I suppressed a squeal but I practically jumped at Jin. “That’s a meilita, isn’t it?”

  Jin started away from me and bobbed his head. “I-it is.”

  I noticed a look of confusion and lack of recognition in his eyes. Arian noticed it, as well, and swooped in to capture one of his arms in hers. “My friend Fei here is very fond of meilita. I told her on our way here that you had one as a pet.”

  The light of understanding clicked on in his eyes and he nodded. “Y-yeah, well, it’s not exactly a pet. A meilita chooses you, so it’s sort of the other way around.”

  “A very interesting creature,” Yushir spoke up as he stepped closer to Jin.

  Jin blinked at the visitor. “Aren’t you Prince Yushir?”

  The prince smiled at the recognition and puffed out his chest. “I am indeed. And you are?”

  Jin set his hand over one of Arian’s and grinned. “A close friend of the royal family. A very close friend.”

  Poor Arian. She looked about ready to bolt. I think if it weren’t for her trying to save me from being revealed, then she would have.

  Yushir lifted an eyebrow. “Is that so? I might make some inquiries from you later.”

  Jin’s confusion returned. “Inquiries? Why? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “I am sure he only wishes to get to know you better,” Arian assured him as she tugged on his arm. “But should you not be showing your meilita to the children? They always enjoy watching it dance.”

  “My inquiries would actually be about you, my Lady Arian,” Yushir corrected her.

  There it was. The hammer on the nail of trouble and the pin was just slammed into the board of chaos.

  Jin’s eyebrows crashed down and he tightened his grip on Arian’s arm. “Why would you want to do that?”

  Yushir blinked at him. “Should I not wish to know more about Lady Arian? She is very fascinating and kind.”

  “Well, I won’t argue with you about that but you don’t need to find out too much. You won’t be here very long,” Jin countered.

  “But I would certainly propose another trip here if that means seeing Lady Arian again,” Yushir insisted.

  “Maybe Arian will be too busy with me.”

  Understanding was starting to dawn on the slow prince. “You are very good friends, as you say, but she may perhaps enjoy more intimate company.”

  Arian’s mouth dropped open and Jin’s face turned an unhealthy shade of red. I noticed the corner’s of Dadan’s lips twitch upward.

  Jin sputtered before he managed to get a word out. “What?!”

  Yushir tamped down a bemused smile behind a fist which he raised to his lips. He cleared his throat and clasped his hands before his back. “I mean that Lady Arian may one day wish to settle down and she would find the company of an suitable man to be a very agreeable idea.”

  Jin stabbed a thumb at himself. “If it’s going to be somebody, it’s going to be me!”

  I felt a faint tug on my arm and looked down to see a lad of about six staring up at me. His big brown eyes were almost overflowing with tears. “Can you help me?”

  I knelt in front of him and offered the lad my best smile. “What’s wrong?”

  The young boy sniffled. “I can’t find my momma. She was supposed to be waiting for me but she wasn’t there.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  I offered him my hand. “Why don’t I help you find your momma with you, okay?”

  The boy bobbed his head and set his hand in mine. I stood and turned my attention to my companions. Things were not going well.

  “I shall accompany Lady Arian back to her home!”

  “That’s my job, Your Highness.” Never was the title said with such vitriol. “You just keep enjoying the festival. I’m sure walking back with her will only muss your robes.”

  “Prince Yushir! Jin!” Arian scolded her male companions.

  “Not now, Arian!” Jin snapped at her as he continued to glare at Yushir. “Can’t you see I’m defending you?”

  Yushir turned up his nose and scoffed. “Lady Arian does not need defending, but I am sure if she did she would rather rely on someone older than a young cub.”

  “But not someone who would lean on her to support himself because of how old he is!”

  I leaned forward and caught Dadan’s attention. An apologetic smile graced my lips. “Could you tell my friends I need to help this boy find his mom?”

  Dadan dropped his gaze to the lad at my side and lifted an eyebrow. “Do you often help lost children?”

  I grinned down at the lad and rubbed his hair. He giggled and I was glad to see a faint smile. “Only when they ask me.”

  “Shall I accompany you?”

  I adjusted my hold on the boy’s hand. “It’s alright. I’m sure we’ll find his mom soon. Just tell my friends I’ll be right back.”

  Dadan reluctantly inclined his head. “I will do so.”

  “Thanks. You’re a life saver.”

  I slipped away with my young charge leading us. If I had bothered to look back, I would have been flattered as he watched me leave. Flattered, and a little worried.

  We wound our way through the thick crowds and came out the far side of the marketplace opposite Arian’s home. The streets on that side of the city were relatively empty, what with no vendors to entice locals and visitors alike. A few tourists admired the lodges on stilts and many more meandered in the direction of the caves.

  My young guide led me away from those folks and toward the entrance to the city. The eerie silence scratched at the edges of my mind and worry began to creep into my thoughts.

  “Where were you supposed to meet your mom again?” I asked him.

  “Just this way,” he insisted as he tightened his grip on me.

  We reached a crooked intersection and I could see the faint edges of the forest that crept into the outskirts of the city. Not a single person was around except for my young guide.

  And that’s when he shot off.

  “Hey!” I shouted as he darted down the street to our right. He sprinted like his life depended on it. A creeping sensation in the back of my mind began to wonder if it did.

  I made to follow but a voice to my left stopped me. “Miss?”

  My blood ran cold at the smooth, chilly voice and I slowly turned around to find myself staring at King Wearg. The wolf royal had hidden himself in the shadows of one of the empty lodges where he leaned one arm against a pole. His bright eyes glowed in the dim light as he studied me.

  “Where are you going in such a hurry?” he asked me.

  I swallowed hard and tried to tamp down the shiver that ran up and down my spine. “I-I was just trying to help a kid find his mom but he just ran off.”

  “Did he?” Wearg mused as he pushed off his support and sauntered out of the shadows.

  I felt like a mouse being slowly stalked by a cat. “Y-yeah, but I guess he didn’t need my help after all, so I’ll just be going-”

  “Wait a moment.”

  Half of me wanted to sprint away but that wouldn’t have been a good look for a guest of the bear king to turn their back on a king of their rival clan. I clasped my shaking hands in front of me and lifted my chin. “Is something the matter, King Wearg?”

  He stopped a few feet in front of me and his nostrils flared. “I believe Prince Yushir introduced you as Lady Fei, is that not correct?”

  “Yes, but I really should be going.”

  I tried to slip around him but he stepped into my path. “Wait a moment. I was wanting some help.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be happier finding a local to help you,” I insisted as I tried again to get around him, and again he sidestepped into my way.

  His eyebrows shot up and his eyes glowed with a bright yellow light. “From where do you hail, Lady Fei? As I mentioned before, you have a most unusual scent. One of which I’m very familiar but that doesn’t match your appearance.”

  I really didn’t like the direction this conversation was going. “I really have to go.”

  I tried to skirt around him and managed to take one step past him when his hand shot out. His fingers wrapped around my arm and an impossibly strong vice-grip stopped me dead in my tracks. I gasped and whipped my head around to find him staring down at me with a determined glint in his eyes.

  “I’m afraid I can’t let you go, Lady of the Heavens,” he commented as he yanked me against him. “You’ll be coming with me.”

  My eyes widened and I opened my mouth to cry out. Wearg used his free hand to stuff a handkerchief into my mouth. The clothe was damp and a sickening scent floated into my nostrils. My head began to spin and my legs buckled. The wolf caught me in his arms as the world turned black. The last thing I heard was his deep timber echoing in my ears.

  “Sleep well, my little miracle, and awaken to your good work.”