35. Newfound Strength
R ose woke up in a sea of warm softness, opening her eyes to the amber ones of the tabby cat lying on her chest.
“Hello, Ciel.” He gave a short meow, rubbing his head on her chin. Rose stroked his back, enjoying his happy purring and little trills that said he was glad she was awake yet concerned she was unwell. “I am okay now.”
Her newly awakened magic, the power as integral as her skin, ran through her every fiber. And Ciel was inside her as he’d never been. His magic, a trickle that fueled their bond inside her and was even now helping her to recover from healing Adrian, was reciprocated by hers moving through him. Gazing at him, for a moment he seemed blurry, without true form.
“Your familiar is a true Constalaysian polymorph, Ambrosia, as are all that belong to our family line.” Her father lifted his arm and his black hawk landed there. Rose watched as the bird moved to her father’s shoulder, perching there and gazing at Ciel on her shoulder, the tanager he preferred.
“They are born when we are, right, Father?”
“Yes, at the exact moment, and we belong to each other for life. The polymorphs are rare creatures, and the bond we share with them must always be nurtured and protected. Others would separate us to weaken us.”
“What if that happens?”
“We lose a part of ourselves, for the great Sun God blessed us to be partners.” With a hand on her shoulder, they walked across the courtyard in the bright sun. “The Gods have given us many gifts, among the greatest are our magic and our familiars. But with them comes much responsibility. We must use our power wisely, to protect our people and this world. Many elves have fallen to darkness due to selfishness.”
“I know, Father.” Rose petted Ciel, thinking of boring history lectures. “I understand. I will remain in the light.”
Her father gave a short nod, his familiar standing proud on his shoulder. “Like our name, we must always reflect Sun God’s light on us, shining for others, being an example of goodness in this world. Your bond with your familiar, nurtured properly, will help you greatly in that.”
“I will always be true to Ciel.” Rose kissed his head as he fluffed up in agreement. “Always.”
Rose blinked away the memory, and tears with it, focusing on her cat. “I was lost for so long, Ciel. I’m sorry for losing you. I’m sorry for doubting our bond.” Purring louder, he rubbed her cheek more, and she closed her eyes. There was no blame in him whatsoever and that amazed her.
Now together once more, nothing would separate them again.
After another moment, Rose let out a deep breath. Tossing the covers back, she discovered she was dressed as she recalled, and respected Lord Aldric all the more for respecting her while unconscious. Going to the open window, she breathed deeply of the fresh air, taking in the earthy scent of the forest.
The breeze rustling the leaves carried her among their branches. There were critters, rabbits in the undergrowth and a woodpecker in a tree, a doe and her herd making their way to the nearby brook for a drink. The cool of that water flowed with life within its banks—minnows, tadpoles, a turtle, and fish she knew not the names of.
Two wolves walked near that brook, and more were on the Keep grounds, going about their daily duties. There were so many in the Keep itself or around it in the stable yard, barns, orchards, and vegetable gardens. A shadow raced over the ground as a puffy white cloud coasted across the azure sky and covered the sun. Children on the lawn chased it, their laughter ringing out.
Two guards stood at her door. One was the shadowy Timothy, whose presence meant progress had been made by her Prince. With him was Declan. Lord Aldric, she felt, was across the Keep and downstairs. There were several wolves with him, but also several vampires. One particular presence called to her, beckoning like a cool and comforting promise.
Adrian!
Snapping back to herself, the world spun, and she set a hand on the wall to steady herself. As a child, she hadn’t had clairvoyance. Experiencing it for the first time was disorienting and dizzying.
She wondered what other hidden gifts she might possess.
Once her equilibrium returned, she went to the door. In the hall, Declan stood at attention and Timothy leaned against the wall with his ankles crossed, casually cleaning under his nails with a tiny knife. Both males turned to her.
“When were the vampires released?”
“Just this morning, Miss Rose,” Timothy answered.
“His Highness apologized?”
Timothy snickered while Declan shifted his weight. “Close enough for the alpha, I suppose, seeing as he let us all out.”
“How long was I asleep?”
“A full day, milady,” Declan answered, earning an annoyed side glance from Timothy.
That seemed a long time to Rose, but she didn’t dwell. She needed nutrition and water but otherwise felt fine.
“May I join His Highness and Lord Aldric in whatever meeting they are having?”
Declan and Timothy shared a surprised look before the werewolf’s eyes went distant in the strange way they sometimes did.
“The alpha recommends you eat. He and Prince Adrian are in negotiations, and it is no place for a lady.”
Bloody misogynistic males, Rose thought, walking briskly off with Ciel beside her as a lion. She had no patience for such nonsense today. Everything inside pulled her toward Adrian, craving his presence like air.
“Lady Rose . . .” Declan started as she took a right hallway and kept going, not stopping until she reached a closed door.
“Come in, Lady Rose,” Lord Aldric called from inside before she could knock.
Rose stepped in and gave a short curtsy. “Lord Aldric.” She gave another curtsy to Adrian across the table. “Prince Adrian.”
Having a higher rank, Prince Adrian should have been greeted first, a fact that seemed to annoy him as he folded his arms. In clean clothing with no sign of the injuries she’d tended, he looked healthy, if not aggravated. As she walked to him, she noticed his irises were paler than she’d ever seen, and fatigue lined his face.
“How are you?” she whispered, brushing his hand. The fleeting squeeze of his fingers lit her with warmth because she was acknowledged .
But then he spoke. “This will be long and boring, Rose.” He motioned to the table where a large map was spread out, another beside it, and a stack of documents beside that. “It has already drawn out. You have been ill and should rest.”
Folding her arms, she stared in challenge. “Someone needs to ensure the two of you don’t kill each other. I am not leaving.”
“We can handle ourselves.”
“As you’ve both plainly shown.”
“If he were to try anything,” Lord Aldric said affably, “I’d just send him back where I put him earlier.”
“Try it,” Adrian dared as every vampire in the room went tense.
Lord Aldric laughed. Rose sighed.
In the silence that descended, Adrian looked to Rose. “At least go sit.”
Instead, she turned away from him and to the maps on the table, ignoring Lord Aldric’s amused expression. The map showed Silvershade Forest and the surrounding area—the Keep, the nearby farms, and the village of Silvershade Town.
Lord Aldric pointed out the boundary King Florian had moved that year. Based on the map, the different lines designating where the boundary was and had been, the King had taken land away from the Silvershade Pack every year for the last seven. According to other maps spread on the table, more packs throughout the kingdom had suffered the same. Some of their farms had been cut practically in half.
Taxes had been raised unjustifiably in the towns near where the werewolves lived and worked, and new laws had been passed to protect the people . These applied everywhere in the kingdom. There were new limits on when and where the wolves could shapeshift and fines for being nude when returning to human form if they did so in public.
Rose read over the details of what Lord Aldric and Tiernan had been trying to explain with increasing understanding.
There was no fairness, only oppression and greed.
But that wasn’t her Prince. Adrian had shown empathy and compassion in his care for her. If he could find the same for those in this room, and those across the kingdom who needed change, he could make a difference.