“Noted. We love kind.”
“And gorgeous,” she quips.
“Especially gorgeous.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.
She chuckles before continuing, “Finally, House Ursidae is home to the bear hybrids. They’re probably the kindest House of us all.”
“My friend is Ursine. She’s the best person I’ve ever met,” I say with a smile.
“That’s their reputation. They’re kind, compassionate, and fiercely protective. Like Canis, they also make great partners. They’re also known for their mercy, just as the deer are.”
A sharp breeze whips through the garden, sending rose petals scattering in the wind. I pull my coat tighter, relishing the warmth it provides.
Holly offers me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, it’s chillier than I thought today. Sometimes I wish we had the sunshine of the Court of Sand.”
“I’ve never visited the other courts,” I admit. “Is that something I’ll be able to do in the near future?”
She beams. “I think that would be a great idea. Your father did that when he was first sworn in as High King. Not to mention, you’ll be expected to visit the court of whatever prince you end up marrying. Plus, traveling is easy with portal magic.”
That sparks something in my brain.
“My father didn’t live on the grounds, right?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
She tilts her head at me, brow furrowed. “Right. Why?”
“Well, I heard he was murdered at his private residence. Do you think it’s possible someone portaled there? What’s to stop anyone from portaling here right now and killing me?”
She winces, and I regret asking her. I should have saved this question for Ivan.
“It’s possible but unlikely. There are spells in place to prevent people from doing that. That’s why the castle is so safe. You can’t just portal onto the grounds.”
“Well, how does anyone get here? How will the princes get here?” I counter.
“We have approved portal locations throughout the grounds. That’s how Ivan was able to bring you here. We can also lift the spell in certain areas for small periods of time for special events like your coronation dinner.”
Something in the back of my mind perks up at this. What if my father lifted the spell the night they were murdered? What if they knew their killers?
I table the questions for now.
“And how am I expected to act for this dinner?” I ask, shifting the conversation away from the murders.
“Honestly, Mae, I would just be yourself. It doesn’t matter how you act as long as you’re not rude or unpleasant. Just be yourself.”
I feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. “Good,” I say, exhaling a sigh of relief. “I have been so stressed about what fork to use for what kind of food.”
She tilts her head back and lets out a laugh. “You’re joking. Of all the things, that’s what was stressing you out? Don’t worry about that stuff. Nobody’s going to be paying attention. If anything, the princes will find it more endearing. Well, maybe House Panthera will find it unappealing, but they could use a lesson in humility if you ask me.”
As we walk back to the castle, Holly and I pass a small herd of fawns grazing in the grass. They don’t run when we approach. Instead, they flick their gazes at us before resuming their late-morning snack.
“They can sense your deer lineage,” Holly says. “They feel peaceful around you, so they don’t feel the need to run.”
“Is it like that with every member of the Deer Court?” I ask.
“Yes and no. We’re able to approach deer more easily than members of other courts, but they’re still weary of us. They usually trot off when I come down the path. It’s always been different for people belonging to the royal line, though. They used to approach Etta all the time,” she says reminiscently.
My sister and I had something else in common then. Willa always called me a deer whisperer because of how often they approached me. One fawn looks up, its brown eyes locking onto mine.
“Kings and queens ride powerful animals of their houses into battle in times of war. I’ve never actually seen it in person, but the paintings of it are incredible. Kings and queens riding atop huge bucks, snakes, massive bears, and wolves so big they’re the size of horses.”
