Chapter 13 The New Arrival
Janelle
The threatening note burned in my pocket like a brand as I scrubbed the marble floors of the main hall. Three days had passed since I had found it on my pillow, and I jumped at every shadow, every unexpected sound. My hands trembled as I worked, making the simple task of cleaning feel impossible.
"Janelle, you missed a spot," Clara whispered, kneeling beside me with her own scrub brush. The morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished stone.
I looked down to see my cloth had been moving in circles over the same clean section for minutes. "Sorry, I'm.."
"Distracted. I know." Clara's voice was gentle but worried. "You've been like this since you found that note. Maybe you should talk to someone."
"Who?" I laughed bitterly, the sound echoing in the vast space. "Mrs. Crawford? The guards? They'd think I was mad."
Before Clara could answer, the heavy main doors swung open with a resonating boom. We both froze as the sound of horses and carriages filled the courtyard beyond. Clara grabbed my arm.
"New arrivals," she breathed. "Nobility, by the sound of it."
We scrambled to our feet, pressing ourselves against the wall as palace guards rushed past us. Through the open doors, I could see a magnificent black carriage adorned with silver trim, pulled by four midnight-black horses that stamped and snorted in the crisp morning air.
"Girls, back to work," Mrs. Crawford's sharp voice cut through our gawking. "This is Lord Darius Blackwood from the Southern Kingdom. You'll show proper respect and stay out of the way."
My heart hammered against my ribs as the carriage door opened. A tall figure stepped out, and my breath caught in my throat. Lord Darius Blackwood was devastatingly handsome, tall and lean with dark hair that caught the sunlight, sharp cheekbones, and the kind of confident bearing that spoke of power and privilege. He wore a deep blue coat that emphasized his broad shoulders, and when he turned toward the palace entrance, I caught a glimpse of striking green eyes.
But it was his scent that made my wolf stir restlessly, pine and mountain air, wild and untamed despite his noble bearing.
"Another wolf," Clara whispered so quietly only I could hear.
Lord Darius's eyes swept the entrance hall as he approached, taking in every detail with the sharp gaze of a predator assessing new territory. His gaze passed over us briefly, then snapped back, those green eyes locking onto mine with startling intensity.
I felt heat rise in my cheeks and quickly looked away, focusing on my cleaning as if my life depended on it.
"Lord Blackwood," King Magnus's voice boomed as he descended the grand staircase, Prince Adrian at his side. "Welcome to our court."
"Your Majesty." Lord Darius's voice was smooth as silk, with just a hint of a southern accent. He bowed deeply, but I noticed his eyes flicked toward me again. "Thank you for your generous invitation."
"The Southern Kingdom honors us with your presence," the King replied, but there was something cold in his tone. "Adrian, escort our guest to his chambers."
Prince Adrian stepped forward, and I couldn't help but look up. He was magnificent as always, golden hair catching the light, blue eyes sharp and intelligent. But when those eyes found mine across the hall, something dark and possessive flashed in their depths before his gaze shifted to Lord Darius.
The tension between the two men was immediate and electric. Adrian's jaw clenched as he took in how Darius kept glancing in my direction.
"Of course, Father," Adrian said, his voice carefully controlled. "This way, Lord Blackwood."
As they passed near us, Lord Darius slowed his step. To my shock, he stopped directly in front of me.
"Forgive me," he said, his voice warm and genuinely kind. "I don't believe we've been introduced."
My mouth fell open. No noble had ever spoken to me directly, let alone asked for an introduction. From the corner of my eye, I saw Adrian's hands clench into fists.
"I... I'm Janelle, my lord," I stammered, dropping into the deepest curtsy I could manage. "Just a servant."
"Janelle." He repeated my name like he was tasting something pleasant. "A beautiful name for a beautiful lady."
The compliment hit me like a physical blow. My cheeks burned as I stared at the floor, not daring to look up.
"Lord Blackwood," Adrian's voice was deadly quiet. "Perhaps we should proceed to your chambers. I'm sure you're tired from your journey."
