“Then you know that the princess isn’t allowed anywhere without us today? And that she’s not to leave the palace, and you’re all to remain close no matter what?”
“Yes, sir,” the other two replied, but auburn-hair said, “I’ll be closest. The commander assigned me to her direct care today. The others will stand watch at the doors. You, Callahan, and Xaven are to be off until tomorrow.”
“Why did he assign you?” Kole’s jaw worked.
“I think you know why.”
Kole’s aura soared, and he said in a deadly quiet voice, “Guard her with your life. Understood?”
Auburn-hair cocked his head. “I believe that goes without saying, Kole.”
Kole’s expression immediately smoothed, but the male studied him closer, then glanced behind him toward me.
I ducked behind the dressing screen again, but not before I saw Kole shift in front of auburn-hair, which immediately cut off his view. “The princess still needs to dress.” His tone grew lower, more of a growl than anything. “Stay in the hall until she’s ready to go.”
He shut the door before any of the new warriors or Xaven could comment, but I still caught the surprise lifting Xaven’s eyebrows just as the door slammed in their faces.
I peeked around the screen again.
“Kole,” I said softly, hoping Betsee wouldn’t hear since she’d retreated to the wardrobe to grab me a pair of shoes. I gave him a meaningful look, hoping to communicate that we needed to be careful. He was acting possessive and territorial, and those brief looks I’d seen on his fellow warriors, along with whatever had passed between him and the auburn-haired one, let me know loud and clear that they’d noticed as well.
Kole put his hands on his hips as if only realizing the same. “Shite,” he whispered quietly.
“What was that?” Betsee traipsed toward me.
I smiled brightly. “Oh, um, I just asked if you’d heard how Lillith is?”
Betsee bent down to help me into the shoes that matched the beautiful day-dress she’d picked out for me. It was a magenta shade, soft and comfortable. “I have, Your Highness. Her lady’s attendant told me she was still a bit shook up, but she’s right as rain otherwise.”
“Thank the stars.”
Betsee straightened and nodded toward the door. “Well, you’re ready to go now, so we best be on our way.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I followed Betsee and Kole into the hall to where the three new warriors waited.
“I shall be off for the day and will return tomorrow, Princess Primelle.” Kole bowed formally.
I dipped my head and followed his lead, acting as though his departure was nothing other than a trivial exchange of guarding duties. “Very well, enjoy your rest.”
Kole didn’t comment further and instead disappeared in a blast of mistphasing magic, taking Xaven and Callahan with him. Two of the new warriors told me they would stay at my private wing, guarding the entry points, but the auburn-haired one faced me and clasped his hands behind his back.
“Good morning, Your Highness. My name is Royden Bladeslicer. I’ll be your closely assigned Imperial Warrior today.” Like all of the Imperial Warriors, his aura was fierce and his build strong. I was beginning to think that tall, large frames and a dangling appendage between one’s legs were required of the warriors since I’d yet to meet a short male or a female in their ranks.
I inclined my head. “Thank you, it’s nice to meet you.”
He studied me carefully, and I hoped my expression didn’t relay anything other than polite indifference, the same demeanor I tried to portray when Kole left.
Betsee’s aura heightened as she studied the new warriors, then she waved two of her hands down the hall. “This way, Your Highness. The king and queen are awaiting your arrival.”
As Betsee led me to where my parents and extended family waited, Royden followed.
He walked closely behind me, but as the halls passed, I didn’t give him much further thought, as where I was headed and who I was about to meet took precedence.
With any luck, the introduction to my extended family would be short, and then my parents would be agreeable to let me begin researching the creatures. In all likelihood, that would require allowing me to leave the palace to venture to various libraries, but I was hoping I could convince them that if I returned to the palace each day before nightfall, I would remain safe. But if they weren’t amenable to that, I would have to think of another plan.
Just as that realization hit me, an idea struck me about one way I could learn more about the creatures.
