Mikhail searched the whole castle and couldn’t find Natalie anywhere, until he went into the kitchens and the petrified staff directed him to a back door that opened up to a courtyard where there were vegetable beds and herb gardens and a small orchard.
He saw her sitting leaning against an orange tree with Carlos sitting cross-legged beside her and a large black wolf curled up against her, his head in her lap.
Mikhail’s jaw clenched to feel how comforted and at peace she felt in her anguish by having the two of them with her. He walked slowly up to them.
Carlos looked up and gasped. “He’s here, mistress.”
The wolf raised its head and settled its golden eyes on Mikhail, lifting its lip to show its long canines.
Natalie placed a hand on the wolf’s head. “Stop, Vlad…leave us now, please
