Court of the Shifter 4 Chapter 3

The Reptile Representative’s daughter waited for me to cross the distance between us with one hand on her hip, but I was already familiar with her attitude. We’d encountered one another before, but I still couldn’t help admiring her beauty. She wore a yellow dress that matched her slitted eyes, and her long black hair was woven into several braids.

With Lord Sylvester as her father, I could only imagine what knowledge she had of the scheme he was the mastermind behind. Salina Simillion had also sent multiple anonymous letters to the king of Ordrya, and she’d helped speed along our investigation of the kidnappings.

“What can I do for you, Miss Simillion?” I asked in a formal tone, but I couldn’t help sniffing the surrounding area to make sure we weren’t being lured into an ambush.

The snake woman had previously tipped me off to an attack, and I couldn’t help but wonder what hand she’d played in planning the entire thing. If she was anything like her father, she couldn’t be trusted, but she’d definitely acted against his best interest in favor of saving lives.

“I wished to speak with you privately, Your Grace,” the woman said with a similar sense of formality. She kept her eyes locked on my face, but her shoulders were tense.

“Who, them?” I jerked my head toward the women in my company. “You can say anything you need to say in front of them.”

The girls all nodded their heads in agreement, and the snake shifter’s eyes flicked from one face to another until they returned to me.

“Very well.” The snake woman tilted her head as she dropped into a curtsey. “I wanted to apologize for my family’s part in the treachery against King Frejit.”

“You mean your father’s attempt to attack the city with an ancient monster?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What part did you play in that exactly?”

“I must make a confession, Your Grace.” Salina’s eyes fixated on the ground as she rose to her feet. “I am the author of the anonymous letters the king received.”

“Yeah, I know.” I flapped my hand in a dismissive manner, but the snake woman widened her eyes at me. “What else can you tell me? Did you help them?”

“My father insisted I stay out of his affairs,” the snake woman said in a low voice, and when she met my gaze, her eyes were imploring. “I had to sneak into his office to steal the information I told the king. I would have been punished by both sides if I were found out, and yet I still put my neck on the line.”

I glanced at the three women at my side, and curiosity shone in all their eyes. They wanted to hear what the woman had to say for herself just as much as I did, so I turned back to the Reptile Representative’s daughter.

“So, you had no part in his scheme?” I clarified.

“None other than being his daughter,” Salina said with a shake of her head that sent her black braids flying across her shoulders. “I wish to apologize for the circumstances of my birth.”

“You don’t need to apologize for being born,” I said, and I gave her a sympathetic smile. “If you’re willing to prove yourself, then there’s a few things you can do. First, tell the king everything you know about your father’s operation and any further plans his followers may be working on. Second, announce to the city that you disown your father, and that you stand with the throne. Then I am willing to speak with you further when I return to town.”

“You’re leaving town?” Salina cocked one eyebrow in a way I didn’t entirely trust, so I definitely wasn’t going to give her the details about our destination.

Then her eyes welled up with tears, and her bottom lip quivered with emotion. I was getting mixed signals from the smooth speaking snake woman, but my instincts told me to trust her. Salina had no reason to help us stop her father’s plan, and even though she’d remained anonymous until now didn’t mean she went completely under her father’s radar.

“I am going on a quest,” I allowed in a vague tone.

“A quest for what?” the snake woman asked.

“Bear hunting,” I chuckled as I raked a hand through my hair. “Anyway, if you’d like to go up to the palace and make a formal report, I can escort you to where you need to go.”

“I can find my way, thank you, Prince Elijah,” Salina said in a hurried tone, and her eyes flicked to the street behind her like she was looking for a way out of this interaction.

“Do you have somewhere else to be?” I asked with a cooly arched eyebrow.

“Would I be allowed to leave the palace once I entered the doors?” Salina countered. “Or would I be held as a diplomatic prisoner?”

“That all depends on you,” I said, and I shrugged one shoulder as I turned away. “You’re the only one who knows how innocent or guilty you are, but coming clean goes a long way in deciding how you’re going to be treated.”

“Do you think she will do it?” Calantha asked in a disbelieving tone once we were far enough away from the snake woman.

“If she has any morals, she will,” Willow said.

“I don’t know her well enough to predict what she will do,” Luxe sighed. “I hope she does the right thing.”

“Me, too,” I said, and I wrapped my arms around Luxe and Willow’s shoulders as we turned toward the palace once more.

