Page 73 of A Witch and Her Dragon
The door immediately bursts open, and three uniformed guards step in. Tension ripples through the air, and my dragon coils in response.
Something’s wrong.
“Your Majesty,” says Sir Larsen, a weathered knight I’ve known since I was a boy. He’s a firm teacher and a sturdy mentor, and I’ve always respected him, ever since the early days of me learning how to hold a sword and ride a horse and scrub the floors until every inch of them shined. “We’ve received urgent correspondence.”
“Urgent?” The king arches a brow. “Well, bring it here.” King Jorvick holds out a hand. Sir Larsen crosses the study and hands the parchment to him.
I study the king’s face as he reads. What starts as mild confusion quickly morphs into anger and concern. When his eyes flick up to meet mine, I see something I’ve never seen in them before: fear.
What could that letter possibly have to say that would frighten the king?
Suddenly, my skin is crawling, like my dragon knows something I don’t. And it’s rarely wrong.
“Someone’s taken her,” he says, his voice a fluttering whisper. “Alina has been abducted.”
My heart pounds harder, faster. I can scarcely hear the other knights talking to one another over the rushing of blood through my ears.
Without meaning to, I shatter the teacup held in my hands, sending broken porcelain and hot black tea all over the king’s fine rug.
“Who?” I demand. “Who took her?”
The king holds the letter out to me. I push to my feet and take it from him.
To His Majesty, King Jorvick of Elarwyn,
We trust this letter finds you in good health, though we understand your heart must be heavy with the weight of this loss. Princess Alina is in our hands—alive and unharmed, at least for now. We will keep our word as long as you do exactly as we say.
Your Majesty, you have something we desire—something more valuable to us than gold, something we are willing to exchange for your granddaughter’s life: your dragon shifter. Do not attempt to deceive us, for we know he is yours. Bring the shifter to the abandoned church on Old Serpent Road. Meet us at midnight beneath the shadow of the broken archway.
You are to come alone with the shifter. We shall ensure that no harm comes to the princess as long as you honor this agreement. Any attempt to deceive us or bring forces beyond the shifter will result in consequences you will regret. The princess’s life depends on your compliance.
Do not fail us.
Your granddaughter awaits your arrival.
—The Veiled Hand
“The Veiled Hand,” I whisper. My eyes flick up to meet the king’s. “Someone has hired them for this?” The paper shakes in my trembling hand. Around my neck, the chain starts to burn. “To kidnapthe princess? Forme?”
The Veiled Hand is a notorious group of mercenaries, assassins, and spies for hire, operating under the guise of anonymity. They take on the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs—regardless of the morality or political ramifications. And their services come at a steep price.
“Sir Larsen, you’ll stay. The two of you are dismissed.” The king waves his fingers at the two lesser guards flanking Sir Larsen. They immediately bow their heads before striding from the room.
“Give him the letter,” the king tells me.
I shove the parchment toward Sir Larsen. He takes it from me and begins to read.
“Your Majesty,” I say, voice laced with panic, “we must do as they say.”
King Jorvick studies me. “You would sacrifice yourself like this? Take her place? You’ve no idea what the Hand wants with you, nor who they’ve been hired by.”
“It doesn’t matter. There’s no other way. We can’t risk her life.”
“Sir Ashvale is right.” Sir Larsen lowers the letter. His eyes meet mine briefly, curiosity swimming in them, before he tears his gaze away to regard the king. “We must give them what they want. But we likewise must ensure forces are present. They could just as easily kill you and take them both.”
“They clearly state we are to go alone,” King Jorvick says.
“Of course they do. They are assassins and spies; their strength is not in numbers, but in stealth and secrets. We could dispatch them with ease.”
