ClaraFelix pulled up his hood at the sound of my gasp and narrowed his eyes. He looked to the prince for guidance. Prince Legiere only smiled through his teeth at me and continued to smoke, as if it were just another day dealing with a sorcerer.“He has the Stigma and the Mark,” I said. Suddenly, I was unsure of myself. In the Moonstone Pack, or anywhere in Lycaneum, Felix would have been hunted, questioned, and burned alive. Sorcerers were burned, so that the Stigma would not spread to any other werewolf.I remembered Prince Legiere’s young betrothed. She too had the Stigma. Had there been an outbreak here in Khordon? Why hadn’t word gotten out about this in nearly every corner of Lycaneum? Is this why the Alpha of the Moonstone Pack wanted nothing to do with the Dark Shade? Did he hear about the sorcerers – werewolves who defied all reason and sought the arts of magic, at great risk to themselves and to everyone around them?“I’ve got the Mark,” Felix said coolly. “What of it?” Onc
Clara“I’m not bathing with you.” I glared at him.“Oh?” said Prince Legiere. He began to undo the black laces of his trousers, and I turned away just in time before he pulled them down. His breeches flew across the room and landed in a crumpled pile in the corner.“Well, then I’m afraid that you’ll have to go without a bath the entire day. You see the servants listen to me only, and boiling water for baths is tedious work for them. So if I say to them that if Lady Clara wants to take a bath, she’ll have to wait the next day.”My ears flushed in indignation. “You wouldn’t dare. I need a bath right now! I haven’t washed for nearly three days, and I feel revolting!”Something tickled my neck, and I swapped his hand away.“What a terrible shame. Then you just stand there facing the wall like a prisoner marked for execution. Ah, here they come.”Werewolves came through the door holding wooden basins of steaming hot water. There were so many servants that it was like a procession. They cam
ClaraI tried not to hiss as I dipped into the steaming hot water. The bath was boiling – much hotter than I was used to. Back when I still lived with the Moonstone Pack, I took quick, utilitarian baths. I often used the leftover water from Sisley’s bath or even Gerald’s when he wasn’t a lieutenant yet in the Allied Hunters. I would pour the water into a tiny wooden basin and squeeze my body inside. The water would be dirty and lukewarm, though I was grateful for any hot water at all. It was that or bathing in the river. Many other werewolves on the low end of the caste had to do this; it was just another thing to be ashamed of.Here the bath water gleamed with pale milky pink, green, and purple colors. It was like someone had stolen the aurora borealis in the night sky and deposited it into the bath. The scent was incredible – sea salts, subtle florals, citrus, and spice. They mixed into a fragrance that healed my anxious mind.I closed my eyes but kept the towel close to my breasts.
ClaraI debated if I would pursue Prince Legiere or stay the enjoy the rest of the bath. A knock at the door decided the matter for me.“Your Ladyship,” said a voice that was not Prince Legiere’s. “We brought you breakfast. May the servants come in to dry you off?”I sighed and closed my eyes. In between trying to hide my naked body from the prince’s prying eyes and wheedling information out of his head, I felt that I didn’t have much time to enjoy the bath. Guilt flitted through my chest, as I thought about Prince Griffin and Hazel. What were they doing now? Were they safe? Had they decided to defend Bragne, or did they do the smarter thing and retreat further south? What exactly was I doing here in Khordon being pampered like some prissy Elite princess instead of doing something of worth?I willed myself to leave the bath, and I told the servants they could come in. Even that action felt strange to me. Commanding servants, as if I were an Elite. I justified it to myself by saying th
ClaraWhen the three of us finished breakfast, we headed out of my room onto the veranda overlooking the entirety of the city of Khordon. Khordon was built on several sloping hills, and the Quarters lay on one of those hills.Piper pointed out several buildings to me. “That’s my home,” she said, as she picked out a yellow brick building with several pavilions and gardens to the west. “It’s the House of Yultis. My father lives there.”She pointed to an intimidating castle surrounded by other square buildings. Black banners covered the battlements, and I could pick out the silver emblem of the Dark Shade: claws ripping through the fabric. “That’s the Seat of the Alpha, where Dean is supposed to live. But he likes living in the Quarters more.”“He’s not supposed to live there yet,” Felix said. “Even though everyone knows that he’s the chosen Emperor, Dean still has to pay lip service to Prince Bruess.”I remembered how Prince Legiere had spoken of his half-brother as living in a gilded c
ClaraWaiters came through and set up several plates, cups, and silverware around the table. Piper took a seat at the furthest edge of the table, and Felix sat close to her. Our bodyguards took their places in the shadowy corners of the room, and I realized that two other guards were standing close by to the half-brother of Prince Legiere.Prince Bruess watched me and gestured to a seat directly across from him.“Sit,” he said. His voice was quiet, but commanding. Unlike Deanneth’s musical tones, his voice was harsh steel on a grindstone. That single word mesmerized me, and I sat down.I studied him. His short hair was tied into crimson and indigo braids. Gold crystals hung from his ears, and a black silk scarf covered his broad shoulders. His chest was bare, save for a web of silver crystals and chains. A gold slash of ink glistened from his heavy-lidded eyes, and an ornate gold muzzle covered his face. He was terribly handsome, but there was a stony quality to him as if he were chis
ClaraWe spent the long, uncomfortable meal in complete silence. I could barely taste my food, and even the novelty of the iced drink Piper called coffee did not distract me from Prince Bruess’s domineering presence. He did not eat. I’m not sure why he would sit in this restaurant just to admire the colorful peaks of Terran, but I guessed that there was an unspoken rule that he could not remove his muzzle. This sort of punishment was common enough in garrisons and prison cells, but I had never seen it implemented for such a high-ranking member of the pack. It struck me as incredibly cruel and debasing, but seeing such a powerful werewolf in this state sent a clear message – there was only one heir to the throne, and it would be Deanneth.There were other things that I began to notice. A light golden chain was tied across his wrists. He shifted his position in his chair, and I saw that his feet were bare. Heavy golden cuffs encircled his ankles, and they were connected by a chain. Ther
ClaraPrince Legiere’s lips quirked up, and he gauged my expression. Slowly, he walked around me, as if he was sizing up a prize horse for the races.“Hmm. You want to see my brother. How very interesting.”Suddenly, he lunged at me and cradled my head in his hands. I felt the sharp tips of his claws trace my cheeks. The heat of his sweating body enticed me to step closer to him. His hands crept down my neck and then further down to my waist. His grip was tight, but I kept staring straight into his dark blue eyes. I would not turn away. To look away was to admit defeat.He tilted his head to the side. “Why? Is there a particular reason why you’ll accept his offer? He probably wants to bed you. How can I send you to his side when he wants something so crude from you?”“He doesn’t,” I said firmly. “He wants me to tell a story.”Prince Legiere burst out laughing, but then he gripped me closer to his body. His sweat mingled with my skin, and my heart struggled wildly like an ensnared rabb