Chapter 13

The Captain of the Guard freezes before he can grab my arm, shocked at Prince Kaine’s declaration. “You’re… protecting the mole?” He asked, stunned.

A murmur goes through the crowd, everyone else appearing as shocked about Prince Kaine’s demands as the captain is. Prince Kaine has a reputation for showing no mercy to traitors, and now he is giving me a private audience. There is a beat, but no one leaves, reluctant to believe me innocent or to miss any drama.

Prince Kaine’s gaze sweeps across the room giving nothing away. “Did you not hear me?” I said, “get out.” His demand is met by a rush of movement as most of the guards file out of the room, but the captain and a few onlookers remain, eager to see what happens next.

The captain eyes me, pure hatred shining from his dark pupils. The captain turns at Prince Kaine, a determined look in his eyes and he pushes, “The evidence is right in front of us. Just being exiled is already the lightest punishment for a traitor. Your Highness, this is-”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Prince Kaine cuts him off coldly, his face a mask betraying nothing. The captain hesitates, clearly having more to say, but Prince Kaine’s mind is made up. The captain and the other stragglers begin to leave.

My heart soars as the last guard files out of the room, and Prince Kaine shuts the door. I thought I was going to lose everything but Prince Kain is giving me a chance. He believes me, I look at Prince Kaine genuinely touched by his faith in me. “Thank you… for trusting me-” I start but am quickly interrupted.

“I heard that you are short on money. If you tell me who put you up to this, I will pay you double whatever they offered,” Prince Kaine says coldly.

My heart drops and I struggle to find words as I take in what Prince Kaine has said. He doesn’t trust me; he simply wants to bribe me for further information. My throat dries, and my palms start to sweat as the panic returns to my system and the realization that all of my struggles have been in vain hits me.

I pause for a beat before finding my nerve and speaking. “I know you can’t trust me with this much evidence stacked against me, but I’ve worked harder than anyone else to earn my place in the Royal Guard. I won’t walk away so easily.” I have to make him give me a chance.

“Why should I believe anything you say?” Prince Kaine retorts unswayed.

I take a breath to steady myself as I finalize the details of my plan in my head. “If I’m innocent the traitor is still by your side. Give me three days. I’ll find them.” I have to find the mole, I have fought too hard to be exiled now.

Prince Kaine’s expression shifts and he alternates between looking like I’ve lost my mind and that he might actually believe me. He takes a deep breath and then says, “You’ve got three days.”

I walk out of Prince Kaine’s office feeling completely lost. I may have avoided banishment for now, but I only have three days to figure out who the real mole is.

I spend the next day attempting to ask people around the palace what they’ve seen and heard in regard to the rumors about Prince Kaine. I realize quickly that word of my potential involvement with the mole has spread, resulting in the majority of the guards, and several other members of the palace staff to shun me. The few people who are willing to speak to me have few meaningful insights.

Panic rises as I consider that I have no allies in the palace. I am completely alone in my investigation, and anyone who might have been willing to help me before isn’t willing to risk their reputation by associating with the mole.

I wake up the next day and that sinking feeling growing in my gut only grows when I once again find myself floundering. I read through the missives forged in my handwriting hoping that the perpetrator would accidentally give something away, but there is nothing of note.

On the final day I begin to accept my fate as I reread the letters, and check as many unclassified files of Prince Kaine’s I can get my hands on. As I continue to come up empty, I resort to hiding and eavesdropping, knowing that my time in the palace is over.

I lay in bed that evening, dreading what the morning would bring. I had worked so hard to make it into the Royal Guard. I had worked so hard hide my bond from Prince Kaine to keep Nara, and to remain in the guard.

I had worked so hard for what? Now I am being framed and facing exile from the palace because of something completely out of my control. It isn’t fair.

I lay awake racking my brain for something, anything that could lead me to the perpetrator and clear my name. How had the mole been able to pull this off? I gasp, hopping out of bed and throwing on my uniform.

The mole had to be someone close to Prince Kaine, someone who would be able to watch his every move without seeming suspicious. I sneak out of my room and down the corridor I know leads to Prince Kaine’s quarters.

I find a small alcove and wait, hidden. As the hours pass, I feel my eyes growing heavy, but I do not let them shut. I will see something. I have to.

Another hour passes when I see a shadowy figuring walking quietly down the hallway. I watch as the figure creeps away from the open area and towards door leading to Kaine’s room. I pause for a moment worried. If this isn’t the mole, I will make everything worse for myself.

I shake off my hesitation. This is my only chance. I follow through the now open door, and down the stairs into Prince Kaine’s room. The room is dark and there is no sign of the Prince as I lunge, making contact with my target.

The person I just grabbed fights back their hand reaching for my throat. My claws descend as Nara comes to the surface. “We will not go without a fight.” I grit my teeth, and claw at the moles arms forcing them to lose their grip as we crash back against a dresser, breaking it.

I use the momentum and the shock from the crash to pull my opponent around to the front, and then I lunge again, pinning them to the ground. They struggle to stand, but I refuse to let them up. I draw from Nara’s strength allowing her to guide my movements in order to keep my opponent restrained.

I hold firm, using the moment to catch my breath when suddenly the lights are flipped on. I blink the last of the darkness from my eyes and see Prince Kaine standing in front of me in nothing but a towel, his hair still wet from bathing.

He glares at me furiously, “Do you take my bedroom for a sparring ring?”