The activities of the festival had been fun and exciting, calling for my attention until I was too tired to run between stages, stalls, and shops. Endymion had left shortly after the show in the silk tent, rushing back to the palace. Now, Gavril carried his sister, her little head resting in the space between his neck and shoulder. As we made our way back to the palace, I looked up at him, catching his golden gaze with a small smile.  

“Thank you for welcoming me here,” I reached out and squeezed his free hand, “It’s been a long time since I was able to dance like that.” 

Gavril flushed a light red and cleared his throat, looking away as we entered the hall where our paths separated. 

“I-it’s been quite enjoyable for me as well...” He released my hand and I started towards the stairs that would leave me back to my room. 

“Wait! Lady Asajj!” 

I turned back and shot him a curious look.  

“Make sure to lock your doors tonight,” He glanced back nervously, “A-and don’t let anyone in.” 

That was the second time someone had warned me about locking the doors of my room at night. The king’s warning tone echoed with me as I closed my chamber doors, fishing for the key from my hidden pocket to abide by their warnings.  

As I layed in the unfamiliar bed, enveloped by the light weight of silky sheets, I found sleep evading me. I sighed and rolled over onto my side, staring out at the night sky. As the weather got warmer in Roma, the stars got brighter, illuminating the sky like glowing pinpricks. Back when I lived with my aunts, we used to stargaze; we would stay out for hours, curled around each other as we took turns naming the stars. I smiled as I remembered the way my oldest aunt had put the rest of us to shame, listing off the divine names of the stars until I drifted off in the loving embraces of my family. 

I was pulled from my dazed memory by noise at my door. Sitting up quickly, I stared at the wood, nearly jumping as another thud echoes from the other side.  

“Hello?” My voice was quiet, but I felt no fear, “Who is it?” 

There was another thump and a strange noise; a low whine that reminded me of a dog. Maybe Gavril kept hounds in the palace as his companions. I slipped out of the bed and tip-toed to the door, listening closely as the whine continued. The key was warm between my fingers from resting against my chest as it hung on the makeshift necklace. I pooled some magic under the skin of my fingers, ready for the threat that I had been warned of as I unlocked the door.  

But I wasn’t ready to be lifted into the air by a massive wet nose. I yelped; my eyes wide as I stared down into the excited grey gaze of a Griph bigger than a horse. His four eyes blinked curiously as I gripped his silver muzzle, trying not to slip as he nudged my abdomen.  

“Y-you’re not supposed to be here!”  

Griphs were not very sociable creatures, but still, they were banned from most cities; when provoked, nothing could stop them. 

The Griph yipped quietly and stepped into my room, using his huge, wolf-like tail to close my doors. I used magic to lift myself into the air and drift to the floor, eying the massive beast wearily. The chances of a Griph this big being able to sneak into the palace were slim to none...so how- 

My train of thought was cut off by the hot tongue of the beast as he lapped at my neck and face, pulling a bubbling laugh from my chest as I tried to push him away.  

“Stop it, you!” He yipped again, making sure to stay quiet enough not to draw unnecessary attention to my room. The Griph bounded around me, nipping at my face and arms as he begged me to play. If he hadn’t been so friendly, I would have been skeptical of letting such long fangs anywhere near me. But he yipped again, a little too loudly in his excitement and I quickly pressed my hand against his wet nose while I shushed him.  

“We can’t play right now,” He promptly sat, towering over me like a silver shadow and lowering his head to look me in the eye, “You’ll make too much noise, and we’ll get in trouble.” 

I moved my hand across his chin, marveling at how soft his fur felt between my fingers as I pet his muzzle. He made a low noise and closed his eyes, pushing his head towards me to let me know it was okay to keep going. Grinning, I began to scratch his cheek, moving down to his jaw then to the top of his head. I had to utilize magic once more to hover off the ground and reach the top of his head and behind his ears.  

“Where did you come from?” 

My question was soft, breaking the silence we had maintained. If he heard me, the Griph made no indication of answering. Instead, he stood slowly, shaking his head softly before padding over to my bed. I watched curiously as he sniffed at my sheets and huffed, rubbing his head through where I had laid. He then turned to look at me, all four of his eyes glinting in the gentle light of the moon and stars and ongoing festival. The Griph made a whining noise and pawed at my bed as he planted himself right beside it; he wanted my permission to lay down.  

I grinned and made my way to him petting his nose as I situated myself in the bed, then with a jerk of my head, he leapt to his feet, licking my face once before he hopped onto the bed, making it groan with the effort of holding his weight. When he was laying in front of me, I pat my lap, motioning for him to lay his head down so I could run my fingers through his soft fur. He happily complied, his tongue lolling out of his mouth as he stared up at me with a gaze that held mine hypnotically. My fingers danced through his mane, scratching his velvety ears as they went.  

In the darkness of my room, with the Griph’s heated form wrapping around me like a barrier, I found it easier to close my eyes and drift off to sleep.