Calantha strutted in front of me, and the streets were dark and empty as we made our way to the palace. Our pace was brisk, and we leaned into the blowing wind. Soon, we were in the hallway outside of our rooms, and Luxe hesitated as if she had just realized she wasn’t at home.

“I should go pack my things for the quest,” Luxe suggested. “I don’t want to forget anything important.”

“Will you two go ahead without me?” I said to Willow and Calantha as I separated myself from them. “I want a few words alone with Luxe.”

“Sure,” Cal said with a wry smile and a knowing twinkle in her crimson eyes.

“We’ll warm the bed up for you.” Willow flashed me her own seductive smile, and her emerald green eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I won’t be long,” I said, and I squeezed both of their hands warmly before they went behind the bedroom door.

Then I turned back to Luxe, and she was staring at the ground with a shy smile on her face. Despite all the time we’d spent together, we hadn’t been alone very much, and it still seemed to make her nervous. I flashed her a warm smile as I curled my pointer finger under her chin, and I lifted her gaze to mine.

“I can walk you home if you want,” I suggested in a soft voice.

Luxe immediately shook her head, but she bit her bottom lip when her eyes returned to mine.

“Are you sure?” I stepped back and looked her up and down. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I can take care of myself,” Luxe said, and she shrugged her shoulders. “Besides, the streets are all empty by now, and there won’t be anyone out except for the guards.”

“The guards and the criminals,” I said, “and it doesn’t seem like the people of the city are very happy with the nobles lately.”

“Would you like me to have a guard escort me to my father’s house?” Luxe tilted her head to the side in a questioning manner.

“I would prefer that over you going alone,” I allowed, but I followed my words with a smirk. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

“Send someone for me when it’s time to leave on the quest,” Luxe said as she stepped away from me. Then she took a deep breath, paused, and looked over her shoulder. “I’ll be eagerly waiting for your messenger.”

“You’ll be the first to know,” I chuckled. “But I need to do some more preparations before we leave Ordrya. I’ll explain more later.”

“Go ahead and do whatever you need to,” Luxe said with a nod. “I’ll be ready.”

She turned to go, and I got to watch her bubbly behind bounce down the corridor before I turned to enter my bedchambers. Then I slipped inside my room and joined the other two women in bed.

A few days passed while we made our preparations for the quest, but there was no telling how long we would be gone. The mysterious nomadic tribe of bear shifters traveled all over, and there was no way of knowing where they were until we went and looked at their last known location. We had to be prepared for anything, and I wasn’t about to let a lack of rope or something keep us from meeting our goals.

The girls and I visited the bazaar more than once as we worked our way through our lists, and we’d almost acquired everything we could think of. After a lot of deliberation about the efficacy of bringing along a pack animal, we ended up deciding to have two horses accompany us on our journey. One for Luxe to ride since she couldn’t fully shift into her bear form, and the other to carry our supplies.

It was the evening of the third day when a knock sounded on my bedchamber door, and I paused my millionth inspection of my packs to answer the call. It was a messenger from the king who simply said we were requested at dinner, so I rounded up the other two, and a short while later, Calantha, Willow, and I were headed to the royal dining hall.

“He hasn’t requested this before,” Calantha observed as we traversed the corridors of the palace. “Do you think something happened?”

“I’m sure he merely wants to spend time with us before we leave,” Willow said. “We haven’t given him a set departure date yet, but I’m sure he can sense our eagerness to leave.”

“I can see that,” I said with an agreeable bob of my head.

“I’m surprised I was included,” the vampiress said, and her crimson eyes stayed on the floor as she spoke. “It shows some growth in the connection between our realms.”

“Father only wants peace,” Willow assured her, and my pregnant wife squeezed my hand. “And for the prophecy to be fulfilled.”

We made it the rest of the way to the royal dining room, and the guards pulled open the doors for us to enter. The lavishly decorated space was filled with candlelight, and the smell of roast beef wafted through the air. The king and queen were seated at the head of a long table where the rest of the Court of Representatives sat as well. Salina Simillion sat in her father’s place, and she wore a midnight black dress that drifted off her shoulders in long strips. Everyone rose from their chairs when we entered, and the three of us took the last empty spots.

I hadn’t realized it would be such a formal affair, but I was ready to roll with the punches. I’d spent most of my time in the shifter realm saving the people at this table, and I wondered if that was why they were all here.

