Chapter 27

Arden and Xavier take their time leading me around the castle. They teach me the trick of figuring out which tunnel you're in at any given time. At the top edge of every walkway, there's a color painted along the edges that coordinates with which floor you're on.

White is for the level closest to the surface and the darker the color, the deeper you supposedly are underground. And if you're facing the walls with the torches going left means you're traveling down, deeper into the mountain, while right means you're going toward the surface.

The winding tunnel walkways are meant to ward off and confuse any intruders and I would bet that they're effective. Even knowing the trick to getting around my head spins. I make a mental note that the Healer's wing is on the purple level, closer to the bottom of the castle and my current room is located on the Yellow level which is closer to the top level, white.

The first stop we make is in the self-serve commissary on the green, situated on the center floor. The breakfast shift is shifting to lunch and most people in the mountain castle are off seeing to their daily tasks, leaving the rows of tables meant for eating almost empty.

"Usually, it's so crowded in here it's almost impossible to find a place to sit," Arden explains, "So if you're eating here make sure to get here early to avoid the rush."

We make our way down the line, filling our plates with food. The smells of hot sweet bread and sizzling meats have my stomach growling. I can't remember the last time I'd eaten. The morning I'd left with the Unseelie, I'd barely been able to stomach any breakfast, so it's been much too long since I've had a proper meal.

The guards carry my plate back to the table for me, setting their plates of food down across from me, and without preamble, they begin digging in. The hot aroma of food has my mouth watering and I scoop up a bite of food with them.

Usually by myself in my room, I'm not used to eating with other people. I admit to myself how nice it is to have company, eyeing the two shifters thoughtfully as I chew. They have the easy type of back-and-forth that lets me know that they've known each other for a while. From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a few curious glances from the handful of shifters eating their lunch at another table and the kitchen staff. Though the hard pointed glances from Xavier and Arden in response have them looking hastily away.

The shifter guards across from me eat briskly and efficiently. I imagine that their line of work forces them to rush through their meals more times than not if they want to finish. I hurry to keep up with them, taking quick bites and trying not to choke in the process. Xavier clears all of our plates for us when we're finished and they lead me back out into the hall.

We walk through the tunneled walkways and I study the color system as they continue to point out areas of interest. It's been a while since I've walked so much and I find that I'm enjoying it. The best thing about it is that they don't constantly question if I've overworked myself as I'm used to Petra doing at home. They simply slow to match my pace and pause for breaks when I need it without questioning it. It makes me feel somehow *normal*.

My favorite place they show me is on the white level-the castle's top floor according to the shifter guards. It comes out of nowhere, and the surprise of it all knocks the breath out of me, freezing me in my tracks. The spacious room is like something from out of a fairytale.

The stone roof opens up revealing a crystal clear blue sky. I feel like I've stepped out of the shifter's castle and into a hidden forest garden. White-barked trees stretch toward the sky, rustling in the shifting breeze. Walls of wisteria, bright pink sweet pea, blooming jasmine, and marigolds surround a stone path diving into the fray of greenery.

The scent of honeysuckle tickles my nose and I breathe it in deeply, feeling like I've stepped into a little piece of my heaven, "What is this place?" I ask breathlessly, "I've never seen anything so amazing."

"These are the castle gardens," Arden says, smirking down at me. It's obviously how pleased by my unguarded astonishment, "It's one of the only places where we get natural light in this place, so over the years, we've used it to create a place people can come out and enjoy sunlight."

Xavier points to the far side of the gardens, "More importantly, this is where a good portion of the castle's food is grown."

"It's incredible." I stare around, wide-eyed, until I'm able to grasp enough control of my legs that I can step carefully up the stony garden path.

Arden and Xavier hang back to let me have a moment to myself where I can take everything in without distraction. I don't know how long I wander around, breathing in the beauty of this place, letting the sunlight warm my skin and the calming atmosphere sinks into my bones.

The level of detail that's gone into this place is beyond admirable. It's less perfectly manicured than the Seelie palace gardens that I'm used to. But the natural, untamed wildness of the garden here makes me love it all the more. Its beauty isn't forced, it just *is*.

Eventually, in my wandering, I come across a small bench and lower myself into it, letting my eyes drift closed. I lean back into the seat, to just take it all in. The sound of slow footsteps up the path lets me know it's almost time to go-I'm sure Xavier and Arden have someplace else they need to be.

My heart stutters in my chest when it's not one of the shifter guards who rounds the corner. Instead, I find myself peering up, wide-eyed, at the sight of the shifter king's broad form. His full lips pulled up at the corner, sending my skin tingling and my stomach flipping. Heat rushes through my chest with my surpriseI can't possibly be excited to see him, can I? My body doesn't get the memo though, and my toes curl inside my silk shoes.

His black eyes flash with a mix of yellow and gold as he grins down at me, "I thought this might be where I'd find you."