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“The duke is hunting in the woods. He should return beforedusk.”
“Dusk?” The word burst from my mouth, and I cringed at once, lowering my gaze.Stupid. What was I thinking? Except we couldn’t wait until dusk. The transformation would take us before thattime.
With a sniff of the air, his gaze swept from Talin to me. “Why have you brought a human into ourhome?”
“She’s with me,” Talin said, his voice sharp and authoritative. “My personal caretaker. I have been ill, but not gravely so, as others seem to haveinsisted.”
The old man’s laughter left me shifting uncomfortably, his double chins wobbling, but the way his eyes left Talin told me it was all a show. “Please, take a seat. I will arrange for refreshments.” He rushed out of theroom.
“Who was that man?” I whispered, hating his judging expression. Bear shifters like him probably saw humans as a snack, nothingmore.
“Len is one of many advisors to our cousin.” Raze took my hand and guided me to a chair, both of us sitting close together, while Talin remained near the snapping fire, staring into the flames. “He used to work with us, but after a falling out with Leven, who caught him stealing from us, he left. But weeks later we discovered he’s now working for ourcousin.”
“Untrustworthy,” I said. “You could see it in his eyes and how he could never hold yourgaze.”
Razenodded.
Talin faced us. “I was hoping we’d be in and out quick. Maybe we ought to leave before we all change and Lilita makes a show, then massacres everyone in thishouse.”
I wrung my hands in my lap because staying around could get us all killed. But tomorrow was the full moon and we had to find the object to break the curse. I bounced my knees but Raze placed his hand on them to quietthem.
“And the moment you feel yourself transforming into a half-bear, half-human”—I lowered my voice—“we excuse ourselves damnfast.”
Talin raised a brow. “All of us? So we’ll sneak into a room for a kiss, then pray that’s enough to keep us under control?” Talin turned away, his posture curving forward as he gripped the grand cherry-woodmantel.
“Do you have any other ideas?” I sure didn’t plan on his cousin being outhunting.
A young girl scurried into the room carrying a silver platter and set it down on the table near Raze and me. A silver teapot, three cups, and a plate filled with sweets. I would never have guessed this was a shifter bear’s house. Back in Terra, they were painted as barbaric and vicious. And yet, they have tiny drinking cups decorated with blue florets. I guessed this whole elaborate lifestyle thing was a carryover from when Haven had split into seven realms and the first royals had taken over each town, both kings and queens. Most of those original family lines had passed, but the decorum of royalty stillcontinued.
As the girl left the room, Raze reached for the food. I nudged him and shook my head. “What if they poisonedit?”
His brow furrowed, and he pulled his handback.
By the time Len returned, Raze was pacing near the window, while Talin hadn’t shifted around in front of the fireplace. Me, I remained quiet and chewed on my fingernails, unsure what our next move was, and prayed the duke caught whatever he was hunting and returned homefast.
Len faced me but stood next to Talin. “Your Majesty, you said your human is a caretaker of illness,correct?”
Nothing like being talked about as if I weren’t in the room, and despite gritting my teeth, I planted a fake smile on my face as Raze had instructed.Bring no attention to myself. None.Even if I wanted to walk over there and kick him in theshins.
“Yes,” Talin responded. “Is there any way you can send someone to notify the duke I am waiting? I have pressing matters I must attend to at home and will not wait muchlonger.”
“Of course.” Len bowed, his hands clasped to his belly. “I will arrange that at once.” He glanced my way, and my skin crawled. “But may I ask for usage of your human,please?”
“What for?” Raze’s voice boomed from behind me, his footsteps closing in. I shifted in my seat, not loving where this was going one bit. My mission was to smile and act polite. Nothingelse.
“Your Majesty, we have a slight problem, and your human couldn’t have arrived at a more opportune time. Please, my prince. I would never impose, but…” He leaned closer to Talin. “Rek’s mistress is in labor and is having complications. His wife refuses to send help, insisting it is up to the gods to decide their fate. Perhaps your caretaker could just inspect the girl and advise our midwife of theissue.”
Coldness hit my core, and a protest pressed at the forefront of my mind. “Umm, actually, my specialty is normal illnesses. Coughs. Chest colds. Broken bones. That sort of thing. Not childbirth. I’venever—”
Len waved a hand to cut me off. “Nonsense. It all falls under the same medical roof.” He turned to Talin. “Please, I ask for your assistance and I’m sure, it will be considered an honorable boon by your cousin. I will advise him of your graciousness in such asituation.”
“Talin,” I said. “Can I have a quickmoment?”
“Excuse me, please.” He addressed Len, who bowed andretreated.
“I will return soon. Time is of theessence.”
I dragged Talin by the hand to the farthest corner of the room next to a gaudy statue of a man holding three bear cubs and Raze followed us. “Are you insane?” I hissed. “I know nothing about childbirth. Zilch. Never seen one. Never want to. And what do I know about bear births? And he said they’re havingcomplications!”
