Page 8 of Ravenrose

His blue eyes sparkle and mine narrow, my mouth already opening to tell him off when his attention slides behind me. I turn just as Riven reaches us, and he too immediately embraces Fel in a tight hug.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming!” Riv gives him a playful shove, and Fel’s hands fly up to steady Maksa, who’s now wrapped around his neck like an oversized floof of a scarf. He pries her off, carefully handing her to me before running a hand through his hair, attempting to smooth it.

“Neither did I, but...” He looks around; all eyes are on us. “We’ll talk later, alright?”

Riven and I exchange glances, but he nods slowly in acceptance.

Fel’s eyes fall back to the little bundle of fluff in my arms. “Maksa’s grown.”

The little wolf’s ears perk up at the sound of her name. The last time Fel was home was right after I first found her, and I swear she likes him better than me.

“She’ll be six months old next week,” I say, scratching behind her ear with a smile.

“Come on.” Fel inclines his head toward the castle; the gates are open, the guards having already spotted us. He turns, grabbing his horse’s reins, and both Riven and I fall in step beside him, with me holding Maksa tight to my chest, lest she decide to run off again.

It’s a short walk to the gate, but I can’t help but look back over my shoulder every few minutes to check on the prisoner Fel brought with him.

He notices, smiling at me each time I do.

“We found him less than a mile south of here,” Fel says, taking note of my curiosity. “He and a couple of others, scouting close to Rosecliff.”

“What for?” I ask, scrutinizing the prisoner again.

“That’s what we need to find out.” Fel’s expression is harsh, and I realize as we pass through the high stone walls of Rosecliff that the pretty blue-eyed boy is unlikely to walk out of them just as pretty—or at all.

Chapter 4

ROWAN

“Absolutely not.” Alita’s slight frame blocks me from following the small unit of soldiers into the throne room to address the “visitor,” as General Winthrop calls him.

Irritation burns through me, and I steel my spine. “I have every right to be in that room, Alita.”

“It is not the proper place for a princess.” My governess’s face clearly displays distaste, and her disgust grows as she observes the mud still caked to my body and boots from the road.

I fold my arms across my chest. “The throne room is not the proper place for a princess?”

“Not this afternoon, it isn’t.” Alita’s face flames a deep shade of red at my insolence. Her cheeks might even turn purple. She starts toward the stairs, abandoning her stance in front of the doorway, certain I’ll be a good little princess, as usual, and follow.

But I’m about to be sent away, so I don’t really feel like being a good little princess right now.

As soon as Alita is far enough away that I know she can’t grab me, I waltz straight into the throne room, chin held high.

“Rowena Vivietta Valrose!” my governess shouts in disbelief.

“Just add a few more switches to my punishment, Alita,” I call back over my shoulder. “The only way I’m leaving this room is if you drag me out.”

“That can be arranged,” General Winthrop murmurs quietly as I pass him, a deep frown on his face.

My eyes narrow. “I’d like to see you try, General.” I continue through the room and up the carpeted steps of the dais, sliding into the seat beside Riven, who’s watching the entire exchange with a smirk on his face.

The general mutters his annoyance, but the prisoner waiting before us interrupts any subsequent retort by speaking up.

“I’d like to see that too.”

“Shut up.” The soldier guarding the man gives him a hard shove, but it doesn’t deter the dazzling grin he shoots my way.

“Everybody settle down.” Fel’s deep, commanding tone echoes through the cavernous space as he sweeps into the room, his sharp eyes taking in the brewing tension until they fall on me. “Rowan—” he starts, and I give him a hard look, just daring him to kick me out, “—can stay.” He gives me a small nod, and I smile.