“Prince Elijah,” the king said as he cleared his throat. “I’m glad you could join us. I was hoping I didn’t catch you too late, I know you’re departing soon, so I wanted to give you a nice send off.”

“I appreciate that, Your Majesty,” I said with a nod of my head. “I’m glad we got the chance to speak again, but I was planning on coming to see you before I left. I have some thoughts about the security around Lord Sylvester, and the palace in general I would like to share with you.”

The king met my words with a warm smile, and the rest of the court mumbled agreeably, but I wasn’t sure what all I should reveal openly to the Court of Representatives. I thought over my words carefully, and then I cleared my throat.

“I calmed the riot by saving Lord Sylvester’s life,” I pointed out. “But I also inferred I would be guarding him personally. I put my power on the line, and they backed down. It will be a different matter entirely once word leaks that I am no longer residing in the palace.”

“We will all feel your absence, son,” Lord Urman said, and his jowls jiggled as he nodded emphatically. “My daughter eagerly awaits word from you.”

“I wanted to cover all my bases,” I said, but I was only met with confusion, and I realized it was a baseball analogy. “I am trying to think of everything.”

“I can understand that,” Captain Casper Holt said in his gruff manner. “You’re smart to prepare in advance.”

“Anything we can do to help?” General Jornei Hazelmoon asked with a tilt of her head that revealed her fuzzy leopard ears. “Do you want a platoon of soldiers to accompany you on your journey?”

“Eli is stronger than a platoon of soldiers,” Willow said in an amused tone. “Plus, Calantha and I will be with him. We’ve conquered worse with just the three of us.”

“I won’t let any harm befall the fabled Ulvant,” Calantha promised in a more serious voice.

“We still need him, you know,” Duchess Olivia Octavian tutted. “Don’t keep him away for too long.”

“I’m sure the crown prince will do what he thinks is best for all people,” Salina interjected in a haughty tone, and the snake shifter flicked her long black braids over her shoulder.

“Still,” Lord Gruxian argued with a shake of his large head. He had always been in full animal form in my previous interactions with him, so it was strange to see him looking more human. He wore a brown overcoat with a cream colored silk shirt beneath it, and his horse-like face was clean shaven. “The Ulvant should understand that his place is in Ordrya on a throne.”

“The Ulvant’s place is wherever he wants to be,” Calantha said as she crossed her arms and narrowed her crimson eyes. “He isn’t a servant of the shifters.”

“Alright, alright,” I said, and I lifted my hands. “We don’t need to fight over me. There’s enough of me to go around.”

“He’s right,” the king said in a louder voice. “This doesn’t help anything. Prince Elijah, will you please explain to us what you would have us do in your absence? The people are unhappy, Lord Sylvester a prisoner, and many other problems plague Ordrya. If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.”

Everyone turned their eyes back to me and waited with patient expressions. It was an odd sensation to be in charge of a campground one moment, then responsible for an entire realm of magical shifters. They would really follow through on my instructions, so if it didn’t work, I would be held accountable.

It was a lot of pressure, but I reminded myself of everything I’d already accomplished. I’d defeated wizards, monsters, and solved all manner of problems since I’d arrived in this magical world, but I was far from done.

I had to fulfill the prophecy.

“Lord Sylvester is a problem,” I said in a clear voice. “Without me being close enough to keep an eye on him, there will be attempts at freeing him made by the people.”

“So, what do we do?” Captain Holt asked. “Can’t we just kill him and be done with it?”

“If you want to completely lose control over the populace, sure, go ahead.” I shrugged. “Lord Sylvester did something to win them over, and until that is undone, then he has more control over them than you realize.”

“He is worth more to us alive than dead,” Calantha said.

“If he is dead when we return,” Willow said as she stared into Captain Holt’s eyes, “then there will be consequences.”

“Maybe we should move him to a different location before you leave,” General Jornei suggested. “Somewhere the people won’t know about.”

“I say keep him in the most secure vault around,” I said. “And that means the palace dungeons. There are things you can do to increase your chances, and the more security measures in place, the less likely it is he will be rescued.”

“What other measures would you have us take?” King Frejit stroked his long beard as he spoke. “He is already guarded by the best of the best.”

“Double that,” I suggested. “And then some. No one speaks to him, none of the guards go into the city, and rotate shifts frequently.”

“That seems extreme,” Lord Gruxian argued, but I shot him a hard look and held his gaze for a long moment, and he eventually dropped his eyes to the table. “But I suppose it is whatever you think is appropriate.”

