I TURNED TO stare out at the courtyard while the girls said goodbye. Yakov had been such a gentleman and hadn’t mentioned him at all. How sad was it that, exhausted as I was, I still thought about him. The others clambered into their beds and I turned the light off, grateful for the darkness when tears slipped out. At least I could blame them on the training if anyone did notice. I climbed into bed and rolled back into a ball, wishing hard that this was all a bad dream.
THE NEXT DAY Alek and Rumal were meant to take the girls to the training circle but Alek, unsurprisingly, was absent. Daron stalked the castle for the wayward Prince, checking all the usual spots.
Damn him! The least he could do was stick to his responsibilities. It wasn’t like Alek to shirk. But then, he reflected, it wasn’t like Alek to get so interested in a woman either. For the umpteenth time in the last few days, he wondered what had happened.
'Did you find him?'
Daron jerked about in surprise. Sabyn stood there, his arms crossed and a dark look on his face. 'Nope. He’s good at staying out the way when he wants to.'
'Indeed.' The silence felt awkward. Sabyn had been fuming at his cousin since he made his public display after dinner the other night. Daron couldn’t blame him, it’d cooled down the developing relationship he had with Laura fast, the girl was as temperamental as Alek. 'I’m going to see Elena tonight. I want to see if she knows anything.'
Daron nodded in agreement. 'Good idea, I’ll join you.'
Sian would like an explanation, Daron thought. She’s been so quiet, I know she’s worried about Cat.
IT ENDED UP that they weren’t able to see the Sorceress until the following evening. Alek had made appearances at meals but otherwise stayed absent. Rumal led the way to Elena’s chambers and the three men stopped when they saw Yakov already there. Maybe he’s here for the same thing. Rumal nodded to him and the advisor smiled at the men. 'Come on in, Ellie’s in the washroom, she’ll be out in a moment.'
Ellie? He seems to be on a rather casual basis with her. Rumal turned and caught Sabyn’s eye, quirking his brow. There had been a rumor of a liaison between the two. Elena came into the sitting area of her suite, her dark hair loose from the plait she kept it in for training. There were times when Rumal forgot how attractive the Sorceress was. He watched Yakov when she took a seat but the advisor stayed polite and pleasant to her like normal. Maybe not then.
'What can I do for you three?' Elena took a seat and accepted the cup of tea Yakov offered her.
'You know what,' Sabyn shot her a frustrated look. 'What is Alek’s problem? We’re sick of it being our problem.' Rumal and Daron nodded. She explained.
THEY CONTEMPLATED THE situation in silence. Sabyn now began to understand Alek’s predicament, a little.
'But that sort of spell can’t force a person against their will?' Daron looked confused. 'So if there was, or is, a genuine attraction then it would mean…,' he stopped, looking a bit wild-eyed.
'Yes. It would mean you’ve found your soul mates,' Elena looked amused at their dazed expressions. 'I find it rather strange that so many would kill to be in your positions, yet you all look terrified.'
'But what if we’re not? ' Rumal asked.
'Then it won’t work out. In some ways this will be very similar to any other relationship you may have been in. The difference will be that this one should feel easier and give you a sense of completion or wholeness. Though as I have never found mine, how can I tell?'
The men gave her unimpressed looks.
'Oh stop that,' she snapped, her eyes flashing with annoyance. 'Be as childish as you like, but I will tell you this. Those girls did not cast that spell believing it would work in this manner. On Earth where they come from, spells are used to attract positive energy. So seeing as this one did work like this perhaps you really need to consider your feelings toward them. They’ve lost their world and they don’t need cowards pretending to be those they seek.' Elena dismissed them.
WHILE THEY WANDERED back to their quarters they discussed the situation. 'I think we should let the girls know that we’re aware of why they’re here,' Daron glanced at the others.
Sabyn agreed. 'At least I have an explanation for Loi now. Sort of.'
'Does it concern you?' Daron asked Rumal.
'It is a bit unnerving. To think that you’ve met your one and only. But only time will prove if that’s actually true. I’m going to wait and see, just like normal.' Rumal frowned. 'Though I still want to have a word with Alek. Cat didn’t deserve public censure for this. They didn’t intend to arrive here.'
