I collapse onto my bed with a thud. For the first time in a while, I feel in over my head. The palace life was proving harder to navigate than I expected. Not to mention, I had both the king and prince determined to make me sweat three times a day. I miss Althea. What I need is someone to talk about everything with. Someone to process what was going on since I was struggling to stay focused. The threat of failure looms over my head making it difficult to fall asleep. Until then, I hadn't considered what happens if I fail to discover whose behind Ambrose's attempted assassination. If they succeed with a second try, what happens to me? Saving the king isn't just about him, it's my survival too. I had to fight for Althea. It's always been the two of us against the world. I don't want to think what'd happen to her if I wasn't around.I sit up with a frustrated huff. I walk over to my desk, pulling a quill and paper out. I begin to write: Thea, I have a request to ask. I've bee

We slow our horses to a trot as Ambrose leads us into the woods and down into the valley. There is a lake in the center where the land dips. I follow him to the lakeside where he dismounts. "I've never been here," I say. Although, I wasn't one for sightseeing. "Secret spot," he tells me. He walks over and helps me down. I land in front of him, his hands on my waist. Somehow, I'm even more attracted to him now. Maybe it was seeing him shirtless last night. He packs quite the appeal. I clear my throat, breaking the trance. He steps back with a smirk. He retrieves blankets from his saddlebag and lays them out by the water. I sit beside him, soaking in the view. "You're so unaffected by this threat," I say, staring out into the vast, open space ahead. "Is it because you're a shifter? You aren't afraid?" Ambrose shrugs. "We've fought humans in the past and won. Whoever is behind this plot isn't smart enough to send a shifter assassin, which makes me think they don't know the t

I ask my maid to bring my breakfast to my room which is where I spend the day. I study the history of the nobles living in the palace. Most of them are descended from the same old families that have been connected to Ambrose's family for generations. I make notes, putting my thoughts on paper until I'm surrounded by a mess of parchment. I sketch the best rendition of the sigil I can remember, but even my memory is starting to fade, its exact rendition becoming fuzzy. Any one of the noble shifters could be a suspect, and it was obvious they didn't carry this symbol publicly. So how can I tie someone to a cause? By midday, my head is pounding. I lay down, letting exhaustion take over, and when I wake again, it's evening. I almost forgot about my agreement to see Ambrose. I sit up and sigh. I hope Althea was having progress with finding Lucas. I get ready, dressing in a simple gown, and make my way toward the king's study. I'm stopped by shouting from behind one of the doors

I don't know how much time has passed or that I haven't stopped shaking. I've seen death and blood before. H*ll, I'm usually the one causing it. But for some reason, Ambrose's pain was filling my chest with a tightness that was making it hard to breathe. I suddenly feel like the air had left the room and if he dies…I won't survive. I hear Sebastian arrive but I can't look up. I can't even move. What was wrong with me? "Hera?" he says. He rushes forward, lifts my hands, and observes the wound. "He said," I manage slowly. "It was silver." Sebastian nods, coming behind me and lifting me up. "He's going to be okay," he says. "Trust me." I nod absently. The blood on my hands feels like it's starting to sting. My eyes are burning as I look at the limp body lying on the floor. Sebastian gestures to someone outside the room. A form steps forward and they begin talking in low voices, but I can't comprehend anything they're saying. I watch like they're moving in slow motion as a vi

Althea waves with a cheesy grin, her eyebrows raised at me. I rush forward and toss open the door. She steps inside and whistles. "D*mn, Hera, I was over here worrying about you. Needlessly, it seems!" "What are you doing here?" I ask. "And how did you get on my balcony?!" She shrugs, walking inside and taking in the room with wide eyes. She turns to Sebastian. "Sorry to interrupt," she says to him with a smile. He smirks. "And you are?" "My sister," I answer for her. "Althea, this is Prince Sebastian." She looks at me and mouths, 'Prince?'Sebastian chuckles before glancing at me. "I should go, it's getting late," he says. "Right–" I say, nodding. He looks back at Althea, takes her hand and kisses it. "Next time, you are more than welcome to come through the front door." Before we can say another word, he leaves. I turn toward my sister whose fanning herself dramatically."Looking like that is just not fair," she says. I laugh, the shock that she was actu