Amelia shook her head. “No. Rennick promised to show me, but we haven’t had time.”
“There’s my future daughter-in-law,” a larger-than-life voice said, cutting off their conversation.
Echo snapped their back straight with an about face and bowed slightly to a large man with a handsome face and salt and pepper hair. “Your Majesty.”
The man waved a hand dismissively. “Call me Callum. Your Majesty is my son.”
It was Amelia’s turn to straighten and look at Echo for help. The traitor moved back to give Callum room when he approached. She took in his strong, stubble-sprinkled jaw, broad shoulders, and straight nose. Rennick was a spitting image of his father, and it took her slightly off guard.
A large, white snow leopard prowled beside him, and when Amelia’s brain caught up enough to notice, she screamed like a banshee and jumped behind Echo. It wasn’t a normal snow leopard. It was huge, with solid black eyes and the sharpest teeth she’d ever seen. It also possessed a surprisingly fluffy tail.
Charlie walked forward and stared at the leopard like he stood a chance of winning a fight with the beast.
Alarm coated Callum’s face. Then he realized what had frightened Amelia and roared with laughter. Echo’s shoulders shook lightly, and Amelia poked them in the back. “What’s so funny?” she hissed at her guard.
“It’s alright. My girl, Reyna, won’t hurt you,” Callum assured with a hearty laugh. “She’s myfamiliar.”
“Did the big cat tell you to say that?” she mumbled under her breath. The leopard chuffed, earning itself another wary glance from Amelia.
Inching around Echo’s other side, far away from Reyna, she held out her hand to Rennick’s father. “Hello. You will have to excuse me. I’m not used to seeing theinterestinganimals of the fae kingdom.”
Callum’s large hand engulfed hers, and he glanced at the lynx at Amelia’s feet with interest before flicking his gaze to her chest. “He’s not my familiar,” she said. “Rennick said I could keep him, though.”
Callum stared at Charlie a bit longer before releasing Amelia’s hand. “I’ve been waiting to meet you for twelve years, Amelia.”
A male guard ran down the hall, shouting, “Rebel attack on the south wall! Everyone to safe rooms!”
The few staff members in the hall scrambled in different directions, and Callum cursed. “Get her somewhere safe,” he ordered Echo. “Protect your queen.”
Echo grabbed Amelia’s wrist, tugged her toward a nearby door, and shuffled her inside. When Amelia flipped around, she bumped into a large, furry head.
“Oh, my gods!” she shrieked, trying to move backward, only to be met by a wall.
“Shh,” Echo whispered. “Reyna won’t hurt you. The former king can see and hear through her to check on you.” The shouting in the hall died down after a bit, but Echo made nomove to leave. “If something happens and we are separated, stay with Reyna.”
“What do you mean, ‘if we are separated?’” Amelia whisper-yelled. Charlie moved against her, and she had the feeling he was trying to provide comfort. “You can’t leave me here.”
“I would never willingly leave you,” Echo replied vehemently. “But if someone comes through that door or I have to move you to a different location, things might happen.”
Amelia reached out to steady herself on the wall but was met with fabric and air that sent her tumbling to the ground.
Echo blindly reached for her in the dark. “Are you okay?”
Amelia felt a wet furry nose nudge her head. “I’m fine.” She jerked back when Charlie’s warm breath hit her square in the face. “Are we in a big closet?” It must be huge to fit two people, a lynx, and an oversized leopard, but she wouldn’t know because it was pitch black except for a small sliver of light under the door.
“Yes. It’s one of dozens around the palace.”
“Whose clothes are these?”
She heard Echo shift. “An older guard once told me that King Rennick had them added into the walls and filled with different types of women’s coats and blankets when he was a teenager.”
Amelia fingered the fabric above her. “Are they for the staff?”
Her question was met with silence at first, and she wondered if Echo was shaking or nodding their head. “No, but the maids must keep them dust free. No one knows why.”
How would someone pick out a coat in the dark?Bringing in a lantern might be dangerous with this much fabric jammed into one closet. Her mate was so peculiar.
Rennick. Amelia climbed to her feet and reached for Echo’s arm, grabbing a fistful of fluffy tail instead. Yanking her handback, she said, “We have to find Rennick or get a message to him that I’m safe.”
