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

'CAT. PAY ATTENTION.'Loushka's voice in my mind made me jolt awake, and more than one Council member frowned.'Thanks.' I thought, then struggled to catch up with the conversation until Loushka hissed some points. Once again, I felt supremely grateful that the Council Chambers were next to an external wall. On the other side of the wall sat Loushka, listening to the conversation via my mind; helping me to keep up with it and respond appropriately. I always hated meetings on Earth. Normally Alek and Sabyn would attend these meetings, but the guys left early this morning to go investigate an attack on a village, so I had to step in.The two weeks after Alek woke had been the busiest of my life, even compared to the month's training prior to the ball.A pang of envy hit. The girls are so lucky. While I sat stuck in this large, grand and stuffy room, listening to land complaints and international and national politics, the girls got to have weapons training. Artama instructed us today

THE TRAINING SESSION HAD BEEN fantastic, and I hummed while walking the corridors of the castle. Ada had brought a pair of fitted, straight-leg pants and a shirt that laced down the front for me to wear. The pants made my legs look long and the fabric almost looked like black leather. They made me feel rather bad ass as I strode along. The shirt was the shade of green that Ada knew I loved and it highlighted my complexion and hair. It reminded me yet again of all those times I'd attributed my pale skin and red hair to my apparent Scottish ancestry. Here on Gar'nyse, it simply emphasized the similarities I bore to Queen Ariadwen. We shared the green eyes and pale skin and, according to Yakov, the red hair was a family trait on my father's side.Speak of the devil- I smiled at the adviser as he walked toward me. 'Yakov.'He swept me a low bow before answering. 'Your Highness.'I gave the required nod of acknowledgment and rolled my eyes.He laughed. 'Now you do promise that you only

I HADN'T EXPECTED HER TO use her energy against me, and the blow that threw me into the door winded me. Loi stood in the middle of the floor, her face tense and fists ready at her sides.I scrambled to my feet and quickly unbuckled the dress, tossing it to the side, so I stood in the silk pants and undershirt; better than ruining the dress.She threw energy at me again. I easily deflected it, throwing her back on her ass. I felt a moment of vindication, which quickly shifted to shame. 'Laura. What the hell?'She staggered to her feet; her face creased with anger, arms shaking, and began to scream. 'What the HELL? What the hell is wrong with YOU?'CAT GAPED AND LOI CONTINUED, unable to stop once she started. 'You find out your parents are dead and DON'T MOURN. You find out you're a fucking princess and don't blink. What's WRONG with ME? What's wrong with you, CATHERINE!'The hysteria built within, fanning her words.'You were out of it for TWO MONTHS. I was TERRIFIED. You wake u

SHE SIGHED IN PLEASURE AT the light kisses and Alek paused at her mouth, savouring the kiss. The red energy began to flush out around her, echoed by the flush of her skin and he felt his own energy begin to respond. It didn't feel like the last couple of times. This time it felt as though his skin was thinner, more sensitive, and he could feel the throb of Cat's energy through it. The intense wave of arousal it brought nearly shocked him. Curious to see if he truly felt it, Alek began to move his mouth down Cat's neck in open, languid kisses, and nibbled at the collarbone that jutted up.The tiny, gasping breaths she made echoed through the red energy and then through his. The intense sensation made him pause, breathing hard as his head spun. Cat chuckled, and he opened his eyes to hers.'Feel it too?' she asked.Alek nodded, grinning down at her before leaning forward and kissing her. The swell of energy left them both panting. 'Whoa.'ALEK'S CHEEKY LOOK OF DELIGHT made me laugh