one another. He really was a wise leader.
“I’m more than happy to investigate the situation, King Arath, but right now I have a pressing problem.” I couldn’t talk about not being able to close the portals in front of the demons. “When you have a moment I need to speak to you privately about the shift.” It bothered me that I had to ask for help. My mother would be furious. Hopefully, Mira and Claire would be able to make her see reason.
Arath clapped his hands and Cousin Itt, who had led me to the room, appeared in the door again. “Take her to the Well Room. I will be there shortly.”
I started to say something, but I stopped myself. It would be rude to respond once I’d been dismissed. I bowed my head again and followed the demon down the hall. Arath obviously had his hands full, but my problem needed an immediate solution.
The door at the end of the hall opened, and my guide stood beside it as I entered. I hadn’t really known what to expect, but it wasn’t what I saw before me.
Glass windows made up the outside wall, which looked out over an ocean view. As many times as I’d been to the castle, I’d never been privy to this. Most of my meetings took place in the main hall or in one of the side rooms off of it.
Day faded into night and a light snow fell from the purple clouds. The water looked like dark blue glass, almost as if it were frozen but not quite. It was beautiful. For the first time in twenty-four hours my shoulders relaxed. The tension headache I’d been feeling eased, and I took a deep breath. My ribs still ached, but not as badly as before.
Several small tables and chairs had been set up around the room. I took the one in the center. It had the best view. As I continued to stare out onto the sea, my mind wandered. I didn’t think about killing the demons who had jumped to my planet or the troubles with the portals. No, I thought about how great it would be to have a snowmobile and ride it along the snow-banks before me.
I leaned back in the carved wooden chair. Unlike most of the furniture in the castle, the ones here actually had comfortable cushions. I wondered what my sisters were doing, and remembered that I needed to check with Georgia about the details concerning the Arts in Schools fund-raiser. Caruthers Corp. hosted the event, and Alex did most of the party planning. I was in charge of getting donations, most of which had been taken care of months ago.
What the hell is wrong with me? I jumped up and ran for the door. It was locked from the outside. I chastised myself as I paced back and forth. How could you be so stupid, Gillian? I wanted to punch a wall, but I needed my strength.
When the door finally opened I was ready to kill the king. I drew my sword. He stopped short.
Brandishing it at him, I yelled, “What kind of magic are you using on me? You better stop it right now or I’ll kill you.”
CHAPTER 11
Moving into the Well Room, Arath belly-laughed. I held my sword at the ready.
“I mean it. Tell me what you did to me.” I moved to the center of the room, my back to the ocean view.
He laughed again. “You have fire in your soul, and I do believe you might have tried to kill me. I sent you a relaxing, healing spell to help with your injuries.”
As he pointed to my right shoulder I looked down. The shredded leather hung there, but the angry claw marks and clotted blood were gone.
I felt foolish, since I hadn’t even noticed my own arm had healed. “I understand you wanted to help, but I’d appreciate you asking me beforehand. We have healers at home who take care of the Guardians.”
Closing the door behind him, he moved toward me. “Showing up here with demon and human blood on your body was not a good idea.” Now his voice was soft, almost seductive. “I can control my hunger, but there are those in the castle who cannot. It was not safe for you to stay in that room much longer, and that is why I healed your wounds.”
My anger subsided. Crap.
“I’m more than happy to investigate the situation, King Arath, but right now I have a pressing problem.” I couldn’t talk about not being able to close the portals in front of the demons. “When you have a moment I need to speak to you privately about the shift.” It bothered me that I had to ask for help. My mother would be furious. Hopefully, Mira and Claire would be able to make her see reason.
Arath clapped his hands and Cousin Itt, who had led me to the room, appeared in the door again. “Take her to the Well Room. I will be there shortly.”
I started to say something, but I stopped myself. It would be rude to respond once I’d been dismissed. I bowed my head again and followed the demon down the hall. Arath obviously had his hands full, but my problem needed an immediate solution.
The door at the end of the hall opened, and my guide stood beside it as I entered. I hadn’t really known what to expect, but it wasn’t what I saw before me.
Glass windows made up the outside wall, which looked out over an ocean view. As many times as I’d been to the castle, I’d never been privy to this. Most of my meetings took place in the main hall or in one of the side rooms off of it.
Day faded into night and a light snow fell from the purple clouds. The water looked like dark blue glass, almost as if it were frozen but not quite. It was beautiful. For the first time in twenty-four hours my shoulders relaxed. The tension headache I’d been feeling eased, and I took a deep breath. My ribs still ached, but not as badly as before.
Several small tables and chairs had been set up around the room. I took the one in the center. It had the best view. As I continued to stare out onto the sea, my mind wandered. I didn’t think about killing the demons who had jumped to my planet or the troubles with the portals. No, I thought about how great it would be to have a snowmobile and ride it along the snow-banks before me.
I leaned back in the carved wooden chair. Unlike most of the furniture in the castle, the ones here actually had comfortable cushions. I wondered what my sisters were doing, and remembered that I needed to check with Georgia about the details concerning the Arts in Schools fund-raiser. Caruthers Corp. hosted the event, and Alex did most of the party planning. I was in charge of getting donations, most of which had been taken care of months ago.
What the hell is wrong with me? I jumped up and ran for the door. It was locked from the outside. I chastised myself as I paced back and forth. How could you be so stupid, Gillian? I wanted to punch a wall, but I needed my strength.
When the door finally opened I was ready to kill the king. I drew my sword. He stopped short.
Brandishing it at him, I yelled, “What kind of magic are you using on me? You better stop it right now or I’ll kill you.”
CHAPTER 11
Moving into the Well Room, Arath belly-laughed. I held my sword at the ready.
“I mean it. Tell me what you did to me.” I moved to the center of the room, my back to the ocean view.
He laughed again. “You have fire in your soul, and I do believe you might have tried to kill me. I sent you a relaxing, healing spell to help with your injuries.”
As he pointed to my right shoulder I looked down. The shredded leather hung there, but the angry claw marks and clotted blood were gone.
I felt foolish, since I hadn’t even noticed my own arm had healed. “I understand you wanted to help, but I’d appreciate you asking me beforehand. We have healers at home who take care of the Guardians.”
Closing the door behind him, he moved toward me. “Showing up here with demon and human blood on your body was not a good idea.” Now his voice was soft, almost seductive. “I can control my hunger, but there are those in the castle who cannot. It was not safe for you to stay in that room much longer, and that is why I healed your wounds.”
My anger subsided. Crap.
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