-35-

[Training I]

SIERRA

"... and that was everything she said before she faded away like a bad dream.” As promised, I recounted everything Madam Elsbeth had told me to the small group in the room, which included the Beta couple and Sebastian.

Gratified to finally have that off my chest and out in the open, I breathed a sigh of relief. Relief for what I told them, not for what Madam Elsbeth's warnings meant. On the off chance that what she said was true, it would only be a matter of time before Uncle Dearest attempted again to have me taken or killed.

"Damn!" Rory remarked with a wide grin, breaking the awkward silence, and bringing me out of my head. "I mean, I know you’re special—after all, you're mated to this lumberjack—"

"Aye, don't forget who this lumberjack is, and what he can do, prick," Sebastian warned with a fierce growl, to which Rory merely brushed off.

"... a princess?" He came over and threw his arm around my shoulders, his Eiffel Tower height dwarfing my small stature