indigo court 05.5 - night shivers Read Online Free Page A

I was six years old. She is protected—there is a natural boundary around her that keeps her from being seen or noticed when she’s in danger. She has a destiny to play, though what it is, I know not. It is not yet manifest.
    Then perhaps the people aboard The Wave Catcher were targeted, but she alone remained unseen.
    That could be—I cannot say for sure.
    I told Grieve what Ulean had said. “So, she was born with strong safeguards.” Leaning over, I kissed the lynx’s head. “Very well, pretty one. You will live with us. But we have to go to dinner. Make yourself comfortable till we get back.” I called for Druise and—as she entered the room—held up the kit. “Sweet Pea will be staying here with us. We’ll need someone to watch her while we’re at dinner. Meanwhile, His Lordship and I will be going down to dinner. Join the staff at the servants’ table. Remember what I said about my cousin’s maid.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.” And, with that, Druise took the kit and was off. Grieve offered me his arm and I placed my hand on it. As we headed through our bedroom, then into the hall where Check was waiting to escort us, I wondered where this would all lead.
     

 
     
    Chapter 2
     
    The banquet hall was decked out in holly and fir boughs. The floor was white marble, and the heavy dark wood of the table and chairs juxtaposed beautifully against it. At one end of the hall, a huge fireplace lit the room with a fire. Even though it burned fiercely, it barely touched the chill of the air. As we entered, I saw that my cousin and her husband were waiting for us. Another Cambyra Fae, Chatter was Grieve’s best friend and had stood by him during our battle against Myst. Unlike Grieve, Chatter had not been turned when Myst overran the Marburry Barrow.
    Rhiannon had changed over the past year. Not just her eye color, but her stance. A heart-wrenching mistake during her early teens had weighed her down for years, but now the worry of it seemed to have vanished. We were not the women we were and we’d never return to the lives we once led.
    When she saw me, her face crinkled into a smile, and she let out a squeak. “Cicely!”
    “Rhia!” Ignoring tradition and decorum, I rushed forward and caught her around the waist. We hugged, under the glaring eyes of our advisors. Strict and Edge—brother and sister who were all too much alike—were charged with turning us into proper queens, but they had their hands full.
    Finally, I stood back, looking her up and down. We were wearing similar gowns, only hers was as green as mine was blue. She looked fit. Better than fit—there was something about her that shone through. I cocked my head, suspicious, but I didn’t want to shout out my thoughts in front of everybody.
    I cleared my throat. “Queen Rhiannon, Lord Chatter, welcome to the Eldburry Barrow. We bend our knee to the brilliance of Summer and promise you peace and safety in our realm while you walk under the Winter moon.” I stood back and gave a low curtsey as Grieve bowed, courtly and solemn, though I could tell he was suppressing a smile.
    Chatter—in as refined a getup as Grieve—caught his eye and the two of them snickered.
    Rhiannon curtseyed and Chatter bowed in return.
    “The Lord of Summer and I pledge honor to Queen Cicely of the Court of Snow and Ice, and Lord Grieve, her most honored consort and King of the realm. We thank you for the invitation and promise peace from Summer while we are here.”
    And then, formalities aside, we were in our chairs. I wanted to grab Rhia and go off in a corner. We hadn’t seen each other in months now, and I wanted to know if she had heard from Peyton, or Luna, or any of the others—or if there was news of Kaylin, but all that would be talk reserved for private chambers. For now, we would stick to official topics. Which brought us to the ship.
    “We have some bad news, I fear.” I motioned for the waiters to serve. We were apparently having roast beef and potatoes,