Chapter 20

Kaine

My eyes threaten to close on their own as I finally give my last instructions for the day. The assassination attempt at the rehearsal ceremony had been one headache after another. We had uncovered the identity of the assassin, another member of the guard, but had unable to pinpoint the source of the attack.

I make my way to quarters as exhaustion threatens to overwhelm me. The moment I’m through the door I collapse onto the bed not bothering to undress, eager to welcome the oblivion that sleep has become. I lay there for a moment, waiting for sleep to take me but the moment never comes.

Instead, I find my mind drifting to the rehearsal today. To Ember. Without her there is a large possibility that I would be dead.

I think of the way she threw herself in front of me so fearlessly. Logically, I know its her duty as a member of my guard, but I can’t help but admire the bravery it took to put herself in harms way. As my mind wanders, I begin to recognize another feeling nagging its way into my mind. Guilt.

I don’t know why I had assigned Ember to my personal guard. Yes, she was talented, but she was still a trainee it didn’t make any sense. Something in me, something selfish had wanted to see more of her and now she had been injured, stabbed by a poison dagger, because of that selfishness.

I turn, hoping sleep might still find me, but minutes pass, and I am more restless than ever. I stand, deciding that I will feel better once I know that Ember is alright. I make my way out of chamber and follow the path I know leads to her room.

I gently open the door, surprised to find another person inside when I arrive. I start to move back, but quiet voice calls for me to come in.

As I step inside Ember’s room my only focus is her unconscious figure on the bed as the palace healer leans over her, a bead of sweat dripping down his brow. Ember moans as the healer continues his work, her body twisting as if in pain.

I take a step forward, wanting to stop him, to take away her pain, but the healer speaks before I can act on my impulses. “The sedatives don’t work on her. That’s why she’s reacting like this.”

I stop, understanding and move forward again, this time with the intention of aiding the healer’s work. I place my hands on Ember’s shoulder’s firmly but carefully allowing the healer better access to her wound.

As my hands make contact, her body stills. The healer eyes me with surprise, “Her healing speed just picked up. That’s… unexpected.” I keep my hands steady, willing to stay as long as I need to for Ember to fully recover.

As I wait, Ember’s body shifts toward me, unconsciously leaning in. As she does, I note the softness of her features, and I am stricken by her vulnerability in this moment. My chest tightens and I know that I won’t be able to sleep in my room tonight.

I quickly open my connection to Jake, allowing him to access a small portion of my thoughts as I use our pack bond to communicate. “I will be busy for the remainder of the night. If there is any urgent matter, I trust you to attend to it.”

Ember

The next few days are some of the worst of my life, as I recover from the attack on Prince Kaine. Although the wound healed relatively quickly due to my strength, the effects of the wolven venom are brutal. My first day back I had attempted my regular schedule, only to find that my reaction speed and reflexes had been extremely dulled by the remainder of the poison still traversing my system.

Even worse, was that the potion I had taken to suppress my mate bond was fading quickly. The formula had already been unreliable at best, but now that the weeks were turning into months, my reactions to Prince Kaine were starting to become unbearable to manage. It still prevents him from detecting me, but with my urge to be near him growing everyday I can’t be certain how long that will last.

My salary from guard duty isn’t nearly enough to cover the cost of the potion, and the prince’s strict rules prevent me from leaving the palace to earn more money. The only way that I’ve been able to earn extra money is by helping the maids with physical labor in the free time allotted by my injury.

Still, I’m not sure it will be enough. I am headed back from one such job when I bump into the guard that had accused secretly sleeping with the Prince, when I had asked to be reassigned. I hurry forward, hoping to ignore him when he speaks.

“Caught you abandoning your post. That’s grounds for dismissal isn’t it?”

My heart pounds in my chest, knowing I’ve been caught when he continues. “Want me to keep quiet? Go on a date with me.”

I hesitate, but I know the rules. If I am caught away from my post I will be ejected from the guard. I look at the man. “Okay. But… how did you know I was stationed here? I don’t believe this is a coincidence.”

The man examines me, interest shining as his eyes as he moves closer. “You really don’t know who I am?”

I open my mouth to speak but before I can answer Prince Kaine comes strolling around the corner. He pauses. “Jasper. What are you doing here?”

I look between the men realization dawning on me. Jasper. This is Prince Kaine’s half-brother, the Second Prince.

Jasper reaches out his hand, grabbing my wrist. “I’m here for a date—with her.”

Prince Kaine eyes find mine, searching. “Is that true?”

I nod, knowing that if I disagree Jasper could have be expelled from the guard for abandoning my post. Jasper smirks still holding my wrist, “See? Not your concern, brother.”

In an instant I find myself behind Prince Kaine as he moves toward his brother. “Of course it is,” he says coldly. “She’s mine.”