The ride to the Rafina Pack was relatively smooth with surprisingly good weather the entire way. Caspian had made sure to run easy for me riding on top with nothing to grab but handfuls of fur that frequently slipped out between my fingers.
Caspian and Jax easily disguised themselves as guards, and I dressed myself to look like a noble as best I could, hoping most wouldn’t recognize me here. I had to have looked different to some if you considered the condition I was in the last time I was in the Rafina Pack. Most couldn’t tell what my gender was despite my long hair, my face was always so dirty and my body so skinny, you couldn’t tell.
I may not have put on any weight since then, but with the proper bath I was given, the hairstyle the maids gave me and my clothes, I looked like an actual person.
“Where did the Elf say that gambling den was?” Caspian asked Jax.
“He said it was in the marketplace, hidden in plain sight.”
“That must mean the building is disguised as something else,” he muttered.
“So, we just look for the buildings that look like the odd ones out, or ones with not a lot of people going in or out,” I said. “I suppose that’s where I come in, I frequented the marketplace every day to get food and supplies, I know it like the back of my hand.”
I already had some ideas about where this gambling den might have been, but I didn’t want to lead Caspian and Jax all over the market without being sure. We pretended to stroll and window shop along the cobblestone, but secretly tried to peer into stores and see if there was anything amiss with any of them.
“What about that place there?” Jax pointed to a vacant building that had a ‘for lease’ sign on the side.
“That place is empty,” Caspian said.
“Which makes it the perfect place to hideout, let’s check and see.” I started walking toward the building before the other two could act, Caspian lightly calling out from behind me.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side. “You shouldn’t be running around here.”
“This was the place I called home for 18 years and I always did everything on my own around here, there was never any real danger.”
“That was before,” he said. “You’re with me now, and I don’t want to see you leave my side unless I say so.”
I nodded and followed along with him, feeling a little touched by his words.
“This place is empty, and the front door is boarded up, it doesn’t look like anyone has been here for some time,” Jax said.
“Sevika?” Someone called out, causing all of use to freeze on the spot.
I turned and spotted a familiar red head. “Collinsworth?”
“It is you! Wow, I barely recognized you, you look like a different person almost.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I could ask you the same thing, I heard you were sold off to the Alpha King. When I heard that, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. What are you doing back here?”
I looked around me and saw too many people standing by who could overhear. I gestured for everyone to follow me and ducked into a small alley. Caspian stopped me and held me back.
“What are you doing? Can we trust this guy?” he asked.
“Absolutely, he was a good friend to me when I lived here. He works in the market with his father, and they often gave me extra rations to stash away when I was younger. He might actually know something about the gambling den.”
Caspian frowned but let me go.
“Uh, Sevika, who are these guys?” Collinsworth asked and looked warily at the towering Jax.
“They’re bodyguards, don’t worry about them. I need your help, Collins, there is a place we’re trying to find. A gambling den, have you heard of it?”
His eyes widened and he looked nervous.
“You do know something, don’t you?” I asked.
“I’ll get in a lot of trouble if I’m caught. You know how Alpha Emery feels about gambling.”
“So, Magnus really doesn’t know anything about this?”
Collins shook his head. “Only us commoners know about it, it’s our only way to keep up with the ridiculous property and goods taxes.”
“That isn’t all that is there, is it? What do you know about the auction house?” Jax asked.
“How do you guys know about that?”
“That doesn’t matter, answer the question.”
Collins gulped audibly. “Alright, fine. But first you have to tell me why you’re here. I’m risking a lot doing this, I want to at least know what I’m risking my life for.”
That was fair of him to ask, but before I could answer him, Caspian ripped off his mask and approached Collins. “I demand that you tell us what you know.”
Collins instantly replied. “The auction house is beneath the gambling den; it only opens at night.”
“You will bring us there tonight.”
He nodded, then snapped out of it. “Who are you guys?”
“Thanks, Collins. We’ll meet you back here tonight,” I cut him off and grabbed Caspian’s hand to drag them away. “You didn’t have to go that far; you almost gave yourself away.”
“He was acting dodgy and was taking too long.”
I frowned. “Still, what should we do now?”
“I’m pretty hungry. Is there anywhere to get food around here?” Jax asked.
