Chapter 23

Ember

I wake up to a pain in my shoulder as my mark reminds me that I’m running out of time. The pain is dull, nothing like what I experienced the other night, but the frequency of the burning has been increasing at an alarming rate.

I need to get more potion before it is too late, and Prince Kaine discovers that I am his mate. My recent promotion came with a pay increase and that paired with the money I was able to save by helping the maids should be enough for a bottle of the weaker potion.

The stronger potion would provide me with more control and provide me with more resistance to the call of my mate bond, but I have no choice. The weaker potion is my only option. I am nearly out of time.

I was able to avoid being discovered for this long, I just need another three months to come up with a better plan. I can handle the side effects from the weaker potion for another three months if it means that Prince Kaine won’t be able to feel our bond.

Although my promotion has provided me with the funds to acquire the bond suppressing potion, it has also taken up a significant amount of my time. Even with my training hours scaled back, I have almost no free time left. I will have to sneak out of the palace at night to get the potion.

The thought makes me nervous. I am forbidden from leaving the palace without permission while the investigation continues. If I am caught I might be presumed to be working with the assassination.

Even if I deemed innocent, leaving without permission might get me removed from my position in the royal guard. I would be breaking direct orders and violating the palace lockdown. It doesn’t matter, if the prince finds out that I’m his mate I will be rejected and I will lose my position and Nara.

I have to risk it. I can’t lose my wolf. I just need to be careful.

I muddle my way through training, exhausted from a week of waking up early every morning due to the pain in my mark. Some of the other guards make snide comments under their breath at my performance, but I don’t give them my energy. I need to focus on planning my escape.

After training, I continue my research into Lady Chantarelle, choosing to spend my time alone. I would normally go over any findings wit Prince Kaine but every day the potion gets weaker and being around him is becoming too risky. He has also gotten to know me far better than I anticipated because of our investigation and I can’t help but worry that he will see something in my expression that will give me away.

The hours pass until I can safely return to my room and wait. I don’t have to report for patrol tonight, so I just need to wait until the activity of the palace dies down and wait for the right moment. If I can time it correctly, I should be able to sneak out when the group of guards on the first evening patrol breaks to make way for the later shift.

My mind races as I prepare to make my escape. I pick out an outfit of dark clothes from before I joined the guard, bare of any palace insignia and simple in nature. I don’t want to draw too much attention and a female guard away from the palace would be sure to make anyone who might spot me outside of the palace walls talk.

I pack a small bag, making sure I have the money required to purchase the potion as well as my lucky dagger just in case. And then, I wait. Hours tick by, my nerves growing as each minute passes until suddenly, it’s time.

I slip out of my room, careful not make too much noise as I shut the door behind me and then I begin to creep down the corridor. I am silent as I make my way toward the exit, using my knowledge of the palace to guide me. My timing was correct and I am able to slip past the other guards as they switch patrol units.

My heart pounds in my chest as I approach the corridor leading to my exit. I just need to make it through this door and then past the gate and I’m home free. I take a deep breath and then I feel him—Prince Kaine.

I sense him before I see him, the familiar burn flaring red hot on my shoulder. My already racing heart flies to my throat at his approach. I don’t move praying that he passes without noticing me.

My luck runs out when I hear his voice, low and commanding. “Ember.”

I turn to face him, cold panic flooding my veins. I have been caught. I do my best to smooth my features into a calm expression as I address him. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Kaine

What is this woman doing now? She is clearly sneaking out and I watch as she fidgets. Her illusion of controlled calm is broken by the way her hands move to play with the hem of her shirt, a nervous habit I had picked up on as we researched Lady Chantarelle together. What is she hiding?

Rafe begins to pace, Ember’s presence causing him to stir. He has been convinced lately that there had been a mistake, and that Ember was supposed to be our mate. The more I shut him down, pointing out that Bianca bares the royal mark, the most he pushed back.

He argues that our mate bond always flares the strongest whenever Ember is around, disregarding that Bianca is also always there. Even if there is a connection to Ember, not everything is known about mate bonds. It is possible that because Bianca and Ember are twins their familial bond influences us when they are together.

I suppress a sigh ignoring Rafe as he whines now. Bianca is my mate.

Ember continues to fidget as I regard her. Her clothes are plain and void of any connection to the guard or her connection to the palace. She had even swapped out her usual boots for something more discreet.

I let my gaze drift in the direction Ember had been walking. The door. Ember had been planning on leaving the palace.

My throat dries at the realization. Ember, one of the only people who has gained my trust, was sneaking out. My chest aches.

I feel my expression change and I fight to keep the sting of her betrayal off my features. I should punish her, kick her out of the guard for this. She could be up to anything and in light of the assassin’s attack I can’t afford to give second chances.

I think about what would have happened if someone else had happened upon her. She could have been accused of treason. Removing her from her position would be a mercy.

I look into Ember’s eyes and the words come from my mouth before I can stop them. “I’m not going to ask what you’re up to, but don’t do it again,” I say my voice low. “Others will not be so forgiving.” I turn, leaving Ember in the corridor.