Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(3)

It was only a moment before my thoughts turned once more to Chevelle. It was obvious he was avoiding me, keeping a formal distance, but I wasn’t sure how to change that. I’d tried, a few days after it became clear what he was doing, but it had ended in disaster.

We’d been alone in the practice rooms, trying to develop my control. We had been close as we worked and I decided I could be aggressive, break his resolve. But I had been concentrating so hard on my seductive face, my wanting eyes, that I’d forgotten to pay attention to my stupid feet. I’d been moving in for the kill when I tripped, falling flat on my face at his feet. He was turning away when I looked up, and I was sure I’d seen a smile, laughing at me. A flush tore back into my cheeks at the memory of him fighting that smile, a laugh, and I flopped on the bed, buried my face into the pillows and prayed for sleep to come quickly.





I’d vowed to myself I would keep my dignity, but that was forgotten early the next morning when Ruby woke me for training and I found myself groaning like a child. She dragged me to the practice rooms to work with fire.

We hadn’t been at it long when the cats showed up.

“Frey, Chevelle would like a word with you.” Anvil spoke in the tone of official business but I saw a smile teasing the corner of his mouth.

I took a deep breath as I followed him out, Ruby and Grey behind me. Near the entrance to the castle, we found Chevelle, as well as Steed, Rhys, and Rider.

Chevelle did not look happy. “Can you please explain to me why there are a pack of wild cats waiting for entrance to the castle, Frey?”

A pack? There should have been more than that. I’d found as many mountain lions as I could, impressing upon them to come here. I tried to see past him and then, subtly, raised to my toes to see over his shoulder. I barely caught a glimpse of golden fur, glistening over a sleek, muscular body before he stepped forward. My gaze went to his and it was unmistakable he wanted to put a strong hand on my shoulder to flatten my feet and keep me still. Instead, he peered into my eyes and attempted to force the answer from me with sheer will.

I sighed. “Well, you told me what the problem was so I fixed it. We can all go now.” He looked angrier after my response, downright seething. I tried to fix it. “The cats will watch the castle for us.” Obviously.

Ruby cracked a laugh and everyone spun to glare at her. “She’s right, though. I mean, who’s going to doubt her powers now?”

It took several agonizing minutes, but they finally decided Ruby was right. Chevelle dismissed us to go back to training. As we left, I heard Steed remark in a low aside, “This is really going to piss the wolves off.”

I pulled in a sharp breath. I hadn’t seen the wolves since we’d arrived; I’d thought they were probably outside, guarding us as usual.

Ruby elbowed me as we walked side by side toward the practice rooms. I smiled back at her. We were all going.





Chapter Two


Mission





Within a day, we were gathered, ready to leave the castle. The plan was to go before dawn, draw as little attention as possible. I’d made arrangements with Dree to feed the cats. I silently hoped none of them tried to eat the servants. Except maybe that big one who offered to give me a bath. Gag. A shiver of revulsion ran through me and I realized everyone was staring at me. I smiled timidly and got the standard response – the Frey you’re an idiot look.

I shrugged it off as I kicked my horse up, leading the way out of the castle. Chevelle was beside me in a moment, wearing an amused expression.

“What?” I was defensive. He merely tilted his head toward the others… who were heading in the opposite direction. So much for dignity. I turned to follow them.





We made our way down the mountain on a path that exited the castle from behind. I wondered if we would eventually wind back around to where we had come from, or if we would be headed somewhere new. But I realized it was all still new to me. Such a short time ago, the village was all I’d known, the whole of my world.

I tried to distract myself from the upcoming journey that I’d been so adamant about taking, so sure, not even thinking of what it might entail. I surveyed the bit of land I could see in the dimness but it wasn't much until the haze eventually thinned and light started to peek through from the rising sun, allowing me a better view of the area. I spotted a pen of what looked to be boar in the distance. Ruby had explained to me how the elves here herded the animals and kept them until they were needed. The game on the mountain’s peak was too sparse to keep up with the population and there was very limited vegetation. I hadn’t seen anything I would have called vegetation, but she had assured me it was there. They must have needed many animals for the feasts I’d read about in my mother’s diary. Thinking of it reminded me of an idea I’d had before… if I could keep some animals handy for whenever I’d need to use them… if we were to get attacked…

I shuddered at the thought. We weren’t about to get attacked, we were on our way to find a fight. Why hadn’t I waited until I had trained more? Why hadn’t I kept my big mouth shut? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Cold?” Steed asked.

It brought me back. “Oh. Uh, no, I’m fine.”

I realized the conversation I was missing was about the horses and a question popped out without a thought. “Steed, what’s your horse’s name?”