Page 54 of To Steal the Sun

She opened the door with a flourish, more relieved than she wanted to admit when Easton blinked up at her from a seated position on the floor. He raised his hand against the light, and Charlotte beamed at him.

“You’re welcome,” she said, standing back and gesturing toward Henry and the bear in the corridor.

Easton leaped to his feet. “Gwen!” He rushed to her side, relief lighting up his face. “You’re here! Charlotte found you!”

“As promised,” Charlotte said smugly before her face twisted a little. “I haven’t found the others, though. At least not yet,” she added hastily.

“We’ll find them together.” Gwen leaned her head against Easton’s side.

He put an arm around her head, and she looked like she could have started purring with satisfaction. Charlotte hid a smile. Henry used to look like that sometimes in the library in their old castle when she scratched behind his ears or in other hard to reach spots.

“We should find somewhere less open,” Henry said tensely. “We’re not all going to fit in that cupboard.”

Gwen shivered, and Charlotte was glad she had Easton at her side. Whatever had happened to Gwen after she got dragged away by the queen, she clearly hadn’t fully recovered from it.

“This way.” Gwen led them to a door one corridor over.

Easton turned the handle for her and stepped into a deserted sitting room.

“No one comes here during the day, let alone at night,” Gwen said.

“What about our scent?” Charlotte asked. “Couldn’t they track us?”

“Actually, I think I can do something about that,” Henry offered.

Charlotte raised her eyebrows. She only hoped they weren’t going to have to slop through any water troughs.

“Give me a minute.”

He was gone for far longer than a minute, and when he returned, Charlotte wrinkled her nose in disgust. A highly unpleasant aroma clung to him.

Gwen, on the other hand, gagged, turning away with disgust.

“What do you think?” He directed his question at Gwen.

“Real bears probably think that smell is normal, right?” she asked. “Unfortunately my bear senses and human mind are working together in a terrifying alliance. It’s like the most awful stench you’ve ever smelled amplified ten times.”

Henry nodded with satisfaction. “I got rid of it all before I came in, so this is only a minor version of how it smells out there and all down the surrounding corridors.”

“Is that horse manure?” Easton asked tentatively.

Henry smiled with satisfaction. “From the stables. I’m just glad I won’t be responsible for cleaning your palace when this is all finished, Your Majesties.”

Easton made a choked sound, his eyes bulging, and Gwen gagged again. Charlotte laughed, however. “Brilliant!”

“Hopefully this buys us some time,” Henry said. “I’m not convinced we want to do anything too hastily.”

Everyone shared what had happened to them in the last few hours, Easton drawing even closer to Gwen when she gave an emotionless recitation of her time in the small room.

“We were right there!” Easton cried in a tortured voice. “If we’d just stayed a little longer, or if I’d called for you a little louder…”

“It’s my fault,” Charlotte said, misery washing over her. “I told you to lower your voice and said we had to leave. I didn’t think you were actually in there, Gwen.”

“No!” Gwen’s voice came out unexpectedly strong. “You were doing what you thought would be best for me. I understand that. And I’m actually glad you didn’t find me. I needed to break free myself.”

“You’re always so gracious,” Charlotte sighed, wondering if she would be the same after years of being a princess. Was it something you learned by being a royal?

Gwen drew a deep breath, sounding so distressed that Charlotte frowned at her.

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