Page 71 of Fragile Oath

Avani shrugged. “I suppose that depends on whether or not you like her.”

I furrowed my brow. She certainly hadn’t asked whether I liked her furry little squirrel before plopping him on the pillow next to mine. Again, she raised her eyebrows like she knew exactly what I was thinking.

“You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?” I decided on a blunter route than I normally would have taken, remembering that this was Rowan’s sister and Gwyn’s cousin.

That caused her to laugh outright, a wide grin splitting her beautiful face. She wasn’t quick to smile like Rowan, but the expression looked like it belonged on her features all the same.

“Well, court games are all good and well, but you’ll never survive in this family if you can’t be just a bit demanding sometimes.”

I couldn’t quite bring myself to tell her that surviving in this family was likely a non-issue for me, not when she must have known that, so I only nodded. “Very well. Why does it matter if I like her?”

I glanced at the creature again, and her fluffy tail subtly wagged at the attention.

“Because she’s more than just a pretty face,” Avani said, patting the dog’s head. “She’s a guard dog. Or rather, a guard puppy right now, but she’ll get there. That way, you wouldn’t have to share a room with me and Albert anymore.”

My mind worked on overdrive to piece together the implications of that, how every single thing that had happened since Alexei came could have been avoided if I had known about his presence before I walked unwittingly into my rooms.

How maybe I could find a way to sleep on my own without being terrified of every stray gust of wind on my balcony. Already, I had spent yesterday morning moving my outdoor collection of herbs and plants further toward the balcony so they didn’t brush up against the window when a breeze blew through, something Avani hadn’t commented on.

“You got me a guard dog?” I finally breathed.

Avani raised a single eyebrow, and it didn’t take me long to amend my assumption. The dog was already tall enough for her head to come to my hips. Long, sleek black hair covered most of her body, but her face was white, along with her chest and the underside of her belly and tail. She was exquisite, chosen by someone with exacting taste. Someone I had told just last night that I was tired of being a burden to everyone around me.

And of course, he had listened. He had taken care of it, like he always did.

“Davin got me a guard dog,” I corrected myself.

She inclined her head. “He did. Or rather, the option of a guard dog. This one can be used by the palace guards if you don’t want her.”

Already, part of me rebelled at that for reasons I couldn’t define.

“But yes,” she went on. “She was chosen to meet your specific needs.”

I furrowed my brow curiously. “Which are?”

Avani straightened her shoulders, a small grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“She doesn’t shed, and she scares the hell out of people. Besides, she was top of her class.” She patted the dog’s head proudly, and it basked in her praise. “And obviously, she’ll go where you go.”

Like to tea? Or back to Socair? Something in Avani’s pointed expression made me think she meant both.

I looked at the dog — or puppy, as she insisted, though I couldn’t imagine how massive the thing would get if that was the case. Piercing blue eyes studied me curiously in return.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” Avani said. “Why don’t you let her stay with you for the day, and we can see how things go?”

I let out a slow, relieved breath. “That sounds perfect.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the dog trotted over to stand at my left side, sitting down at my feet and leaning ever so slightly against my leg. The weight and warmth was gentle and comforting.

I had a suspicion I had already made up my mind.

* * *

“What in allof the stars is that?” Gwyn exclaimed by way of greeting outside the tearoom.

She had been…not exactly warm since she heard I was staying for the trial, but at least less angry.

“The dog?” I clarified, my brow furrowed. It wasn’t like Davin’s family kept secrets, so I assumed she knew about it already.

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