The food was served just then, and our discussion was briefly interrupted by the sudden appearance of roast beef and countless side dishes. My stomach growled as the aromas struck my nostrils all at once, and the two girls at my side giggled.

“Some sort of magical defense could be useful as well,” I said between bites. “There’s obviously enough wizards out there to be able to find one capable of such a thing.”

“I know of a protective wizard, Your Grace,” Duchess Olivia said as she lifted her hand like she was a student in class. “I can summon him to the city, and I’m sure he will be capable of some magical defenses.”

“How much is this going to cost?” King Frejit countered with a line creasing his brow. “I’m not sure the crown is capable of handling a long term expense.”

“I will cover the cost personally,” the duchess said in an adamant tone. “Lord Sylvester is a danger to the public, and I sleep much better knowing he is behind bars.”

“Agreed,” Lord Gruxian muttered.

“I think keeping Lord Sylvester behind bars is something we can all agree on,” Lord Urman said, but then he cast a suspicious glance in Salina’s direction. “Or is it still up for debate?”

“My father is better off imprisoned than free,” Salina said and met the bear man’s gaze head on. “I should have more to fear of him than any other since I have betrayed his trust.”

“Salina’s loyalty is not under question,” King Frejit interjected with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Lord Sylvester will be heavily guarded with every measure possible.”

“What about the people of the city?” Salina asked. Her yellow slitted eyes focused on the king, and she leaned forward in an eager manner. “How do we fix what ails Ordrya?”

The king’s gaze flicked from the imploring snake woman to me, and I indicated for him to go ahead. I was curious what he had to say on the subject, but I had a feeling he was too disconnected from the common populace to see solutions.

“We jail anyone spreading discord,” the king said in a hesitant voice. “Enact harsher legislation to control dissent.”

“This isn’t something you can punish out of them,” I said with a shake of my head.

“What do you mean?” The king frowned, but I could tell he was genuinely interested in what I had to say.

“Beating someone while they’re down isn’t going to make them like you,” I said. “They’re upset because something they need from you isn’t being met. I’d say the first step would be finding out what they’re upset about. Start small.”

“Give everyone a voice,” Willow added with a nod of agreement.

The young princess was much more forward thinking than her father, and she had no issue in pretending to be a commoner who worked for the king when we first met. Calantha’s eyes held a hint of doubt in the crimson depths, but she’d also been raised in the lap of luxury.

“Criminals and traitors to the crown deserve to be treated as such,” Captain Holt grunted. “We cannot let the laws be broken without consequence.”

“I’m not talking about letting everyone break the laws,” I said. “I think there can be a balance between total authority and democratic influence.”

The shifters and vampire blinked at me, and I wondered if I needed to translate it further.

“As in giving the commoners a modicum of control over their own lives?” Calantha asked as though to clarify.

“It’s a way for you to understand them and vice versa,” I said. “It’s not rocket science--, er it’s not that difficult.”

“I will attempt such a course of action,” King Frejit said in a decisive tone. “What other things would you like to discuss before your departure?”

“Who is all joining you on this quest?” Queen Lunaverre spoke up for the first time, and her gaze flicked to her daughter.

“Mother, don’t start,” Willow sighed.

“Calantha, Willow, and Luxe are going with me,” I said, and the queen’s eyes widened. “What’s the big deal?”

“Your wife is pregnant,” the queen said as if this clarified everything.

“And?” I looked between Willow and her mother in a questioning manner.

“What if something happens to the baby?” the queen asked. “No, we cannot allow it.”

“I don’t remember asking you for permission,” I said, and I frowned. “When we got married, we made promises to each other to always be there. How are we supposed to do that if we’re separated by miles?”

“She can’t go in her condition,” Willow’s mother said with an adamant shake of her head.

“I don’t think you’re understanding,” I said as I caught the king’s eye.

Willow’s father smiled, but it was obvious that he was uncomfortable with publicly disagreeing with his wife. I would find no help there, and the Court of Representatives really had no say in this matter.

“Willow is coming with us with or without your approval,” Calantha said with a stubborn lift of her chin.

“Can everyone please stop arguing over this?” Willow leaned back and sighed. “I’m not an invalid, I can speak for myself.”

“Listen to your mother,” was all the king would say.

“I have an idea,” I said. “What if we got some kind of doctor approval for her to travel?”

“Doctor?” the queen asked with a confused tilt of her head.

