Chapter 23

"Your highness?"

Conaan stirred to his right, as he let out a small breath. "What is it?"

"I came to check on you," Brandon said, his voice light. "It is way past your normal time. I wanted to make sure everything was fine."

Conaan's eyes slowly opened, and he let himself sit up, his chest heaving a little. He turned to his side, but it was empty, and not even slightly ruffled. It made him wonder if it had been his imagination.

"I saw her leaving, your highness," Brandon said with a chuckle.

Conaan sighed, then peeled himself off the bed. "Any developments?"

"I have deployed Shadow to Polaris. He will report to me once he gets there. Also, the elders will be arriving in three days for the annual council meeting with you." His voice got a little darker at the last sentence, and Conaan who had been pushing his hair back into a bun turned to him, his eyes slightly squinting.

"What is wrong?"

"Well, your highness. You know how all the past