Chapter 15

Clara

I tried to explain what had really happened to Prince Gideon. I also tried to warn him that his brother wanted me to spy on him.

I realized that he didn’t understand what I was signing. Gideon had explained that he knew some signs, but he had learned warriors’ signs, used on the battlefield. The signs I used were more complicated.

He could understand me well enough for simple conversation. He could not understand my warning. Maybe I was signing too fast. I was upset.

Before I could slow down and try again, Prince Gideon took me down to the dungeon and locked me into one of the cells. I slumped to the ground. The bundled sheet and vest fell to the ground.

I gathered them back up. I hadn’t had a chance to return them. At least the sheet would give me something besides the cold, stone floor to sit on. I would just wash it again before I returned it.

I folded the vest and set it aside. I wanted to return it and the sheet as soon as I could. That way I would have nothing that belonged to Prince Gideon. It would be easier that way.

The hours in the dark, cold cell stretched. I felt betrayed. Prince Gideon had not given me a chance to explain myself before he shoved me into the darkness.

I should not feel that way. I knew it. I had promised myself that Prince Gideon would be like a stranger to me.

The problem was, every time I closed my eyes, I saw Gideon’s bright green eyes staring down at me with heat and passion. I felt his breath on my skin. I heard the growl of his wolf in my ear.

My wolf whined within me. She wanted Gideon. She didn’t understand that he was Nora’s mate, not ours. I didn’t understand why she yearned for Prince Gideon when she had already declared Prince Marcus was our mate.

I wished my wolf had picked literally anyone else. Couldn’t she find a kind hearted servant? I would be much happier to have a mate closer to my own status.

Prince Marcus and Prince Gideon’s accusations of ambition stung. I had never dreamed of becoming a noble. That was Nora’s dream, and I was happy to see her closer to reaching it.

For myself, I did hope to move up the ranks of servants. My position as Nora’s personal attendant would give me the opportunity to prove myself worthy of a higher, more trusted place. I hoped to become her lady’s maid when she was made Gideon’s Luna.

I worried that I had lost any chance of promotion after what happened with Prince Gideon. He would never trust me again. Nora had stopped him from banishing me, but I wasn’t sure she could trust me, either.

That was the worst part of this whole thing. Being whipped had hurt, terribly. Being imprisoned was awful. But the part that ate at me the most was the fear that I might have damaged my friendship with Nora beyond repair.

After several hours in the dark, I heard footsteps approach my cell. I tensed, worried for a moment that Prince Marcus was coming to taunt me. I remembered the last time I was in one of these cells and shivered.

It wasn’t the Second Prince. A bobbing lantern revealed one of the dungeon guards. I didn’t relax. The guard could have been sent to deliver further punishments from either Prince. Was I in for another turn under the lash?

To my relief, the guard hung up the lantern with one hand and lowered a tray to the floor with his other hand. I saw a bowl filled with thick, hearty porridge and a small loaf of dark rye bread. There was a jug of water and a small metal cup as well.

“Thank you,” I signed to the guard.

The guard tilted his head at me.

“Are you trying to signal something to me?” he asked.

I nodded, and motioned to my throat and shook my head. Most people understood that gesture to mean I could not speak.

“Oh, right, you’re the mute one,” the guard said. “All that hand waving is your way to talk, then?”

I nodded.

“I guess that’s clever enough. Did you have something important to tell me?”

I shook my head, and motioned to the food and pressed my hands together.

“Oh, you’re trying to say ‘thank you,’ huh?” the guard guessed.

I nodded again.

“Don’t worry about it,” the guard said. “I just follow my orders. Eat hearty, now.”

I nodded and bowed, which made the guard chuckle. I guessed he didn’t have many prisoners bow to him like that. But I saw no reason not to be polite.

“I gotta wait and take the tray back,” the guard told me. “But don’t rush on my account. This is a nice break for me. You get to keep the cup and pitcher. I’m even allowed to refill it if you need.” He paused. “Normally I’d say to call out if you need more water, but you can’t, huh?”

I shook my head sadly.

“Well, if your pitcher gets empty, tap it real hard on the bars. I’ll hear that for sure. I can’t promise I’ll come right away, though. You’re a prisoner, not a guest.”

I nodded that I understood. The promise of water was a relief. I could go a long time without food. This meal would keep my strength up for at least a couple days. But it was hard to go thirsty.

“Anyway, go ahead and eat, huh?” The guard motioned to my tray.

I took a healthy spoonful of the porridge. The meal was the normal fare for a palace servant. It was still richer than what I was used to as a lower ranked maid.

I ate quickly. I was starving even though I hadn’t missed any meals lately. The medic had ensured that I ate when he treated the lashes on my back.

Once I was finished, the guard took the tray and, to my disappointment, the lantern. I was left in the dark. At least I had water to drink and the Prince’s sheet to sleep on.

I fell asleep soon after I ate. I was exhausted. As soon as I curled up on the sheet, sleep claimed me.

I don’t know how long I slept. There was no light to tell me the time of day and the kind guard from the night before was no longer around. He had been replaced by a grim, silent guard.

The silent guard did refill my water, but he didn’t talk to me at all. He didn’t bring food for me. I assumed I would be getting one meal a day, if that much. I wondered how long I was going to be imprisoned for, but had no way to ask.

Time passed slowly. I knew I was supposed to “reflect” on my crimes. And I did, for a while. I felt guilty for not stopping Prince Gideon when I realized his wolf was in control. I should have realized there was something wrong with the wine.

I just wish I had been given the chance to explain my side of things. I hadn’t meant to seduce Prince Gideon. He was Nora’s mate. I never wanted to do anything to hurt her.

Footsteps approached my cell after a while. I hoped it was the guard with a meal, because I was starving again. But when I looked up, it wasn’t a guard.

Prince Gideon glared down at me.

“So you are a thief, after all,” he said.