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Lachlan bristled. “Your future queen, Captain.”
Johesha’s eyebrows rose.
“What?” Trevis said.
Lachlan glanced over his shoulder, then back at Johesha. “She’s gone to the woods. I’ll have to track her, but I’m going to find her. You can either accompany me, or not–”
A clatter rose beyond the stables, and Lachlan’s guards went for their swords. They swung around, and the soldiers at his back pressed in closer. Lachlan had gotten used to being able to function in the anonymity of being Ollie and was suddenly wishing for it once again. The voices talking, loud for that time of night, were… familiar.
Lachlan walked from the stables surrounded by his guard to find the Fareviews climbing from a wagon. Johesha, Jude, and Brendsen stepped between Lachlan and the family. Scarlett started across the courtyard at a brisk pace, and Lachlan could see she was pale. “Tarley?” She took in the scene and stopped, looking through the three men.
Obviously, Tarley hadn’t gone home, which had been the best-case scenario. Lachlan’s hope that was where she’d gone was dashed, and it was too clear in his voice when he admitted, “She’s not here.”
Brinna grasped onto the wagon. “The woods.” Her eyes were slightly glazed and wholly terrified.
“What is it?” Lachlan asked.
Tarley’s mother shook her head and whirled on Tomas behind her. “She doesn’t have her ribbon.” She grabbed hold of her husband’s jacket, and his arms wrapped around her. Tomas bent forward and whispered something Lachlan couldn’t hear, but what he did see was a husband offering comfort.
Jessamine, followed by Brinna, Auri, and Mattias appeared around their parents. Lachlan noticed each of their ribbon’s—all but Auri. He wondered about what they meant.
“What about the ribbon, Mother?” Brinna asked, inadvertently grasping hers with the opposite hand. “What does it matter?”
Auri looked down at her own wrist, naked of the red bow. “They’re spelled.” Auri looked at her mother. “A protection spell.”
The siblings looked surprised. “What?”
Scarlett straightened her spine as if reinforcing her body for what needed to be done. “Now’s not the time. We need to find her. I felt uneasy, but now I feel danger.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “Brinna, the dream. What did you see? Mattias, listen.”
“I don’t need that. I know where she’d go if she’s gone to the woods. She doesn’t deviate from her spot, so I can always find her.”
Lachlan couldn’t make heads or tails of what was happening between the family, about spelled ribbons, but danger was enough of a warning to speak to the anxiety already swirling through his body, though he recognized Mattias’s surety. “The one near the river, where she found me–” was all he seemed to be able to say, his thoughts racing through the woods after her.
“Yes,” Mattias said.
Lachlan rushed back into the stable. “We’re wasting time–”
Trevis jumped to get him a horse.
“Captain.” Lachlan turned to his guardsmen. Johesha drew his gaze away from the family and focused on Lachlan. “Prepare your men. We’re going after her.” He turned to Trevis. “A horse for Mattias.”
Trevis nodded and disappeared into stables. Mattias followed to help, as did Jude and Brendsen.
“And me,” Jessamine volunteered, stepping forward.
“No–” Scarlett grabbed hold of her oldest daughter’s arm. “Let Mattias. The rest of us stay together.”
“I can–” Auri started.
“No. No ribbon,” Scarlett said, refusing any opposition.
“Mother, you’re needed here. In case she comes back. And I have my ribbon,” Jessamine held up her hand. “If she’s hurt? She’ll need one of us, and you aren’t thinking clearly.” Jessamine hurried to the wagon. When she returned, she had a small leather satchel over her shoulder.
The sensation occurred again, that Lachlan hadn’t really stopped to notice Jessamine, as if he could see her, but his eyes would slide past her. She looked so much like her mother except for her dark hair and dark eyes. The sensation of seeing her was strange, and gave Lachlan the feeling he needed to shake his head to clear the cobwebs away.
“We split up,” Jessamine demanded.
“Take weapons,” Brinna said, the bouncy bubbly woman from earlier only a shadow now. She looked frightened.
