Page 57 of The Lost Princess

I snorted as she led me carefully through a maze of passageways, clearly well-used and frequented by the servants. She waved me over toward a wall, pressing out with her palm. It creaked open, revealing a hidden door.

I wondered what other secrets this castle held.

“Hurry. They should all be in the audience chamber, but who knows these days. It’s been chaos since you left. Put your veil on.”

I felt a sharp sting in my side as she brushed by me. I hissed in pain.

“Sorry! Must be the pins from my sewing earlier. I didn’t have time to clean up when I found out you were here.” She clasped my hands, holding tightly to them. “I’m sorry. So, so sorry.”

The world had gone mad, and everyone was acting strange. I just needed to see my father, and all would be well.

“Go!” Selena whispered, sounding terrified. Materi stayed back, sticking close to Selena like he was her shadow. It all seemed quite dramatic to me, but I hastily made my way up the few steps to the grand double doors that signified entrance to my father’s quarters. There were no guards, which I thought was odd.

I reached out to take the large crystal knob in my hands, and it turned easily. I slipped inside, closing the door behind me, only to be met with a dozen curious, shocked faces.

All of father’s advisors looked at me in dumb shock, nobles who had served not only him, buthisfather before that. So much for them all being in the audience chamber! Selena’s fear that any of them could claim me as a bride now made sense. Terror gripped me. I tried to take deep breaths. I backed up against the door, my hand scrabbling behind my back for the knob.

“Um … hello.” I cleared my throat, and tried to stand up straight, my shoulders back. “I’m back. If you’ll excuse me.”

At my next movement, I was seized by a man with a strong jaw and salt and pepper hair. His grip around my upper arm was bruising, and I fought the urge to transform. Despite my best efforts, my claws burst through my nail beds, and as I wrenched away I grazed him with them.

He let go abruptly, hissing in pain and holding his arm.

“My apologies, you must have caught a pin,” I crooned, using Selena’s excuse from earlier. “Now, if you don't mind, I need to see my father,” I ordered through clenched teeth. I dared one of them to try something.

A booming voice shot through the crowd, and the nobles quickly parted like grains of stalk in a thunderstorm. “Move! MOVE I said! Is that? I thought I heard—”

My eyes lit up with joy as my father shoved nobles out of the way to get to me. The noble that had grabbed me backed away as fast as he could. His red hair hung limply around his shoulders, a threadbare robe around a dingy tunic. He wasn’t even wearing his crown. He nearly tripped in his haste to reach me.

When we finally stood face to face, his lips parted in shock.

I lifted my chin. “I made it back,” I said simply, not wanting to burst into tears in front of everyone. I had so much to tell him!

He grabbed me in a crushing hug, pinning me to his much larger body. My inner draken squawked, viewing it as a threat. I told her to shut up. This was my father. He smelled like cedar and tobacco. I was only daughter—his precious gift from the gods. There was no danger here.

He let me go abruptly, spinning around to face his advisors. “Out! Everyone out!”

Muttering in confusion, they stepped on each other in their haste to obey. In minutes, it was only us. Alone.

“Father, I—”

“You’re back. You’reback. What happened? I heard the Cillians sacrificed you to some kind of monster!” Honest distress lined my father’s face, his hands cupping my cheeks gently.

I shook my head. “No, actually. That’s why I came back. Thereisa monster, but … oh, it’s so complicated. I have many questions, just as many as you likely have!”

My father took my hand, leading me out toward his balcony and the few chairs scattered around. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, staring out at the view of the mountains behind the castle and the city below. If I closed my eyes, I could practically feel Nasi with me.

I missed him.

I wasn’t sure how much to say about Nasi, if anything at all. So instead, I started with something else. “Can you tell me about my mother?”

My father froze, his smile going rigid and his eyes cold.

“What did you say?” he asked, an odd edge to his voice.

We both ignored the chairs, instead standing toe-to-toe. I’d never realized I was just as tall as my father. When did that happen? I used to fear him, but he seemed so much older now, diminished even.

I twisted my hands in the gauzy material of my dress. I’d come too far to back out now. I steeled myself, forcing myself to look into his brown eyes. “My mother—the woman who gave birth to me. You never mention her. She was queen, right?”

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