Page 166 of Destiny of a King

According to Kaelan, Tibby could follow almost any scent.

Dravic had wasted no time seeking out Winnie, the creature’s owner, upon returning to Driochmor in the spring.

The woman had been only too pleased to allow Tibby to help the king. But she had warned him of one thing. Tibby could not be hurried.

Dravic had discovered that for himself.

The creature went where his nose took him, stopped when something interested him, and when he grew tired, he simply plopped himself down wherever he happened to be and refused to move.

No command changed his mind. No amount of coaxing worked. Even food had failed once Tibby decided he had walked far enough for the day.

Dravic had never encountered a creature so completely unimpressed by the authority of a king.

Tibby yawned.

“Do not even think about it.”

The little creature lowered himself onto his belly.

Dravic swung down from his stallion. “Nay. We are not done for the day.”

Tibby rested his head on his front paws.

Dravic glared at him.

His stallion gave a snort behind him.

“I need no opinion from you either.”

He paced several steps away, then back again. His patience had been strained long before this journey began. He had spent the winter ruling Scotara while every instinct in him had demanded that he return to Driochmor and search for Adira.

He had attended council meetings. Settled disputes. Listened to petitions. Prepared Scotara for the changes that would come with Driochmor no longer isolated from the rest of the kingdom. He had done everything required of a king.

And every night he had gone to bed alone. Nearly every morning he had awakened reaching for the woman he loved who was not there.

Winter had seemed endless. And damn if he had not seen hide or tail of Fiora once during all that time. He wondered what might have happened to her, since she could not go long without taking great delight in annoying him. And he feared she may have met some harm.

Now spring had finally arrived, and he was wandering through a damned forest arguing with a creature small enough to carry beneath one arm.

Dravic looked down at Tibby. “I have been separated from her long enough.”

Tibby’s tail moved once.

“I love her.”

Another small thump of his tail.

“And she loves me.”

Tibby closed his eyes.

Dravic scowled. “You could at least pretend to care.”

That earned him nothing.

He turned away and looked through the trees.

Where was she?