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It comes as a surprise when Nox and Eiden arrive to collect me.

Persa hurries to an adjoining room, only to return with the promised book. It has a plain leather cover with fancy gold writing that takes me a few moments to decipher…Mounted and Bred by the Stag Patrol.

I gulp and slam it against my chest, my eyes darting nervously toward Nox and Eiden.

“What is this?” Nox asks, his tone laced with suspicion as he points at the book.

“Cultural insights,” Estelle says. Her smile is one of fake innocence. I choke back a laugh when Eiden quirks one brow. “Fawn very sweetly expressed an interest. You might want to ensure she is somewhere comfortable and uninterrupted when she reads it. It will be quite the challenge, and at least she will be somewhere soft if she falls asleep.”

“Maybe I could just tell her?” Eiden says, his brows drawing together.

“It’s all very dry, educational material,” Persa wades in. “Better if we discuss it with her afterward.”

Nox is wearing a strange expression that I can’t quite decipher. “Fine then,” he says.

“Speak soon, Fawn,” the two ladies chime in together, coming to the door to wave me off.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Fawn

“If you like reading, we could show you the Royal Library,” Eiden says as we make our way along the corridor.

“Oh, I would love that. Do you think Seven would mind?”

“Not at all,” Eiden says.

Nox doesn’t offer an opinion either way.

“If it would be no trouble, I would like that very much… Was Blue okay? Where is he now?”

“He discovered the kitchens earlier. The cook has a soft spot for him already,” Eiden says with a smile. “We left him snoozing on the balcony of our suite.”

I’m glad he is settling in. This is a big change for him as well as me.

We take a right at the end of the corridor. I’m very conscious of the book I have clutched to my chest.

And so is Eiden, for he points at it and says, “Would you like me to carry that for you, Fawn?”

“No, thank you,” I say a little primly. “Persa entrusted it to me.”

Nox quirks one brow. The book would have been upside down for him when I was reading the title, and I don’t believe he had time enough to decipher it—at least, I’m praying he did not.

I sneak a glance at his profile. He is staring straight ahead and looking a little tense.

“Seven is often busy with his royal duties,” Eiden explains, redirecting my attention to him. “But I believe that Jude will accompany Nox and me on our patrol tomorrow afternoon.”

“Do you patrol often?” I ask.

“Several times a week,” Eiden explains.

I’m glad for Wolf. We are both outsiders. He is used to playing an active role in the community. He has long been the pack enforcer and therein lie his skills. We both need to make our way here, find new friends and a purpose. I already love Seven’s sisters well and meeting them has filled me with hope.

“Do you have any siblings, Eiden?”

“No,” he says, his face darkening. “No family at all.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling sad for him. He has no one, just like me. But I’m glad I met Seven’s sisters. They have done so much to mitigate Marigold’s spitefulness. “And what about you, Nox? Do you have any siblings?”