I stood and I gave them all one last squeeze before hugging my mother tight. She kissed my cheek, then gently ushered the kids out of the room, leaving me to the silence. I understood their fear. Not simply because my father had met his demise on that mountain, but because I hadn’t been there since. I really hadn’t been anywhere since, content to spend my days inside my palace. There was nothing for me out there but heartache, and I could easily conduct my business from within these walls.
With a sigh, I headed for my room to ready some supplies. I had no idea how long this quest would take. Every shifter prince knew the rules when it came time for one’s quest. No outside help, which meant humans and their vehicles. Magic was permitted as long as you didn’t expose yourself to humans. As a matter of fact, now that I thought about it, a good deal of the rules concerned humans.
I packed any necessary clothes, toiletries, medical supplies, a few small cooking supplies, protein bars, and water. The rest nature would provide, and I was permitted to shift into my bear form, so that would take care of anything else I needed. Of course there was no telling what we would face out there. I had a feeling this quest would involve more than simply fetching ingredients.
My family stood somberly by the main doors, waiting for me, and I gave them each a kiss and encouraging words, told the twins to be good for our mother, before I turned to Saer, his expression one of determination. He had a khaki backpack strapped to his back, matching the color of his cargo pants and boots, his long-sleeved gray sweater hugging his slender body. I motioned for Saer to follow and quickly left. No point in lingering. It wasn’t until we were halfway down the main road that I turned to find the entire palace had come to see me off.
“Wow,” Saer said, sounding breathless. “They really love you, don’t they?”
A lump formed in my throat, and I waved at my staff, my heart squeezing. I’d never seen such a display from them. No, that wasn’t true. The day I returned, bloodied and bruised without my father, everyone had come running. They cared for me. Of that I was sure. But him, they’d loved. Beside me, Saer’s smile stretched from ear to ear. I turned with a grunt and started to cut through the front lawn toward the west gate that led to the woods surrounding the palace. “Let’s go.”
“Uh, sure. Okay.” Saer scurried to my side, his shorter legs working twice as fast to keep up with my long strides. If he was going to come on this journey with me, he had best get a move on, because I wasn’t about to slow down. At least that’s what I told myself until I realized he had the list of ingredients. I stopped and turned to him, holding a hand out.
“Give me the letter from the king.”
Saer took a step back. “Um, the king gave me very specific instructions. I’m not supposed to let it out of my sight. When the quest is done, I have to return the letter to the king. No one else is supposed to see it.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. It’s my quest. Give me the letter.”
Saer shook his head, and I stared at him. Was he actually refusing me?
“I order you to give me the damned letter.”
Lifting his chin, Saer met my gaze without hesitation. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I have direct orders from King Alarick.”
I peered at him. He was serious. The man was actually defying me. “I could just take it from you.”
Saer took another step away from me. He eyed the edge of the forest several yards ahead. My laughter was void of any humor or amusement.
“Please tell me you’re not thinking of running.”
His eyes darted to the forest again, and I narrowed my gaze at him.
“Don’t even think about it.” I took a step toward him, and he was gone, leaving me standing there gaping like an idiot. Saer had shot off like a bullet. Gone. Dust settled on the ground where he’d been standing seconds ago, and it took several heartbeats before I took off after him. I figured he’d be quick. I mean, coyotes were faster than bears, but Saer was a whirlwind.
“Get back here!” I chased after him, running into the thick forest, his lighter frame sprinting in the distance ahead of me. He was definitely faster than the average coyote. The wind whipped in my face as I sped through the woods, the sun filtering through the branches of the trees around me. I found myself smiling, my heart pounding in exhilaration. I leapt over fallen logs, my boots kicking up dirt and pebbles as I ran. I’d forgotten how good it felt to be out here, the scent of freshly dewed grass and blossoming flowers filling my lungs. I skidded to halt and gazed up at the towering trees. Nothing but the sound of birds and a trickling brook nearby met my ears.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, a sense of peace washing over me. My quest had only just begun, but by the end of this, I would be changed. Whether it was for the better or worse, I had no idea.
Chapter Four
SAER
I hadn’t so much as seen Prince Bernd stop chasing me as sensed it. As much as I hated going against his orders, our king’s orders took precedence. I had been given very specific instructions. I’d actually been given two letters—one containing instruction and the ingredients we were to find on our way to, and on, the mountain, the other a sealed letter addressed to the prince. He was to receive the letter at a very specific point in time. What that time was, I hadn’t the foggiest. Apparently, I would know when it was time. The king could be so cryptic it was maddening. But I had my duties, and I had no intention of failing.
Turning, I peered into the distance to where the prince had stopped. He was just… standing there, face lifted to the sky, eyes closed. With a heavy sigh, I made my way back to him. I stood to one side, far from him, but close enough to see the small smile on his face as he basked in the sunlight. He was so different from Prince Shiri, my coyote prince. Shiri’s beauty was delicate, every inch of him smooth and silky, sinewy and slender. He moved with such grace, it was as if he were floating, his feathery golden hair falling to his shoulders. Prince Bernd was a towering force, a stone wall of chiseled features, with tanned skin and pitch-black hair. His amber eyes turned almost black when deep emotion coursed through him.
The two couldn’t be more different. Shiri was like an exquisite flower, admired and protected by those around him, easily swayed and bruised by the wind, while Bernd stood with his roots buried deep, weathering the harshest storms, his solid frame protecting those around him.
“Do you plan on running from me this entire quest?” Prince Bernd asked, eyes still closed as I headed toward him.
“That depends. What will you do if I let you catch me?” Was I… flirting? Did those words just come out of my mouth?
Prince Bernd opened his eyes and leveled his gaze on me, studying me with those piercing amber eyes for what seemed like ages. It was like he could see into my head and read my thoughts. Wrinkling his nose, he finally averted his gaze. “Keep the letter.”
I’d been planning to, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. He was sort of a grumpy bear. Convinced he wasn’t going to try and take the letter from me, I came to stand beside him. I couldn’t help my smile as I took in the lush greenery around us.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I fell in love with this kingdom the moment I stepped foot in it. Nothing but forests for miles and miles, peace and tranquility. I can shift and frolic without fear that I’ll be shot at by some hunter or human who believes me nothing more than a pest out to steal his chickens.” Bernd arched an eyebrow at me, and I chuckled, my face heating. “Okay, maybe that one time, but in my defense, it was chicken. Not like it wasn’t going to end up eaten by someone anyway. Might as well be me.”