Chapter Four

KEYARA

Key had just reached the cabin where she lived with Anne and Jenna when she heard the sound of the arrival announcement from the castle.

She picked up the pace and met Jenna in the blackberry meadow behind their home. Jenna looked up at her, her hands busy stripping the berries from the branches.

“Here, Key,” she said, handing over a basket. “The blackberries are perfect. Hopefully, he’ll be pleased.”

Key took the offered basket and began plucking the fruit, the juice quickly staining her fingers.

They worked together in silence, a comfortable companionship they had always enjoyed. Key was glad they had to pretend to be sisters. Jenna had always felt like one.

Jenna finally broke the silence. “What do you think King Pershing will think of this visit?” she asked. “We aren’t prepared at all for a royal guest. I wish they would have warned us.”

“I know,” Key sighed. “I hope Pershing won’t take it out too badly on Ma if it goes badly. I’m glad I’ll be there to help her.”

“What?” exclaimed Jenna. “She’s letting you stay this time?”

Key smiled. “Yes, I convinced her King Ash was too young to be a threat. Plus she needed the help too much to refuse.”

Jenna took her hand and squeezed it.

“I’m so glad you’ll be there, Key. King Pershing is always a little nicer when other rulers visit, at least until they leave. And we always eat a little better. The visitors are usually really nice as well.”

“Although the men from Kodia…they can be intimidating,” Jenna said nervously.

“How so?” asked Key.

“Well, they’re all so…big,” Jenna said.

Key laughed. “Is that all?” she asked.

Jenna scowled at her. “Don’t laugh, Key. I don’t know exactly how to describe it. When I say big, I mean ~big~. They’re all so tall, it’s unnatural.

“And they hardly ever speak unless it’s to one of us. It’s like they all know what each other is thinking or something.”

It sounded to Key like Jenna had been listening to the rumors a little too much.

“They’re all really good-looking, though.” She smiled sheepishly.

“King Ash is the biggest and most handsome of them all. I served dinner during their visit last year. He was very kind, even though it seemed like he really didn’t want to be there.”

“What does he look like?” Key asked, laughing at Jenna’s assessment. She had not been able to make out his appearance from on top of the tower; the distance had been much too great for her to see him clearly.

“Well, tall, of course, and muscular. I think we covered that.” Jenna laughed, blushing slightly.

“He has very blond hair, almost white. I’ve never seen anything like it. And his eyes are the most vivid color green…”

Key handed Jenna her basket full of ripe berries as she trailed off, wiping her sticky hands on her apron. “Here, Jenna. Ma wants me to stay here for the formal greeting, but you better get back.”

Jenna nodded and pushed the baskets up on her arm, heading quickly toward the castle.

She suddenly turned back toward Key, raising her voice over the distance between them. “When are you coming back?”

“In a little while,” Key replied. “Ma just wanted them to get down to business before I do, so I can stay out of sight.”

“All right, Key, I’ll see you soon”

“See you soon, Jen.”

ASH

Ash watched Pershing walk toward him from the castle gates, attempting to give off an air of confidence.

~King ~Pershing, he corrected himself, though the man was hardly deserving of the title.

Formalities must be maintained, especially if he would be negotiating for his mate during this visit. Ash couldn’t afford to be rude, even though the man irked him to no end.

Ash dismounted his horse and approached Pershing, Luca just a few steps behind him.

Pershing was flanked by his two sons, who Ash had met before. The older was around his own age and smiled in greeting as Ash approached, though the expression was clearly forced, based on the mistrust in the man’s eyes.

The other was just a boy, standing unnaturally straight, trying to impress his father. Ash briefly recalled that each of their mothers were no longer living.

There was no sign or scent of the girl.

His gaze moved behind Pershing to the guards, as meager as their numbers were, and further still to the servants lined up in silent greeting.

It was difficult to detect, but there was a faint scent of his mate among them.

His eyes traveled over them and settled on a girl with her eyes downcast who looked vaguely familiar from his previous visits. This was not his mate.

But she must know her; her scent faintly lingered on this girl. Along with the scent of blackberries. Yes, the girl’s hands were stained with the juice of them.

Suddenly Pershing cleared his throat, and Ash’s gaze snapped sharply back to him.

King Pershing clearly had been awoken at the arrival of the Kodians. His tunic was skewed, and his thin gray hair stuck up slightly on the side.

Perhaps arriving unannounced had been a mistake. A few hours ago, Ash had hardly cared what Pershing thought, but now his mate was at stake.

He needed to be in this pathetic king’s good graces if he hoped to leave with her. Although her absence in this greeting was a mystery.

~“She’s not here,”~ he mind-linked to Luca. ~“Why would he be hiding her? ”~

He saw Luca scan the crowd as he had, reaching the same conclusion.

~“As soon as we get in there, search for her. Follow the girl who smells of blackberries.”~

~“Yes, Alpha.”~

~“Do not speak to my mate!”~ he replied, a little too harshly. ~“Just find her whereabouts and report back to me.”~

~“Yes, Alpha.”~

He could feel Luca’s amusement through the link.

Luca was hardly a threat to Ash’s mate, being madly in love with his own. Hadn’t Ash heard enough of his complaints at having to tag along this year, being newly mated?

Ash knew Luca would forgive him. All mated wolves knew the possessiveness one felt toward their mate, especially when the link was freshly established.

“King Pershing.” Ash inclined his head slightly in a show of respect. “Please forgive our early arrival.”

“Yes, King Ash, this is of course unexpected. We did not anticipate you until next week.”

Ash could sense the annoyance in Pershing’s reply, and the man obviously realized his overstep because he quickly added “But you of course are most welcome, most welcome. Welcome to Levia.”

Ash smiled. He heard Mateo approaching from behind them, the scent of blood in the air. “As an apology for our unexpected arrival, we bring dinner.”

Pershing looked behind them at Mateo, who had a well-sized buck slung over his broad shoulders. His eyes widened. “Thank you, King Ash, but we are more than capable of providing,” he said weakly.

They both knew that was a lie.

Ash clapped him on the shoulder, and Pershing’s eyes widened further. Ash was rarely this friendly, or informal.

“Of course you are,” said Ash. “But my men stumbled across this handsome buck and couldn’t resist. We must prepare it while it is fresh for us all to enjoy. It was on your land after all,” he said.

Pershing seemed to be stunned into silence.

“Thank you, King Ash,” replied the older son, taking a step forward at his father’s silence, clearly eager to gain attention. Ash didn’t even know his name. “A venison dinner will be most delightful indeed.”

“Thank you…” Ash trailed off. Damn, he should have prepared for this visit better. How could he not even know the heir’s name?

“Jonas, my lord,” he provided, though his smile faltered, and anger flashed in his eyes at the obvious snub.

“Of course,” said Ash, “Lord Jonas. My apologies.” Ash smiled awkwardly.

This approach felt foreign to him. He usually came into these meetings with obvious indifference, usually letting his beta handle the small talk. Luca was much better at it.

He cleared his throat. “Shall we get down to business? We have trade routes to discuss, I believe.”

Pershing seemed to have recovered his voice. “Of course, my lord, please come in,” he replied.

Pershing glanced at Mateo, who still held the sizable buck with no signs of weariness. “If you would take that to the kitchen, please.”

Mateo nodded silently in reply.

~“Go with Mateo. That’s where the blackberry girl will be.”~

Luca nodded his head almost imperceptibly in response.

The two broke off from the group, toward the entrance to the kitchen. Most of the women followed, including the girl who had drawn Ash’s attention.

Ash was satisfied, for now, and followed Pershing through the gates into the courtyard.