*
A wet, rough scratch grazed my forehead, followed moments later by something tugging at my hair. My temples throbbed, and the wet scratching sensation returned. I cracked an eye open, the room's light blinding me, and groaned, squeezing my eyes shut against the pain.
Lick—Thump. My cheek felt cool, and I realized I was on the ground. I blinked hard, trying to clear my vision. When it finally did, I was met by a pair of small, round yellow eyes. A cat was tangled in my hair, its back paws hitting the back of my skull while its front paws clutched the strands fanned out around my head. It bit down on a few, pulling again with its tiny paws, then leaned forward and licked my forehead. Glaring at the little creature, I tried to move, but my limbs felt heavy.
Someone above me laughed, and I jerked upright, the small cat hissing and rolling away, taking a few clumps of my hair with it.
“Ow!” I cursed, my hand going to soothe my now sore scalp.
Bubba, who had been sitting at the wooden table in the kitchen's corner, leaned down and righted the small beast. He set it upright on its paws and scratched its head. The creature meowed, looking at me wearily. It ultimately decided I wasn't a threat and rubbed against my legs, blinking innocently and letting out another soft meow.
I had come down to the kitchens to eat breakfast and must have passed out.
My gaze met Bubba's, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he continued to chuckle into his goblet. His thick, grizzled white beard was cut short, and his bald head reflected the light streaming in from the windows. I'd met him for breakfast, and I was grateful I had. I'd rather pass out here than in the dining hall in front ofthem.
“I pass out, and you send your beast after me?” I snapped, tossing my hair over my shoulder. Leaning down, I scooped up the small cat into my arms.
“I have a bad back,” Bubba shrugged. “Besides, I've been neglecting Bertie. I didn't want to interrupt her fun,”
Glowering at him, I returned to my seat across from him, placing the damn cat on the table. Bertie trotted over to my half-eaten bowl of oats and started licking the remaining bits at a fevered pace, turning the mushy oats into a matted mess against her black fur.
Wincing at the echoing pain in my skull, I scowled. I could have sworn I felt annoyance through my bond with Xavier, and it made my scowl deepen further.
After seeing him the other day, I hadn't felt even a stir through our bond. It was as if he had sealed it shut somehow. Another wave of annoyance pulsed through, and I exhaled slowly. I should have known it wouldn’t have lasted.
A part of me, though, was relieved. If I were honest with myself, knowing he was there made me feel less alone. Less empty.
The memory flashed in my mind of him on that cliff, of another memory on that same cliff months later. What were the chances he would take me to that exact spot? It was as if he had known.
A shiver ran down my spine at the thought, and I glanced at the large oval clock on the far wall and stood abruptly.
Bubba raised a brow in question as he wiped Bertie’s face with a damp cloth. The small cat was fighting him, thrashing in his arms as it fought to get back to the bowl of mush. Its little shrieks were almost cute.
I gave them both a small smile. “I was supposed to help move another group into Territan this morning. I'm late.”
“Well, you'd better get moving then. Don’t want to piss off the queen more than you already do.” He swatted at my hands as I reached for our bowls. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll clean up.”
Watching him continue to fight with Bertie, I nodded in his direction before shadowing into the courtyard. I swayed as I appeared and was shocked to find myself in a sea of black and gold. I had appeared twenty feet from where I intended, and men and women turned to me with wide eyes as they noticed me among them.
I straightened, my gaze sharpening, but my head still spun.
My gaze rose to the far corner where Freya waited. She was alone. Where was Lana? Irritation stirred in my chest at us both being late, and I let out a long breath. It was going to be a long day.
Chapter 11
Jaxon
The sun was low on the horizon as I approached Aria’s camp, my horse already cantering off into the woods to graze. I imagined Aria’s stormy expression when she discovered I’d been assigned to watch over her, and it made me consider turning back. She’d be displeased to see me for more reasons than one, and I tried to prepare myself for what I knew was going to be a long night.
“Hey, you! Stop right there!” a guard's voice boomed from my right. He blended in with the trees, his emerald and black uniform a perfect camouflage, but I'd gotten good at spotting them. I flicked my eyes in his direction, but kept walking, ignoring him. “I said stop!” he bellowed again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something hurtling towards me. With a subtle flick of my wrist, the earth rose up, forming a barrier that blocked his weak attack. His arrow, propelled by wind, ricocheted off the rocks and shot back toward him. He yelped, ducking from the oncoming attack, and when he peeked out again, his eyes widened in recognition as hetook me in. His anger vanished, replaced by sheer panic, as he began to stammer.
“P-p-prince Jaxon, I'm-I-I'm—”
I stopped him by holding up my hand. “Where is she?” My voice was sharp, laced with annoyance. It wasn't at him, but at having to do this, to be here. The guard's gaze flickered to the branches above, and I sighed. I should have known. “You are dismissed,” I commanded, and the guard practically sprinted towards the camp, his armor clanking at his sides as he fled.
I turned and looked up into the branches of the trees overhead, my eyes meeting Aria's cold, fiery gaze. She was perched on a branch, bow in hand, an arrow pointed straight at my chest. Flames erupted along the arrow's shaft, and I twisted out of the way just in time to avoid it as it flew past me. I spun around, my glare locking onto her smirking face.
