Page 59 of Secrets of Avalon

Hawke bristles at Kellan's comment, and I shake my head, sensing that Kellan enjoys getting under Hawke's skin. "I'm still in charge of protecting this castle until tonight," Hawke reminds him, his tone firm.

I stand from the table, grabbing a couple honey cakes for later. I wrap them in a cloth and stuff them into the outside pocket of Kellan’s tunic.

He looks down at me and snorts. “Domina, what are you doing?”

I lift my hands and shrug dramatically. "I cross into an entirely new realm and women's clothes still don't have pockets, so I'm using yours. Just think of it as a snackhole." I pause, feeling a sudden surge of energy and determination. "I'm done resting and ready to go check in with the guards about the wolf-beast."

A quick laugh escapes from Hawke's mouth before he can steady his expression, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "There is plenty of food, Melinda. You don't have to hoard it in your dragon's pockets."

I grin, feeling a sense of playful defiance. "Yes, but this way I'm prepared for anything. Snacks while I hide from another assassin. Snacks while helping you chase a beast away from the castle." I pause, tilting my head to the side as a thought occurs to me. "Or maybe the wolf-beast is hungry and he wants a snack?"

“The wolf-beast will not want to eat the honey-cakes.”

I shrug again. “You never know.”

Hawke's expression grows serious. He shakes his head and glances to the door before looking over my head at Kellan. "Your people are watching Darkwood and the other Fae councilman?"

Kellan nods, his posture alert and confident. "Both, yes."

I chew on my lower lip, my gaze darting between Hawke and Kellan. "Even if you had people watching them, how would we know about them? I haven't seen any cell phones or walkie talkies around."

My guard grins down at me, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement as he cocks an eyebrow, like he's waiting for me to think of the answer. But I don't have it. I have no idea.

Suddenly, Siva's voice echoes inside my head, startling me. He gave the spies one of his guardians. We’re psychically connected and can communicate with him when we’re in close enough proximity.

"Wait, you can talk to Kellan?" I ask Siva aloud, my heart racing.

Hawke captures my chin and turns my face back to himself, before glancing down at the slithering, shimmering tattoo on my wrist. "Are you talking to the guardian?"

I nod, my mind spinning with questions. "How close do you have to be?" I ask Siva, my voice barely above a whisper.

We can go several miles. Certainly enough to cover all of Camelot, Siva responds, her tone reassuring.

I glance up at Kellan again, a mixture of awe and apprehension coursing through my veins. "So not only have you lo-jacked me, Siva can also talk to you and tattle on me."

No, Domina! I would never. Unless your life was in danger. Siva pauses, her voice growing quieter. Then perhaps.

“You called him when the assassin came?”

Yes, Domina.

"Kellan?" I ask, seeking confirmation if he heard her.

"Yes, she called for me, but I can't hear what she says unless she speaks to me, Domina," Kellan explains, his voice calm and reassuring. "And you don't have to speak aloud to speak to her. You can just think in your mind and she will hear you."

“Okay.” I take a deep breath, letting the new information sink in. The knowledge that Siva can communicate with Kellan is both a comfort and a source of unease. It's like a double-edged sword, offering protection but also a potential loss of privacy. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to reconcile the conflicting emotions swirling within me.

As I stand there, the world seems to slow down, the bustling kitchen fading into the background. My mind wanders, drifting to the incredible man who has declared me his soulmate. Hawke. The connection between us is undeniable, a force that pulls me towards him like a moth to a flame. I can't explain it, but every fiber of my being yearns to be near him, to bask in the warmth of his presence.

I want to believe him, to trust in the depth of our bond. The idea of being his soulmate, of having found that one person who completes me in every way, is both thrilling and terrifying. It's a promise of love, of a future filled with happiness and adventure, but it also comes with the weight of responsibility and the fear of loss.

But I can’t let fear keep me from living. That’s not what my family would want. The task at hand, getting outside the castle and investigating the mysterious beast, suddenly seems like a welcome distraction. I know that there are people out there who want to harm me, who would stop at nothing to prevent me from being with Hawke. But I refuse to let them win. We are stronger together.

With renewed determination, I square my shoulders and meet Hawke's gaze. "Let's go talk to the guards and find out more about this beast. Maybe take a peek at the party outside?"

A smile tugs at the corners of Hawke’s lips. "I think we can manage that, my lady," he says, offering me his arm.

I loop my arm through his, feeling a spark of electricity at the contact.