“Healer, apothecary, midwife, something like that,” I said. “Do you have anything like that in Ordrya?”

“Of course,” the queen said, but she frowned. “You’re saying we should let a midwife examine her before she leaves the city.”

“Yes,” I said, and then I turned to Willow. “How do you feel about that?”

“I’m just glad you asked for my input at all,” Willow chuckled. “But I would be okay with visiting a midwife.”

“There,” I said, and I turned back to the royal couple. “If the midwife says she is fit for travel, Willow is going with me.”

“And if the midwife says she should stay?” Queen Lunaverre arched a challenging eyebrow.

“I will stay,” Willow sighed, and she didn’t meet her mother’s gaze.

I squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner, and Willow shot me a small smile. There was a mischievous glint in her emerald green eyes, and I had a feeling she was planning on joining the quest no matter what. Pregnant or not, my wife was kind of badass, so I didn’t enjoy the idea of traveling without her.

We settled into less aggressive topics, and the king smoothly transitioned the conversation around the table to give everyone a small amount of his attention. He was a good diplomat, but he’d need all his charm to win over the hearts of the people. For his sake, I hoped he had it in him to humble himself before the people he led.

The dinner ended on a positive note, and I was glad to see Salina accepted at the table without any dramatics. If we really could trust the snake woman or not, it would be good to keep her close by.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Willow and I went to the midwife the next morning, but we had to trek all the way through town to a back street of the Feline Zone. The buildings were made of an adobe-like substance, and they stacked several stories high, so the alleyways between them remained cool all day long. We passed by several people lounging on stoops and balconies, and we waved in a friendly manner. Several cat shifters snarled and slunk back inside their homes, but a few returned the gesture in kind.

My pregnant wife kept her hand locked firmly in mine, but I could feel her beginning to sweat on her palms. I squeezed her fist warmly and flashed her an encouraging smile. Her eyes were nervous, but she managed a small smile back at me.

“Are you worried the midwife will say you should stay home?” I asked as we took a right turn.

“I’m not going to let some strange shifter woman tell me what to do,” Willow said with a shake of her head. “I know what I’m capable of, and I don’t need anyone telling me otherwise.”

“Well, I have your back no matter what,” I said. “But I hope you can listen to the midwife with an open mind. I sure as hell don’t know much about babies, let alone shifter babies, so maybe we should give her the benefit of the doubt.”

“I won’t rush into rejecting her,” Willow promised. “But I can’t make any promises that I will follow through with her instructions.”

“Whatever she says, we all have the baby’s best interest at heart,” I reminded her. “The priority should be their health and wellness.”

“I’ve already gone with you to win battles while I was pregnant,” Willow pointed out. “I think I can handle a walk across the countryside.”

“I distinctly remember your father calling it some of the harshest terrain in the realm.” I laughed. “But like I said, I have no doubt that you can do it.”

We arrived at the midwife a short while later, and I knocked on the rough hewn wooden door. It reminded me of the swinging saloon doors from the wild west days.

An old woman with a knitted shawl around her shoulders answered the door, and she had her gray hair pulled back into a tight bun at the base of her neck. I couldn’t tell if the spots on her face were from age or animal markings, but she appeared to be a normal old lady.

“My name is Willow Hazelmoon,” my wife said, and then she gestured to me. “This is my husband, Prince Elijah. We sent a messenger about an appointment with you?”

“Yes, yes, come in, come in,” the old lady said as she beckoned us into the shadows.

“What was her name again?” I whispered to my wife as we followed her inside.

“I am Madam Euphegenia,” the midwife said loudly. “I have been practicing childbirth since before you were even thought of, and I will not have any smart remarks in my home.”

“Understood, ma’am,” I said.

The midwife reminded me of Russian grandma’s who bordered between affectionate and scary, but there was a touch of Mrs. Doubtfire to her as well.

Madam Euphegenia led us down a long hallway, and we passed by several open doorways. Inside were simple beds and cabinets with medical-looking tools spread across the surfaces. Each room had a window to let in natural light, and a curtain hung across the entryway to grant a level of privacy.

We entered the last exam room at the end of the hallway, but I couldn’t help noticing the lack of other patients. Perhaps it was just good timing on our part, but I hoped it didn’t say something about the woman’s abilities.

