The Wish Granter (Ravenspire #2)(46)

What happened if the beasts managed to get their collars off?

A tremor swept Ari, and she clenched her muscles in an effort to hold steady.

“The collars allow you to control the beasts. Certain commands activate different runes, and the iron keeps the creatures from shifting to another form,” Hansel said.

“What other form would they take?” Thad asked.

Hansel shrugged. “Usually a rather monstrous sort of human, though some are capable of becoming venomous snakes. Not to worry, though! Our collars will keep them safely in panther form.”

Ari didn’t find his words comforting.

“Would the handlers for these fine specimens please step forward?” Hansel called.

Ari pitied the four grooms who stumbled toward Hansel, their faces taut with fear.

She listened closely to Hansel explain that one pair would patrol the grounds during the day, and the other would patrol at night. He detailed how to move the beasts from the stalls where they would sleep to the areas of the palace grounds that needed protecting, what to feed them, and how to teach them that the palace was their territory.

When he paused for a breath, his sister said quietly, “Better give them the scent of everyone who lives and works here, so the creatures understand not to harm them. No wandering outside the protected areas. No wandering at night. Visitors should stay within their carriages until escorted into the palace by the staff. We wouldn’t want the wrong person disemboweled.”

The handlers shuddered, and Thad asked, “How do we get them back into their stalls each morning?”

Hansel smiled grandly and said, “Ar ais.”

Instantly, the beasts dropped to the floors of their cages, covered their ears, and howled.

“Nach,” he said, and they slowly quieted, shaking their heads and shivering. “Once you’ve shown that you can hurt them, and that you are in control of their pain, they’ll obey.”

Ari stepped forward. “So these beasts are vicious guard creatures unless the intruder knows the fae commands to make them obey?” She shot a look at her brother and willed him to remember that Teague was fae, which meant he might know these commands too.

“Never fear.” Hansel pressed his hands together. “We trained these creatures especially for you. They have their own set of commands. We never give the same commands to creatures heading for different locations. It’s a security measure we pride ourselves on.”

He bowed low at the waist before Thad. His sister barely inclined her head. Thad nodded.

“These are acceptable. Grooms, take them on a tour and show them their territory.” Thad turned toward the bounty hunters. “You’ve had a three-day journey by ship and must be tired. Please, be my guests for the night. We have a feast prepared in your honor.”

Ari sidled away from the cages and headed for Sebastian.

“This is a disaster,” she said as she reached him.

“Teague is going to hear of it,” he said.

“Everyone is going to hear of it, but I can’t talk Thad out of this. We need a relationship with the hunters.”

Sebastian made a rude noise.

“Exactly.” Ari turned to face the spectacle in the courtyard as the staff rushed back inside the palace, anxious to have four solid walls protecting them before the crates were opened.

“If Teague is still connected to Llorenyae, the hunters might have a relationship with him. They could tell him that you’re asking questions.” Sebastian sounded worried, which warmed something inside Ari that felt suspiciously like the tingling she’d felt when they’d kissed.

Not that she wanted to remember that piece of abject (still completely mortifying) humiliation.

“Then I’ll have to be subtle about it. They’re my best chance to get something solid to go on. I have to take it.”

He leaned toward her for a second before pulling away. “Be careful.”

“Always.”

He raised a brow.

“Fine. Usually.”

His eyes crinkled, but the worry didn’t leave his face. Ari knew how he felt. Teague was circling, the contract was still intact, she didn’t have a solid plan, and now they had panther shape-shifter monsters roaming the palace grounds, which was sure to draw Teague straight to them.

It was hard to imagine things getting much worse.





TWENTY


“UGH, REALLY?” ARI set her breakfast plate on the table and stared at Thad.

“I can’t go back on my word. Holding the ball in your honor officially launches you into society and presents you as heir to the throne.”

“Well, I figured it was canceled, what with an angry fae Wish Granter after you and some relentlessly carnivorous monsters roaming the palace grounds.” Ari sank into the chair beside Thad. “You can’t guarantee the safety of your guests, and Teague—”

“The guests can stay in the palace overnight, and Teague can see that I am going about my life as usual, which might deflect suspicion from our efforts to get rid of him.”

“But to hold a ball when there’s so much unrest in Kosim Thalas and so much—”

“You have to be seen as the heir. The kingdom has to be kept safe, and that’s our responsibility, Ari. If that means we hold a ball so that I can make sure you are launched properly, then that’s what I’m going to do.”