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Chapter 18

I had woken up early with Xander to go find Leo. Xander had given me a blanket and asked me to wait in the hallway before entering the room. Once he called me in, I lifted my hand with the oil lamp and entered the darkness of the room. Through the flickering flame of the light, I noticed the small boy lying naked on the ground.

I curiously looked around and noticed deep bloody scratches embedded in the stone walls. There was a small table and a single chair. I guessed it was for Xander when he came over to stay with the boy through hard nights. He had explained that since wolves respected alphas and he was naturally stronger than most shifters, Leo’s wolf never attacked him. He did have to restrain him with a shackle around the neck and one leg when Leo became a danger to himself, though.

When I reached the boy, I placed the light on the ground and pulled the cover over his tiny body. Xander slid a strong arm under him and lifted him. We brought Leo back to his room, where we cleaned him and put him to bed.

I removed hair strands from his tiny face and laid my hand on his rising chest. He looked utterly exhausted from last night’s change. I couldn’t even imagine what Leo had to go through when his shiftings occurred.

“I love it when you have that look in your eyes.” Said Xander while kissing the top of my head.

“What look?”

“That one, full of love and acceptance.” He said, smiling at me. “He’s lucky to have you watch over him when I’m not here.”

We stayed with Leo a bit until Xander had to leave for work. He had business in the city with one of the factories. Once he left, I decided to go to the library to continue searching for potential areas where I might find books on magic. I had hit many dead ends, but I refused to abandon hope of finding something. Xander had brought me archived scrolls that could hold the information I was desperately trying to find.

A small ‘ahum’ brought my head up, and my eyes went straight to a footboy gazing at me. He was dressed in the same clothes as Leo when he worked on the floor.

“Yes?”

“Miss, Duke Kestrel has requested your presence in his cabinet.” He answered.

My heart slammed in my chest.

“Of–Of course! Let me just make myself more presentable for the lord.” I said, but the young boy quickly cut me off.

“He requested your presence at once.” I could see the uneasiness in his face, and I knew better than to keep Duke Kestrel waiting. From what I learned from the maids that worked in his apartments, the duke was very callous.

I cleared my throat and nodded curtly. At least, I was pleased to have dressed in one of the new dresses Xander had commissioned for me. It was a simple high neck, buttoned front deep blue dress with a slightly tight bodice that showed my curves. I had worn my mane in a messy bun on the back of my head and had small ringlets of red hair that fell unevenly to my shoulders and back. Xander had mentioned he preferred redheads, so I had kept my hair in its natural colour… but now I was second-guessing if it was actually a good idea.

I rose from my chair and followed the boy to the elevator. He led me through a series of corridors before knocking on an imposing door.

I heard a muffled “come in,” and the footboy gestured me in, promptly closing the door once I passed the threshold.

Duke Kestrel stood at the end of an enormous oval table. His hands were splayed palm first on the smooth surface, and he seemed to be studying a map. Highbacked chairs were neatly placed around the table and the air smelled of men sweating like pigs debating politics and strategies with their lord. In any case, it was clear that ladies were rarely welcomed in this space–if they were even allowed in the first place.

When he heard my shoes click on the floor, he righted himself and studied me, his thumb and forefinger placed under his chin.

I could see how Xander had passed as his son and heir. Although he did not resemble his father, Duke Kestrel had the exact imposing figure. He towered over me and had thick, powerful arms and legs, complete with a large chest. His dark uniform was decorated with many military medals. He had light brown hair that contrasted sharply with his piercing ocean eyes. The eyes frightened me the most. It was like they saw right through me, through my lies and secrets. The hairs on my nape stood up.

I lowered my head in respect, as was etiquette. That, and I didn’t want him to examine my face too much in case he recognized me.

The silence in the room was uncomfortable. The Duke extended his gloved hand to me, and I hesitantly placed mine in it. His hand was big enough that my own looked to be that of a small child.

“Miss Ida, it is a pleasure to meet you in person.”

His voice was deep and gruff, and his statement seemed cold and insincere. It was the first time I saw him since they sold me to his estate. The knots in the pit of my stomach were twisting again. I had a feeling that his pleasantries were just a facade.

“I must say, you really are quite eye-catching. I can see why my son is so enamoured by you.”

