Kindred Souls Complete Series: Books 1-4

Chapter Five

Somehow, word of theking’s refusal to allow the princess to bond with her dragon got out. The palace was stirred up by the news the next day. It spread to the capital and people were furious already by the time we woke and emerged from our rooms.

“This isn’t good,” Aster muttered.

“Why?” Sky asked.

Whist sighed. “It’ll paint the king into a corner and when he’s desperate, he’s at his most dangerous.”

“But won’t this just prove our words?”

“Not to him. To him, it’ll be the dragons have brought unrest to Faligrey and turn them even more into the enemy. And somehow, he’ll figure out a way to blame you.” Aster squeezed my shoulder. “Remember, stay with them. No going off on your own. Please.”

“I won’t. Now, go. You’re going to be late to your meeting with the ministers.”

He stole a kiss and headed in the opposite direction from Whist, Sky, and I. Saber was staying with Bastian and helping him get settled in while the rest of us went to visit Whist’s mother in the kitchens. Whist needed to restock his pantry after being gone so long, and I was starving.

Everyone stared at us as we made our way through the palace halls, workers and nobles alike, gaping at the first Faligreans to leave the dragon lands alive in probably generations. So much attention made me twitchy, eyes darting around trying to search out the next threat. I noticed Sky and Whist doing the same. They weren’t taking any chances with me disappearing on them again, hovering so close I could barely walk without tripping over one of them.

It frustrated the hell out of me, but I wanted them close too. I understood. With the king’s current state, there was no telling what he would do in retaliation.

The east wing brought us to the back stairs leading to the kitchen where the palace chefs bustled about, plating dishes and stirring pots on the stove, and slicing herbs. The warm scents of fresh bread and seared meat tickled my nose, teasing my stomach and making it roar.

Whist raised a brow at me, but I shrugged.

A familiar woman flew over from the stove and threw her arms around Whist. “You had me worried sick. I heard you made it back yesterday and you’re only coming to see me now after being gone for so long?” She pulled back from him before he could answer and turned to me, pulling me into a hug. “I am so glad they found you, honey. They were all desperate to find you. I knew they would and that they wouldn’t stop until they did. It’s so good to see you again. Hopefully now we’ll have the chance to get to know each other.”

I smiled and hugged her back. “I’d like that.”

She pulled back. “Let me get you all plates. You look like you’ve lost weight since you’ve been gone. All of you.” She kissed Sky’s cheek and bustled off.

Whist’s mother kept up her sweet and concerned chatter for several minutes as she found us seats over in the back corner of the kitchen and brought more food than we could possibly finish. It was nice being fussed over by someone like her. My guys fussed over me, but it was different from a mother. It made me miss mine with a fierce ache, but it also warmed me. I ate way more than necessary under her watchful eyes.

She darted back and forth between us and the main part of the kitchen, barking out instructions to the other chefs. It was fascinating to watch—the sort of dance they performed, no one ever running into each other. They had it down. The chopping and stirring and the pop of the fires created a harmony the chefs moved to. It held a strange beauty I couldn’t look away from.

I groaned and sat back, clutching my stomach, uncomfortably full.

Sky snickered at me. “You have to learn to say no or she’ll keep bringing you food until you think you’re going to explode.”

Whist smiled. “Feeding people is her way of showing her love.”

I shifted in my seat, wishing I could actually explode because anything would feel better than this.

“Are you finished? I have more.”

I held up my hands almost in a panic. “No. No, thank you. We probably need to be going. Though, could we take some back with us for Saber and our... uh... guest?”

“Of course. I’ve already put together a few boxes for you all to snack on and filled some bags with ingredients so Whist can start cooking for you all again.”

I smiled. “Thank you so much.”

“Come and see me anytime. You can usually find me here.”

“We will.” I accepted the hug from her, breathing in her herbal scent.

She loaded Whist and Sky up with packages, all of them refusing to let me help and ushered us from the kitchen.

Back at the rooms, Aster waited for us along with Saber and Bastian.

“How did it go?” I asked.

Aster sighed. “They want to talk to you.”