Page 174 of Settle Down, Princess

Roan

“For fuck’s sake…”

There was no praying to the gods right now, even though it was apparently their divine hand that created the golden stag. By that logic, they created me as well, and there was no one caring one way or the other if I died.

The princess seemed possessed by a similar lack of self-preservation.

She rushed forward, moving swiftly for such a tiny thing, skipping over logs and leaf litter like she was a doe herself.

“I thought it was supposed to be a golden stag?” I snapped at Silas as we both raced through the forest and after the princess. “That was a fucking doe.”

“Well, where do you think little baby golden stags come from?” Silas shot back. “Do I need to give you the birds and the bees talk?”

He didn’t get the chance, the three of us stumbling onto the road to the sight of a massive golden stag.

“Whoa…”

I wasn’t much for religion, only going to church when my mother made me, but right now, I could have been persuaded if one of the good fathers started preaching about the benevolent care of the gods. How else did you explain a beast like this? Massive, powerful, he swept around in a circle, seemingly unsure of which threat to deal with first. He snorted then roared his defiance at the horses that were coming galloping up the road, then turning to face down Jessalyn. I let out a little growl when he lowered that massive rack of antlers of his, ready to charge, able to make the decision for him.

I was the threat he’d face first.

My sword slipped free of its scabbard, finding its way into my hand as Silas did the same. The two of us stepped in front of Jessalyn. Nothing and no one would get past us, not without a fight.

Except for her.

“No!”

She shoved her way through the space between us, rushing towards a goddamn wild animal, and when I reached out to grab her arm, it happened. The stag didn’t charge, even though I watched with growing horror as every muscle the beast had began to quiver. A shout rose in my chest as I readied myself to haul Jessalyn back, but it froze midway as her hand landed on the creature’s head.

The princess touched the space between the golden stag’s eyes like it was a lapdog, not a massive uncontrollable animal, and when she did, I felt it. My awareness of the road, the forest, the stag faded away and replaced it with this.

Desi, red faced and flushed, her hair like string plastered to her face as she beamed up at me and Bill, baby Genny in her arms.

My sister, Viv, standing there with her hands on her hips, remonstrating her children for some small infraction, then holding them close when they rushed towards her.

My mother, her face careworn, her hair grey, but her eyes lit up like a girl’s when the grandchildren came rushing in through the door. Her hands, strong and proficient as they rolled out the bread dough and then kneaded it into shape.

My dad chopping logs up into firewood in the backyard, his back no longer able to straighten fully after years of working at a forge.

Selene moving through Cheapside, distributing goods to those who needed it, then in the arms of Rose. A special love, a secret one, it seemed to burn all the brighter because of that.

Saffron and Hazel patiently explaining how to make a complex dish to Fern.

Wren and the other wolf shifter elders talking over a late morning meal about the news of the packlands.

Then Creed… My view of him seemed to sharpen, my field of vision growing wider and wider as I saw who was with him. Soldiers and wolf shifters walking side by side was not an uncommon thing in Khean, but the sight of the ragged trail of them all marching on the capital was. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest, then as my mood soared, I saw her.

Jessalyn, always Jessalyn, all the details my mind carefully stored away came rushing up. The shine of her hair, as bright as the golden stags, the flash of her eyes. She’d been brought up a proper princess, but wearing a veil all the time stopped her from learning how to mask her true feelings, each shift declared by her gaze. Her tiny form that never seemed to hold her back from anything, all the will of a much bigger, more powerful person throbbing there, but those were just the superficial things.

The way she laughed before she stopped herself. Her scent, like white flowers on the wind. Her beautiful, husky little voice that made every nerve ending come alive when I listened to her talk, and gods how she talked. She had a bloody mouth on her, that was for sure, and I loved every word that came out of her, even the harsh ones.

Fuck… my sisters always said it would come from out of the blue, but I never expected it to be like this. Once I acknowledged it, the feeling rushed in. I was in love with Jessalyn Tennesley, crown princess of Stormare. She was queen of my heart, and that meant I needed to wake up from whatever dream this was and ensure she was safe. The stag snorted, taking one last look into Jessalyn’s eyes before whirling around. If I thought to protect the princess from the stag, my focus was misplaced.

“What the hell…?”

Silas muttered that as we raised our swords, forcing Jessalyn back, right as the king, Arik, and the Duke of Fallspire arrived.

“There you are…” The menace in Magnus’ voice had every muscle in my body tensing, but I took in the sloppy way he was sitting on his horse, not even aware the saddle was beginning to slip. “Both of my quarries in the same place.” He cocked his head sideways as he drew his sword. “The gods have given me an opportunity to right a wrong. Kill the stag, fuck the girl, claim the gods’ favour.”

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