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Phantom grabbed Flare and spun him around, dragging him over to the walls, telling the panther, “Hand-crafted jars from the fallen ages.”
I suspected Phantom was torturing Flare on purpose for being rude before.
Flare coughed, as if suppressing a laugh, but kept up his feigned interest. “Exquisite,” he said in a funny voice, as if mocking Phantom.
Sea God.We must have looked so obvious. Heat crawled up the back of my neck. I scanned the hallway for the liege but didn’t spot him.
There was nothing here. Maybe Shadow had detected something else and misinterpreted it as a hunter’s scent. Dragons sometimes brought in live animals for feasts. One might have left some droppings on the floor. I was sure there was a reason for what he’d smelled. Shadow was just being overly cautious after the surprise attack yesterday, and I didn’t blame him for being alert and on guard. I’d be the same if I were a shifter, and my instincts picked up strange scents that triggered me.
If a hunter had snuck in, we were well protected with all the dragon guards scattered about the castle. But I tried not to dwell on the idea of a secret assassin come to get me as we headed back for the feast the king had promised us. My mind kept drifting back to the liege and his interest in us and what he was up to. Was the pursuit of us around the castle a warning of something to come?
***
Answers weren’t forthcomingat the feast in our honor. By all appearances, the king seemed in good spirits, telling his infamous stories, laughing and joking, insisting we eat and drink more. All throughout dinner, the liege kept glancing at me, smiling smugly, as if he knew something I didn’t.
After his afternoon rest, Shadow had joined us for the meal, sitting with Flare opposite us at the table. The magic I’d used against the hunters seemed to prevent Shadow and Flare’s collars from glowing or reacting to my close presence.
Shadow leaned across the table, whispering, “If that creep looks at you again, I’ll break his fingers.”
A thrill chased through me at his protectiveness. In his presence, I knew I was always safe, and if anyone threatened me, he would deal with it. The old Snow swooned a little, too. It wasn’t every day a gorgeous hunk had my back. If only we’d known each other when my father had died… Shadow would have fought to the death for my freedom.
Seated beside Shadow, Flare helped himself to another plate from all the platters on offer. Roasted meats, baked vegetables, stuffed pheasants, smoked meats, breads, cheeses, fruits… To complement his next plate, he poured another glass of wine to the brim and then gulped it down.
“No more,” Phantom said, stealing the pitcher away and placing it out of Flare’s reach. “The healers said it would interfere with the lavender lily.”
Flare stretched across the table to snatch it back, almost upending a platter of meat-stuffed pastries. “Well, then you can rub me down with more ointment, can’t you, pup?”
Flare blew Phantom a kiss, and the younger shifter chuckled and shook his head.
I smiled, appreciating how lively Flare had become and wondering how to get Phantom and Shadow to bond.
Shadow bounced his knee beneath the table.
“Everything all right?” I asked him.
“Just on edge,” he replied, scanning the room.
I wished he would relax. He was making me nervous.
“I don’t know about you,” Flare said, swallowing another goblet. “But I could party all night with this tasty brew!”
That was like his sixth cup, and by the looks of him, he was only getting started. Ever since we’d encountered the liege earlier, my stomach remained on edge, and I couldn’t stomach any wine.
“If I die tonight,” he said, pouring another and filling up my glass, too, “I’ll die a happy man with a full belly, a chest warmed with wine, and a beauty by my side.”
He lifted his glass to toast me, but when I reached out to reciprocate, he laughed and clinked his goblet with Shadow’s instead. With a teasing smile, Flare got up from the table, crossed to our side, and leaned over to lay a kiss on Phantom’s cheek.
Shameless.
Laughing along, the younger panther wiped his face.
“Play your cards right,” Flare said, winking at Phantom as he sat back down, “and you might get lucky tonight.”
Phantom threw his hand out to grab Flare’s. “What do you think, Snow? A handsome couple?”
My eyes soaked them both in. They weren’t exactly a great match. Flare was big and beautiful…had an amazing body but an abrasive personality capable of wearing you down fast. On the other hand, Phantom was smaller and shorter, gave off a golden glow, and had a breathtaking smile and youthful cheer.
“Very handsome,” I said, hiding a flirty smile behind my goblet, my gaze locked on Phantom.
