VAUGHN
Imust be the craziest motherfucker on the planet to fall for the enemy’s daughter. It’s not pure lust or a quick infatuation that I’ll forget about tomorrow either. There’s more to my connection to Sophie. It’s strong, and it’s making me risk my life to find out where it will lead.
I have no illusion that my actions will have grave consequences. I doubt the Red Guard will look kindly at me helping Sophie escape, and without any of my friends around to intercede for me, I’d rather not get caught just yet.
“Do you have any idea who that warlock was who helped us escape the dragon shifters?” Sophie asks.
“No.” We’re in the thicker part of the forest, so I have to push branches out of the way.
“Maybe it was Solomon who sent that guy to help us.”
Not likely with him presently in Ellnesari, but she doesn’t know that.
“I doubt it.”
“Then why would the warlock bring us close to Bloodstone?”
The forest begins to thin out, and I see the shape of the institute’s building, but that’s not what gives me pause. There’ssomeone standing on the path leading to it. “We’re about to find out.”
Sophie grabs my arm, stopping me. “There’s someone there.”
“I know.”
I want to add “don’t worry,” but I can’t really say that with certainty. Mauricio Libell, King Raphael’s familiar, is the one waiting for us. The seven-foot-tall male used to be a bear, and he’s equally massive in his human form. He knows we’re here, so running is pointless. I keep walking until we break through the forest and into full view.
“You took your time,” he says by way of greeting.
My face becomes hot. Shit. Does he know what Sophie and I were doing before coming here?
“I didn’t realize you were waiting for us.”
“Who are you?” Sophie asks.
Mauricio switches his attention to her. “So you do exist.”
Sophie flexes her hand in mine. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We’ve heard rumors that Tatiana had birthed a second child. We didn’t know the gender or if it was even true, but looking at you, there’s no doubt.”
“Whoa. You can tell she’s Tatiana’s daughter by simply looking at her?”
He touches his nose. “And by her scent.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” she grits out. “Who are you?”
“Forgive me my manners. My name is Mauricio Libell. I’m King Raphael’s familiar, and here on his behalf.”
Sophie pulls her hand from mine and backs away. “You’re here to take me prisoner.”
“Sophie, wait,” I say.
“That’s not it at all,” Mauricio replies, unfazed.
“Who do you take me for? My father warned me about the usurper king’s treachery.”
“Whatever Jacques told you isn’t the truth,” he says.
I can’t imagine it’s easy for her to accept that everything she’s been told is a lie, even though she knows her father did some shady stuff. Mauricio works for a male Sophie believed her entire life to be the enemy.
