A Curse of Shadows

In fact, I think she was disappointed when I once again stopped things from escalating, something I don’t plan on doing a third time when we find ourselves alone again.

Perhaps I’ll get that chance tonight for dinner if I can get Estee to leave her side for a couple of hours. I’m not above asking Declan to help with that, either.

One way or another, I’ll have my mate. At least as much of her as she’s willing to give me.

CHAPTER TWENTY

ISLA

How is this my life right now? Sitting in a horse-drawn carriage with my actual sister and a former queen, having just left a castle straight out of a fairy tale, and headed to an academy for wolf shifters. My mind is reeling, but I’m also grinning like a fool as I gaze out the window.

The sun is bright, warming my skin even from inside the luxury cart. People stroll through streets, most in groups of two to four. They stare, but everyone smiles and waves as we pass, making me do the same.

“After we’re done at the school, can we stop at the shops?” I ask, passing by some of the same places that I saw my first night here. Wolfish Wears now holds a completely different meaning.

“I won’t be able to take you,” Sosheena says with a kind smile, “but I’m sure the two of you can manage. You have nothing to fear here.”

I turn to look out the window again so she can’t see my face. Asher said he wasn’t telling anyone anything that they didn’t need to know until we understood more about what may or may not have happened to me and Estee.

A smart choice, but moments like this with his mother aren’t the most comfortable when I know she isn’t aware of the truth.

Still, maybe she’s right. Maybe I have nothing to fear because I left on my own accord and when I remember…all of this will fall apart.

Knowing that I had this incredible family, a mate who loved me more than his own life, and anything I could have dreamed of, I can’t think of a single reason as to why I would have, but the possibility is still there.

As jealous as I am that Estee got her memories back from most of her lives so easily, I wish she would have remembered the most important one.

I reach to scratch my head and then cringe when I remember there’s a crown sitting up there. Something Sosheena insisted on. Even if I’m not ready to be mates with Asher, or the queen, I’m still a princess by birth, as is Estee. Apparently, that means it’s only proper for the two of us to honor that title when out in public.

Hence, the tiara of diamonds placed atop my head and the pearls around my neck, along with the heels and navy-blue dress I’m now wearing.

Estee’s foot nudges me from across the carriage. She’s grinning and in her element with all this princess stuff, not seeming the least bit concerned. Our eyes meet and there’s a glint in her gaze that has never boded well for me.

“So, Sosheena,” she says. “Should we start with the kinder classes?”

I glance at the previous queen and hardly breathe as her face lights up. “You know, I was going to say the library, but you may be right, Estee.” She pauses then nods animatedly. “Actually, a few days with each class level could be just what Isla needs to trigger her memories. I’ll speak with the headmaster and see if the teachers wouldn’t mind doing a recap day for us to speed up the process.” Sosheena looks at me and smiles so widely that I can’t help but return the gesture. “Oh, Isla. You have no idea how much I hope this works.”

“You and me both,” I say sincerely. For more reasons than she can imagine.

We start to slow and I look out the window again. The carriage glides smoothly over a stone path, then starts to turn. There’s a large, five-tier fountain at the center of the circular entrance with a howling wolf sitting at the top of it.

To my right, there’s a beautiful building with lots of windows, at least four levels, and two grand doors at least twenty feet tall with intricate carvings on them.

I move to exit the carriage, but Sosheena lightly touches my wrist and shakes her head. Another second later, my door opens, and a gentleman greets us.

“Welcome back to Lunara Academy, Queen Mother Sosheena.” He then nods politely to me and my sister. “Princess Isla, Princess Estee.”

This is so unreal.

We step out of the cart and onto a stone pathway leading up to the massive doors that are already opening.

A man who appears to be in his thirties but could be hundreds of years old around here waltzes toward us, grinning from ear to ear and holding his arms out as he bows. “Your Highnesses. Your Majesty. We’re so glad you’ve come to visit our humble school once again.”

“Thank you for accommodating us, Headmaster Keenan.” Sosheena glides toward him and the two of them begin walking toward the entrance, but I’m still staring up at the stone siding, stained-glass windows, and the roses that are growing up the sides of the building.

Estee nudges me. “Come on. You can drool over all this later.”

“What did you mean by ‘kinder’ class before?” I finally ask her as we trail behind Sosheena and the headmaster, who are a safe distance ahead, having a private conversation.