“I’m a swan, see? I can swim.”
Odessa let out a long exhale and closed her eyes. She had thought dealing with Sonya’s temperamental nature was exhausting, but the boar was turning out to be a walk in the Menagerie compared to the hatchling.
I hope, as a Dragon Charmer, Jax has a handbook on dealing with baby dragons. At this rate, I’m either going to end up pulling out every last one of my feathers or else dying of heart failure.
She opened her eyes to look up at the sky. Boris was due to check in with her soon, and though Bean was still small enough to avoid casual notice if someone were to glance at the lake from a distance, she knew nothing would get past the Menagerie Keeper’s critical eye.
And it’s only going to get harder the bigger he gets.
She tried to push away the thought, to avoid the reality that, eventually, Bean would have to return with Jax to whatever realm or world they came from. She looked over her shoulder,watching Bean paddle contentedly as his head swung from side to side, taking in the view of the whole lake.
But what kind of mother would I be if I put him in danger because of my own selfishness? It’s as Boris says—sometimes sacrifices have to be made.
I just wish it didn’t always end with me being alone.
Boris arrived right on schedule,and Odessa was relieved that Bean had worn himself out with swimming and chasing after dragonflies—an irony that amused her greatly—that he was currently curled in a patch of sunlight in the bed of wild strawberries behind her cottage. She nested lazily in a clump of tall grass beside the lake, doing her best to appear unbothered.
“Odessa.” Boris’s voice was sharper than usual. “You’ve been keeping secrets.”
He knows.
Her heart plummeted to her feet, and she was thankful her swan face was limited in its expressions. Rather than allowing her mental state to give her away, she simply remained silent.
“I’ve learned from a reputable source that the prince has taken it upon himself to invite guests that he thinks might make suitable matches.”
She relaxed, letting out a pent up breath.“Hasn’t that always been his agenda?”
“Suitable matches foryou.” His eyes narrowed in a glare.
Odessa lifted her chin and shook out her feathers, as if somehow doing so would also shake out the rest of her nerves.“It wasn’t my idea. If you have a problem with it, take it up with him.”
Boris’s voice dropped to something low and ominous. “You’re treading dangerous waters, my dear. I don’t have to remind you that I have keys to every cage on the premises, and one insignificant swan is hardly going to be missed.”
“But your assistant would be.”She wasn’t sure where the boldness had come from—perhaps her patience was already spent after dealing with Bean all afternoon, or maybe it was the hope that if Jax were able to figure out her curse so quickly, perhaps someone else might as well—but once the words were out of her mouth, it was as if a dam had broken.“And Dmitri would notice. Have you considered the fact thatyou’rethe one treading dangerous waters? Or are you just afraid that justice will be served, after all, and what you’ve done is going to finally catch up with you?”
Boris’s face was turning an alarming shade of red. Fear flashed behind his eyes for the space of a heartbeat, and Odessa knew that she had hit her mark. His fear quickly turned to anger, though, and despite her former bravado, she shied away from him as he leaned over her.
“You work with lions, Odessa. How tragic it would be if?—”
The sound of a jaunty whistle approaching cut his words short, and Jax appeared, strolling down the path with one hand resting casually on his satchel and the other tossing a smooth rock in the air and catching it again. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, as if he were already prepared to get his hands dirty. “Hello!” He gave Boris a wide, charming smile. “I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Jax.”
Boris’s jaw worked angrily back and forth for a moment before he straightened and turned around, answering with feigned politeness. “I don’t think we have.”
Jax stopped an arm’s length away. He tossed the rock again. “I think this would be the part where you introduce yourself, then.”
Boris crossed his arms. “Boris Rothchild, Keeper of the Menagerie. What are you doing at my lake?”
“Ah, soyou’reBoris! I was hoping we’d meet.” Something bright and dangerous flashed in his eyes so fast that Odessa was almost convinced she had imagined it before they were once again wide and guileless. “Though I think you might have this lake confused with another one—I’m fairly certain it belongs to Prince Dmitri.”
Boris laughed humorlessly. “Ah, yes. I’m simply referring to the fact that it—and all the creatures that inhabit it—” His eyes darted to Odessa, as if ensuring she heard the unspoken threat. “Are under my jurisdiction.”
“Oh, of course.” Jax tossed his rock. “I suppose that makes sense. Say, I don’t suppose you’ve seen Odessa around here anywhere? Prince Dmitri has a list of questions he wants me to ask her so that we can get things squared away with the kitchen and serving staff.”
Boris’s spine stiffened at the mention of her name. “How exactly do you know my daughter?” He played the overprotective father role so well that it nearly made her chest ache with grief at the thought of what should have been.
“The prince introduced us yesterday. I’m helping him with some of the party details, since I’m between jobs at the moment and find myself with an abundance of free time.”
“I see. And what is it you do, exactly?”
