Chapter 21
“It’s been over an hour.” Thane stands with his back against the wall and his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He gives his head a shake, staring out the nearest window. “If we wait any longer, it’ll be too late to leave, and we’ll waste hours of the journey.”
He always seems annoyed, but I think he’s even more so now because Sheera took his weapons and vest as a precaution. She even found the dagger strapped to the inside of his boot and another tucked into a leather band under the sleeve of his shirt. He won’t get them back until it’s time for us to depart Bernwood altogether.
“You can go on if you want, but I’m not going anywhere near The Shallows until I see King Draedor,” Rynthea says.
“How does a king oweyouanyway?” Algar asks. He’s lying on a divan with a sleeping Zephra on his belly. I can’t help but think about how a servant is going to have a really hard time getting the stench out of that upholstery.
“His son nearly drowned, and I was there when it happened.” Rynthea leans back in her chair. “I saved him.”
“Really?” My brows arch. “How old were you?”
“I was in my fourteenth year. The prince was in his eleventh.”
“Wow.”
“The tide came out of nowhere and was stronger than anyone expected. Apparently, Prince Kelrean had snuck out of Bernwood to have himself a little fun at the nearest shore with a few friends.”
“And if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have my heir.” A booming voice travels through the room.
I turn my head to find a man standing near the double doors.
Well, he isn’t exactly all man.
He has the mane of a lion, fur on his hands, claws protruding from his thick fingertips, and skin of a mortal—bronze-like skin, as if he spends the majority of his days basking in the sun. His eyes, however, are just as fierce as a lion’s. Equally as tall as Rynthea, he wears an ivory suit embellished in gold, and a purple tie with the lettersBW. An emblem is pinned to his suit, the same lion shape on the flags I saw outside. With a warm, sharp-toothed smile, he approaches Rynthea and releases an exhilarated sigh.
“King Draedor.” She drops to one knee, bowing her head.
“Oh, don’t you dare.” He chuckles. “Rise and let me look at you!”
Rynthea hurries to her feet as an elegant woman breezes into the room in an ivory silk gown with a gold crown atop her head. Her thick hair is pulled back in an elegantly coiffed puff with purple jewels pinned to one side. Her eyes are a sparkling brown, her lips painted the color of black cherries, and her skin a lovely shade of brown with copper undertones. She is utterly breathtaking.
“Rynthea, you’re here!” the woman chimes as she aligns herself with the king. “I think this may be the best fete yet, darling. All of our favorite people have come.”
“Indeed,” King Draedor replies.
“Queen Jenia.” Rynthea bows her head, but Draedor is still insisting she stand up straight so he can study her. He seems fascinated by her. I can’t blame him. Minotaurs are beautiful, intellectual creatures.
“To what do we owe this pleasure?” Queen Jenia asks, clasping her nimble fingers together. The jewelry on her wrists tinkles, pearls entwined in gold bands. The sight of those pearls sends a pang of guilt through me that lands right in the pit of my stomach.
Knowing I’ll never see the necklace my mother gave me hurts all over again. Not only that, but I can no longer tell how Analla is. Is she still hanging on? Is she weaker? Has the necklace grown hotter because Seferin is physically hurting her?
If it were with me and still warm, I’d assume she’s still alive. But I suppose I should consider it a good thing that it’s out of my possession. It’d cause me to lose my mind. If it were with me now and decided to return to regular temperature, I’d know I’ve lost her. I’m not sure I can fathom that while being so far away from home.
“I apologize for the inconvenience,” says Rynthea, her voice cutting through my thoughts. “I understand the Autumnal Beast Fete begins tonight, but this couldn’t wait. We’re traveling to the Temple of Elphar, and I need your guidance on getting through The Shallows to reach it.”
King Draedor’s face becomes as hard as stone as he glares at Rynthea. “I told you and Kelrean the story about The Shallows out of sheer boredom and for entertainment purposes, Rynthea. You’d be mad to travel there, especially now that The Shallows has drifted farther away from the mainland.”
“I know, but you survived it, and wereallymust get there.”
“What for?” King Draedor asks incredulously, looking from her to us, the other supposed lunatics in the room.
“She needs one of the prosperity stones.” Rynthea gestures to me before pointing to Thane. “And he’s traveling with her as her protector. Algar there…well, he and I are after the same thing. We want some of the treasure in Elphar’s temple so we can better our lives. As a group, I believe we can make it.”
“You’llloseyour lives by going there. You should reconsider.” King Draedor raises an eyebrow, glowering at each of us. “You’re all children who clearly think you’re invincible. You don’t understand the true dangers of The Shallows.”
“We understand enough.” Thane’s voice has a hard edge to it as he steps forward. He acts like he’s speaking to a commoner and not aking.
