“The Royal Palace, Werewolf Edition,” Amabel said, her voice laced with malice as she killed the engine. “Make sure you don’t trip on your way in, Serafina. Wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.”
Ignoring her, I unbuckled Josslyn and slipped out of the car, clutching her tightly against me.
“Brummy,” I called, and he jumped out, moving quickly to stay close to me.
The late morning air kissed my face, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. It was clean, crisp, and utterly foreign compared to the stifling atmosphere of the estate I’d left behind.
Two guards stepped forward, their expressions impassive but polite.
“Miss Bell,” one of them said, offering a slight bow. “The king and queen await you. Please, follow us.”
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. The palace’s grandeur pressed down on me as I followed the guards through the ornate halls, their marble floors gleaming underfoot.
What have I gotten myself into?I thought as I looked around with wide eyes.
Brumous whimpered softly, his head pressed against my knee, and I reached down to bury the fingers of my free hand into his ruff. His soft fur was a silent reminder of why I was here. For him. For Josslyn. For the fragile thread of hope I clung to.
“We have to be brave, Brummy,” I murmured, more to myself than him. “Brave for Josslyn.”
As if he understood me, he left out a soft woof.
By the time we reached the throne room, my sore arm was aching, and I shifted Josslyn to my other shoulder. As I tried to shake the pain out of it, the double doors before me swung open on well-oiled hinges. I stepped inside, my breath catching. The room was huge, with high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows that cast kaleidoscopes of color across the floor. At the far end, on a dais of black marble, were the king and queen.
King Julian’s sharp blue eyes narrowed as I approached. His throne was about what I’d expect a werewolf king to sit on, a huge piece of wood carved with all kinds of mythical creatures and ancient runes. Queen Lilah’s throne, however, was a floral wing chair that would have looked more at home by a library fireplace than here.
In her arms rested a baby who looked slightly larger than Josslyn, which I supposed explained a chair instead of a throne. The queen gave me a warm, kind smile, but it did little to ease the knot in my stomach.
Two people flanked her: A very big man and a strong-looking woman with an enormous baby bump.
And the power radiating off all four of them made me swallow hard.
Goddess, I hope I’m doing the right thing. I don’t have anyone else to ask for help!
“Serafina Bell, your majesties,” one of the guards called out, then bowed before leaving.
My legs trembling, I forced myself to bow, too, then moved toward the dais with timid steps. Josslyn stirred in my arms, and I tightened my hold on her despite my throbbing arm and the fever that was making me sweaty and thirsty. I had come this far. I wouldn’t falter now.
Be brave,I reminded myself.Brave for Josslyn.
Bravery, however, abandoned Brumous. The moment we reached the base of the dais, he dropped to his belly with a whimper, and King Julian’s expression shifted from curiosity to something more intense as he stared at the pup. The two guards next to Queen Lilah went on alert, the male stepping forward to half-block my view of her.
“Brumous is harmless, I swear,” I choked out. “He may be a dire wolf, but he’s far from dire.”
“Obviously,” the queen murmured. “He’s adorable. May I pet him?”
“No, darling.” King Julian held out one hand. “Dires are unpredictable and violent, even a pup that looks as sweet as this one.”
“He’s been tortured beyond violence,” I confessed. “He’s as simple as a child.”
“Tortured?” The queen gasped and spun on to stare at the king, then her guards. “Julian? Luke? Gisela?”
“I take it Arabesque had a hand in that,” the king murmured, his eyes spearing me.
I couldn’t answer. The silence shackle held my tongue. I couldn’t even nod, and I fidgeted nervously with Josslyn’s blanket.
“Whether you can’t or you won’t, you don’t need to confirm it,” the king sighed. “Her reputation speaks for her, and I can see his condition. Starved, scarred, and scared. Luke, fetch some water and food for the poor animal.”
The male guard gave a short nod and departed.
