IGNATIUS WAS ON HIS FEET in an instant, a hand on Catherine's chair when her facewhiter than a ghostwent vacant and she drew her hands to her mouth, her eyes looking tragic again.

'What? Your Highness, what's happened?' His heart pounded, body tense as he stared at her, willing her to answer.

Catherine's eyes met his and the vacant expression vanished. 'Loushka!'

The mention of Alek's griffon surprised Ignatius; he had assumed the link between the red-maned ...