“Does that reallyhappen?”
Costin winked at her dad. “Every. Single. Day.” Then he pointed to Sally. “She begs me forthem.”
Sally started to respond but froze when a beautiful woman dressed in a shimmering dark gown walked down the middle of the corridor. The women parted for her but continued to stare at theguests.
Cindy bowed her head. “My queen.” Her father did thesame.
“Welcome back, Cindy.” The queen’s voice was soft but confident. “Introduce me,please.”
“This is my mate, ChrisMorgan.”
“Your majesty,” her dad said with a slightbow.
“I am Queen Andora, Chris Morgan, of the humans. You have cared for Cindira well. I thankyou.”
“It has been an honor,” he said. “And an honor to meet you aswell.”
“This is my daughter, Sally, and her mate, Costin, of the Serbia wolf pack,” Cindycontinued.
Andora walked over to them and eyed themcritically.
“It is an honor to meet you, your highness,” Costin said and took her hand, pressing a kiss to the top of it. He let it go and then pressed the palm of his hand to Sally’s back. “I’m most thankful that you’ve allowed my mate, and myself, entrance into yourrealm.”
“We are honored to have you,” she said to him and then looked at Sally again. “You have had a rough time recently. Tell me, how are youfeeling?”
“I am alright, your highness,” Sally said. “Tired, butalright.”
“May I?” Queen Andora lifted her hand to press it to herforehead.
Sally nodded. What was she going to do, tell the queenno?
Andora placed her hand on Sally’s forehead and closed her eyes. Sally felt Costin’s fingers close around her shirt as he took a step closer to her. She reached down her hand and took hisother.
“I’mfine.”
“I know you are, Sally mine. It’s still hard for me to share the mental bond. I didn’t know your mom was taking a look inside your head the other day. But knowing someone is digging around in here makes my wolfedgy.”
“I love you,”she saidsoothingly.
“It’s a good thing. Someone hasto.”
She smiled and let out the breath she’d been holding when Queen Andora stepped back. Her face was grim, and her eyes held a sharp intelligence that Sally hadn’t seenbefore.
“Take her to the healers’ chambers. The luminous are waiting for you there.” The Queen turned without another word and marched back down thecorridor.
A small woman stepped forward and bowed slightly. “My ladies and sirs, if you will followme.”
They made their way down the corridor to a set of stairs which took them up to the second floor. When they stepped off the staircase, Sally was struck by how much un-castle-like the structure appeared once you got deeper inside the palace. Now, it simply looked like a home with a really nice banister and fancycarpet.
They turned right, following the small woman with the quick feet. After mentally singing down to eighty bottles of sprite on the wall, they finally stopped at a large, arched door.Okay, so this looks a bit more castle-like.
The woman knocked three times, and the door opened. When they entered, Sally felt warmth flow through her, but it didn’t stay. It moved from her front and out her back, as if she’d passed through warm water and arrived cold on the other side. Sheshivered.
“You okay?” Costin whispered against herear.
She nodded but rubbed her arms, attempting to get rid of thechill.
“Hello, Sally.” A woman with brown hair flowing down her back and over her shoulders stepped forward. She had keen eyes and a pleasant smile. She wore a dress with a scoop neck, long flowing sleeves, and a thin silver corded belt around her small waist. “My name is Diedre. I am the head of my clan, the luminoussprites.”
