“For how long?” I growled.
“Who was he?” Lancelot moaned. “Who did I just kill for you?”
“He was a man from my village who wanted to marry me,” I said. “I refused him, and he took it badly.”
“Badly?” Audric snarled. “Bertrand said that he was about to rape you.”
“Bertrand fetched you?” I was shocked. “You can speak to animals too?”
“Of course we can speak to animals,” Lance huffed, “weareanimals.”
“You are not animals,” I chided gently as I eased his head into my lap and smoothed the fur back from his eyes. “Fabien was a terrible person, and Bertrand was right; he was about to rape me. Or attempt it, at least. I'm not sure what he had thought to do beyond that, but I can't imagine that it would have been anything redeeming. Do not feel bad about his death. You did it to save me, and I'm grateful to you.” I looked up to the others. “Thank you, all.”
“Thank you for coming back to us, Sylvie,” Blaise whispered. “Youwerecoming back, right?”
“I said I would.”
“You took long enough,” Lance muttered.
“How long has it been since you three ate anything?” I asked again.
“We've been upset.” Blaise looked away before he slowly crumpled onto his face.
“Blaise!”
“Just give me a second and I'll be fine,” he mumbled into the carpet.
“We need some food here!” I shouted to the castle.
A clanging started coming from the kitchens, and as I was settling the men onto the rugs more comfortably (they were far too large for me to move), a platter of roasted meat came floating down the hall.
“Thank you very much,” I said to the invisible waiter. “Some water would be wonderful too, if you would?”
The men rolled their eyes at my courtesy toward people who didn't seem to exist, but a silver pitcher of water and four crystal glasses hurried out to us on a tray. I smiled smugly at them as I helped each of them with the food and water. Politeness is never a bad decision.
“I can feed myself–” Lance started to say.
“Shut up, you fool!” Audric hissed. “If Sylvie wants to fawn over us, let her.” Then he fell dramatically onto his back, a clawed hand pressed to his furry forehead, and moaned.
“You silly, stubborn siblings.” I shook my head at them as I fed each of them in turns. “Why did you stop eating?”
“I wasn't hungry,” Lance huffed.
“I merely forgot.” Audric shrugged.
“I missed you terribly,” Blaise said with simple honesty. “I couldn't think of anything else, except when you'd return to us.”
“Ifyou'd returned to us,” Lance muttered under his breath.
“I missed all of you too.” I sighed. “Come here.”
I reached for them, and they crawled closer so that I was surrounded by starving beasts. I fed them, stroked their fur till it shone, and then we laid down together, right there in the entry hall, and slept.
Chapter Eleven
The brothers were fully recuperated by the next day. We woke happy and warm, in a big puppy pile. The men helped me to my feet and then headed to their bedrooms to change their clothes and freshen up. They hadn't showered since I left either. Before I went up to see to my own morning needs, I made sure to check on Bertrand. He'd played a big part in my rescue, and I wanted to make sure that he knew how grateful I was and that he was comfortable.
The castle had a massive stables, but Bertrand was the only horse in them. He had been brushed down and led into a stall by the invisible castle staff, and was munching contentedly on a trough of grain when I went in. He lifted his head and whinnied when he saw me.