"Of course." But Darius didn't move immediately. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a single white rose, where he'd gotten it, I had no idea. He held it out to me. "A small token of appreciation for brightening my arrival."
I stared at the rose like it might bite me. No one had ever given me flowers. No one had ever treated me like I was worth such a gesture.
"Take it," Darius said gently when I hesitated. "Please."
With shaking fingers, I reached out and accepted the rose. The moment my fingers brushed his, a shock of... something ran up my arm. Not the electric fire of the mate bond I felt with Adrian, but something else. Recognition, maybe. Familiarity.
"Thank you, my lord," I whispered.
Adrian made a sound like a growl, so low only supernatural hearing could catch it. When I glanced at him, his blue eyes were blazing with fury and something that looked dangerously like jealousy.
"Charming," Adrian said through gritted teeth. "But we really must go."
This time, Darius allowed himself to be led away, but he looked back at me over his shoulder with a smile that made my heart flutter in confusion.
The moment they disappeared up the stairs, Clara grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise.
"What just happened?" she hissed.
"I don't know," I breathed, staring down at the perfect white rose in my hands. Its petals were soft as silk, and it smelled like moonlight and promises.
"Did you see Prince Adrian's face?" Clara's eyes were wide. "He looked ready to challenge Lord Blackwood to a duel right here in the entrance hall."
I had seen. The jealousy in Adrian's eyes had been unmistakable, raw and violent. For a moment, his careful control had cracked completely, and I'd seen the possessive alpha male beneath the princely facade.
"This is bad," I whispered. "This is very bad."
But I couldn't stop looking at the rose.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur. I found myself assigned to the guest wing – a coincidence that felt anything but coincidental. As I worked in the corridor outside Lord Darius's chambers, I could hear voices through the thick oak door. His, and another that sounded like Captain Thorne's.
I tried not to listen, but their voices carried.
"...the Southern Kingdom has interests..." Darius's voice.
"...watching her closely..." Thorne's response.
My blood ran cold. Were they talking about me?
The voices dropped too low to make out words, and I forced myself to focus on dusting the ornate wall sconces. But my hands shook so badly I nearly dropped my cleaning cloth.
"Careful there."
I spun around to find Lord Darius standing in his doorway, having opened it so silently I hadn't heard. He'd changed from his travel clothes into a simple white shirt and dark trousers, but he was no less striking for the casual attire.
"My lord," I stammered, dropping into a curtsy. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb.."
"You weren't disturbing anything." He stepped fully into the corridor, closing the door behind him. "I was hoping to speak with you, actually."
"With me?" My voice came out as a squeak.
"Walk with me," he said, offering his arm like I was a lady instead of a servant. When I hesitated, he smiled. "Please. Just to the gardens."
Against every instinct screaming at me to refuse, I found myself taking his arm. His muscle was solid beneath the fine fabric, and that strange sense of familiarity washed over me again.
We walked in silence until we reached a secluded corner of the garden, surrounded by high hedges that blocked us from view. Lord Darius stopped by a stone bench and turned to face me, his expression suddenly serious.
"Janelle," he said quietly, "I need to tell you something important."
My heart hammered against my ribs. "What is it, my lord?"
He was quiet for a long moment, studying my face with those sharp green eyes. Then he spoke words that changed everything.
"I know about the Crimson Moon Pack," he said softly. "I know what happened to them three years ago. And I know you're one of the survivors."
The world tilted beneath my feet. "What?"
"I can help you discover the truth about their destruction," he continued, his voice gentle but urgent. "About why they were really killed. About who ordered it."
I stared at him in shock, my mind reeling. "How do you...? Who are you?"
Darius stepped closer, his eyes intense. "Someone who has been searching for the truth for a very long time. Someone who believes you deserve to know what really happened to your family."
"Tell me," I whispered, my voice breaking.
But Darius glanced around the garden, his expression suddenly wary. "Not here. Too many ears. Meet me tonight in the old tower at midnight. I'll tell you
everything I know."
Before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me alone with my shattered world and a thousand burning questions..