Chapter 8
691words
I recognize her—Lily, a quiet girl who works in the kitchens. I'd helped her yesterday when she'd dropped a tray of glasses, taking the blame myself when Mrs. Winters came to investigate the noise.
Lucas turns, snarling. "Get out, servant!"
Lily immediately drops her gaze, trembling visibly. "F-forgive me, my lord. Mrs. Winters sent me to prepare this room for—" She stops abruptly, eyes widening as she notices my bound hands and torn clothing.
"For what?" Lucas demands, taking a menacing step toward her.
"For Lord Kayden's return," she whispers, backing away. "The Alpha requested all chambers in this wing be prepared. He's expected back tonight."
Lucas freezes. "Tonight? That's impossible. He was sent to the border for at least a week."
"The rogues surrendered faster than expected, my lord," Lily says, her voice barely audible. "The guards are preparing for his arrival now."
I can see the calculation in Lucas's eyes—weighing the pleasure of tormenting me against the risk of being caught by his cousin.
"You're lying," he says, but uncertainty has crept into his voice.
As if in answer, the distant sound of commotion reaches us—doors opening, voices calling. It could be anything, but in this moment, it sounds like the return of a hunting party.
Lucas curses under his breath. He grabs my chin roughly. "This isn't over," he hisses. "Not by far." Then he strides past Lily, deliberately knocking her shoulder as he goes.
When he's gone, Lily rushes to me, her earlier confidence completely vanished. Her hands shake so badly she can barely untie my bindings.
"Is Kayden really returning?" I ask as she helps me to my feet.
She shakes her head, eyes wide with fear. "No. I lied. Mrs. Winters just wanted this room cleaned for a guest tomorrow." She glances nervously at the door. "We need to leave before he realizes."
I pull the torn edges of my uniform together. "Thank you. You saved me."
"You took the blame for me yesterday," she whispers, retrieving Kayden's pendant from the floor. "But now we're both in danger. Lord Lucas will be furious when he discovers the deception."
As we hurry through the darkened corridors, I clutch the pendant in my palm, the chain broken but the silver wolf intact. "Why did you help me? You could have just walked away."
Lily glances at me, fear still evident in her eyes. "I don't know. I just... couldn't watch." She pauses. "What will you do now? He'll come looking for you again."
"I need to fix this," I say, holding up the broken pendant. "And find somewhere safe to hide until Kayden returns."
Back in Kayden's quarters, Lily helps me clean up and find a new uniform. Before she leaves, she presses something into my hand—a small vial of clear liquid.
"The silversmith gave me this once when I broke a necklace," she whispers. "Put it on the chain. It might mend the silver. If Lord Lucas sees the pendant broken..."
She doesn't finish the thought, but she doesn't need to. If Lucas sees evidence of his assault, he'll know Lily lied about Kayden's return.
After she's gone, I apply the liquid to the broken chain. To my amazement, the silver links reform, good as new. I slip the pendant back around my neck, feeling strangely vulnerable without it.
I know I can't stay in Kayden's quarters tonight—it's the first place Lucas will look once he realizes he's been tricked. I gather my mother's knife and a small bundle of necessities, then slip out into the corridor.
The servants' quarters might offer safety in numbers, but Lucas could easily command anyone there to turn me over. I need somewhere unexpected, somewhere he wouldn't think to look.
As I move silently through the darkened palace, I realize how precarious my position truly is. Without Kayden's protection, I'm at the mercy of anyone stronger than me—which in this place, is everyone.
