“The Leviathans are already here, but the rest will come with the announcement…”
King.
Stormfall nips my shoulder hard, following my thoughts. He’s willing me, just as his Ancient has done so many times, not to go down that road. My heart skips a beat as my blood boils under my skin. I nearly drop the mug in my hands at the realization, my eyes going wide as I sit up.
Cal and Alanna watch me cautiously, both unsure of what has come over me. I turn back to Stormfall on the bed and glare at him in anger, sending a demand to the Bird of Ash in my mind.
Bring him, Storm.
I’m furious, my body shaking as I step out of bed. Stormfall caws in
denial behind me as I turn again to the Bird of Ash and stare into his yellow beady eyes.
He needs to come here. Now.
Stormfall takes one final look at me and caws loud, pushing off the bed and swiftly flying out the room. I run to my balcony hot on his heels and ignore the bewildered faces from Cal and Alanna.
“Bring him, Storm!” I yell to his back, “you can’t hide from this.Hecannot hide from this! Hewillmeet with me!”
I hurriedly place my mug on the balcony ledge and watch as Stormfall flies into the darkness of the Bell Grove.
“I’ll find you!”I scream at the bird, “I’ll find you both!”
I run back inside my room as Cal and Alanna look at me with worry. I shuffle to my armoire and hastily grab my undergarments, pulling down the straps of my dress as Cal swiftly turns around to avoid seeing me bare. I step out of my dress and pull up new lace bottoms, then jump into my riding pants and a clean shirt before pulling on my boots as I strap them and my daggers on with deathly precision.
“Stop this, Alexis,” Alanna grabs my arm, pulling me towards her, “whatever this is. Let it be.”
“I will kill him,” I fume, pulling my arm out of her grip, “I willfuckingkill him.”
“Who?” Alanna asks wildly, “Stormfall?”
I turn my hard gaze to her cool grey ones and reply menacingly, “Hirovale.”
Alanna looks at me with wide eyes and then turns to Cal for help. I move swiftly to my door and then bolt down the hall, rushing to the stairway as I take it down to the first floor. I pass the Great Oak and stop in front of several soldiers who are standing at the entry of the Grand Receiving Room, the three of them blocking the large double doors that lead outside.
“My name is Alexis Deveren,” I state with hard determination, “I am and have been a resident here for the past ten years. I wish to take a walk to the Bell Grove.”
“Lady,” a Discerni soldier looks at me with cool eyes, “we are on lockdown. The full of the castle and city is.”
“I don’t give a damn,” I reply heatedly, taking another step forward as the men tighten their hands on their swords.
“Write to Prince Desmond,” I tell them impatiently, “tell him of my request. He will allow me through.”
One soldier looks at me curiously, nodding just slightly to the rest of the men, “she visited His Grace with the Prince that night. She is acquainted with the family.”
Acquainted with them?
I laugh out loud.
Ancients,I know the whole fucking family!
“Write to him,” I demand again.
“Alexis!” Desmond’s voice booms from beyond the Great Oak.
I turn around in anger, “tell these jesters that I’m allowed to take a walk to the Bell Grove, Desmond!”
“Not today, you’re not.”
