Chapter 11 Defend the pet
I have no idea, your highness!" she exclaimed, her eyes clouded with thoughts. "I have never shifted before, let alone during a normal cycle. But with what you have shown me? I do not know what it is I am…" she admitted as the prince nodded lightly, following the movement of her mouth as if he were studying her.
One thing he was certain of was that Evyths was not a normal werewolf; she was unique and chosen by the moon goddess.
"It is clear that you have defeated the power of wolfbane, Eva," he said. At least it was the nicest thing he had said to her since she had known him.
"However, you still serve the crown, and I will continue to work on the antidote," he assured her, as if she needed a reminder. Whatever he was doing, it did not change the fact that she was a slave to the crown.
A stain on their whites.
He carefully stretched out his hand to unbind the chains that held her.
"I didn't want you to transform and harm someone, which should explain the chains," he explained without her having to ask.
Her unwavering gaze followed his every move. When he rose, she looked up at him.
For a split second, Evyths forgot that she had been lying there naked before the prince, and he had not acted disgracefully toward her.
It was almost as if he didn't realize she was naked.
Their eyes lingered on each other awkwardly for several seconds. The silence weighed heavily, its intensity buried within, and uncertainty sparked forbidden thoughts.
The prince swallowed hard, his thoughts abruptly disrupted by a noise coming from the door.
"Hana will assist you. You can rest for the day," he said hastily, leaving as if he were being chased.
What could have chased the prince away from her? she wondered silently.
"Dear goddess, I was naked before a vampire prince, not even my mate, and I felt too comfortable. Where is my dignity?!" Evyths muttered under her breath as she rose instantly, gathering the little strength she had left.
She looked around for something to cover herself with, but there was nothing. Frustration laced her face as she hugged herself, as if it were enough to shield her bare skin.
Suddenly, there was a heavy knock on the door.
Evyths felt a surge of terror and moved backward, hiding behind a rotting slab of wood as the door swung open.
Scared it might be a soldier or Raven, her gaze landed on Hana.
"Thank the goddess," Evyths sighed as she stepped out of hiding.
"The prince asked me to bring you some clothes before you head out," Hana said, her eyes unusually scanning Evyths' body.
Evyths ran toward Hana and grabbed the dress, hastily putting it on. She felt partly uncomfortable; not even Valerio had made her feel that way, but Hana did.
"Is everything okay?" Evyths asked, adjusting the bodice.
"Y-yeah, all is well," Hana replied, barely snapping out of her distant, lustful thoughts about Evyths.
"You seem… lost. That is unlike you, Hana. You are usually mean…" Evyths confessed, her voice dropping as Hana caressed her arms softly, a smile plastered on her lips.
"That is because I did not know you as well as I do now," Hana said.
Evyths’ brows crinkled, confused by Hana’s words. What did she mean? Evyths asked herself.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you promise not to be shy?" Hana pressed.
Evyths shrugged quickly. "I will try not to be," she snapped, now fully dressed.
"Did the prince see all your... endowment?" she asked as politely as she could.
Evyths scrunched her nose in confusion. "How do you mean?
“I mean… did the prince, by any chance, touch you? Your breasts are perfectly shaped, something the men would certainly appreciate,” Hana pressed as Evyths frowned.
“Spirits! No! The prince would never. He is decent. And I think that you are not,” Evyths stated firmly, a hint of disappointment and disgust lacing her tone.
Hana chuckled softly, fiddling with her fingers, unfazed by Evyths’ reaction. “Take it as another way of telling you that you are… pretty!” she added.
Evyths, unsure of what to say, scuffed lightly.
“That is not courteous of you, Hana,” Evyths snapped. “By the way, I should return to my cell…” Evyths said, walking past her while Hana bit her lower lip, dismissing her secret thoughts about Evyths.
…
As they walked through the hallways, Hana filled her in on Raven's orders. “The king and his wife are hosting an acceptance ball in honor of the prince’s upcoming wedding to Lady Raven, House Blackwin. They are such a good match. She is eloquent and powerful. I have seen her turn a guard into a bull with my own eyes.”
“What was his offense?” Evyths asked quickly, glancing at Hana.
“He did not answer her immediately. He took a moment to think—”
“A moment to think is now a crime?” Evyths muttered under her breath.
“Shh! No one must hear you…” Hana covered Evyths’ mouth instantly before pulling away.
“No one questions Lady Raven,” Hana added. “So, she has asked us to be there to serve the guests…” she explained as Evyths nodded gently.
“Interesting! I can tell…” said Evyths.
“Have you ever crossed paths with her? I mean, I’ve seen you two talking. I lurked behind a pillar, that's how I knew.” Hana nudged Evyths, who seemed barely interested in discussing her encounter with Lady Raven.
“No. She only asked me questions about my former pack—”
“Just that?” Hana’s eyes brightened with curiosity.
“Yes. Just that,” Evyths snapped, looking away completely from Hana, who was invested yet dissatisfied with Evyths’ response. “When is the ball?”
“Tonight!”
“Tonight?” Evyths repeated, surprised.
“Mmhm! If you are… exhausted, you can go to bed. I will give her my word. But I will come to see you later—”
“You are oddly kind, but thank you. I'll do as the Lady has asked instead.”
…
The workload was enormous and nearly unending. Evyths had scoured the hall’s floor alone on the orders of the queen herself, which particularly concerned her.
The queen had given Evyths far too many tasks for her to handle. Evyths was worried and could not understand why the queen was so unkind to her.
As she hummed an old song that her mother had sung to her as a lullaby while growing up, she was unaware that Valerio was secretly watching her work without complaint.
He assumed that Lady Raven was the one behind it until he asked a guard, who informed him that it was indeed the queen herself who had ordered it.
Valerio felt unsettled and, for some reason, he couldn’t understand, disliked seeing Evyths being punished. This was a major reason he had distanced himself from Ryker during the territorial meeting with the werewolves.
He hated how she was treated by a man who felt the world was beneath him. Yet, the moon goddess joined them as mates.
If the moon goddess was not being cruel, wgy would she join the two as mates? Valerio debated in his mind.
As he turned to leave, his mother approached him, her smile infectious, but to Valerio, it felt forced. Her guards and maids flocked behind her like a herd.
“My dear D’Arcy,” she exclaimed, spreading her arms wide, while Valerio managed a half-smile.
She noticed the coldness in his demeanor, beaming like a crescent moon. She dismissed her guards and maids with a sharp gaze directed at her son.
“Why have you burdened her with so much work?”
Valerio's tone grew serious and authoritative.
“D’Arcy, she offended your betrothed—”
“May the Sacred Dracula wail in hell and let blood flow if you tell me that Raven threatened you to make her do this!” he said behind gritted teeth, anger evident in his voice. His face to face tightened with a thick frown.
The queen remained silent, unable to bear her son’s fury. Rubbing her neck lightly, he spoke again.
“Did she?” he asked hoarsely like a loud thud, her eyes wide with terror at the thought of exposing Lady Raven.
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