Kaelan groaned.
Bria smiled. “About what?”
“The king.” Fiora clapped her tiny hands. “The castle. The people. Everything.”
“You may wish to reconsider your excitement,” Kaelan warned.
Fiora frowned. “Why?”
“The king is not known for kindness toward magical beings.”
Fiora waved a dismissive hand. “That will change once he meets me.”
Kaelan snorted.
Bria pressed her lips together, already knowing what was coming.
“I am irresistible,” Fiora announced.
“You are delusional,” Kaelan corrected.
Fiora shook a tiny finger at him. “Just you wait?—”
Suddenly, her head snapped to one side, and she flitted in place.
Bria immediately noticed the change.
So did Kaelan and the amusement vanished from his face. “What is it?”
Fiora tilted her head, listening and for a moment said nothing. Then she pointed toward the trees. “Did you hear that?”
Kaelan’s gaze sharpened and he listened. At first, there was only the sound of hooves and the wind moving through the trees.
Then… faint at first and distant, not at all a natural part of the forest.
Fiora backed away slowly. “I am going to find out.”
Before either of them could stop her, she shot into the forest.
Kaelan watched the trees for several moments after she vanished. The uneasy feeling in his gut only grew stronger.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
A shrill cry erupted from the forest. “Kaelan!”
Fiora burst from the trees so fast her wings were little more than a blur.
Every Hunter immediately reached for a weapon.
“They are here!” she shouted. “Lots of them.”
Kaelan was already moving. He swung down from the horse and reached for Bria, his hands grabbing at her waist and swinging her off the horse, planting her on her feet beside him.
“Stay close,” Kaelan ordered.
She nodded, planning to do just that.
Nearby, one of the Hunters hurried to help Wynn from her mount.
