Echo blocked her again. “Get back.”
“You told me to stay with Reyna.” Amelia pointed to the snow leopard. “If you weren’t here, Reyna would let me see him.”
Echo considered her words and turned to the giant cat sitting quietly in the hall. “If he hurts her, I will use your fur as a rug.”
The man looked at Echo appreciatively. “If you ever move to the Desert Kingdom, you will have a job as my guard.”
“Who are you?” Amelia demanded with more valor than she felt.
Eyes the same color as her own landed on her. “My name is Amos.”
She waited for him to elaborate and when he didn’t, she looked at the warriors barricading each end of the hall. “It’s nice to meet you.”I think.
The guards parted, drawing her attention, and there, at the end of the hall, stood a mountain of a man, covered in blood, looking like Death himself.
Rennick’s chest heaved, and Amelia hadn’t realized how worried she’d been until that moment. A relieved cry tore from her throat, and she ran toward him, jumping into his arms, not caring that the blood covering him smeared all over her dress. He buried his head into the crook of her neck and held her tight, whispering soothing words and assuring her she was okay.
“I worried you were hurt, and Reyna wouldn’t take you a note to let you know I was safe,” she mumbled against his shoulder.
He pulled back to look at her. “I would never leave youunless I knew you were safe. Echo is the best warrior we have, even more so than Finn.”
Amelia looked at Echo, who shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Amos,” Rennick said, tipping his head. “Thank you for finding her.”
Amos stalked toward them, motioning for his guards to leave. “I thought the rebel situation was taken care of in the Mountain Kingdom.”
“I did too,” Rennick replied grimly, tightening his hold on Amelia. “But they never truly go away.”
She dropped her legs and patted his shoulder until he reluctantly let her down. “Why does he know my name?”
Rennick sighed. “We’ll explain everything soon, love.” His attention snagged on Eddy sitting at Amos’s feet. “Where is his coat?”
Amos rolled his eyes, and Amelia bit back a laugh. “I’ll put it on him when we get back to the room,” she promised.
Amos stepped slightly in front of Eddy. “That won’t be necessary. He’ll be going home with me.”
Eddy whined and Amelia bristled. “You can’t steal my fox.”
“He is myfamiliar,” Amos said quietly. “It’s been difficult being away from him for the last ten years, and he isn’t made for the cold.”
What is he talking about?Amelia looked at Rennick, and the expression on his face confirmed Amos’ words. The realization punched her square in the chest.
Rennick took notice and moved in front of her, his voice terrifying. “I will kill you if you don’t let her keep him.”
Eddy looked between the two men, and Amelia lightly popped Rennick’s side. “Stop threatening to kill people. You’ve explainedfamiliarsto me, and I understand how important they are to their owners.” Reyna growled at Amelia’s words, and Charlie growled back. The little lynx was brave. She’d give him that. “Or whatever you are to them,” Amelia amended.
She knew Eddy needed to be with Amos, but she hated it. “Can I visit him?”
Eddy made a barking sound and Amos reached down to pick him up. “As often as you’d like.”
29
Rennick shut his study door behind Amos and Amelia and offered the Desert King a seat in front of the desk. Rennick wanted his mate beside him at all times, especially after today, and dragged another chair to sit next to his own.
The disturbance at the south-west border of Vale, near the Desert Kingdom border, had been a ploy to distract from the other rebels sneaking in from the northern wilderness to attack the palace. Amos and his men were traveling to Vale early for the coronation ceremony and intercepted the faction just outside of the capital’s border by the time Rennick had arrived.
Upon their return to the palace, Rennick and Amos found pure chaos. The Desert King agreed to find Amelia while Rennick eliminated the lingering threat.