He moved us to the end of the table where I had found him upon my arrival and pulled himself a chair. He did not offer me one, so I stayed up with my head down, my hand still locked in his tight hold.

“The only reason I am even entertaining the idea of this disgraceful engagement is that my son has not once shown any interest in marrying a girl in over twelve years. I have to admit that I was curious to meet the young woman who changed all that, especially given that she arrived only one year ago to work in my estate. You are a complete mystery. How fascinating… and convenient.”

He looked at my left hand and stilled. His brows knitted together in confusion, but as quickly as the reaction came, it was replaced with a smug expression.

“I see my wife has already given her consent; otherwise, she would not have given this ring to our son for his future bride. The ring on your finger is one of her most prized possessions. She had refused to take it off after we were married, insisting that she wore it with her wedding ring.”

Was it a ring that Markus had given her?

He was quiet for some time, but eventually rose from his seat and pulled me closer to him.

“Now, I have been more than truthful with you, and I expect the same in return. I will ask this once, and if I am satisfied with your answer, you will be free to leave. Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes, milord.” I nodded.

“Who do you work for?”

I did not understand his question, and I found the query rather strange. I lifted my eyes to search his face, to maybe glimpse at what he wanted me to answer, but he looked impassive, and his mouth was set in a grim line.

“I worked as an indentured maid for you, milord, for High Hill Estate. Lord Alexander gave me my freedom only a short while ago.” I answered truthfully.

He brought his other hand over mine and exhaled deeply. He gave me a soft smile before twisting one of my fingers sideways. I heard a pop and snapping sound, then searing pain ran up my arm. My phalange had been displaced, and my finger was horribly bent, my nail almost facing down when a moment ago it had been up.

My knees gave out, and I fell, choking on a scream. Duke Kestrel still gripped my hand in his and took another finger. I started sweating from the pain and instinctively encircled my left hand over his wrist, trying to free myself from him.

“Let’s try this again. Who do you work for?”

Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I tried to answer. The words didn’t want to come out. I couldn’t breathe.

He bent my finger in the wrong way, and the pain skyrocketed again. It was as though someone had placed a red-hot poker on the nerves of my hand. I clawed at his wrist, desperately trying to get away.

“P-please!” I cried, “I don’t know what you want me to say!”

“Were you sent by those rebel dogs to infiltrate my establishment and get your hands on information that could help with their rebellion against King Osprey?”

“N-no! I do not even know what you are talking about! I do not know of r-rebels or a rebellion. I’m just a maid. I’m nobody!” I pleaded with him. I wanted him to stop. I knew nothing of what he was accusing me of.

Duke Kestrel pinched a new finger and broke it in the same manner as the two before.

I screamed. The pain was so intense that black spots were blurring my vision. I hoped I would faint. At least I wouldn’t have to feel this raging agony.

There was a crash in the room, and within seconds, my hand was freed. I fell to the ground, rolling up in a ball on the stone-cold floor, cradling my injured hand.

The familiar smell of pine and earth enveloped me, and I was soon lifted from the ground. Xander was holding me in his arms. I fisted the fabric of his shirt, trying to feel if he was real or if this was a cruel joke my mind was playing on me. His eyes were the blackest I had ever seen them. I could barely find his whites.

A surge of emotions, Xander’s feelings, hit me. He was enraged, but he was also scared. His fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. He had to calm down, or else he would give himself away to his father. I slid my left hand up to his face and caressed his jaw. I hoped that my worried stare would make him understand this.

“What is the meaning of this!” Xander roared at his father. He was keeping his eyes on me, probably unable to calm his Lycan side.

“Alexander, understand that I had to do this for us! They have infiltrated us. I know it! This bitch probably works for the rebels that have been attacking our defences and stealing state secrets! She could be using you. You know where our loyalties lie.”

Xander’s teeth were now bare. I could almost see his sharp canines growing. He was getting ready to attack.

“Please, don’t do it,” I whispered so that only he would hear.

His face contorted in a snarl at my request. I sensed the raging storm lessen slightly, but I could see he was battling significantly from within.

“If she is a spy from the resistance, I will deal with it myself. Nevertheless, I am confident that she is who she says she is. With this said, if you ever come near her again, so help me Faiths, there will be hell to pay.”

Carrying me tight to his chest, he turned on his heels and exited the cabinet of his father.

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