Kaelen woke to noise.
Not the usual sounds of the estate, the creak of floorboards, the distant clatter of the kitchens, the soft murmur of servants beginning their day. This was different much sharper. The jingle of harnesses, the stamp of horses, the bark of unfamiliar voices carrying across the courtyard. He lay still for a moment, the bond humming in his chest, the beast curled warm against his hip. He ignored the noise but it got louder
Then he rose, angrily causing spike to get tossed to the side groggily waking up seeming confused.
The window was cold beneath his palms, the glass fogged with his breath. He wiped it clear and looked down.