At the mention of food, I froze a little. The last place I would feel comfortable eating was anywhere here.
I felt Caspian look at me but didn’t meet his eye, I wouldn’t become a burden on this trip.
“There is a small place that serves great meat kebobs just up there and to the right,” I said. It is a place I have always wanted to try, but never had the time or money to get anything there. But now the very idea of meat is repulsive for me, it was Magnus’s favourite dish to stuff full of silkweed, a poisonous flower that causes you to puke blood as it tears away at the lining of the stomach.
“Sounds good, we can wait it out there until dark,” Jax said and started walking ahead.
Caspien held me back. “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t need to go this far.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m alright with this. As long as I can be useful.”
He sighed. “Sevika,” he started to say.
“Hey guys, check this out! They have wild boar here!” Jax called out and cut him off.
“He stands out a little too much,” I joked and rushed over before he gave himself away. I wasn’t able to notice how Caspian had hung back for a second before he joined us.
We sat in the small restaurant shack and Jax stuffed stick after stick of meat into his mouth, as if it was his last meal. I wasn’t comfortable with ordering anything and opted for a cup of Paeonia Tea, a sweet and floral tasting drink with added milk and honey for a creamy after taste. The Paeonia flower is also a strong repellent against most stomach sicknesses and is hard to poison without giving off an odd smell.
None the less, Caspian still picked up the cup when it arrived and took a sip before I had the chance to, then placed it down in front of me. Jax had taken notice of this and secretly eyed the exchange from the corner.
“Did you not order anything?” Caspian asked me and I shook my head.
He took several pieces of vegetables and chicken off of his kebob and placed them on a plate for me. “I’ve already tried everything, it’s safe.”
Jax suddenly started to cough up his food and turned away to cover his flushed face.
Caspian narrowed his eyes at him, and he cleared his throat, continuing to shove food in his mouth and avoided eye contact, but seemed to be in disbelief of what he was seeing of his King.
Collinsworth met us at the alley again when the sun dipped below the horizon and the market streets became bare. He led us around the back of the empty building and to a small cellar door. He knocked three times and a slit in the door slid open, a single eye appeared.“Password?” he gruffly asked.“Ambrosia,” Collins whispered.The door rattled a couple of times before it was flung open, and a Cyclops orc took up the doorway. He eyed all of us for a few minutes before he nodded for us to get inside. The whole place stretched underground and looked like it had been thrown together recently, the wood beams still shedding from a fresh saw.There were several round tables scattered throughout the room with cards and plastic chips flying from hand to hand, as others slammed the tables and hooted loudly, the entire room filled with chaotic noise.“Where is the auction house?” I asked Collins over the mess.He pointed to the other side of the room next to the bar, where a red curtain divided
I could sense the tension from Caspian the entire way home and it makes me concerned for what awaits me when we get back to the manor. Jax stayed with us until we reached the front door but bowed his head slightly before he took off running, leaving me with the gut-wrenching feeling that I was about to face the wrath of the Alpha King.It was my first time being with a man in this way at all, I wasn’t used to such things as jealousy or knew when I was overstepping a line and being offensive. I was merely concerned about Collinsworth, who risked his life to get us in there just for something to heal my scars.Caspian waited at the front door for me to get off, then nodded with his head for me to go inside ahead of him. I gave him a hesitant look, but he nodded again and turned around to take off around the other side of the manor.“Where is he going?” I asked myself quietly.“He is going to visit his mother; he should be back later tonight.”I jumped at the sound of Carlak’s voice and
I covered my mouth in utter shock, unable to believe what I just heard.“How could they do that?” I asked.“There are many reasons, the biggest being they believed the rumours and would’ve rather die at their own hands than be tortured at mine.”“What were the other reasons?” I asked hesitantly.This seemed to be something he didn’t want to answer, but there was no going back, he had already revealed this much, and I had so many more questions.“If possible, I’d like for you to make me a promise first,” he said.I nodded.“Promise me that no matter what I say, you will listen until the end.”“Of course, I promise,” I said and sat up straight on the bed to show I was all ears.Caspian got comfortable as well at the edge of the bed and surprised me when he grabbed my hand to hold as he prepared himself.“I was born with two older siblings, a sister and a brother. I was born the weakest of the two, but since I was the youngest, there was no chance I would be next in line for the throne.
