Page 77

“Phoebe,” I said in greeting. “You said you would meet us in Starguard.”

She bowed her head and then did the same to Amethyst, the afternoon sun catching on the onyx stone affixed in the center of her lotus flower circlet.

“Your father requested Simeon stay in Embercrest for a bit longer.” She smiled and shrugged. “So I continued to Starguard alone. A few days ago, I decided it would be better to join back with you here rather than wait until you were in the larger city.”

She dug through the crossbody satchel that sat against her left hip. When she held her hand out to Amethyst, the sunlight reflected off pale silver chains even thinner and more delicate than the Tousir bracelet I’d purchased for her in Wolfrest. In the center sat a pear-shaped lapis pendant. Amethyst took it without a word, her brows furrowed in clear confusion. The bit of vanilla swirling around her disappeared in an instant.

“The enchantment is on the pendant itself,” Phoebe said with another smile, “so you can change the chain to best suit your needs. I left it long enough to be a necklace for right now, though I know several of those in the court prefer to wear them as anklets as they’re a bit more discreet.”

“It’s for muting your scent,” I explained when Amethyst continued to be confused. I should have mentioned the pendant Phoebe had said she would craft, but after learning the truth of her involvement on the pass, it had become irrelevant. There would be no reason to hide her scent behind an enchantment after tomorrow. The thought had a growl rising that I barely managed to suppress. My voice was hoarse with it. “It offers you a measure of privacy when we’re in the company of other alphas and omegas.”

Phoebe’s smile grew less tired. “And keeps them from doing something that would have you at their throats out of protective instinct.”

Amethyst stiffened. Before I could do anything to assuage her misgivings over the reminder that alphas tended to be dictatorial, Arden and Monique came up behind us along with Vincent and the women. The rest of the convoy was not far behind.

“Let us get arranged at the inn and allow the horses the evening to truly rest,” I said instead, nodding at Arden’s approach. Vincent flanked my left side while Amaria took up beside Amethyst, circling her wrist as we crossed into the small town. “I hope to leave by sunrise so that we may be in the city before midmorning.”

Those walking the streets glanced up as we passed, their gazes full of curiosity as they took in Phoebe’s circlet marking her a royal mage. The curiosity quickly burned to deference when they saw me just behind her. They sunk into hasty bows and curtsies even as they smiled and waved. Then they took in Amethyst and the lead rope connecting our horses, and their reverence shifted into true excitement.

Knowledge of my participation in the Grand Rite hadn’t been a secret. Many of the people in the kingdom had expressed anticipation over the news of my intention to join when it had become public shortly after the final harvest several months ago. It had been over a century since any in the royal family had participated, even longer since one had selected an omega. The growing crowd around the main road through the town took in Amethyst in open interest. A few paled, the same as Phillip and some of the others when I’d first arrived on the Passage’s beach with her in my arms, but most were warm and friendly.

“Welcome, your highness,” one said. He held a small box full of horseshoes in his arms, and his dark brown coils were pulled away from his face with a thick piece of leather.

The man beside him wore a leather apron common to blacksmiths and farriers. He pulled his arm free of the first man and waved with a warm smile. “Welcome to Dawncross, my lady!”

Amethyst held herself stiff as a board, quite obviously uncomfortable with the attention, though her unease wasn’t visible in the carefully neutral expression on her face. I reached across and circled her wrist, trying to reassure her without completely flouting the conventions expected of me now that we were within a town of more than a few hundred people tucked up against the towering Staslid Mountains.

More people approached, lining the street in what was sure to be a small taste of what our arrival in Starguard would be. I tightened my hold on Amethyst as she grew more and more tense. I wanted to say something to make her feel a bit more comfortable, but I didn’t dare risk any of the people surrounding us hearing. Instead, I offered soft smiles and calm acknowledgment of those offering their welcome.

The gathering slowly dispersed as we arrived at the inn, their excited murmurs trailing behind them. I dismounted from Torin and immediately aided Amethyst in her own dismount, holding her waist when she was unsteady on her feet. Now that fewer people were watching, her unease was plain to see on her face, too.

“Sorry,” I murmured.

“I meant to tell you,” Phoebe said as she handed off her horse to one of the stablehands. “I checked with the Votarists in Starguard before traveling here yesterday. Your sister is well in Whiterock, and they have a message from her at the temple. Senona’s prepared a few options for maintaining open contact, but they did not divulge what those might be.”

Amethyst’s entire body came alert, the unease melting into a keen focus. Before she could say anything, though, Arden approached with Monique tucked into his side. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.

“Why don’t you go with Amethyst and her ladies and get something to eat while the prince and I handle the horses and materials?”

I raised an eyebrow in question but didn’t outright object. Amaria looped her arm with Amethyst’s as I let my own to drop from around her. Despite everything, Amethyst smiled as Monique joined them and disappeared inside the inn. Arden wasted no time once the women were inside, pulling the saddlebags from his own horse and then Monique’s. Vincent quietly untacked his horse as one of the inn’s stablehands ran to aid us.

“We are planning on leaving as near to sunrise as possible, right?” Arden asked in a low murmur. When I nodded, he released a pent up breath. “Good. I hope to complete validation by the end of this week. Monique’s heat is close, and I’d rather be able to get her through it properly as it will be her first.”

There was that jealousy, even sharper than before. I forced my voice to remain level.

“Very well. Whatever you need from me is yours, as you know. I can have James help coordinate your celebration while she’s in heat if you’d like.”

Arden’s smile was small as he nodded. “That would be very helpful. I’ll speak with Phillip as well once we’re in Starguard tomorrow and we can better arrange your guard within the city.”

Reuben approached, a satchel against his hip. “I’m going to refill my supplies.” He glanced at Phoebe as she unobtrusively moved to stand just behind my shoulder, the customary place for a royal mage in active service. “Would you like to have her spell evaluated here instead?”

“No, I’d rather let her rest tonight,” I said.

Phoebe carefully palmed my elbow. “There is something wrong with her translation enchantment?”

Reuben nodded. “It’s causing her pain. I’ve been managing it well enough, but it will need to be evaluated for if it can be adjusted.”

“Any adjustment will likely be as painful as when it was initially placed.” Phoebe’s worry was evident. I couldn’t help my own grimace. It was well known that much mage magic was painful, and the translation spells were particularly intense. “I agree with your choice to let her rest and address it tomorrow or the next day instead once she’s had a chance to reconnect with her sister.”