"Don't worry, Kelis, I can deal with him. I promise."
"Thank you."
A knock sounded on the door. I was on my feet in seconds and making my way over there. Perhaps I should have checked with Topher that it was all right if I did this, but it was my room, and it felt rude to ignore whoever it was, especially when I was expecting the people with the golden-eyes today.
That reminder was enough to stop me feeling guilty about not telling Topher. He knew what today was, and that I couldn't ignore it. These people would have the answers I'd been looking for. They could help me cure the curse that was on Mother and restore her to the kingdom. That was more important than anything.
I pulled the door open to find one of the maids standing on the other side of the door, a worried expression on her face.
"Is everything all right, Harriet?" I asked.
She nodded. "His Majesty, the King, has sent a message, Your Highness."
I tried not to wince at the sheer amount of formality in her statement. "What is it?" I asked instead of commenting on it.
"He said that the people you discussed with him have arrived, and he's invited them to have tea in the private dining room of the royal family," Harriet said. There was the hint of a question in her eyes. She wanted to know if Father was losing it, or if that was a valid instruction.
"Good. Thank you. I'll be there momentarily," I assured her.
Harriet dipped into a quick curtsy. "Yes, Your Highness. Is there anything you'd like us to prepare?"
I was about to dismiss her when I had the realization that I would need things packed if I was going with the golden-eyed people and staying with them for any amount of time.
"Yes. Please pack traveling clothes and supplies for a month's journey for me. And see to it that the various heads of departments are aware of what duties need to be attended to in my absence."
Her eyes widened. She hadn't expected me to say I'd be going anywhere. Perhaps I should have waited to announce it. For all I knew, the golden-eyed people weren't going to say any of the things I thought they were, and I would end up looking silly.
Topher's hand landed on the small of my back. "I can look after things while you're gone," he promised. "If you and your father would be all right with that," he added hastily.
It only took a second for me to nod eagerly. "Thank you, I think that's a great idea. I'll talk to Father before I leave and clear it with him first."
"Your Highness." Harriet curtsied again. "I'll go and get the maids and kitchen staff packing provisions for you."
"Thank you."
The maid didn't need any other dismissal and disappeared down the corridor to do what she'd said.
I turned to Topher, burying myself deeply in his arms.
"Do you want to come with me to meet them?" I asked, the words muffled by his chest.
"No. I think it's something you need to do on your own," he countered. "But I'll be here the moment you're done and need someone to talk to."
"Thank you," I whispered. I pulled my head back and looked up, my eyes locking with his.
Topher's wordless support filled me with the strength I needed. And, when he leaned down to kiss me, I knew I'd have the strength to face anything. His arms curled around me, holding me tight. He didn't want to let go, and a small part of me wished for the same. But that wasn't what was needed right now. I had to go meet the people with the golden eyes.
I pulled back, breaking the kiss, much to my own disappointment.
"I love you," I whispered, not letting the words leave our comfortable cocoon.
"I love you, too," he responded, then leaned in to kiss me again. I melted into him again, wishing I didn't have to leave, even if I knew I had to.
I paused with my hand on the door handle to our private dining room, not completely sure what to expect when I walked in. Perhaps, I was about to find out that this entire thing had been an elaborate plan to make me seem crazy. I wasn't sure why anyone would want to do that, but the irrational part of me was scared of that right now.
Stop this. I had to trust my instincts. And my visions. They'd been right about so many other things, I just had to trust them about this too.
I pushed down the handle and stepped inside.
Everyone in the room stopped talking the instant the door opened, and they turned to stare at me. No doubt, each of them was assessing whether or not I was the person they'd intended to find, or if I was someone different. Considering I had no idea what they were looking for, I didn't know how that question would be answered. But I had the same rings around my irises as everyone around the room did, which was a good sign.
A light brown-haired girl I recognized instantly stepped forward and held out her hand to me.
"I'm..." she started.
"Azia. I know," I cut in.
Someone sucked in a breath, though whether it was because I'd cut her off, or because I knew who she was, I had no idea. I suspected I'd learn things like that in time.
"I'm Kelis," I provided. Though I suspected they knew that too. They were in my kingdom. If they didn't know my name, then they hadn't done their research properly, which wouldn't be a good sign.
"How did you know her name?" Gaia asked.
"The same way I know the rest of your names," I responded. "I can see the future."
I waited for one of them to tell me that I was crazy, or that it wasn't possible, but the admonishment didn't come. Perhaps I should have expected that from people who traveled with wolves and dragons.