The midwife gestured for Willow to lay on the table, and my wife flashed me a nervous smile before she did as she’d been asked. The room was chilly, but not too cold, and I couldn’t help sympathizing with Willow’s situation. I was grateful I wasn’t the one having my vulnerable spots examined, though, and I pulled the only chair in the room up next to the bed so I could hold my wife’s hand.

Madam Euphegenia had her back to us as she picked over her tools, and she swiveled on her feet with a long tube attached to what looked like a funnel on the ends.

“What does that do?” Willow’s shoulders tensed as the midwife approached.

“I must listen,” the old woman said in a heavily accented voice. “Pull up your dress.”

Willow shot me an uncertain glance, and I nodded slightly. The old woman had to get access to her stomach somehow.

The midwife pressed one of the funnel-looking object to Willow’s abdomen, and she held the other end up to her ears. She moved the part against my wife’s skin around as she frowned in concentration, and I realized the device was basically a medieval stethoscope.

I didn’t know much about the health industry or childbirth, but I’d had a doctor listen to my heart during check ups as a kid. The stethoscope was an essential part of every doctor costume as well, so I was surprised I hadn’t made the connection sooner.

Once she located the baby’s heartbeat, Madam Euphegenia listened for a long moment, and her eyes kind of glassed over as she concentrated on what she was hearing. She didn’t say anything as she set the tool down, but she began to poke and press at various spots all over Willow’s body, and she watched my wife’s reaction closely.

“Does this hurt?” the midwife asked as she pressed on Willow’s lower stomach.

“It’s uncomfortable,” Willow said with a grimace. “What are you looking for? Is everything okay?”

“Oh, the baby is fine,” the older woman chuckled. “I’m just trying to determine how far along you are, and when we should expect the baby.”

“So, I can go on the quest?” Willow asked in an urgent tone.

“We aren’t done yet, young lady,” Madam Euphegenia said, and she tutted her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

“Well, go on then,” Willow sighed as she laid her head back against the pillow.

The midwife moved between my wife’s legs, and I could feel Willow’s hand tense in mine.

“Relax, miss,” the midwife said as she pressed her hands against the inside of Willow’s thighs. “This is part of the exam.”

“Alright,” Willow said, and she turned her head to keep her eyes locked on mine while the old lady peered at her downstairs.

I saw a look of discomfort flash through her emerald eyes, but it was gone an instant later, and the midwife stood back up to her full height.

“You okay?” I asked.

“As long as everything is okay with the baby,” Willow said with a tight lipped smile.

“I said your baby is fine,” Madam Euphegenia said in an impatient tone. “You are still early into the pregnancy, so there is still a lot that could go wrong, but you are healthy and strong.”

Willow squeezed my hand warmly, and we exchanged a broad smile.

“So…” Willow looked from me to the midwife. “Can I travel?”

“I deem you fit enough to continue on as normal,” the midwife said. “But I want you back here in a month for another exam.”

“What if we aren’t back by then?” Willow frowned. “I don’t want to have to return separately, and I don’t want Eli to have to halt his quest on my behalf.”

“I’ll make sure we accomplish our goals and return by then,” I said in a decisive tone. “But you’re still not far enough along for it to be a big deal to miss a single appointment. We aren’t separating, though, that’s out of the question.”

“Good,” Willow sighed, and she gave me a grateful smile.

“What about the baby’s gender?” I asked as the thought suddenly struck me. “Is there any way to tell if it’s a boy or a girl before they’re born?”

“People mention all sorts of things,” the midwife allowed. “But none of them are foolproof. The best way is to look at the baby when it’s born.”

“I come from a world that can send soundwaves into the mother’s womb,” I said, and the midwife’s eyes widened to the size of saucers before they glazed over. “Anyway, was the exam over?”

“I need her to urinate for me,” the midwife said. “But that’s all.”

Willow and the midwife went into another room to finish the examination, but they returned a short while later, and my wife looked beyond eager to leave.

I could only imagine how uncomfortable the whole thing had been for her, and I tried to think of ways I could help her relax.

When we made it back to the palace, I ran a hot bubble bath for her, and I left a tray of charcuterie type things where it could be reached from the tub. Then I fetched my wife, and she practically melted in my arms at the sight.

“Thank you, Eli,” Willow breathed as she turned to give me an enthusiastic kiss.

“I’d do anything for you,” I said, and I gestured toward the tub. “Stay as long as you like. Then I’ll rub your feet when you get out.”

