Chapter 25

Clara

I was told to meet Prince Marcus in the same gazebo where Nora and I had breakfast before. He made me wait long enough that I wondered if I had the wrong location.

Finally, Prince Marcus arrived. He sprawled on the seat across from me. He grinned smugly.

I opened the satchel I carried, and revealed a folder full of parchment. I also took out a slate and some chalk.

“These all say ‘battle report,” I wrote. “I brought them all.”

“Well aren’t you the little overachiever,” Marcus chuckled.

“Why do you want these?” I wrote.

“Huh, you have elegant hand writing for a servant,” Marcus mused, ignoring my question entirely.

I ignored the back handed compliment, and held out the sheaf of papers. I wanted this over with.

“I guess you have to practice a lot, since you can’t speak,” Marcus mused. “It’s a pity you’re mute. With hand writing like this, you could be trained as a secretary. But no one wants a mute secretary.”

Why was he so fixated on my handwriting? What did it matter? I wrote neatly because I needed to be understood. That was all.

“Anyway, I suppose that’s neither here nor there,” Prince Marcus said.

He reached forward and took the papers.

“You did well enough. And you didn’t get caught, which is a surprise. I honestly expected to find you under the lash. Again.”

I winced at the memory of the last time I’d been punished. I knew if Prince Gideon ever found out what I’d done, the next punishment would be far worse.

I shuddered and Prince Marcus laughed.

“Well, that’s all for now,” Prince Marcus declared. “Go be a good, devoted servant to my brother’s latest pet project. I’ll contact you when I need you again.”

I shook my head but I knew better than to outright refuse him.

I went back to my duties and tried to keep busy. I had a lot more free time than I was used to. Nora was a neat person, so keeping her rooms clean was a quick, simple task. I wasn’t expected to serve breakfast or lunch, only dinner. Besides carrying up Nora’s laundry and changing out the bedclothes every few days, I had no other tasks.

Because I had never had much free time, I didn’t really have hobbies. I had taken to embroidering little designs on my clothing. When I ran out of my own things, I decorated Nora’s as well.

She liked the little designs I sewed into her garments, but she’d been my friend long enough to know that the extra sewing meant I was bored. So, she went to the noble’s library and checked out a few books.

I curled up on my bed with one of those books, and tried to focus on the story. Normally I loved reading, but after meeting with Marcus I was too distracted to enjoy the chance to read and relax.

Why did the Second Lycan Prince want me to steal those battle reports? He should have access to them, too. The only reason I could think of to have me steal them was that he wanted it to be a secret that he had them.

Why would he want something like that kept secret? He had to be planning something against Prince Gideon. But why? They were brothers.

I just didn’t understand enough about the situation. Why did Prince Marcus want battle reports? Why did he insist on keeping it a secret? What was he planning? I had no idea.

Maybe I should warn Prince Gideon. I could confess to stealing the papers, and tell him everything. He would be furious with me. He might have me whipped again, or imprisoned, or worse.

But if I told him about Prince Marcus’ threats, he would be able to protect Nora. She had not been involved in any of it. Prince Gideon wouldn’t blame her. If Prince Marcus tried to accuse her, she would be safe.

I was scared, but it was the right thing to do.

I put my book aside. The prince would be having lunch in the training yard, as he always did. I gathered up my slate and chalk and went to find him.

I walked through the gardens to reach the training ground. I was startled to see Prince Marcus lounging in the sunlight. He had a glass of wine and a bowl of fruit. He also had a very familiar sheaf of papers.

I came up with a plan. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was all I had.

He had ignored me the last time I asked why he wanted them. This time, though, he was sitting in a public place. I would try again, and cause enough of a commotion to draw the attention of the guards training nearby. Then Prince Gideon would see his brother with the stolen papers. He would be caught in the act.

I walked up to Prince Marcus and stomped my foot to catch his attention. He looked up at me and gave me another smug grin.

“Oh, if it isn’t the little, mute maid,” he said.

I held up the slate.

“Tell me why you want those papers,” it said.

“Why should I tell you anything?” Prince Marcus demanded.

I wrote a quick message. Prince Marcus made a show of being impatient to read my answer.

“I am going to tell Prince Gideon,” I wrote.

“You think he’ll believe a thing you say?” Prince Marcus taunted me. “You drugged him, seduced him, and fooled him into thinking you were carrying his pup. I am his brother. He will never believe you over me.”

I pointed at the papers.

“What, these? I am a prince. I can access any reports I want,” Prince Marcus said.

I wrote, “Then why have me steal them?”

“Oh, it was a test,” Prince Marcus said. “I wanted to know that you would do what I tell you. And I wanted to see if you could do it without getting caught. Congratulations, you passed the test.”

I scowled. It was all a test? Why?

“Now I have a real job for you, my little spy,” Prince Marcus said. “I want to know how the relationship between my brother and that manipulative wench is progressing. You will watch them while you serve them, and report back to me. You are the woman’s friend, so I imagine you can convince her to tell you something useful.”

I shook my head. I was absolutely not going to spy on Nora!

Marcus growled at me, and stood. He gripped my wrist tightly enough that I lost my hold on my piece of chalk. It fell to shatter against the cobblestone.

“You will do as I say,” Prince Marcus said, “Or I will drag you and my brother’s so-called mistress in front of the king right now. I will expose your plotting and I will have you both banished from this castle.”

I tried to pull my arm free, but his grip was too tight.

“I think we both know how long you and your little friend will last out there,” Prince Marcus taunted me.

I looked away. I hadn’t lasted one day before I was attacked and nearly killed by a Rogue. Working together, Nora and I might manage to survive a little longer. But she would lose her fated mate and her chance at a better life. I couldn’t let that happen.

“Now. Do we have an accord?” Prince Marcus asked.

I nodded miserably. What choice did I have?