Chapter 11 : : : : : A Night in the Tavern

*Alec*

The shadows had lengthened into evening by the time the Whitelark warriors entered the outskirts of Estoria. The shifters, who had started the journey laughing and joking in the wake of their victory, had grown quiet and now trudged wearily towards the warm lights of the village ahead.

I had spent the afternoon guarding my pack from behind, as my father had done before me. It also gave me a clear sightline to the princess as she limped along in front of me, occasionally throwing suspicious glares my way. Even in the simple traveling dress she wore, she was striking. Her strawberry blonde hair shone in the fading light and, though her leg slowed her down, she moved as gracefully as if she was striding through the castle instead of a muddy road.

Rhys, who had rejoined me at the back of the pack as we neared our destination, followed my gaze and commented, “She’s not what I expected.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “How so?”

“I know your spies said that the Alpha King mistre