“I’ll be more careful,” he said. Prince Xander looked at me, his eyes red, his chin unshaven. Effects of staying up too late hunting the beast, most likely. But his pained look made my stomach drop and my breath catch. I couldn’t let him affect me like this.
“So will I.” I yanked my hand from his and headed inside, Pru on my heels carrying my packages.
“Your Highness, I have received disturbing news.” A page bowed before the Prince and I slowed to hear his announcement.
“What is it?”
“The servant girl Herez has run away. A note was found saying she was too terrified to stay at the palace and would go home to her family in the country.”
My heart ached for poor Herez, and Pru’s head dropped in sadness.
“I see.” Xander sighed.
“There’s more. Other servants are gone as well. We do not know if it is because they ran away or because the b-beast got them.”
“Gaven, will you do me a favor?” Xander asked.
“Anything, my prince.” Gaven stepped forward.
“Please succeed where I have failed and find this mysterious beast. For I no longer believe we’re hunting a normal creature but something of myth and legend, and that is your specialty.”
Gaven nodded. “I will leave at once, Your Highness, and will not return until I have news.”
Chapter Eleven
I focused on making a tea to help Queen Anya regain her strength. Humming softly, I placed the finished herbal remedy in a silk satchel and smiled, hoping it would help. Knowing it was better that Pru deliver them, I waited to hear if she took them. When Pru told me she did, I then worked on brewing more of my own medicine, an herbal remedy that kept the dreams at bay and the darkness away. Taking a sip, I was careful to hide my packets of wolfsbane tea in my small satchel. No one would understand why I needed it, and if they found out I had it, I would be shunned on the spot or accused of being the one to try and murder the queen.
When my tasks were done, I stared at the chair that still sat in front of the door that separated the prince’s rooms from mine. I had yet to hear him enter the room, and I doubted he even slept there.
Moving the chair, I pressed my ear to the door and was greeted by silence. I lifted my hand over the lock.
“Locherra.”
I heard a clinking as the door unlocked and swung inward. Stepping into the darkened room, I realized my mistake. This was never the prince’s room, or at least it hadn’t been in a long time. All of the furniture was covered with sheets, the drapes were closed, and silver cobwebs hung from the chandelier.
A large portrait hung above the fireplace mantel. It was a fine depiction, painted by an expert’s hand. Xander looked around five years old, his young face void of emotion, his eyes haunting as he stood next to his mother, the queen. I frowned. It wasn’t Queen Anya in the portrait, but another woman, the king’s first wife. King Gerald rested his hand on the young Xander’s shoulder, and even through the painting, I could feel the heavy burden of royalty resting upon the young boy.
“Have you ever smiled, my prince?” I pondered aloud, knowing if the threat of war had been hovering over this family for years, there would have been little to smile about.
Moving about the room that seemed to be a mausoleum rather than a bedroom, I couldn’t help but stop to admire the chessboard and pieces laid out on the table midgame. The black set was fey beasts, and the white set was majestic elves. But the beast queen was missing.
Looking below the table, I searched to see if it had rolled away, but didn’t find anything. Checking under the bed, all I discovered were cobwebs and dust balls.
“What are you doing?” Xander stood in the doorway, his face grim. “Who gave you permission to enter here? It’s off-limits.”
“No one. I came here looking for you,” I said, stepping away from the bed and noticing dust now covered my black veil and dress.
“What is the point of placing guards outside your door if you continually leave your rooms without them?”
“There is none,” I snapped. “And why should I be kept in my rooms?”
“For protection.”
“I don’t need protection.”
“From you,” Xander said, his eyes narrowed and his lip curled up. “Leave!” he growled at me. Storming into the room,