Disclaimer: All so far is mine except for the countries and the world...oh and the magic
Chapter 3
Dark. That was all that Rhea could see but then again, that was all she had ever seen for the past 15 years of her 19 year old life. Purely by memory, she navigated her way through the busy kitchens and into the servant garden.
Feeling the sun on her skin, she closed her eyes and relished the warmth while imagining what the spring life around her looked like. An unfamiliar voice called her name and she jumped, turning towards the voice, confused. –Rhea!— Raedeshe's welcoming mind voice sounded and she reached out eagerly, expecting silky fur to hit her hands.
Instead, a pair of human hands intertwined with her own, causing her to shy away from the unexpected touch. –Rhea.— The mind voice was soothing, and the hands squeezed her own reassuringly. "Rae?" Her voice quavered in disbelief and in response the hands pulled hers up to his face. She felt his face, memorizing his features, and then dropped her hands, satisfied.
"You're back for good?" She asked suspiciously, placing her hand on her hips and surprising a purr-like chuckle from her friend. Suddenly, well-muscled arms enveloped her while Rae's gravelly voice whispered, "I'm never leaving you again."
The warmth disappeared and she reached out to find him. Warm, silky fur met her fingertips as a cat clambered into her arms. –Isn't it dinnertime?— A familiar mind-voice asked, startling a warm laugh from Rhea. She turned to go back inside, never sensing the pair of eyes that was watching them from its niche in the bushes.
Laius stormed into his set of rooms at the Maren palace, his anger plain in every movement he made. The woman he loved was in love with a shape-shifting cat! With a snarl, he threw his cloak to the ground and turned to collapse onto his bed. He drew up short as he saw Maia lounging on it.
She was idly playing with a dagger, flipping it up into the air and catching it again, handle first. "What are you doing here?" Laius demanded, glaring at the woman who had caught her dagger and was watching him with steady blue eyes. "Watching you throw a tantrum that would make my 5-year old sister proud." Her retort was not even laced with amusement as she sat up.
He glared at her for a moment before breaking eye contact and moving to sit in his desk chair. "I don't think anyone asked you to spy on Rhea and Raedeshe." Anger was a harsh note in Maia's sweet voice as she got up and walked towards him, dagger still in her hand. "Let me make this clear. It is my job to protect the future between those two. If you interfere, I will have to get rid of you whether you're a prince or not."
Maia was now a few mere inches away from his face, and her blue eyes were locked with his, emphasizing her point. He saw her move something out of the corner of his eye and flinched, expecting her to strike at him with the dagger. Instead, he felt something light drop into his lap but he was too wary of the dagger to look at it. Maia left the room, muttering something about idiotic princes, and then Laius looked down to see what she had dropped into his lap.
He picked up a pin and chuckled, it was the same pin he had asked Maia to give to Rhea. Placing it on the desk, he turned and pulled out parchment, ink, and a quill. If he was going to deal with Maia's interference, he needed help.
AN: I credit Purple Eyed Cat with the first half of this chapter...THanks! R&R and tell me what you think will happen!