Sabyn and Daron agreed.
THE NEXT FEW days were the same as the first. We’d have breakfast then meet Elena in the Griffon quarters and two of the men would be summoned with us. Then we’d fly out to the beginning of the desert and the men and their griffons would head off on errands for Elena. We would sit within the circle Elena cast and practice. I felt grateful for the challenge of learning something new. At the end of each day I was so exhausted that I could almost fool myself into thinking I didn’t miss him. I knew the others worried for me, but there wasn’t anything they could do. This sort of thing just takes time, I reminded myself again, or so I’d heard. Is it conceited to say this was the first time I’d really ached for someone and they didn’t return the feelings? So many thoughts went through my head. I just couldn’t get over how he’d been so affectionate and then so cold. It suggested to me that I’d done something.
But what?
While I lay in bed that evening, thrashing over the same thoughts, it occurred to me that I should ask Loushka. Hell, it wasn’t like I felt sleepy at all. Quietly I snuck about locating my clothes, pulling them on in the dark, then Audi and I slipped out of the room.
LOI FLIPPED OVER the moment the door closed. 'Sian, Kass?' she hissed.
'Awake.'
'Same here.'
'Should we follow her?'
'No.'
Loi frowned. 'What if she’s going to see him?'
Kassie yawned and sat up, turning the glow lamp beside her bed up a notch. 'It might not be a bad thing. Now that we know what the issue is.'
Loi wasn’t convinced. 'If that were just the issue he should be over it. The other guys are fine with it. Sabyn understands it wasn’t intentional.'
'Maybe it’s something to do with losing both his parents so young,' suggested Sian.
'Whatever, Ms. Psychiatrist.'
'Don’t be snarky, Loi.' Sian gave her a hard look. 'If you hadn’t seen your parents in a loving relationship you might have different ideas about them too. Plus he’s the Crown Prince. He’s used to girls trying to get close to him for that.'
Kassie objected. 'Yes, but Cat never knew that. Maybe he’s scared by the intenseness of the situation, it freaked me out a little.'
Loi felt relieved. 'Really? Oh good, I thought it was just me.'
'Me too,' Sian said. 'It's weird thinking this could literally be your one and only. Especially when we’re all so used to being independent. It’s panic attack inducing, for me anyway.'
'But would you take the spell back?' Kassie asked, staring at her bedspread, avoiding eye contact. They contemplated that in silence.
If we hadn’t cast the spell we’d be on Earth. I’d be able to see my family. Loi winced at the pain that brought up. But if we hadn’t cast the spell I wouldn’t have met Sabyn, or discovered my gift. 'I don’t know,' she whispered, feeling haunted.
The others stared back with similar expressions.
'And now we’re stuck here,' Kassie finished the unspoken thought.
AUDI AND I skirted down the corridors and ducked into doorways when we heard footsteps. So far no-one had noticed us. Relief washed through me when we reached the Griffon quarters. I opened the door and ushered Audi in. The room felt warm and I could hear the pups snoring softly in their pen but couldn’t see any of the adult griffons. Weird. They left the pups alone? I heard a shuffling noise and froze. It sounded like a servant was in the adjoini
ng room. They must be keeping an eye on the pups, I thought, still hesitating.
Now what?
Loushka and the others were likely out hunting, so they'd be back. I snuck over to the pups’ pen and climbed in. The pups made murmurs of recognition when I snuggled down with them and they sleepily clambered about me and Audi, making themselves comfortable. Audi appeared delighted and set to grooming them. I smiled, feeling the weight on my heart lift a little. Hopefully the griffons wouldn't take too long, but at least Audi was happy.
ALEK WATCHED FROM the backroom as Cat settled down with the pups in the pen. What is she doing here? Is she looking for me? She couldn’t be. If she was she wouldn’t be in the pup pen. And how would she have known? No-one knew where he was at the moment. Maybe it’s to talk to Loushka. That thought made him uncomfortable. He hadn’t talked with Loushka about it yet, though he knew she’d know about it from the others. He sat back on the bench seat, his makeshift bed for the time being and watched her. So far he’d managed to avoid the guys, but a talk was inevitable. Light from the entrance gleamed off her hair, the locks appearing a dark ruby. For the umpteenth time in the last few days he wished Elena hadn’t told him about the spell.
