I preferred white roses, not red, but I took the rose from Chastity’s outstretched hand besides. Chastity gave another white-toothed grin, and I said, “I suppose an alliance is favorable. Thank you for the gift.”
The scent coming from the rosewasrather delightful. I leaned down to take in the scent, until a bold voice cried out, “My lady, don’t smell it!”
The rose was knocked out of my hand by an armored glove. I gasped, and looked up. A sandy-haired griffin guard stood above me, his hand on his sword. He towered over me with a scowl, looking down upon Chastity.
I gaped. “What?”
“That rose has been poisoned,” the guard spat. “My shifter senses could smell it. She is trying to trick you!”
My mouth dropped open. My magic hadn’t caught the trap. If not for this shifter, I’d be dead. Chastity must’ve placed a hex on the rose. As the hex was meant for me, she was immune to its curse— and I wasn’t wearing any protective amulets or charms to defend myself. I’d nearly walked right into her trap.
Chastity’s kind face had contorted in rage. She jumped to her feet and cried, “I won’t miss this opportunity! When his mate is dead, Ethan willneeda queen. He has no replacements. Due to our history, he will choose me!”
“You bitch,” I seethed. The guard moved to arrest her, but before he could, Chastity blasted a spell out of her palm. The guard went flying backward several feet.
He hit the ground, and Chastity fished in her dress. She withdrew a dagger, one that glinted in the sunlight. Her teeth were clenched as her grip tightened on the hilt, and she turned on me.
“If I can’t have Ethan, no one can!” Chastity raged. “Ideserveto be queen!”
I went to summon a battle orb, but my magic didn’t manifest quick enough. Chastity raised the knife to stab me, and plunged it downward. I raised my hands to grab her arms, but I was already too late. The tip of the knife caught my dress, making a cut in the breast.
I was sure then that I’d be dead, but the guard from earlier came flying in from out of nowhere. He tackled Chastity to the ground and wrenched the knife out of her hand, tossing it to the side. Chastity wrestled with the shifter, but with his massive strength, she wasn’t able to pry him off.
There was the sound of multiple footsteps approaching, and armor clinking. I whipped around in my seat, still stunned. Ethan had arrived, flanked by a group of soldiers. He must’ve been somewhere nearby, and felt my panic through our bond.
He was dressed nobly, in a velvet doublet and navy cape. The cape reminded me of his Phantom days. A sickening feeling ofdeja vupressed in around me.
Ethan’s visage tightened in rage. As he approached, Ethan had witnessed the entire thing.
“Arrest her immediately,” he barked at the soldiers. The guards hurried forward, and placed Chastity in chains. Her blonde hair fell madly across her frantic eyes as the guards wrenched her to her feet.
My chest heaved. The first attempt to assassinate me had already been carried out, and the crown wasn’t even on my head yet. I had been expecting this— yet not so soon.
Ethan bent down. He picked the red rose off the ground. His nose wrinkled as he noticed the poison, and with his magic, he ruined the flower, causing it to turn black. He tossed it to the ground and crushed it under his boot before he rounded on Chastity.
“This is unacceptable,” he shouted. “Howdareyou try such a bold act, in an attempt to gain power. I promised to give you what your family wished for, if only you worked with us.”
“It wasn’t enough,” Chastity spat. “Do you think I wish to be aladyfor a bastard queen? It is I who should be on the throne!”
“You should’ve taken the no I gave you long ago as my answer,” Ethan snapped. “Chastity, you have a choice. For your attempt on the life of my mate, you shall be beheaded, or hanged. Which do you prefer?”
“You will not kill me,” Chasity seethed. “You don’t have the nerve.”
“Then I will choose for you. Take her to the cells underneath the palace. Her sentence will be carried out in the morning.”
Chastity’s face paled as she realized Ethan was deadly serious. She screamed and kicked as she was dragged off, but it didn’t make a difference.
The guards carried her away, and Ethan turned to the man who had saved me. “You, sir. I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. Your name, and your station.”
“I am Tymon Towman, your grace,” the guard said with a bow. “I am a griffin guard, one that has been tasked with defending the gardens.”
“From now on you shall be my mate’s personal guard, and be given a raise,” Ethan told him. “Your quick actions saved her life today.”
“Thank you for the honor,” Towman said. “I’ll consider it my sworn duty, to defend the life of the queen.”
I was still panting. Ethan glanced at me and said, “Towman, would you please escort my mate and I back to the guest quarters of the palace?”
“Of course. It is my pleasure.” Towman strode forward. His hand was on the sword at his side, as if thinking another assassin was going to spring out behind the next corner. The guards that hadn’t arrested Chastity flanked behind us, to provide extra security.
