I opened my eyes and met a pair of pale blue ones. Confusion clouded my mind at first. After an amazing night with Conell, I hadn’t expected to wake up to his brother next to me.

Ayen laid on his side watching me. I couldn’t decide if I should be creeped out or turned on. It was strange to have someone watch you sleep. Although it was comforting to know he was there. I shoved at his shoulder playfully. “Morning.”

He caught my hand and kissed my palm. A thrill shot through me, sparking the wildfire within each of the guys started.

“Morning.” The low rumble of his voice swirled the desire even more.

“Where are the other two?”

“They left before the sun rose.”

I shot up, fear scaring my pleasures of waking next to Ayen away. Panic made my hands shake. “Why? What happened?”

“Precautions.” He sat up and kissed my shoulder. “The hounds we chased off last were part of our father’s pack. So, we’ll ride back to Kregon separately. That gives me time to work on a disguise for you.”

His laid-back, controlled presence was calming. The confidence in his voice reminded me to trust the guys to keep me safe. “What type of disguise will I be wearing?”

A brilliant smile appeared on his beautiful face. He climbed off the bed and crossed the room to the dresser, then picked up two amulets. They looked more like elegant pendants with gemstones wrapped in silver and placed on a silver chain. “The ruby will give you red hair and the onyx, black. You pick.”

Their free use of magic intrigued me. The king had forbidden all magic in the kingdom. Elion told me he did so after their mother died and the king fired the Royal Sorcerer. However, Conell somehow convinced his father to keep the sorcerer on staff.

I meant to ask Conell about the magic last night. “Where did you learn the spells and to work with crystals?”

“Chester.”

My heart fluttered in excitement. “He’s helping you?”

“Of course he is.” Ayen moved his hands up and down, opposite from each other. “Pick a color.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. Chester was the most caring, compassionate, and magical person I’d ever met. After Mom died, I found myself hiding out in his ritual room often. Even caught him mumbling about all the wicked things he could curse the king with. Yet, Chester wouldn’t do any of those things out of fear whatever he did would come back to him, tenfold.

Focusing back on the amulets, I hovered my fingers over the ruby. “How red is this one?”

Ayen waggled his brows. “Very.”

I giggled. His tone suggested he might had put in a request. Going on that hunch, I picked the ruby. “Then let’s see how I look as a fiery redhead.”

When I reached for the amulet, he closed his hand around the stone. “First, there’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

He closed the gap, cupped my head with one hand, and kissed me. A spark of passion exploded inside me. When his tongue brushed against my lips, I opened, allowing him to deepen the kiss. Tingles skittered over my skin and weakened my knees. I wanted to beg him for more.

Another part of me worried about whether or not the Hounds were lurking outside, waiting for the chance to attack.

Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead to mine and hugged me close. I sank into him, loving the feel of his arms holding me. “You’re worried.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. The guys were always good at picking up on my emotions. However, I was shaking.

Drawing back a little, he framed my face in his hands. His pale blue eyes clouded with concern. “Did my father or his guards ever…touch you?”

Instantly I knew he wasn’t talking about the beatings. “No. But I’d always feared how long it would take for someone to force themselves on me once I turned seventeen.”

He kissed my nose, then released me. While he put the amulet over my head, the muscle in his jaw worked. I wanted to tell him it was okay. I was out and no longer in danger. But that was a lie.

A shimmer of magic fell over me as the ruby settled against my nightgown. Pinpricks of warm energy nipped at my skin as the spell took effect. Ayen groaned, making me curious on how I looked. Before I could move, he grabbed my hand and tugged me to the bathroom, then closed the door so I could look at myself through the full-length mirror.

“Oh. Is that really me?”

“Yes, baby, that’s you.” He tucked the onyx on his pocket and winked at me. “We have to keep these amulets.”

I didn’t pay much attention to his words because I stared at the stranger in the mirror. Long, curly, fiery red hair fell in waves around my shoulders. My nightgown changed to a modest dark green dress with light green floral embroidery on the top.

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to look like a princess?” I turned and studied Ayen.

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not supposed to look like Princess Tia Ashley. You look like Princess Ashlyn Groves.”

“Who is that?”

“You.” He shrugged. “I made up the name in case we are stopped. If we are, just play along with whatever I say.”

I nodded, hoping we were stopped along the way.

“Do you need to pack a bag?”

“I have one already packed in the closest. We need to sweep the house and burn anything that can be used to track me.” Panic started to rise like it did when I picked up and moved to a new place. Only difference this time was I was moving closer to the palace.

Ayen placed a finger over my lips. “Stop worrying. I got this.”

He kissed me, letting his lips linger over mine for a little while before he left the bathroom in search of my bag. I sighed.

I sure hoped he had it under control, because I was going to be sick from nerves.