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“Oh, Dalton…Yes!!!” Voices echoed from the room next to mine.<br /> “Gosh, Claudia…” his husky voice came, “You navghty little fox.”<br /> The pain was caused by my mate and his mistress. Whenever my mate and his mistress were intimate, his betrayal of our bond scorched my body. He knew it, yet he didn’t care.<br /> <br /> My life turned into a nightmare that night 3 years ago, the night we discovered we were mates. Since then, he locked me up in this dark, tiny room, with no fresh air or running water.<br /> It stunk in here.<br /> He only came to me once a while, when his wolf wanted to fvck me to fulfill his needs.<br /> I wondered what I did to make him treat me like this. Weren’t we destined mates?<br /> <br /> “Oh, Dalton…why can’t you just mark me!” Claudia said between gasps.<br /> “…Not yet babe, I still need Bree by my side. She’s a Berkeley.”<br /> My family?! Why? What’s hidden behind my family name?<br /> -----<br /> ~~Bree’s PoV~~<br /> Pain shoots through me as I lay in my narrow bed, locked inside the windowless room that has been my home for the last three years. The torment starts as a cramping, aching feeling in my lower abdomen before bursting outward, traveling through every nerve of my body to the tips of my fingers and toes, leaving a trail of burning agony behind it, as though I were on fire from within.<br /> I’m so used to it by now that there’s no surprise when it comes. With no other option, I curl into a ball and wait for it to end. At least it’s usually quick. That’s the one small blessing I have.<br /> It bewildered me the first time it happened. I thought I was dying, until I learned the truth: the pain is caused by my mate and his mistress. Whenever they’re intimate, his betrayal of our bond scorches my body. He knows it, and he doesn’t care.<br /> That is the double-edged sword of the mate bond. For most werewolves, the day they find their mate is the happiest day of their lives. Mates are chosen for us by the moon goddess, destined to be our perfect match. Who wouldn’t want that? <br /> For me, however, it didn’t go anything like that.<br /> At last, the torture stops and my whimpers slowly die off. I stopped screaming out in pain a long time ago. No one hears me, or if they do, they ignore the sound, just like they ignore every other sign of my mistreatment. Everyone is blind to it, through deception or through choice, and I know by now that no one will help me. I am completely on my own.<br /> It is almost unbelievable how one night changed my life so thoroughly. Although it was three years ago, if I close my eyes, I am right back there on the night this all began. <br /> **************<br /> The summer’s evening is warm, with a hint of a breeze that plays with the loose curls of my hair as I step out of the car, making them dance across my bare shoulders. My dress is tight, so tight I can hardly breathe, but when I mentioned it to my mother earlier, she simply tightened her lips.<br /> <br /> “Fashion is worth the pain, Brianna.”<br /> It’s not the first time she’s told me that. Nothing is more important than outward appearances; that is the one lesson she was always determined that I learn.<br /> My two older sisters are here as well, with their mates, shining their dazzling smiles over the crowd that greets us. A few of the more curious onlookers glance my way too, wondering who I am, maybe, but when I try to smile and walk in my five-inch heels at the same time, I almost trip, so I drop the smile and focus on making it up the steps of the palace in one piece instead. <br /> We have come to the palace tonight to celebrate the mating of Prince Carter and his new princess. The couple themselves are not here, they left on their honeymoon shortly after the private celebration attended by close friends and family, but the prince left instructions for the festivities to continue over the next three nights, to ensure everyone has a chance to take part. Tonight, it is the turn of the empire’s noble families, including mine, and there are many important foreign delegations in attendance as well. That’s why the press is here, their cameras clicking as we make our way inside. Tomorrow, all the papers will run their stories of who was seen with whom and all the fashion highs and lows. My mother is desperate for our family to be mentioned, which is why I have had to spend the entire day being primped and prepped, until the woman staring back in the mirror hardly resembles me at all.<br /> My red hair, usually pulled back in a ponytail or messy bun, has been left down tonight, curled and doused in hairspray to hold its shape. My makeup is heavier than usual, my dress tighter and my heels higher, and I don’t know exactly what people see when they look at me, but I’m pretty sure it’s not me. It’s only the illusion my mother wanted to create.<br /> I haven’t been inside the palace before, and my eyes widen in wonder as we step inside the ballroom. Glittering chandeliers hang overhead, the lights reflecting off the white walls and the mirrors set up strategically along the walls. The wooden floor is smooth and polished beneath my heels and the air is filled with the chatter of hundreds of guests and music from a string quartet that I cannot see. Waiters in crisp white shirts circulate, holding trays of champagne and hors d&#039;oeuvres. My stomach growls at the scent of garlic and butter, but I know I can’t eat anything tonight. My dress is tight enough as it is, and my mother warned me that it’s not ladylike to eat in front of others. As if women never eat at all. <br /> I’m so distracted by the glittering dresses and jewels of the assembled crowd that I almost walk straight into a statue that’s standing in my path. At the very last moment, I see it and try to stop, but my shoes slip on the waxy floor, and for a terrible moment, I’m certain I’m going to fall. <br /> My mother will kill me, is all I can think as I lose my balance. <br /> I don’t fall, though. A second later, a strong arm circles my back, keeping me upright. <br /> “Careful,” a deep voice murmurs in my ear. “Better you than the antique statue, but I’d prefer if neither of you fell over on my watch.”