“Why don’t you do something for yourself?” Willow suggested. “You could go to the training grounds to expend some extra energy.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” I said, and I had to admit I’d been anxious for some time to myself to practice my shifts before we left on our quest. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and rub your feet?”

“Another night.” Willow smiled and kissed my cheek. “We have the rest of our lives together, after all.”

I left her to her bath, and I slipped on some stretchy, athletic-like clothes before I headed toward the training grounds. There was no one else there, so I had the whole place to myself. Just the way I liked it.

I began with some stretches and normal warm ups, and I jogged at an increasingly faster pace with each lap I made around the room until I had a good sweat going on. Then I returned to the front of the obstacle course, and I summoned primal energy into my body.

My goal was to switch between animal forms as swiftly as I could, and to decrease the amount of time the shift took me with each successive repetition.

I was most comfortable with my wolf form, and I slid into the halfway version as easily as taking a breath. My muscles bulged, but I still stood on my hind legs, and I had claws instead of hands. My torso remained mostly the same, but I could feel my lung capacity increase.

I probably looked like the stereotypical image of a werewolf, but it wasn’t the only thing I could do.

Next, I shifted into my cat form, but that one was a little harder to nail down. The textures of my skin flashed through several shades before an orangish color took over, and I could feel a full mane grow and recede around my head. I focused my energy, and I visualized a lion standing alone in the safari until I felt the shift end. I looked down, and I was pleased to find my limbs and torso were all the same hue, and I’d successfully performed a half shift into a lion.

I wasn’t going to stop there, though.

I was the fabled Ulvant brought here to fulfill the prophecy.

With a decisive nod, I switched my focus and mental imagery into a bear form, but I’d never successfully performed the shift, so I had doubts in my ability to pull it off now.

I had to try.

My thoughts were centered on one image as I pictured my body changing into a grizzly bear, and I could feel the hair sprouting from every inch of my body, but my face never shifted.

It would be something I’d have to keep trying, but I wasn’t about to give up.

I still had to put my skills to the test against the challenges of the obstacle course, though, so I shook out my limbs and returned to my Nulmancer form. Then I took off at a quick pace toward the springboard, and I shifted into big cat form in the middle of my jump up to the rungs attached to the wall.

My massive paws curled around the peg, and I immediately used my momentum to launch myself toward the next one. I bounced from one to the other, but then the rungs ended at the edge of the far wall, so I shifted back into my human body as I landed on the ground.

A rolling log bridge came next, and I shifted into my full canine form to run across it at a brisk pace, but I rose to my full height on the other side in my Nulmancer form.

I wanted faster shifts so they would be automatic reactions to obstacles, but that would require a lot more practice. I was up for the challenge, though, and I spent the next few hours going back over the obstacle course again and again. My limbs were screaming in protest when I finally called it a night.

Surprisingly, Luxe was waiting for me in the hallway outside my bedchamber, and she bit her bottom lip in an anxious manner as I approached.

“I was just checking in to see when we are leaving?” Luxe asked after we’d hugged.

“We can leave tomorrow if you want.” I winked. “We’ve just been dotting i’s and crossing t’s, if you know what I mean.”

“I do not,” Luxe giggled. “But you really mean it? We can go tomorrow?”

“We’ve taken care of all the details already.” I shrugged. “Why not?”

Luxe squealed and jumped in my arms, so I spun her around in a circle before I planted her back on her feet.

“I better go tell my father,” Luxe said, and she waved before she dashed down the hallway.

I went to bed with a smile on my face, but Willow and Calantha were both happy to hear we were finally leaving. I slept with one of them to each side of me, and my dreams were full of memories of the two of them, so it was difficult to tell I was awake at first when I opened my eyes to them leaning over me.

“Hey, sleepy head,” Cal murmured.

“It’s time to go,” Willow said, and she bounced on the bed. “Get up!”

“Please?” Luxe said from behind them. She must have been eager to get here before I even woke up.

“Alright, alright.” I laughed. “Just let me get dressed.”

The king and queen met us in the foyer to say goodbye, and the servants pulled our packed horses into the courtyard. I was certain the news of our departure would sweep through the city shortly, but I hoped the Court of Representatives managed to keep things underwraps for a while.

Luxe mounted one of the horses, and the other two girls took up positions in front of the horses, so I led the way out of the city.

The early morning light was just peeking over the eastern horizon when we went through the city gates to the road heading north, and I inhaled the fresh air deeply before I flashed the three women a wide smile.

A new quest had begun.