Aurora. I tested the name in my mind and was surprised at how much I liked it.“What does it mean?” I asked.“It means ‘dawn aura’ which translates in my language to ‘evening beauty’.”I hid my smile in the pillow. “Thank you, I really like it.”“If you don’t mind my asking, why were you given that name? Did your family know it means ‘slave’ in most languages?”Before I could answer her, I felt her hand brush over where the slave mark was on my neck, and she froze. “What is that?”I contemplated telling her, but something told me she already knew.“It is the slave mark my family placed on me.”She scoffed. “Is that what they told you it was? This is no slave mark, my dear. This is a mark of the Fae, an insignia meant to act as a seal. Have you always had this?”I nodded. “For as long as I can remember.”“This is something only a member of the Fae can lift, I’m afraid. They went into hiding hundreds of years ago when their species was attacked by Orcs. Much similar to Sirens, the blood
Day of the BallI sat anxiously waiting for Caspian in the drawing room. I could hear guests arrive through the front door as the halls had become a bustle of noise and laughter. It seemed to have been a long time since anyone was last allowed into the Alpha King’s castle.That just made me all the more nervous. What if people didn’t like me? What if they thought I wasn’t worthy of all this praise and affection? I had already heard the rumours circulating that the Alpha King’s new wife was a witch in disguise and she had bewitched the king into loving her.How else would anyone explain how the cold-hearted Alpha King suddenly turned into a caring and devoted husband, after he supposedly slaughtered all his previous conquests?“Are you ready, m’lady?” the butler asked.I nodded and waited as he opened the doors. I joined Caspian at the bottom of the main hall stairs, and we walked together to the ballroom. I wondered how all the girls in the room would react once they saw how well Casp
“What are you doing here?” I asked him.He looked surprised. “Seems we grew a backbone in the short time you’ve become royalty. No hug? It’s been so long since you last saw your dear brother.” Magnus opened his arms and moved toward me.I ducked away from his touch. “Have you forgotten your place? Do not touch me without permission, or I can have your hands cut off.”His eyes darkened and he growled slightly.“I think you’re the one who has forgotten her place. Does your new husband know just who you are? How we pick you up from the slums and take you in? Now look at you, acting all high and mighty before me, the person who made you who you are.”I fought the urge to spit on him. “My husband knows well who I am, and he loves me all the more for it. He did not marry me for status or reputation, or he would never have chosen our family to begin with.”“You bitch,” he snarled. In the next moment, he launched himself at me and grabbed hold of my neck to wrap his other hand around my mouth
My blood turned to ice in my veins as I listened to his words.“That isn’t good, right?”Caspian sighed. “No, it’s not. She tried to convince me to break off the marriage.”“Wait, is that all?”He looked shocked. “What do you mean?”“I assumed she would want to have me killed off, but if all she is asking is to call off the marriage, isn’t that better?” It certainly was to me. So, why did he look so disappointed?“Is that really what you would want?” he asked.I bit my lip. “Well, I’d rather not die. If that is my only other option, would you not do the same?”He rushed to answer. “I would never want to put you in harm's way, but…” he paused. “I couldn’t bring myself to agree. I told my mother I refused to call off the marriage. I-I’m sorry, Aurora.”“Why are you apo
Caspian was out the door before I had the chance to stop him. I knew exactly where he was headed but I was much too slow to keep up with him. He stormed out the front door just as Magnus and the family were getting in the carriage, and he hurled himself at Magnus, shifting before he touched the ground. “What is the meaning of this?” my mother cried out. “Why don’t we ask your son?” I heard Caspian’s voice rumble deep in my mind. My mother gasped and suddenly knelt. “W-we don’t k-know what you m-mean,” she struggled to even breath. “Caspian, stop it, please.” To my utter surprise, he had instantly let go of Magnus and backed away. “Sevi – Aurora, what is going on here?” I gazed at my mother. “I believe this is better discussed at home.” “Let this be a warning. There won’t be a second,” Caspian growled at Magnus. Father picked up Magnus and pushed him into the carriage before they high tailed it out of there. Once they were gone I felt like I could breathe finally, but standing