Watching Cat hurt, but he still couldn’t take his eyes off her.
I MUST HAVE dozed off because I jerked awake when Loushka’s voice popped into my mind.
‘Cat! What are you doing here? Are you okay?’ the griffon sounded astonished to see me.
Not surprising I guess, but I wished everyone would stop asking me if I was okay. In my current state it brought on tears. I took a couple of ragged breaths before I could answer her. The other griffons regarded me curiously.
‘Come on outside and we can talk,’ Loushka’s voice sounded kind, causing more tears. Fighting the lump in my throat, I nodded to her and climbed out the pen.
ALEK WATCHED WHILE Loushka and Cat walked out of the room. He had to fight the urge to go to her when he saw the tears slide down her face. A lump seemed wedged in his throat and he leaned over his knees, staring at the ground. It didn’t feel right being apart. Maybe I am wrong. He stood and gathered his things. Might as well go back to my quarters. A talk with the guys might help and he couldn’t stand being this close to her without wanting to speak to her. But he wasn’t ready for that—yet.
I’D EXPLAINED THE situation to Loushka and sobbed my heart out, again. It astonished me that I still had any tears left. After the tears came anger. She was surprised and sympathetic; lying down so I could cuddle against her while she made a soothing noise like a purr. I felt more at peace now.
‘But, Cat, didn’t you and the others cast a love spell to get here?’
‘Yes, how did you know?’
‘Elena told the men. They wanted to know what Alek’s attitude was about.’
Oh dear, I sat still while thoughts ran through my mind; so that was it.
‘Cat?’
‘But it wasn’t a spell that forced anyone. We didn’t know it’d actually work.’ My chest got tight as anger flooded through. ‘He could have asked me about it, given me a chance to explain!’
Loushka made the soothing noise again. ‘Calm down, Cat. He hasn’t even spoken to me about it yet.’
We talked for a while longer until my eyelids started to droop and Loushka ushered me to the little room out the back. The servant I’d heard wasn’t there. They must have left when the griffons came back. I stretched the skinny blanket on the bench bed over me and was asleep moments later.
IN THE MIDST of dressing, Sian twisted to look when Cat came in. She looks exhausted, she thought in concern. Pretending not to notice, she smiled brightly at Cat. 'Been out for a run?'
'What? Oh. Yeah.' Cat nodded, her eyes bleary and headed to the washroom. It didn’t look like they’d sorted it out yet. Sian sighed. If it didn’t improve soon she might have to stage an intervention with the girls.
AFTER FIVE DAYS of training, we were competent enough to do the exercises with our eyes open. Now it only took us a few moments to call our energy forth, so there wasn’t as much meditating. I’d also discovered that when I kept the energy running through the loop, like we’d been taught, I felt more alert. It almost made me feel normal again.
ELENA HAD NOTICED Cat’s tendency of late to practice the energy loop longer than necessary. It appeared to make her feel better so she didn’t stop her. Cat looked more and more exhausted as the days went by. She felt a twinge of annoyance at Alek’s behavior.
HE HESITATED IN the solar doorway. Sabyn, Rumal and Daron sat at the table deep in discussion. Then Rumal noticed him. 'Alek. Haven’t seen you around lately.' The man’s tone sounded deceptively mild.
Resisting the urge to sigh, Alek squared his shoulders and walked in. 'I’ve been busy.'
Sabyn gave him a flat look. 'Doing what?'
'Thinking.'
Daron nodded agreeably. 'And?'
He shrugged. 'I thought I might discuss the matter with you all.'
'We’re honored, Alek, being your advisers and all.' Sabyn’s sarcasm was cutting. Still, for all their apparent annoyance, they sat down and waited for him to continue.
RUMAL LISTENED TO Alek ramble on and on while inwardly shaking his head. Man, he’s got it bad. He caught Daron’s eye and exchanged a glance.
