Chapter 28

Ember

Bianca is already stretching when I enter the Luna training room, her eyes flicking toward me as I walk in. She doesn’t speak right away but I can feel the weight of her stare as I move to the opposite mat.

My ribs still ache from her last “lucky shot.” I take my time warming up, deliberately avoiding her gaze.

When she finally speaks, her voice is light but carries a slight edge. “You’ve been busy.”

I choose not to answer. She already knows that I am working with Prince Kaine on the investigation. Her tone is sickly sweet but her eyes betray her real intent. She is letting me know that she has been watching me.

She continues, her voice carrying just enough to make sure I hear. “Funny how you always seem to be around Kaine lately. Almost like you’re finding excuses.”

I rise slowly from my stretch, meeting her eyes. “I’m his guard. It’s my job.”

Bianca hums like she doesn’t believe me. “Sure. But if I didn’t know better, I’d say someone’s developing a little crush. Maybe more than a little.”

I clench my jaw. “You’re reaching.”

Her smile widens, too practiced to be sincere. “Don’t worry, I get it. You’re not used to attention. Kaine’s... intense. Easy to mistake that for something more.”

I exhale through my nose, trying to keep my temper in check. “I’m doing my job, Bianca.”

“Of course,” she says sweetly. “It’s just starting to look desperate. People notice, you know.”

I grip the edge of the mat, my knuckles white. Nara paces restlessly as waves of anger pulse through our veins. He is our mate.

Bianca picks up on my anger, using it to continue to goad me. “If you’re smart, you’ll stop while you’re ahead. We both know how this ends.”

My eyes flash to hers. “You’re right. We do.”

Before she can respond, the door opens and several guards start sparring on the opposite side of the gym, cutting the conversation short. We fall silent and the rest of the session passing in a blur of drills and controlled movements. Bianca keeps her distance after that, but I feel her eyes on me the entire time.

After training, I return to my room to change, my anger still coursing through me. I don’t know what Bianca thinks she sees, but I’m not chasing after anyone. I have gone to extreme measure to avoid revealing myself as Prince Kaine’s mate and I am not about to start chasing him now.

I take longer than usual getting ready. Prince Kaine and I are supposed to meet to discuss the Chantarelle estate, and I’m not sure what version of him I’m going to get today. I wonder if he will be distant and cold, or careful and almost soft like last night.

I gather the files I’ve been working through and head to his office. He’s seated at his desk when I arrive, eyes scanning a report. He gestures for me to sit without looking up.

We discuss the estate carefully, each of us choosing our words like they’re weapons we’d rather not draw. I push for subtlety, emphasizing the need to avoid alerting anyone close to Lady Chantarelle or the Queen. If her father is still living on the estate, barging in would only drive him deeper underground. We need to be smarter than that.

Prince Kaine listens, his expression unreadable. “You think the Queen suspects something?”

“I worry she’s watching. If she’s involved, and we get too close to something she’s trying to keep buried…”

“She’ll bury us instead.”

I nod once. “Exactly.”

Prince Kaine leans back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. “So, what’s your plan?”

“Start with the supply routes,” I say. “If the estate is occupied, someone is delivering resources. We need to follow the trail discreetly. If we get lucky, we can confirm occupancy without ever stepping foot near it.”

He nods slowly. “I’ll have Jake start working up an alias for us. We’ll need a cover.”

The atmosphere between us warms slightly, but I can still feel the barrier between us. Prince Kaine’s icy demeanor is beginning to thaw, but he is still distant.

As I gather my things to leave, Kaine speaks again. His tone holds a sense of dry humor, but there’s something underneath it. “I hope you won’t be making any more late-night trips. You’re integral to this investigation, I’d hate for you to be distracted.”

I pause mid-motion, keeping my face neutral. “I won’t.”

His gaze lingers on me for a moment, but he says nothing else.

I leave quickly, grateful to be out of his office. I take a deep breath, my heart thudding as I think about the with the weight of his remark. There was humor in his tone, but he still wants to know where I was headed that night.

As I move down the corridor, Nara stirs again. “You’re rebuilding something. Don’t waste it.”

“I’m focused on the investigation,” I answer, quiet but firm. For once Nara doesn’t argue but I can feel her disapproval.

Later, I’m tasked with reviewing the palace’s current security measures, marking weaknesses, and updating patrol patterns. The task is tedious but grounding and I throw myself into it, tracing every angle, every blind spot. This is something I can control.

I’m walking the outer corridors of the second floor, checking for blind spots when I hear footsteps behind me. I don’t need to look to know who it is.

He takes a glance at the paper I’ve been writing my notes on. “You’re planning on reassigning the entire palace guard?” Prince Kaine asks as he falls into step beside me.

“I wouldn’t have to if they were doing it right the first time,” I mutter.

He lets out a breath that almost sounds like a laugh. Almost.

We walk the halls together, evaluating the routes. Kaine challenges a few of my decisions, asking about timing, rotation overlap, line of sight. At first it feels like a test, but as the conversation continues, I realize he’s listening.

This is not an interrogation. He is testing the system, not me.

We pause near the south wing, and he gestures toward a small alcove near the stairwell. “Not important enough to station a guard there full time, but the area is too hidden. Hard to see who may be lurking.

I nod. “That’s why I recommended rerouting the patrol to loop twice per hour. We can check tucked away areas of the palace more frequently.”

He gives me a brief look. “Good.”

Just one word, but pride ignites in my chest.

The tension between us dulls further as we walk. The weight of his mistrust hasn’t vanished, but it’s no longer suffocating. I feel the shift even as I try not to want it.

Prince Kaine’s voice breaks the quiet. “You’ve been quiet about Jasper.”

I stiffen, but I keep walking. “What about him?”

“He’s was persistent that night when he asked you out.”

“That’s one word for it,” I mutter.

Kaine stops walking and turns to face me fully. “You shouldn’t trust him.”

I meet his eyes. “I don’t.”

He studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Good.”

Something coils tightly in my chest, and I’m not sure if it’s frustration or something else. I nod and step past him, continuing the patrol route.

When I glance back, he’s still watching me.

The rest of the route passes in silence, but an easier one than before. This one feels like space, it gives me room to breathe.

As I return to my room that night, Nara pushes gently. “He cares.”

“He’s cautious,” I correct.

“Same thing.”

I ignore her and press my back to the cool stone wall, letting the silence of my room settle over me. My mark is painless. The potion is still holding. For now.

Still, I feel Prince Kaine’s presence just beneath the surface. He cares about his kingdom and he’s smart. He deserves to succeed the Alpha King.

He’s also beginning to trust me again and I know that I have to keep lying to him. Guilt twists in my stomach at the thought, but I push it aside and let myself fall into a fitful sleep.