“Worse than you being tied up and held by some Cutters?” She was referring to when Mekos had been kidnapped.
“I had that under control,” Mekos said.
“I’m glad I don’t have on the Truth Necklace. It would burn through my bones.”
He laughed.
They passed a small house in the woods. “That’s where Kaley met with Garen. She has a whole box of magic things from him.” As they flew, the land rose higher, with mountains surrounding them. Mekos pointed to what looked like dark holes in the sides of the rock. “My great-grandfather...” He didn’t finish, but she knew. He’d told her that the skeleton of the famous hero, Haver, had been found in one of those caves.
Finally, they saw a long building. It seemed to wander through the woodland, peeping out here and there. A pointed roof could be seen, then a pretty balcony. There were tall windows and short ones, all with a stone façade.
“It looks like the pictures in Kaley’s books.”
“She called it ‘a storybook castle.’” Mekos reined Perus to the side and he easily settled on the ground. Before them were double doors that opened and two men came out. They wore big trousers and short jackets that glistened with gold embroidery. They were beautiful men!
“Wonder if you could borrow one of those uniforms,” Aradella murmured suggestively.
“And here I thought you liked wolves.”
She smiled sweetly at him.
The men didn’t speak but led them down an ornate hallway to a big room with guards at the corners. The ceiling was painted with pictures of men and women in a garden. The walls were covered with gold-embossed carvings.
“Beats our old palace,” Aradella said. “Although, we’ve heard that Olina has a room covered in jewels.”
“All of them stolen, I’m sure.” Mekos lifted his head and his nose twitched. “Food.”
Aradella had to hurry to keep up with him as he went to the end of the big room. A guard opened a door to a smaller, cozy room that had a table laden with hot food. There were no guards stationed around the walls.
Mekos didn’t hesitate in picking up a delicate porcelain plate and filling it.
Aradella stood back, looking at a door at the far end. She wasn’t surprised when it opened. In came a man who she instinctively knew was in charge of the place. He had an air of importance and knowledge about him. She sensed that he’d expected them. The question was whether or not he could help them.
“My lady,” the man said and gave her a bow from the waist. “I am Zeon and I am at your service.”
His courtesy was flattering, especially since she had on clothes meant for skulking about at night. Reaver clothes. She did her best to put on her princess pose. “How do you do? I’m Aradella and this is—”
“Son of Tanek,” Mekos said. “As Arit calls me. I believe you’ve met her. Did she drink your beer cellar dry?”
Zeon smiled. “Nearly. She certainly had all my guards doing her bidding.”
When the two men laughed, Aradella felt a wave of pride. Her aunt had disparaged Mekos’s family as being uncouth, lowly swansmen, but Mekos was charming—and he was not intimidated by a man who owned a place like this.
Zeon gestured toward the table. “Please help yourselves. If there is any other food you’d like, let me know.”
“This is quite lovely.” She picked up a plate and began to fill it. “I take it you know why we’re here.”
“Yes,” Zeon said. “I’ve had some significant revelations in the last hours.”
“From Grandmamá?” Mekos asked as he sat down.
“Yes,” Zeon said. “Right now, she is...” He didn’t seem to want to finish his sentence.
“Losing her mind?” Aradella sat across from Mekos.
“Thinking about flying to a mountaintop and never returning?” Mekos asked.
Aradella took a bite, then held out her fork, looking at Mekos. “It’s your family, so maybe they’ve found a waterfall.”
