Chapter 226 - Change of face (2/2)

Jos shrugged her wide shoulders, ”It's close enough, it should be easy to remember, and I shouldn't have to think too hard about responding to it...” Her eyes moved ahead to Raven. ”Do you have any magic that could mask my sent?”

Raven shrugged. ”Not offhand, but if you decided to use this at the coronation, I could probably come up with something by then.”

”Ow! I could see if Ales has any clothes you could borrow. That would give you more of a familiar smell to the people coming and you would blend in with the crowds more!” Cam threw in excitedly.

Raven narrowed her eyes. ”And what's wrong with my clothes?”

Cam looked Jos's new frame over studiously as she stroked her chin. ”Well, it's not that it's not nice clothes... but it seems more like something one would wear to the hunt which follows the coronation rather than the coronation itself.” Her eyes brightened once again. ”I have an idea!” She grabbed Jos's hand and began running toward the palace. ”We'll go through the back as not to attract attention!”

Jos's eyes widened as she realized Cam's plan. ”Cam, no! I can't go in there!”

Cam glanced back as she continued running. ”Why not? It will be the perfect way to test whether this works or not!”

Jos blew out a strained breath of air, ”Because they will lock me in a cell and throw away the keys IF I'm lucky, turn me into the council or kill me themselves if I'm not!”

”Nonsense!” Cam argued as she tugged the taller more solid frame behind her. ”Besides, I want you to meet Ales! The day of our coronation shouldn't be the first time the two of you meet. After all, you're my best friend and he will be my husband someday!”

Raven looked around the castle grounds as they began to enter, her nerves beginning to stand on end. ”Cam, for once I'd have to agree with Jos... We're being watched.”

Cam looked around then waved to the hidden guards. ”It's alright they are with me; they are my friends!” She called loudly.

Raven rolled her eyes as she drew closer to Cam as the girl led them through a back door into the palace. ”Jeez, you're determined to get us killed!”

”This way, it leads to our private study. Ales should be there now.” Cam didn't take no for an answer as she trudged on ahead. Pushing open a door and looking around inside before entering, she didn't release her grip on Jos as she dragged her along. ”Ales you're here! There's someone very dear to me I'd like to introduce you to!”

Jos ran a hand over the back of her neck as she looked away awkwardly. ”Maybe you shouldn't introduce me as someone dear to you while you hold my hand... to your future husband?!” Jos whispered harshly.

Ales's eyes shot up from his books and quickly studied the three individuals standing before him. His eyes widened as they locked on the connected hands of a tall, silver-haired young man looking to be around his own age or older. The brilliant blue of his eyes tented red as he neared. ”Who is this?”

Cam smiled brightly up at Jos, ”This is my best friend I have told you about. This is Jos!” She moved her gaze to Ales, but her smile instantly faded. ”Ales?”

Raven quickly grabbed Jos's other free hand and pulled her toward her. ”I told you this was a shitty idea! Both of you!” Raven pulled Jos behind her and prepared herself for a fight.

Cam rushed forward and placed her palms against Ales's chest as she studied his angry expression and fiery eyes. ”Ales? Will you not hear me out first?”

He forced his heated gaze away from the strange man in the room down to Cam's sweet pleading face and instantly calmed. He nodded, not taking his eyes off Cam's. ”I apologize, I've overstepped and am being rude to your guests. Please, introduce your... friends...” The words dragged out with a sharp bite.

Cam only removed one hand from his chest as she leaned into his body more. Resting her head comfortingly against his chest she pointed past Raven. ”That IS my friend Joslyn.” She giggled as she glanced up at his now confused features. ”And that is her guardian, Raven. Raven is fae and Jos... well she's a bit special...”

Ales stepped away from Cam, his curiosity peaked. ”She looks amazingly like a male... how did you do it? Is it a costume trick?”

Cam followed behind him as she watched him study Jos. ”Well yes kind of. She borrowed clothes from Raven, but I suggested borrowing clothes from you instead so she can come to the coronation without anyone there recognizing her.” Cam frowned as she laced her hands behind her back and kicked at the carpet with the toe of her shoe. ”The town's people don't like her much...”

Ales looked away from Jos back to Cam. ”It's a magnificent costume to be sure, but you probably should have given her wolf ears so that she could blend more instead-” his words cut off and his attention shot back to Jos. ”Did you just extend the length of your ears?!” He asked in amazed disbelief, studying the wolf ears.

Jos shrugged toward Ales as heat built in her cheeks. She shot Cam a questioning look. ”You... you haven't told him about me all that much... have you?” She asked her own husky voice surprising her.

”I only told him what I felt was important...” Cam went on.

Ales arched a brow. ”You let on as if she were a child...” He pointed toward the tall man. ”A small child male or female would make more since hanging out with you than THIS!” He bit out as he began to turn away from Cam and back to Jos. This time he stumbled backward as he gasped. ”What in the name of the gods?!”

Cam pointed toward Jos who now resembled a ten-year-old boy. ”Well, you did just say it would be better!”

His eyes widened as he stared in shock at Jos. ”What in the world is she?!... He... It?!”

Cam stomped over to Jos and wrapped her arms around her. ”SHE is my best friend... I thought you'd be more understanding...”

”Camila, I am trying my best! But you storm in here and what?! What me to help you trick all the people of our kingdom?” He straightened his clothes. ”IF 'she' is in fact your friend, then let her introduce herself to me in her true form.”

Cam nodded to Jos, but Jos shook her head rapidly beside her. ”NO! I agree with Raven, this was a bad idea...” Jos clung tightly to Cam. ”Can we just go now?”

Cam furrowed her brows, ”I promise, he isn't like other people. Let him meet the real you and I'm positive he will grow to like you! Just as I'm sure the rest of the town would if you'd ever give them a chance to get to know you.”

Jos frowned as she began shifting into her usual form of a twelve-year-old girl. The clothes she wore now swallowed her tiny body. She crossed her arms nervously in front of her flat chest as she moved her eyes up to meet Ales's.

His eyes widened as he whispered two simple words. ”The Kraken...”

Cam smiled. ”So, you already know of her then?”

His shocked eyes moved from Jos to Cam. ”You befriended that monster?” He pointed to Jos, but instantly regretted his words... the words he'd heard whispered around town for years now... Tears were streaming down the young girl's cheeks as she turned her embarrassed face away from him and pushed away from Cam trying to prevent her from seeing. ”I... I'm sorry...”

Jos walked toward the door as Raven followed, sending Ales an irritated glare. Raven's gaze softened as she met Cam's. ”Told you it wouldn't work... can't teach old dogs new tricks... Nothing Jos will ever do will change the way the people of this island see her.”