forces the smile to falter, or even my perhaps haggard appearance. I suppose it doesn’t matter.
“Princess.” He nods, holding the door wide, his body tilted to allow significant space between us.
My eyes are drawn to Bear. Shirtless and smirking like a child who has gotten away with a wrongdoing. Finally, I halt at the end of the bed. A ragged breath filling the silence.
“Aisha is still on the palace grounds.”
King Iri wrinkles his nose. “I know.”
“You know?” I huff, placing my hands against my hips. “How?”
The blankets dip under his weight as he pushes against them, crawling to me on his knees. The revelation of news, hardly a revelation to him apparently, not removing the way his eyes taper into an intense smolder. “Because I listen in on our special little bond.”
Bear draws a line up my arm, flicking away my ragged cloak to examine the tears in my sleeve and dried blood smeared over refreshingly healed skin, still raw and red.
“You smell like you’ve spent your time on a pig’s farm.” He brings his hand to my face, wiping at the dirt that is smudged against my cheekbone. “I've already talked with Mathis and guards should be sweeping the grounds now, unless they’ve already started. He is even personally checking each room himself. With the exception of this one, of course.” His beaming smile becomes wolfish. “First, let me draw you a bath.”
“You expect me to sit here in a bath and do nothing?”
“Hmm, yes. That’s right.” He slips off the bed, walking toward my bathing quarter. The fine muscles of his back slim and tight under the many scars become an appealing sight as he walks away. “Well, I suppose there are a few things you can do once you’re clean. Though I won't say them aloud for fear of dirtying my mouth.”
A thread of desire curls inside my thoughts. For a moment, life feels right. I am where I am supposed to be, and this is how it’s supposed to go. Normal. It’s a fleeting moment of normal.
But what if she is close? What if I could use my magic to find her faster?
Bear hums quietly, turning to lean against the door frame. His tongue chases over his lip as he shakes his head.If she is close, my men will find her. And if you wish to use your magic, ask the bath water for help.
My lips betray me. A smile hesitantly lifts one corner of my mouth. Bear strides back to me, watching me with his dazzling starlit and half-hooded eyes. He brushes his fingertips over my collarbone, a delay before his fingers make quick work of undoing the three buttons at the top of my shirt. The open fabric reveals the curve of my breasts. He skims his fingers over that sensitive skin as well.
“Come,” he says, taking my hand and pulling me into the bathroom.
