The large alcove filled with soldiers. My soldiers. The ones I trained with. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, my heart still pounding against its cage.
“Lord Narvene.” One of them approached sharply. I recognized him as the highest ranking of the bunch. “We heard the call. How can we assist?”
Griff spared a brief glance at me, huddled in the corner, still fighting internally with my powers, before focusing all of his spitting rage back on my attacker. Making a quick decision, he released him, sending him sprawling before the feet of the guards. “Take him to the dungeon. I will deal with him later.”
“It is your right as Champion,” the captain reminded him, “to execute traitors on the spot.”
I made an involuntary sound, and Griff’s eyes shot back to me.
“The dungeon,” he repeated.
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers were nothing if not professional. They moved as one, respectfully ignoring me in my corner, my breathing labored, while they took their charge away.
Griff approached me, fury still radiating off of him. “Are you harmed?” His voice was surprisingly gentle.
I had finally gotten my hands to stop glowing, but in a ricochet effect, they were now ice cold and shaking. I tucked them under my armpits, shaking my head at his question, looking at the ground. “Just startled. And—” To my shame, my eyes filled with tears.
He started toward me, but stopped himself. “May I touch you?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, a single tear leaking out.
He put his hands on my shoulders, running them up and down my arms. A comforting warmth flowed in their wake. I was so cold, which I knew was the shock, both from the attack and from the struggle with my powers; my body craved the warmth he gave off. I stepped closer to him, and that was apparently the only sign he needed to wrap me in his arms. I shivered, but this time, not from the cold. One of his hands clasped the back of my head as it nestledagainst his broad chest, the warmth radiating out of him seeping into my bones. My racing heart started to slow, responding both to the protection of his arms and the steady thud of his heartbeat under my cheek.
“My powers wouldn’t respond,” I said softly. “I tried. I felt them bubbling, straining to get out. But I couldn’t do anything about them.”
“You got one out. That’s all that matters.”
I raised my head, a question in my eyes, and he released me, his hands sliding down my arms until he caught my hands in his. My still-trembling, ice-cold hands. He cradled them between us, infusing them with his warmth.
“Your soldiers heard your call.” I had no idea what he meant by that, but he continued, “Not everyone here can be trusted. I’ve tried to weed them out, but apparently, I haven’t gotten all of them.”
“It’s not your fault,” I managed to say, my thoughts whirling.
“I am your protector. It isliterallymy fault.” He sighed and gave me a searching look. “Let’s get you out of here.”
His hand came to my lower back again, a comforting presence as he escorted me back to my rooms without incident. He followed me through the door, shutting it behind him. I looked up at him in surprise. He stood with his back against the door, physically blocking out the rest of the world.
“Princess, you should know that there are…” He paused, searching for the right word. “Factionsthat seem discontent with the current status quo.”
I sat heavily on the plush couch. “Don’t mince words with me, Griff. Please just tell me honestly.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing in front of me. “Honestly? I don’t know what they want. Are they just pissed at how Zachariah is running the realm? Convinced that since the crown has been hiding for the past fifty years, it’s fair game to try to usurp power? Is there something more nefarious at play? I don’t know and it’sdriving me mad. As your protector, and Serentyn’s protector, these are the answers I need and I have no idea where to look.”
This was the most emotion I’d seen from him. Gone was the composure. Standing before me was a man rattled by his inability to defend against something he couldn’t see. No wonder Griff had passed me off to Kaia the second I got here. He had been terrified something exactly like this would happen.
“Cillian was always a piece of filth, but did he attack you because he’s a bastard and thought he could get away with it, or for some deeper reason? Is he working alone or are there others who will try now that he’s failed?” He looked away from me, and when he met my gaze again, his piercing eyes were filled with determination.
“He caught me off guard.” With some distance from the attack, I was now just pissed at the way I had reacted. I’d known how to handle that and I’d completely fucked it up. “I’ve dealt with men like that before. I made the mistake of thinking he’d back off with a sneer. I should have known better.”
“Youshouldn’thave to know better,” Griff growled. “It is unacceptable for you to be attacked in your own home. It willneverhappen again.” He knelt in front of me, clasping my hands in his. The warmth of his callused hands caused a tingle to flow through me. Our eyes met, and I was startled at the ferocity that existed there.
“I will protect you by any means necessary, Princess.”
I heard the vow in his voice, and closing my eyes briefly, accepted it.
After a sleepless nightspent tossing and turning, going over and over in my mind what I could have done differently, I once again spent the early morning in the kitchens, taking solace in the cheery fire crackling in the massive hearth next to me. The smell of fresh bread permeated the air.
