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One of the younger boys shifted and ran around underneath the table. He grabbed some fabric, knocking a bunch of the girl's projects off the table. The girls growled at the boy, which only made the boy move quicker.
Suddenly more of the kids shifted, growling and batting at each other. She smiled, watching them play.
Suddenly, Lexi joined them. She shifted into her wolf and played with the kids. Hanna snorted, setting down her garland.
"Declan normally doesn't let them shift inside the palace."
She looked at Hanna, who waved a hand. "We just won't tell him. But we should probably get them outside."
She took a deep breath as the girls helped get the kids outside. She took a moment to head to her room and grab a few things. She got to her door and was about to open it when a shiver ran down her spine.
She stopped and turned and found Phillip standing a few feet away.
What is he doing here? In this part of the castle? So close to my bedroom?
She swallowed with difficulty, her throat going dry at the sight of him.
"Taryn, funny seeing you here?"
No, it actually isn’t weird that I’m here. I live here. However, it is weird that you’re here.
"Do you need something? Are you looking for Declan?"
"No," he said, walking closer to her. She pressed against the wood of the door and was surprised that the hair on the back of her neck had risen. The skin on her arms prickled, and her stomach churned with acid.
You’re just anxious because he showed up out of nowhere. But it is Phillip. He’s Declan’s best friend. You’ve spoken to him before. He is harmless.
Then why is my body acting like I’m facing a predator?
"Did you get a little lost? The palace is pretty large."
He nodded, and Taryn became aware of the glassiness of his eyes. A smile stretched over his face, and Taryn wondered if he had even heard her.
He stepped closer but then froze when footsteps echoed through the hallway. He stepped back, and Hanna came around the corner. Her eyes flickered from her to Phillip. She hardened her eyes and looked at Phillip.
"Declan is free. He's in his meeting room." Hanna crossed her arms. "On the other side of the palace."
Phillip stepped back and moved without saying anything.
Taryn knew then that something was wrong with Phillip. She didn’t know what it was or why, but she knew something was very, very wrong.
EIGHTEEN
DECLAN
Declan heard the music festival from miles away. He could tell that Taryn and the others could feel the excitement and couldn’t wait to get into the action.
At the festival, the thrill of the crowd was exhilarating and almost overwhelming. The people, the outfits, the scents, the sounds. The smell of popcorn, candy, mead, turkey legs, corn on the cob, and barbeque laced the air, and Declan's stomach rumbled.
You need to eat something. You haven’t been taking care of yourself.
They entered the festival as a group, enforcers to the front and enforcers to the rear, Declan and Taryn and their siblings in the middle.
By the time they had found a comfortable spot to sit and enjoy the show, Declan had made up his mind that he would be stealing Taryn away from their group.
There were things he wanted to show her and things he wanted to see with her, just the two of them.
“As soon as the others are distracted, we’re leaving,” Declan whispered to Taryn.
