“This is ridiculous, Aquila. There’s no way that’s my beast. Royals have legendary beasts, not house pets,” Jesika said as they approached the library’s doors.

After Darryn and she approached Aquila, Aquila convinced her to talk to her friend Rowan, the man who studies beasts. Now though, Jesika found herself harboring doubts.

Aquila laughed. “I’m sure you’re right, Jes. But let’s just talk to him to make sure. Besides, I’ve been wanting you to meet him,” she said.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Darryn asked, a slight edge to his voice.

Aquila turned to him, surprised at the random question. She slowly shook her head. “Just a friend...” she said quietly.

Darryn seemed to relax a little.

Aquila pushed open the door and Frankie quickly made his way to the fireplace to warm up the building. Aquila led them over to a corner of the library that was set apart for reading and studying. There were several small, round tables and sitting at one was a man with pale skin and brownish red hair, his complete attention in a large book. Jesika looked at the cover and read the title that said: “The Great Dragon Aethelinda”. She clenched her fists at the title, assuming they had found their guy.

They approached the table, but the man still seemed not to notice. They sat down and waited awkwardly for him to look up. But he never did. His griffin laying against the wall behind him, perked up at their arrival. He got up and came towards Aquila, nudging her arm gently. Aquila giggled and pet his head. This caught the man’s attention, making him look up.

“Oh!” he said when he noticed their presence.

Aquila laughed. “I told you I was coming, Rowan.”

He laughed sheepishly. “Sorry, I completely forgot. So, where’s the friend you mentioned?” he asked.

Aquila gestured to where Jesika sat at the other end of the table. Jesika waved awkwardly. Rowan’s eyes widened and he looked at Aquila again, lowering his voice:

“Your friend is the queen?!”

Aquila laughed yet again.

“Is that an issue?” Jesika asked, unamused.

Darryn didn’t look that amused either and seemed averse to sitting with them, instead standing off to the side. Rowan looked at her once again. His expression was blank for a moment, but slowly a suave, charming grin came to his face.

“Not a problem at all, Your Majesty. Where is this beast of yours?”

Jesika glared at him. “It’s not my beast. It’s a stray cat that continues to follow me around everywhere.”

Rowan’s grin didn’t falter. Suddenly a little meow reached his ears. Rowan looked down to see the said cat looking up at him. He chuckled, picking up the cat and settling her on his lap.

“Is it a girl?” he asked. Jesika nodded. He tilted his head. “Have you named her?” he asked, petting her head.

Jesika’s glare deepened as Aquila and Darryn quietly snickered. “No, I’m not naming the pest! I don’t plan on keeping it! I just want to confirm that this THING isn’t my beast!”

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Rowan laughed. “No need to get testy... You still have not received your beast?” Jesika relaxed a little, shaking her head. “And the cat followed you even after you fed her?” Jesika nodded. Rowan’s grin grew. “Can you do something for me?”

“Depends,” she said warily, arching a brow.

“Just a little test. Go across the library, to the farthest end. And whistle.”

Jesika’s glare returned. “That’s ridiculous.”

Rowan shook his head. “Just do it. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

Jesika continued to glare at him, but slowly stood and started to go to the opposite end of the library.

After she reached it, she whistled, feeling like an idiot. At the other end, Rowan watched as the cat perked up instantly, hopping off his lap. The cat quickly took off running to where Jesika was. Rowan turned to look at Darryn and Aquila.

“That’s her beast,” he told them with a grin. This resulted in Darryn and Aquila erupting into a fit of laughter.

“Jesika’s going to have a fit,” Darryn said in between laughs.

Aquila wiped away some tears as she looked at Rowan. “Are you sure?” she asked, still giggling. Rowan nodded.

“But that doesn’t make sense. Don’t royals get legendary beasts? I know peasants with better beasts,” Darryn asked, now in control of his laughter.

Rowan nodded yet again. “Usually. But this isn’t the first time a royal hasn’t gotten a great beast.”

Darryn and Aquila’s interest was piqued.

“Why did this happen?” Aquila asked.

Rowan’s grin came back with a mischievous twinkle. “There are a few reasons this could happen. One could be--” Rowan’s sentence was cut off when Jesika returned to the table with the cat prancing behind her, seemingly happy she found her owner.

She stood in front of the table and crossed her arms across her chest, looking annoyed. “So? The cat came. What does it mean?”

“It means that’s your beast,” Rowan said simply.

Jesika’s golden eyes seemed to light up like a fire. “That can’t be right!”

Rowan shrugged. “I’m afraid it is.”

“How could this happen?! I’m a royal!”

“I honestly do not know,” he lied.

Aquila and Darryn noticed the lie and looked at him suspiciously.

“That’s just great. Is there a way I can trade this thing out for a different one?”

Rowan shook his head. “You know you can’t. I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

She groaned loud and long before turning on her heel, leaving them and heading home. Aquila looked at Darryn.

“Aren’t you going to follow her?” she asked. Darryn shook his head. “But isn’t that your job?”

He laughed bitterly. “Yeah. Until she fired me.”

Aquila’s mouth dropped. “Fired you?!”

“I’ll explain later.” Darryn turned his attention back to Rowan. “You lied to Jesika.”

Rowan smirked. “I did.”

“Why? Surely you must know it’s not smart to lie to royalty, much less the queen.”

Rowan leaned forward, speaking in a lowered tone as if Jesika was still around to listen. “Let’s just say all of the reasons this could’ve happened would not make the queen very... happy.”

***

Jesika walked home, the cat still prancing behind her. She opened the door to the castle and turned around, looking at the cat as it peered up at her hopefully.

“I guess I can’t let you lay in the cold every night for the rest of your life...” she said to herself. She sighed and went inside, allowing the cat to follow her. She headed to her room, then changed into more comfortable clothes. She flopped onto her bed.

She laid there a moment, looking up at the ceiling. To her surprise, the cat soon hopped onto the bed and laid on her chest, looking down at her. Jesika scowled and started to shove her off, only for the cat to get on top of her again. After a few more tries, she gave up.

She hesitantly rose her hand and pet the cat’s ears. She couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto her face as the cat leaned into her touch.

“I guess I should also give you a name. You look like a pile of snow. But I’m not calling you Snowball or Snowflake or Snow. That’s boring.” She paused, pondering it over a moment. She grinned as a name came to her. “What about Chilly? You like that?” The cat paused and looked at her. Slowly it leaned close, licking her ear. Jesika giggled at the wet sandpaper feel.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said as Chilly nestled into her chest again.

Jesika sighed heavily, laying her head back. She thought about her mission for revenge. This seriously threw a wrench in her plans. Not only did it make it harder to fight, but it would greatly hurt the respect her army and council members had for her. For a small moment, she considered backing out of her mission. That small moment was quickly killed though. She needed revenge. She deserved to get revenge. And she wasn’t letting a cat stop her.