Book 2: A Catch

Estrella

I stalk through the halls of Solberg Castle with an unfamiliar scowl on my face. Well, it used to be unfamiliar. After a full day in this palace, I’m starting to worry my face is going to be stuck this way. Father asked me to meet him after one of his endless meetings with King Kieran simply because we haven’t seen each other for more than a few minutes since that breakfast yesterday. I suspect he’s going to take me for a walk in what passes for a courtyard here.

A maid scurries past me with her head down, obviously frightened. I wince and try to soften my scowl. There’s really no reason to be storming around like this, except that my mark has begun itching as well as hurting. It’s like having a headache and a mosquito bite in one. I haven’t seen Anwen since that breakfast, for which I’m very grateful. Occasionally, I walk through clouds of his stink. If it only worsened the pain in my mark, I think I might be able to handle it, but without fail