Page 9 of Untamed

Papá’s strong arms wrapped around my back, and Mamá gently squeezed my shoulder. I inhaled his sandalwood scent and her flowery perfume. They held me until my body stopped trembling.

With his index finger, Papá lifted my chin to meet his gaze. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I swiped my cheek and nodded.

“I’m going to send word to your Uncle Uly.” Papá’s voice came out so softly I almost missed it. “He’s a whyzer who can help guide you. In the meantime, Cosme could use your help to make his betrothed feel welcome. You’ll join the Dotados when you’re ready.”

The idea of letting out this power brewed a fresh new storm inside of me. “Will you allow Zichri to visit in the time being?”

Papá took a step back. “Not until your uncle is satisfied with your progress.”

Blood pounded in my temples. “Zichri will find a way to get a treaty.” I ripped myself from Papá’s grasp and ran. They weren’t going to budge, and neither would I.

“Beatriz, come here,” Mamá called.

I lifted my dress skirt and sprinted to the end of the corridor; my bones vibrated with every stomp. I’d have to find a different way to unite Giddel with Himzo, to get a treaty, and help my brother. But I’d never use the wretched gift pulsing within my skin.

Chapter 4

Laude

Nighttime arrived all toosoon.

The next day, Jaime kept his promise to take me to Himzo after his proposal, which was one of the reasons I trusted him more than anyone else in all the world, except for maybe Beatriz.

“Are you ready?” Jaime held my hand with a grip that promised not to let go on my first trip through a portal.

We stood in the middle of Prince Cosme’s sitting room, in front of what appeared to be rippling air. Through that air, lamplight reflected off the golden curtains and polished walls that had obviously been cleaned not too long ago in whatever room lay beyond. Cosme stood off to the side chatting with Minerva, the portal maker. His tan skin appeared darker than yesterday, and strands of black hair fell into his sparkling brown eyes.

Minerva’s dark eyes glistened with admiration for Prince Cosme. Her long ringlets drizzled over her shoulders, daring onlookers not to be jealous. I fluffed my frizzy mop of rebellious hair. My instincts heightened when she giggled at something the prince said. Cosme wasn’t generally a funny person, so this reaction couldn’t have been from a hilarious joke.

Jaime stepped forward, taking me with him, though I wasn’t done staring questioningly at Cosme and Minerva.

I jerked my hand back. “What should I expect?” I glared at Cosme, distracted by his chuckle.

Cosme’s betrothed slept only a floor below us, dreaming about her wedding date. Granted, I didn’t know her, so I couldn’t be sure about her dreams. But either way, here he was murmuring sweet nothings into Minerva’s ear.

Jaime cut in front of me with his teaching expression in place: a wide-eyed, calm face, with one eyebrow cocked a fraction higher than the other. “You’ll feel a breeze as you step closer to the portal. When you walk through, pressure will push against your body and then yank you forward. Make sure to keep walking so you don’t stumble.”

Cosme clapped Jaime’s shoulder. “We’ll keep the portal open until you two return.”

“Minerva’s not coming with us?” Jaime asked.

“No.” Cosme glanced at Minerva. “We have some business to attend to, but feel free to come and go as you please. The other Dotados will guard the passage if we aren’t here.”

Suspicion mounted in my head like overflowing laundry in the wash basin. Cosme had private business with the flirting señorita here? My tail feathers. Just because Minerva could make portals didn’t mean they should be alone gallivanting across the Agata territories like newlyweds on a honeymoon.

Jaime led me into the rippling corner of the room. “I’d like to introduce you to the kingdom of Himzo.”

My teeth bit down on my bottom lip, rubbing against dry skin as we stepped closer to the portal. A water taste-test was the first trial Himzo would need to pass. Then, I had a parchment in my sleeve pocket with all the things I required of Jaime’s homeland before I’d say yes to moving.

Air whipped my frizz back, and a force pressed against my skin like Jaime had said. My insides quivered worse than they did when I’d climbed tall waterfalls or when I’d hidden during the attack on the Giddelian palace. Back then I’d had the luxury of being caught up in the moment. A force yanked me forward, white light flashed all around, and I continued to move my legs. My boot stomped on something hard. Light dimmed. A small room with stone walls and a plush carpet welcomed me to Himzo.

“Laude!” A deep voice boomed.

I rubbed my dry eyes and searched what appeared to be a living area of sorts. Stone, furs, and not-so-comfy chairs filled the space. On the walls, oil paintings of old men and rigid ladies stared with vacant expressions at all who entered their domain. Where had the voice come from?

Jaime looked up and waved at two men leaning against the balustrade on the floor above. The bald man with a hefty midsection nudged a skinny fellow beside him. Gonzalo and Blas.

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