"Of course, of course," Silvia gushes, her dark eyes widening. “Would you like to rest and get cleaned up? We can talk after."
I nod again. Words still seem to have abandoned me. I’m not sure I remember what words are anymore.Help.
As if summoned, Fox steps forward, his warm hand settling protectively against the small of my back. “Where are our friends?” he demands, speaking to Silvia as if she’s just another soldier and not a queen. "They should have arrived ahead of us,"
Someone who was trained in court politics would probably have said something more tactful, but Fox clearly doesn’t care, and I love him for that. I lean backward into him, letting him physically support me.
To her credit, Silvia appears to take this in stride. "Yes, so I heard," she says, now eyeing Fox with curiosity. "I didn't see them myself, but I believe the servants brought them inside. I’m sure someone can bring you to them?” She glances over at the servant who led us inside, giving him a meaningful look. “Perhaps you could go see them, while my sister rests?"
Sister.I don’t know how I feel about that. My mind hasn't even begun to process that I have a twin, and here she is,claiming our relationship as if we've known each other our whole lives.
I reach out and grasp Fox's forearm reflexively. "I'd prefer to stay together, if that's alright?" I say, finding my voice at last.
Silvia's gaze flicks to Fox, her smile unwavering. "You needn't worry about your guard while you rest. The palace has plenty of protection."
"Fox isn't my guard,” I blurt out.
To emphasize the point, Fox moves his large hand around the curve on my hip. Silvia’s gaze follows the movement of his fingers, and her eyes widen for just a heartbeat before her composure returns.
"Of course," she says with practiced grace. She turns to her servant. "Show my sister and—Fox, was it?” She glances at Fox again, who nods. “Right. Show them to the east guest chambers. The other wolves can give their monthly reports and rejoin their waiting companions."
She turns back to me, and flashes a too familiar grin. "Would you join me for an early dinner in a few hours?"
I nod. "Yes, I'd like that."
She claps her hands together. “Excellent! I can’t wait. I’ll send some clothing up to your room too so you can change. I’m sure we’re the same size.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
She waves me off, as if it’s nothing, still grinning madly. She really does appear to be ecstatic that I’m here.
Fox squeezes my hip, turning me around to leave. I follow, dazedly, but stop just before we walk out the double doors. Something clicks in my brain, and I spin back around words tumbling out of my mouth before I can stop them. "Happy birthday.”
Silvia hasn’t moved an inch from where she was standing, and she grins even wider as our gazes connect. “You too.”
The servant who brought us inside takes Kai and the other wolves to wherever Jett, Connell and Runa are resting, while another servant leads Fox and I to an opulent bedroom.
The room is large and comfortable, constructed from the same glittering white stone as the rest of the palace, with matching white furniture and glittering silver upholstery. A smaller version of the icicle-like chandeliers in the entrance hall hangs from the vaulted ceiling, directly above an enormous four-poster bed.
Fox and I have grown so accustomed to our silent communication that when the servant closes the door behind us, promising to return later to escort us to dinner, we don’t immediately speak to each other.
I give Fox a meaningful look, then walk over to the large bed and turn over my entire traveling bag onto the silver bedspread. I feel a surge of relief when I spot a worn bit of parchment and a quill jumbled amongst the spare clothing and potion ingredients.
Before we left, I grabbed our notes off the three-legged table in the tent. I hadn’t planned to use the notes again, I’d just been worried that someone else might use the tent while we’re gone and discover it. Thank the Gods for paranoia.
I sit on the edge of the bed, and Fox immediately sits beside me, my shoulder brushing his arm just above the elbow. He grabs the pen, and spreads the paper out on his knee to write.
Are you alright?
I scribble, my answer, then cross it out and write another answer beneath.
Yes.
I think so. Surprised.
She knows who you are.
I know. She said she’d been waiting to meet me for years. I’ll have to ask how she knew I existed.
