“Never,” Ranger X said with finality. “If one is here, it didn’t get here by accident. Someone put it in these waters.”
I sat back as Ranger X carefully pulled out a plastic baggie from his cargo pants, presumably to bag the specimen to take for further testing at Ranger HQ.
I glanced up, my stomach churning as he went to collect the specimen. As I did, I did a double take at the Lower Bridge. There was a figure standing there in all black clothes and a hooded cloak. Watching. The man from the castle this morning?
“X—” I said, feeling my breath in my chest. “It’s the cloaked man from court hours.”
Ranger X’s head jerked up to see where I was looking, but when I returned my gaze to the bridge, the figure in black was gone. Had I imagined him? Had he vanished?
“H-he was there. I swear I saw him.” I took several deep breaths. If nothing else, Ranger X could see I was visibly shaken. “I’m not lying.”
“I don’t think you’re lying,” he said carefully. “What did he look like exactly?”
I gave him the details. “I’m telling you, he looked just like the guy who was escorted away from the castle this morning. The one who called me a Cursed Queen. Do you think it’s possible he’s trying to get rid of me? That he’s responsible for this attack?”
“Anything’s possible.” Ranger X’s words felt heavy, leaden, as if this sheer concept was exhausting. “We don’t know whothe man was that came to speak with you this morning. He disappeared before we could follow him, and we didn’t really have a reason to detain him, so I’m afraid I’m at a loss when it comes to questioning him about this. At least until we can uncover more information.”
“Of course.” I paused. “So, krakens?”
Ranger X gave me a faint smile. “The real krakens, the ones that swallow pirate ships, don’t live around here. But similarly to lycanthrope, there are some versions of krakens that have been modified. Lycanthropes, for example, don’t typically crave human kills. Crimson lycanthropes, however, have been genetically—magically—altered to crave the taste of human blood.”
“Ah. That’s why you said they’re usually employed by those with nefarious intentions.”
“Exactly. I’ve never seen this sort of thing before.” Ranger X gestured down toward the bag on the ground. “But it can’t be a full-size kraken. It’s very possible there’s a modified version much smaller than the original that has been magically modified to serve its creator.”
“Do you think it went after me specifically?” I asked. “Or was I just in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
Ranger X eyed me carefully. “While I don’t know the answer for sure, I believe it would be highly coincidental that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Do you think whoever orchestrated the attack was trying to kill me?” I waited while Ranger X studied me with a devastating look. I quickly waved my hand. “Never mind, stupid question.”
“I’m sorry, Alessia,” he said softly.
“Do you think… Since the attack technically failed, seeing as I’m not dead, do you think they might try again?”
“I think it would be wise to have Silas stay at your place while the Rangers and I work to investigate this.”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “That’s what I thought.”
“Let me walk you home,” Ranger X said. “I have another Ranger on the way to collect the specimen for the lab. I’d like a word with Silas anyway.”
As I walked side by side with Ranger X back toward Wisteria Cottage, I felt terrible in so many ways. I ached—inside and out. My lungs burned after starving for oxygen. My skin felt raw where I’d been dragged over rocks. My pride and confidence were in tatters. Someone was trying to kill me.
Maybe it was better for me—and everyone around me—if I packed up shop and called it a day. Let Fen take the crown for good, and just hibernate in The Forest with Liza. But was that really possible? I couldn’t survive in The Forest alone. I couldn’t live without my newfound friends, Silas, Millie. I most certainly couldn’t go back to New York.
I knew in my heart of hearts this was my home. But how could a place that was meant to be home feel so hostile? Like the very core of this place was repelling the core of me?
As we walked, a second Ranger joined us. He quickly took the kraken specimen from Ranger X, then disappeared. We returned home to Wisteria Cottage where Ranger X met Silas outside of the stone wall at the cottage and unloaded the details of the attack in brief, professional language.
I felt like I was a prisoner being passed from one guard to the next. Silas tucked me under his arm and led me inside. He instructed me to wait there while he had a few more words with Ranger X in private.
I was more than happy to go inside. I collapsed the second I reached the kitchen table, gratefully accepting the cup of vaguely floral tea from Millie.
“Life as royalty can be a real drag.” Millie gave me a weak smile. “It’s hard being in charge, eh? Always got a target onyour back. It’s because you’re so pretty and so important and so magical, you know.”
“That’s… sweet,” I said. “But I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”
Millie reached out, patted my hand. “It’s okay to not enjoy being almost killed. I think that’s normal.”