'What you’re saying, Alek, is that you’re concerned Cat has misplaced her affection. That you’re not the one.'
'I never took you for a coward, Alek.' Those at the table turned. Yakov stared at Alek from the doorway with an expression of surprise. Rumal invited him to sit.
'I’m not!'
Sabyn arched an eyebrow. 'Then tell me cousin what is your problem?'
The heated discussion continued for a good portion of the day, their loud voices echoing down the corridor. So loud that that it caused those passing to pause in surprise. It wasn’t until late noon that they reached a resolution of sorts.
Yakov walked with Alek to the Great Hall. 'If it’s meant to be, Alek, it will be. You know I understand this fear of loss better than anyone. But it shouldn’t stop you from trying.'
BY THE TIME we arrived back from training the sun had set. Hiranes had our dinner already prepared in our suite when we entered the room and I was pleased to realize I had an appetite, even more pleased when I saw Yakov waited for us. He spent an hour or so with me these evenings when the girls disappeared to catch up with their guys. We hurried to wash and then sat down to eat, conversing with both Yakov and Elena, who’d decided to stay for dinner.
'I understand you’re all progressing rapidly,' Yakov said.
KASSIE FLUSHED WITH pleasure at Yakov’s words.
'We wouldn’t know, Yakov, we can’t compare ourselves to anyone,' Loi said.
'Well I can,' Elena said briskly. 'Yakov’s correct, you are all progressing extremely well.'
The girls grinned at each other. It made all the hard work feel a bit more worthwhile.
ELENA AND THE girls excused themselves after dinner and Yakov and I shifted to sit on mine and Kassie’s beds. I gazed out over the courtyard, Yakov had told me a number of stories in the last few evenings, funny anecdotes about castle life; I wonder what he’ll share tonight?
'Cat, how are you?' He gave me a penetrative look.
Urk. So far he’d been the only one not to bug me. I shuffled uncomfortably on the bed. 'Fine.'
'Have you been for a run lately?'
I shrugged. 'No. I’ve been really tired.'
'Well then I won’t keep you.'
I looked up in surprise. 'What?'
'Cat, it would please me greatly to see you happy and smiling again. Go to bed early and then have a run with Audi in the morning. She needs it as much as you.' Yakov climbed off Kassie’s bed and bent, giving Audi a quick pat. Then he gave me a hug and a kind smile. 'Trust me, Cat, you’ll feel better if you do something you enjoy. Think about it as you go to sleep.'
Chapter Twenty Five
YAKOV WASN’T WRONG. I woke just before dawn and str
etched hard in bed then relaxed. Huh. I actually feel like a run. The thought made me smile and I felt a buzz of delight, my first genuine smile in days. I got out of bed and slipped quietly around the bedroom, getting ready. The other three snored on, oblivious. Nnelg had slept over again and watched curiously. It amused me when he quickly turned his back on me as I changed; it wasn’t every day I made a dragon blush. Audi and I slipped out of the room.
ALEK PACED THE corridor, agitation rippling through him. Yakov said he’d strongly recommended Cat go for a run. He knew she’d do it in the morning but when? He’d paced this section of floor for a good half hour.
What if she doesn’t come? Then what? He gritted his teeth at the annoying butterflies he felt. I want to see her.
Hearing a noise Alek froze and listened. It sounded like footsteps. They sounded light. Yes, I hear a dog. What do I do? His mind went to pieces on him when she rounded the corner.
I SKIDDED TO a halt. Alek stood in the middle of the corridor, gaping at me. Uh-oh. Now what?
He took several steps toward me and I instinctively stepped back.
CAT MOVED AWAY from him, a guarded expression on her face. He fought to find words while he gazed at her, marveling. So beautiful, what was I thinking? Any price is worth it. Even if it doesn’t last. She wore the running costume Melanite had given her and looked incredible. Then the rose tinted glasses faded and he registered the weight loss and dark shadows under her eyes. It felt like someone had dealt a blow to his chest when he realized he’d been the cause.
The Arrival Page 26