The path narrowed further until driving became impossible. I parked in a small clearing meant for groundskeepers' vehicles, hidden from the main paths by thick rhododendron bushes. From the trunk, I retrieved a wicker basket and a folded blanket, both prepared with quiet efficiency by palace staff who'd asked no questions when I'd made my request at dawn.
"We'll have to walk from here," I said, offering her my free hand. "It's not far."
She slipped her fingers into mine, the contact sending electricity skating across my skin. Her hand was cool and slender, but I could feel the subtle strength in it – a reminder that Lycans, even those who appeared delicate, possessed power beyond human measure.
I led her along a narrow deer path, barely visible among the underbrush. The forest closed ar
