SHOCK RANG THROUGH ME AS I stared in confusion at a strange ceiling.Where the hell am I? Why can't I move right?All my limbs felt oddly heavy, and I wasn't sure if I had the strength to push up, to look around. A scrabbling noise somewhere beyond my feet distracted me, and a frantic feeling of panic began to swell in my chest when I struggled to move again.Why am I in bed? What's happened?The sound of a door swinging open and male voices made me freeze in terror at the unknown.'Hold on a moment!' a voice commanded, and a man's face appeared, staring down in astonishment. I recognized the uniform with a jolt; a guard of the Royal Chambers, that Yakov showed me.Yakov. Oh god, I'm not on Earth.The guard carefully eased me up to a sitting position. When someone reached to adjust the blankets I flinched, the motion too close for my current state of mind. Words and images flashed through my head, like a movie reel on fast forward, and my body shook with shock while I tried to p
EVERYONE STAYED STILL, WATCHING WHILE Cat processed Yakov's words, her gaze locked on Alek. The adviser exchanged a glance with Elena. She made a small gesture at the others and he turned to Sabyn. 'It's time to leave the girls be.'They left the chamber, closing the door behind them. The guards outside appeared bewildered at the day's sudden change of events. When they came to Sabyn's chamber down the corridor, Yakov went straight in and had a seat at the table in the lounge area.Sabyn shot him a curious look and joined him.'Yes?'After a moment's pause Yakov began.'What I'm about to tell you is to remain secret until Elena, herself, announces otherwise. Understand?'Sabyn stiffened, regarding Yakov with apprehension then with a sigh, nodded, and shifted a little closer.ONCE THE MEN LEFT, LOI and Elena helped Cat out of bed, getting her washed and fed before revealing anything else. Poor Cat seemed bewildered at her lack of strength, and Loi bit her lip hard to stop from
LOI STARED AT CAT WHO simply sat there, staring blankly at Elena. Nervous, Loi squeezed her hand.'Cat? Are you okay?'Cat began to laugh.THEIR EXPRESSIONS OF SHOCK AND concern while I laughed amused me even more, and I laughed harder. How could I not? What a truly ridiculous concept.'Why are you saying this, Elena? I've seen my baby pictures, from when I was born. This is absurd!'The anger caught me off guard, but I went with it. Seriously, I just wake up from a two-month hiatus and they try to pull a prank on me?LOI SHOT ELENA A LOOK. 'You're going to have to show her, and explain. I told you so.''Thank you, Laura.'Loi ignored the curt reply and settled into a better position. This might take a long time, she thought.The more Elena spoke, the more Cat withdrew. Her face grew whiter and whiter, her eyes vacant with shock. Loi hugged her tighter, wishing desperately that she could dull the pain.Kassie and Sian snuck into the room during that long afternoon and Cat
THE NEXT MORNING, ELENA DECIDED Catherine had had enough alone time. While the girls felt she should be left for as long as necessary, it was no longer Cat's right any more. Whether she recognized it yet or not, she would never again be simply Cat, but Princess Catherine. A Princess of the Blood and she had to be prepared for that.Perhaps Yakov would be better suited for this Elena suddenly thought. 'Did you want to try talking to her, by yourself?' She glanced at the adviser who walked beside her.Yakov looked surprised. 'Why?''The two of you got close before the ball and I thought she might find it easier to learn from you. She may not see me in a favourable light yet, and I really do need to let the Lieutenants know about the situation.'YAKOV NODDED, AS REGENT, ELENA needed to inform quite a few people of the situationespecially with the possibility of the announcement to the citizens causing a major upheaval. The citizens of Elion were very loyal to Alek. The betrothal wil
WE BOTH STARED ACROSS AT Alek and I took a moment to re-adjust the pillows behind my back. Audi shuffled around, getting comfy and I stroked her silky ears. 'Elena?''Hmm?''What were my parents like? Do I have any family now?'Anxiety at finally asking the questions that echoed in my dreams made my stomach ache and I shifted again, making Audi grumble.Elena began to describe them and listening to her words sort of made them more real. The Sorceress's face grew animated and soft when she alternated from talking about my father and mother. Those words though, mother and father, still felt awkward and forced.For the moment, I could still only picture my Earth parentsAlek's parentsas family; trying to envision those people in the paintings throughout the castle as my parents still felt unbelievable. But the funny anecdotes Elena remembered did help. It felt easier to believe when she switched to discussing the family I did still have.CAT'S FACE LOST SOME OF the wary look when E
SABYN LEANED OVER THE BED to kiss Loi, who sleepily cracked an eye open.'You off?'He smiled down at the sexy rumpled vision before him, long dark hair spread across the covers with a tempting glimpse of thigh amongst the tangled sheets. 'I am. Might go for a flight with Tomiar.'She nodded and yawned before snuggling back down. 'Enjoy,' came the muffled reply.He chuckled and walked out, quietly closing the door behind him. It wasn't exactly early, but Loi had fast revealed her love of a sleep-in on the rest days.Sabyn, while more than happy to spend time in bed with her, wasn't interested in sleeping all day. So he left Loi to it, knowing they would catch up later in the day.A flight, high into the mountains would be great, if Tomiar was in the mood. Sabyn quickened his pace. Around the corner, in front of the Royal chambers, stood Elena and Yakov, deep in hushed conversation.'Morning,' Sabyn called, watching both heads snap up. The sudden intent look they both wore made h
I WAVED THE TWO OF them away when Loi asked if I wanted anything. It might only be mid-afternoon, but after all the laughing I'd done thanks to Sabyn's stories, I could feel the need to sleep creeping over me. Being sick was so frustrating! I wouldn't miss the extreme tiredness at all. Pushing out of the chair, I walked slowly to the bed and climbed in. The soft mattress and still warm sheets were horribly inviting, and I didn't even realize I'd fallen asleep until Audi hit me during her attempt to "sneak" on the bed, sometime in the night. Grumbling at the klutzy dog, I shuffled about until we were both comfortable, then promptly fell asleep.While Yakov worked hard that week at teaching me about the Council of Elion and my duties within it, I worked just as hard at distracting him, relaying certain tales Sabyn had told me, or gossip from Maeri. It worked the first few times and had the adviser doubled in laughter as he remembered the incidents he'd been privy to. I loved to make him
HIS ARM FELT NUMB; UNTIL he tried to move it, which brought on a sharp jolt of pain followed by the unpleasant tingle of pins and needles.Blinking, Alek tried to open his eyes, astonished at how hard it felt.Where am I?He stared at the ceiling above; this is the Royal Quarters, why am I here?Normally he slept in the Griffon Guard Quarters, along with the other men. Well, not Gredel of course and Rumal had been absent quite a bit lately.That's odd. Why does it feel like I'm missing something, he thought, pondering. A noise caught his attention, and he realized then why he couldn't feel that arm. Catherine lay curled beside him, the numb arm under her. He smiled in spite of the current confusion he felt and forcing his arm to work, carefully wrapped it around her and let his head fall back. He felt her mumble against his chest in her sleep and smiled again.A few seconds later he jolted with a gasp, his brain suddenly putting the pieces together. At that moment Cat woke.TH