Nox lifts into the air, and I’m just as unprepared for it as I was the first time. I'm knocked back against Rauk, but this time something is different. He locks a heavy arm around my waist, shocking me. I can’t move, but as soon as we level out, I push his hand away. “I can keep my seat just fine,” I call out over the wind.
It doesn’t take long for the castle walls to come into view. We fly over the walls and into the city. The guards on the walls are used to Redara and I coming and going, and I’m sure Rysden gave them the heads up as soon as Rauk came. When we finally land in front of the castle, I’m totally ready to be done with today. Rauk dismounts first. Then it’s my turn. I force myself to move. I basically just slide off his back and hope my feet catch me. They do but immediately buckle beneath me. Rauk steadies me. “You really need to work on that too.”
“I’ll get right on that.” The world seems to spin a little; but I keep pushing forward, hoping that a hot bath and maybe a nap is in my future. Oh, and maybe some food. I make my way over to Redara and pat her side.Can you rest and recover?
Pretty sure you need the rest more than I do,she says in return.
I can’t help my smile as I walk towards the front door. I open the door and step inside and smell the scent of something heavenly cooking. My stomach growls in response, and I want to walk into the kitchen and see what Hector is making. But I need to check on Auri first.
“Harper! You’re back! I swear to the moons if you—” I turn towards Farrah, and she stops talking instantly. Her eyes widen in shock. She looks to the side, and I realize Rauk is standing next to me. I glance over at him too and take him in the way Farrah is right now. There’s literally dried blood all over his chest and arms. I glance down at my torn and bloody clothes and get why she’s looking at us like that. “What happened?” she demands.
“Guivres,” I tell her in response.
“Don’t insult my intelligence. Obviously, it was guivres! Harper, where did you go? I got up early, and you were already gone. And don’t tell me it was the Jaguar Kingdom.”
I take a shallow breath. “Okay. It wasn’t the Jaguar Kingdom.”
Farrah’s eyes narrow on me. “Did you go to the Jaguar Kingdom again?”
“Yes.”
She closes her eyes, like she’s trying to find her calm. The door opens behind us, and I watch as Rysden and Lox step inside, followed by Jamik. “Aw, it’s a welcoming party,” Lox starts, but his smile slips when he sees me. “Whoa, Harpie, you okay?” I feel a presence at my back, but I don’t turn around.
“Where were you?” Rysden grounds out, and I realize he’s talking to me.
“She went to the Jaguar Kingdom. Again,” Farrah says, exasperated.
“It’s fine. Nothing happened,” I interject.
“Nothing happened? Have you looked at yourselves?” Farrah questions.
My head is hurting more now, and I really want to just go lie down. I need to check on Auri too. “Is Auri up in the room?”
“You are not leaving until we talk about this, Harper,” Farrah says.
I turn towards her. “I don’t know why you’re so upset.”
Farrah throws her hands up. “I’m mad because you keep doing this.”
I frown. “No, I don’t.”
Farrah drops her hands to her hips. “Yes, you do. You think your life doesn’t matter as much as everybody else’s. That’s why you do stuff like this.”
“Like what?” I challenge.
She meets my eyes. “Take on a bunch of guivres at one time without asking for help. You did it before when you were here, and you’re doing it now.”
“I didn’t choose to take them on; they came at me. Listen,” I put my hand up. “I really don’t want to do this right now.”
“Maybe when Harper’snotcovered in blood, you could throw your little temper tantrum,” Rauk suggests in a low voice, effectively silencing the room. For all of about three seconds.
Farrah’s eyes widen, and Rysden is no longer over by the door. He stands next to her with his arms crossed. “I think this conversation is over,” he says, looking between the two of us.
“Your mate is the one who started all of this,” Rauk returns, not backing down. “And just why is it thatmymate has to take on all the guivres around here? Are you not capable of protecting your kingdom without her help?”
Rysden goes still, and I know Rauk went too far. I put a hand on his arm, hoping he’ll get the clue to shut up and go upstairs. “Don’t mistake my hospitality for softness,” Rysden says in a deadly calm voice.
I turn to Rauk, but he’s not looking at me. He’s staring down Rysden. I put my hand on his chest and push. He doesn’t move, but he does look down and meet my gaze. “Please.” I try to tell him with my eyes that this isn’t what I want. He must see something, because he backs down. My head is killing me, and I really want to lie down. I turn around to walk over to the stairs, but I must have turned too fast because the room tilts on me and it feels like there’s pressure on my head, pushing me down.
