at it curiously. It was no longer smiling. Instead, the lines of its face were pulled into a frown as it hung from Silvas’s grip on his long tail. Its beady eyes shifted over to her, and once more that terrible smile stretched over its face as it gave her a happy wave, its long ears turned toward her. Despite the savagery of its teeth and claws, it looked so ridiculous that Diana found herself smiling in return as she stood.
Silvas let out a disgusted sigh and dropped the goblin on a nearby stump. “Goblins can be vicious little things, but often more mischievous than harmful, and none of the goblins of the Eternal Forest will harm you, Diana,” he assured her softly.
The goblin pulled the cap off its head showing an unruly spike of fur as it nodded rapidly in agreement. It had an unsettling appearance that was a little too ugly to have anything truly comforting in its appearance, but Diana felt herself relax despite her earlier terror. Its brows shifted up like the remorseful stare of her grandma’s old hound that had trailed after her as a child.
Brushing off its hat, it gave her a small smile. “I hoped to be the first of my line to greet our new ati, our queen. I am Borbekel, son of Dirdankis and Entihela.”
Diana froze at the greeting. She didn’t know how to address the whole ati thing… She couldn’t be a queen. Her eyes slid over to Silvas. He stared back, his expression ambiguous and watchful.
He was lucomo of the silvani… Crap. She hadn’t even considered what that meant for her when they had mated. Glancing back down at the goblin, she watched as the tiny male grinned widely, displaying sharp rows of teeth once more.
“I trust that everyone knows of the bonding,” Silvas said.
Borbekel trilled in amusement. “All of the Eternal Forest felt it when your bond snapped in place with your mate. It has been a light within the darkness that has descended as of late. At least for most of us, that is. Alseida’s screams could be heard throughout the palace grounds. She is quite displeased,” he chirped.
Silvas waved a hand. “Alseida’s opinion matters not. She can learn to cope with the new situation. If she cannot, she would be wise to leave Arx and spare herself exile to the human world from the Eternal Forest. I am more interested in hearing of this darkness.”
Borbekel hopped in agitation, his long ears flopping slightly. “It is quite unnatural. For days, not a beam of sunlight has penetrated the forest. The trees have begun to grow twisted among themselves, and an unnatural mist clings at all hours, such as you see. It has been thus since your protection left the forest.”
Silvas’s jaw tightened, and she felt his frustration and anger lick through their bond. His eyes scanned the woods as if searching fruitlessly for something. “My task has been successful. I am reunited with Nocis—spread the word so no one doubts or worries.” His eyes fastened on her. “We must hasten back. Now that I have the sword, I must confer with the oracle so that I can ascertain where we might seek out our prey.”
His muscles tightened as he stepped away before they loosened to take the form of the crocotta once more. Silvas’s eyes within the animal pierced her, and Diana hurried to strap the harness and all their gear on him once more as the goblin darted away through the brush. Borbekel’s departure was the only sound in the forest outside of the chinking of the armor as she fastened it once more to the saddle. Within minutes, they were racing through the final stretches of the forest.
It wasn’t until she caught glimpses of the telltale glow of the hamadryads announcing their impending arrival at the palace that she relaxed. Although Arx looked as dark and foreboding as the forest itself, and the light of the surrounding hamadryads appeared weaker against the gloom, it promised some rest and respite while they figured out their next moves. Diana leaned over Silvas’s shoulders, but a smile sprung to her lips as the crocotta pack sprung from a sheltered area hidden beyond the courtyard. She recognized Keena immediately, her heart swelling with pleasure as the massive female bore down on them with all her clan. Keech was close behind his mate as they barreled forward.
Silvas snapped his tail and yipped as he rounded into the courtyard. The entire