She shakes her head. “No,” she speaks aloud, startling my bond brothers sleeping around her. “Don’t hurt them.”
“Why not?” I ask, unable to hide the confusion in my voice. “They have hurt you many times.”
She sits up, wincing as she does. “Because to do so would make us as horrible as them. And that’s not what I want. That’s not who I am.”
I stand taller, lifting my head. “No, you are not. But that is why you have me. Why you have all of us.” I allow my gaze to travel over my brothers. “We are here to do what you cannot, to protect you.”
Kai gives me a confused look and opens his mouth to speak but stops when she stands. “I said ‘no,’” she hisses. “I will not allow you to do to them what they’ve done to me. I wouldn’t wish this even on my worst enemy.”
My hands curl into fists at my side as I think about the marks across her back. They are many, and they are deep. The several scars that crisscross her delicate flesh tell me her stepmother has beaten her many times before. Murderous thoughts fill my mind as I think about the one who did this to her. I want to end her stepmother for daring to even touch her.
But I cannot disobey the order of the one I vowed to serve and protect. “Fine,” I grit through my teeth. “They will remain untouched as you have asked.”
Anger burns through me. Ella’s heart is too tender for this world. It is a weakness to allow an enemy to live. I spin toward the door to start for the stairs.
Kai’s voice calls out to me through the bond. “Where are you going?”
“To procure a dress,” I snap, turning back to face him.
His blue eyes widen at my sharp tone. He may be a blue jay and I am a cat, but he is a fierce warrior and commands respect from all who know him.
Thinking better of showing my irritation to our leader, I dip my chin in a subtle bow. “I will not disobey her word, if that is what you are worried about.”
He is silent for so long it worries me that I may have gone too far. But after a moment, he replies. “Be careful, brother.”
I concentrate on shifting my form so that I appear to be wearing clothing. A fine suit of blue with white trim to give me the appearance of a wealthy gentleman. With my eyes downcast, no one should notice anything strange.
This is the only thing that troubles me about being a cat shifter in the human world. No matter my form, my eyes stay the same. Green eyes with vertically slit pupils that betray what I am to any who see them. However, it matters not, for I know exactly where I am going, and the person I plan to meet with will understand what I am and not question me.
The market is bustling with activity. I have never seen it so busy before. Not that I come to the human world very often. But when I have in the past, it has never been this much of a hive of activity.
Everywhere I turn, it is difficult not to bump into people. As I make my way through the crowds, I soon realize why. Everyone is talking about the royal ball. As a result, the dressmaker’s shop is much busier than I expected. Several women are lined up outside the door, waiting their turn to get in.
I know it would only be proper to wait my turn, but I am impatient, and Ella is the Chosen One. She is the reason for this ball in the first place. The rest of these women do not realize they are wasting their time entertaining thoughts of catching the prince’s eye. Once he sees Ella, all others will pale before her beauty, and he will be just as lost as I am.
I sigh as I consider this. It is our mission to ensure they end up together, but deep down, it feels wrong. What if he is not the male that she wants? What if we push them together and she ends up miserable?
After all, the prince is royalty, and from what I’ve observed of the Wolf Queen and her pack, they are not always the most considerate of people because they are so used to having their way.
The moment I walk into the store, the owner lifts her head and stares directly at me. “Sir!” she calls out. “I have your order ready in the back. If you would, please follow me.”
I drop my chin in acknowledgment and follow her through a small door to the back of her building.
As soon as we’re alone, she spins to face me with a thunderous expression. “Why are you here?” she practically hisses. “You know it is dangerous.”
Unfazed by her anger, I arch a condescending brow. “Is it not dangerous for you to own and run a shop in the human world, being what you are?” I gesture to her form.
Although she appears human to everyone else, a shifter could recognize Rina for what she is a mile away. The vibrant blues and golds of her dress are a clever concealment for her lovely tailfeathers. Their beautiful plumage is quite a sight when they are on full display. I should know. She tried to tempt me once, this peacock shifter.
It was during her heat cycle. Impossible as it may seem, she had her eye on me as her mate in her desperation to sate her need. But I put that notion to rest by gently refusing her with the explanation that I’d been assigned to guard the Chosen One. My life will never fully be my own.
In truth, I did not feel any pull toward her, and I’m confident we would have made a poor match. Especially once her heat cycle ended and she fully
