Chapter 5

FIVE

Tara

It's later that morning, and I'm dressed for traveling. There are two parties heading out from the castle today: our small group of five, and Scarlet's much larger one that's heading off on her own adventure.

There's no sleepiness in the air, just excitement, and I look on at everything, feeling out of place. I know that the moment the guys join me here, we'll be leaving the shifter castle behind, and it makes me a little sad. Especially since I'll be leaving Scarlet, who has been so wonderful to me.

I watch her directing her group and giving orders. She's wearing a pale pink dress, her hair braided down one side, and traveling boots. She looks every bit the princess she is.

When she sees me staring, she walks away from her shifters and over to me. Her movements are graceful. Her beauty is impossible to ignore. I wonder if my husbands wanted someone more like her. I wouldn't blame them if they did.

"Isn't it exciting?" she asks.

Before I can answer, Scarlet pulls me into a tight hug, and I feel my eyes burning. It's weird to finally make a friend and lose her so quickly, at least for a while, although I don't want to show how upset I am. She deserves better than that.

She releases me, and her smile is wide. "I'm so excited to finally be exploring and adventuring. I know it'll be in the company of a dozen of my father's finest shifters, but I won't let that ruin anything." Then she winks, grinning wildly.

"I hope when you get to anywhere that you can send word back, you will."

Grabbing my hands, she squeezes. "Absolutely. You'll be hearing from me so much I'll be annoying."

I laugh, because I doubt it. I think she'll be too busy to worry about me.

"Oh." Her eyes get wide. "Did I tell you I sent a letter to the witches?"

My entire body tenses. "No, I don't think you mentioned it."

She doesn't seem to notice that I suddenly feel like the air's been knocked out of me. "Well, I sent word to your Baldemar."

Now I'm just confused. "Why?"

"To introduce myself and tell him all about the shifters and our town, of course."

Are we not speaking the same language? I feel like I'm missing something.

"Why?"

She leans in. "To invite him here, of course. He sounds like he's at an age where he might benefit from retiring to a lush place, like the shifter lands, and we could certainly benefit from his expertise."

My heart aches a little. "That would be wonderful, but–"

Her eyes twinkle. "Have a little faith, Tara. Some things really do work out."

I'm about to say more when a giant shifter calls for Scarlet.

Turning back to me, she smiles. "I have to go… but did you remember to bring as much rainwater as you could?"

I nod. "And the princes have encouraged all the shifters to drink rainwater whenever possible."

"Good. Stay safe out there, and try not to let those four big husbands of yours drive you crazy."

She hugs me again, wishes me good luck on my journey, and races off to answer the man. I'm left staring after her, wondering if there is anything she could've written in that letter to get Baldemar to leave the witch lands and come to the "savage" world of the shifters.

I doubt it.

Still, I appreciate her trying. I suspect the coming days will be difficult. It'll be nice to have a little bright spot of hope to keep me warm.