Page 5 of Dueling the Suitors

I am aiming at his dirty eyes, actually,Skylar corrected her thoughts.But tearing him apart would be much better.

The wizard’s gaze dropped to Skylar and his smile fell. His eyes widened. “Is that a mystical red panda?”

“Yes.” Astoria held Skylar protectively to her.

“Where did you get it from?” The wizard met her gaze, astonished.

“From my garden.”

The wizard looked both bewildered and amused. “The last time I checked, Princess, red pandas don’t sprout from mud.”

“Maybe they fall from the skies when it rains,” she retorted.

The wizard turned to the king. “Your Majesty?”

The king nodded solemnly, as though sympathizing with the other man’s disbelief. “We have no idea how he ended up in our garden. Astoria found him after a heavy rain almost twelve years ago, soaked in mud and water, and brought him in. They have been the best of friends since day one.”

The wizard returned his disbelieving gaze to Astoria. “Can you telepath with him?”

“Is this why you called for me, Father?” Astoria ignored him and turned to her father. “To discuss Skylar? If so, please excuse me. I have more important things to do than discussing my pet, as much as I love him.”

The wizard cleared his throat and spoke before her father could respond. “Forgive me, Princess. I was merely curious. I apologize for taking us away from the intended conversation. Perhaps we can carry on this one some other time?”

“I make no such promise.” Astoria didn’t even glance at him as she replied, too busy returning her father’s glare. He didn’t reprimand her for her attitude, though he was likely itching to. They both knew provoking her would get them nowhere. Nowhere good.

“Sit down, Astoria.”

Astoria set Skylar on the desk, dragged a chair away from the wizard, and sat down. Skylar held his stance protectively in front of her, placing himself between her father and the wizard, his gaze darting between the two men in awareness. If either of them made a wrong move, he looked ready to pounce.

Wizard Orion sat down again. “Your Majesty, I have a hunch that the one who left the prophecy is also the one who dropped the mystical panda in the garden for the princess to find.”

“Prophecy?” Astoria prompted the only word that her mind caught on, glancing at her father. “What prophecy?”

Her father looked suddenly enthusiastic. “That is why you were called here, my dear.”

We did not overhear anything about a prophecy, did we, Sky?

No, Princess. Perhaps it came after we took off.

“I am listening.”

“After you were born,” her father began wistfully, “when you were only two weeks old, one morning, your nurse found this letter in your crib. Why don’t you read it yourself?”

He slid a folded, yellow-tinted parchment across the table. Skylar caught it and passed it to her. She unfolded it. The writing looked a little ancient but neat, in black ink.

This child is not ordinary.

As she grows up, she shall reveal the signs of her powers.

She, of her bloodline, shall bring the Angel of Destruction to his knees.

Astoria read the last line over and over again until it clicked.

Angel of Destruction…EmperorCyrus?

Her eyes shot up to her father’s gleeful face.

“Well?”