“It’s safe to miss them,” she whispers.
“Not yet. But soon.” I kiss the top of her head. Soon, I’ll let it all out, but not until I know I’ve made them proud.
I settle into the chair next to her and take her hand. She’s asleep in minutes, but I stare out the window next to her bed until the moons rise.
Anya is still asleep when the sun wakes me. I tiptoe from her room, letting her rest. As I walk into the larger bedchamber, I rub my neck for a minute, trying to work out the soreness from sleeping in a chair. I stop as soon as I notice that there’s something different about the bed today.
A tunic and trousers are spread neatly across the surface with a pair of sturdy boots on the floor in front of them. I suppose that’s better than trying to use my magic in the same nightgown I’ve been wearing for two days.
It is a thoughtful touch by Caiden; I have to admit. But I know there’s only so long someone can hide their true nature. As I change, I think back to my relationship with Ludis. There were signs even from the beginning, but I ignored them. Made excuses for them. And the longer we were together, the more excuses I made. He’d slip and I’d see pieces of the real him.
I didn’t know it at the time. I was so in love with him that I dismissed it. Who wants to admit the man they love isn’t who they thought they were. By the end, he couldn’t pull me back into the false identity, and I walked away. But it took losing my family to start seeing the cracks.
I won’t let that happen again. I’m not in love with Caiden, so it shouldn’t be an issue. If I pay attention, I should be able to figure out what his intentions are.
The knock on the door is quiet, cautious. I open it, and Caiden is waiting for me with Yasmin as promised.
“We didn’t want to wake anyone,” Caiden explains.
“She’s still asleep,” I reply. “Please, come in.”
“That’s normal.” Yasmin steps into the room. “She’ll be tired for a few more days while her body is healing.”
Caiden is still in the hallway. “Are you ready?”
“Go on, I’ll take good care of her,” Yasmin promises.
I hesitate for a moment, then step into the hallway.
“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Nate says.
“Good morning, Nate. Can you please make sure nobody else goes in there until we return?” I ask.
“Of course,” he says.
Caiden glances at the guard, then begins down the hall. I follow, waiting for the inevitable comment. It doesn’t come. The silence starts to wear at me.
“Are you going to ignore me the whole morning?” I finally ask.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted to discuss,” he says.
“No rude comment or threats about my guard?” I ask.
“Is there something I should be concerned about?” He looks over at me.
“Of course not,” I say.
“That’s the guard who helped find you in the woods that night, isn’t it?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Then I’m glad he’s at your door. At least I know he’s good at his job,” he says.
I shut my mouth and walk in silence for a while, utterly perplexed by the change in Caiden’s behavior. Did someone elsereturn in his place? Maybe Brevan’s sister was really a shape-shifter and it’s her I’m walking out of the estate with.
“There’s a barn we used to practice in when we were younger. It’s away from prying eyes. I’d like to take you there,” he says.
“Alright.” I’m studying him as we walk, trying to get anything I can from the way he takes each step, the swing of his arms, or the way his eyes are constantly scanning around us.
