Page 18 of Crown of Slumber

“It’s not convenient at all. As I said, I didn’t do this. And—Wait, did you sayyour people?” Fennick staggered back a step, his eyes wide with horror. “Who are you?”

“I’m Princess Aurelia,” I said coldly.

He went deathly still, his eyes wide as saucers. Then, he exhaled, running a hand through his brown locks. “Well, shit.”

“You said the matter is urgent?” I said, spreading my arms. “Do tell what trouble ails your kingdom, good sir! It’s not as if I have anythingpressingto attend to at the moment.”

“Princess—Your Highness, please…”

“I don’t have time for this,” I spat, turning and striding back up the steps to the courtyard. I was planning on taking a horse to the witch coven, but I refused to open the portcullis and let in that deceitful bastard.

He had to be behind this. This couldn’t be a coincidence.

My fingers curled into tight fists of rage as I stormed back into the palace, taking the halls to the gardens like the way I’d come in.

He had the gall to flirt with me and dance with me andcharm me. All the while he brought this dark magic into my kingdom…

A roar of frustration built in my throat, and once I lowered myself from the trellis, I threw my head back and screamed at the sky. No one would hear because they were all asleep.

Well, Prince Fennick wasn’t. But I didn’t give a damn what he thought.

He deceived me. It had all been an act. He’d probably known who I was the entire time. The dance had only been a farce to charm me into negotiating with him.

I would rather die. I wouldnevernegotiate with a man like that.

Cursing Prince Fennick to every layer of Hell I could think of, I escaped from the gardens and hurried down the path that led to the nesting grounds.

Mal met me at the edge of the wood, ears perked up in agitation. He could sense something was off. He had my riding boots clamped between his teeth, as if he’d known I would need them.

“You feel it, too?” I asked, stroking his snout, overjoyed to find him awake. So either this enchantment only affected people, or it stopped at the palace grounds. “I need your help. I know you’re probably still tired, but do you have another ride in you?”

Mal grumbled his assent, his eyes glittering with excitement. Even if it pushed him far past exhaustion, he would do it. I knew my dragon better than I knew myself.

I slid on my boots, then brought my fingers to my lips and whistled loudly. After a moment, Jorey’s silver scales shimmered with his movement as he obediently bounded from the forest, rushing up to me like an overexcited puppy.

He sniffed me, his tongue lolling as he panted happily. Iscratched under his chin and said, “I need you to wake the other dragons, Jorey. The castle must be protected. Can you do that?”

Jorey blinked slowly at me, his snout twitching.

I nodded, my expression solemn. “Yes. Even Kade.”

Jorey’s ears curled inward with apprehension. I leaned close and pressed my nose to his. “You can do this, Jorey. Kade might be grumpy, but she will do what’s necessary to protect our people.”

Jorey huffed and lifted his chin, his eyes steely with determination. I kissed the top of his head. “Thank you, my brave friend.”

Jorey licked my cheek, then turned and darted back into the forest. After a few moments, several twigs snapped, and the massive trees began to shake as Kade was awakened.

I stared up at the shifting trees, my body tense. Only a few times had we woken Kade for our protection. She was quite a sight to behold.

But I didn’t have time to stop and watch. Time was not on my side.

I turned to Mal, who suddenly stiffened and sniffed the air. I whirled, biting back a cry of rage at the sight of Prince Fennick on the forest path.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I raged, stomping toward him. “Was my dismissal not clear enough? Get out of my kingdom!”

He lifted his palms, just as he had when we’d met in the forest earlier. “I only came to help.”

“I don’t believe you.” My eyes narrowed. “Why are you in the woods again? And don’t try to say it was for dancing, because that was obviously a lie.”

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