I sit up in bed.
Finn and Cash sit up with me, each of them staring at me in concern. “Are you all right?” Finn smooths a hand down my arm. “Are you hungry?”
I nod.
After I shower and dress, I come out from the cleansing room. Finn’s eyes meet mine and I’m so grateful for them, my heart could burst. They were right to insist that I rest and not make any decisions last night.
I would not have regretted sealing them to me. Not in the slightest. But because I did not, it affords me the opportunity to lay everything out. If they are to be my guards and protect me, I want to make sure it happens on my terms. I refuse to allow a prophecy to dictate my life. For the first time in all my years of suffering under the cruel hand of fate, I’ve decided to take control of my life.
When we walk downstairs, Kai, Nyx, and Devon are already waiting. A table has already been laid out with plates of food for breakfast.
I take a seat at the head of the long rectangular table and my gaze travels over the selection.
“We made a bit of everything,” Nyx says. “We were uncertain what you might prefer this morning.”
Honeyed cakes, fresh fruit, toast, eggs. I’ve never seen such a feast. Not even at the estate. “How did you manage all of this?” I ask.
“Magic has many uses,” Nyx explains. “We have been storing food here for several years. In case we had use of this place. Magic kept everything in stasis, waiting to be used at the timing of our choice.”
I look to him. “Cash and Finn said you built this place many years ago. Why?”
“I had a dream,” Nyx explains. “That someday we would be in danger. That we’d need a place to hide. So…” His eyes sweep to Kai. “I spoke of this to Kai and we decided to act upon that information.”
My mouth drifts open. “You are a seer?”
He shrugs. “Of sorts. I often have visions of the future in my dreams.”
I lean forward. “And what about now? Do you know what happened to the prince? Or who is after me?”
He lowers his gaze. “The prince… I do not know what happened to him. But as far as who seeks to harm you… I believe it is the Wolf Queen. She is the ruler of the Shifter Kingdom.”
“Why would she want me dead?”
Although I’m looking to Nyx, it’s Kai that answers. “I believe it is because she may see you as a threat to her power. The prophecy states you will unite the two kingdoms. You and the prince. Perhaps it may also mean that you will rule over both as well. And this, she would not want.” He pauses. “We must find a way to secure your safety while—”
“I’ll not be married off to someone else,” I state firmly.
Kai blinks at me in confusion. “I… that’s not what I was going to suggest.”
I clench my jaw as anger sweeps through me. “And yet you were the one who convinced me to trust in the prophecy. You would have given me over to the prince because of some words in an ancient text.” I shake my head. “I won’t be used like that. Not anymore.”
His blue eyes are full of pain as his gaze holds mine. “Forgive me, Ella. I—”
I stand from the table. “We’re going to find the prince. And if he’s alive, we will rescue him and restore him to his throne. But I will not marry him just because of some prophecy. I will do whatever must be done to bring peace between the kingdoms. If that is what I am supposed to do, it will be done on my terms.” I meet Kai’s eyes evenly. “I won’t be a pawn of fate. Not anymore and not ever again.”
With that, I walk to the door and out into the clearing. The sun is shining brightly overhead as I make my way toward the tree line. My heart hammers in my chest as I struggle to push down the maelstrom of emotions deep within. After so many years of having to hide away my true feelings, it’s difficult to allow them to surface now.
It’s as if all the years of pent-up frustration and anger are roiling inside me, threatening to spill over. I don’t want to be angry though. I just want to be heard. For the first time, I will be the one to decide my fate. I won’t have anyone dictate it for me.
Footsteps behind me, draw my attention and I turn to find Kai on my heels. “Ella,” he calls out. “Wait.”
I spin to face him, waiting for him to catch up.
He blinks down at me, his eyes full of worry. “You are angry at me.”
Kai says this as a statement, but I know it is also a question. “Yes.”
Before he can speak, I begin. “I heard you, Kai. In the carriage on the way to the ball.” I pause, trying to push down my emotions before I continue. “When you spoke in their minds and you thought I couldn’t hear.” Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back. “You all have feelings for me. Just as I do for each of you. You made them all agree to ignore them. Told them that all they could be to me were my guards.”
“It is an effect of the bond,” he says. “It—”
“I don’t care,” I snap. “Even if it is, it feels real enough to me. And I know from what you said to the others that you each feel the same way too. And yet—” my voice catches, and a tear slips down my cheek. I quickly brush it away. “You were just going