<br /> Heat flushes my face as I regain my equilibrium and quickly disentangle myself from this stranger. “Thank you,” I breathe as I turn to face him, and for a moment, it actually feels like my heart skips a beat. At least, I think it does. Maybe it’s just the dress cutting off my circulation.<br /> Warm, brown eyes smile down at me. They’re the only part of his face that’s soft; everything else is hard and angled, his hair cut short, his jawline firm. He is not like the kind of men I’m encouraged to socialize with, but he’s very handsome, I can’t help thinking, my face turning even redder at the thought. <br /> “I’m Bree,” I introduce myself, even though my mother would have a fit if she heard me offer my name before a man asked for it. “Well, Brianna, really, but everyone calls me Bree.”<br /> I hold out my hand to shake his, and he hesitates for just a moment before reaching out as well. Cold metal slides against my fingers, and I realize in surprise that it is a robotic hand, some kind of prosthetic. I hadn’t noticed when he was holding me earlier. <br /> “Drew,” he introduces himself, and though he still looks friendly, there is a wariness in his eyes too, as if he’s not quite sure how I will respond. My surprise quickly vanishes though, and I shake his hand firmly. <br /> “Thank you for catching me, Drew. If I fell down in this dress, I don’t think I could get back up again.”<br /> An amused smile flashes across his face. “It was my pleasure, Bree.”<br /> The way he says my name sends tingles down my spine, but before I can say anything else, my mother is back at my side. “Stop wasting time, Brianna,” she admonishes, her tone making it perfectly clear that she doesn’t see Drew as someone worth talking to. She doesn’t even glance at him as she pulls me away, and all I can do is throw an apologetic look over my shoulder as I’m dragged further into the room. <br /> Although the guest list is impressive, this party is no different from any of the others I have attended before, the same pompous people trying to impress and outdo each other, and my eyes glaze over in boredom as the men around me talk business. Occasionally, I catch a glimpse of Drew moving around the room. He’s wearing a suit but not a tux, making it clear he’s not one of the guests. He must be working; he said something when he caught me about not letting me fall over ‘on his watch’. <br /> He never comes over to where I am, but I’m not surprised. That whole encounter probably made a much bigger impression on me than it did on him. <br /> Eventually, I manage to slip away onto the ballroom balcony, which has a beautiful view over the lake and the woods beyond the palace. The fresh air feels cleansing after the stifled conversation inside and I take a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs. The silvery moon is reflected in the still waters of the lake as stars twinkle overhead. The balcony runs the full length of the ballroom and there are couples dotted along its length, enjoying the scenery together. It would certainly be romantic, if I had someone to share it with. <br /> A moment later, two more people come out of the ballroom, standing a few feet away from me. I don’t pay any attention until I hear a familiar voice. <br /> “What’s your name?” It’s Drew’s voice and I glance over in surprise. He is standing with a beautiful blonde woman, his attention fixed fully on her. He hasn’t seen me at all. <br /> “Katherine,” she answers, her arms wrapped around her stomach, her whole posture defensive. I recognize her from other society events, but I don’t know her personally. She’s never considered me worthy of speaking to. “And you are? Your full name, I mean.”<br /> “Andrew Carver. Drew, for short.”<br /> He doesn’t look like an Andrew to me. Drew suits him better. <br /> I’m not trying to eavesdrop, but it’s hard not to overhear, especially the words that Katherine speaks next, firm and controlled. <br /> “In that case, I, Katherine Palmer, reject you, Andrew Carver, as my mate.”<br /> I gasp out loud before I can stop myself, looking over at them in disbelief. Drew staggers back, shock and pain splashed across his face as Katherine turns away. She catches sight of me, her eyes narrowing in contempt as she recognizes me. “If you say a word of this to anyone, Brianna, your whole family is finished.”<br /> With that, she turns away fully and goes back into the ballroom, pasting a smile back on her face as if nothing at all just happened. <br /> Drew obviously knows I’m here now, there’s no way to hide it, and I try to give him a sympathetic smile, though I can’t imagine what he’s feeling right now. Not knowing what else to say, I try to lighten the mood. “I’m so sorry, but honestly, you dodged a bullet there. I wouldn’t want to be mated to her.”<br /> It doesn’t work. He doesn’t laugh, and there’s only bitterness in his eyes. “I don’t need your pity,” he says stiffly before walking back into the party himself. <br /> Sadness and disappointment fill me from head to toe. I hate that he’s hurting. I hate that anyone ever has to get rejected. If it happened to me, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I wish I could have found the right words for Drew, but maybe in that situation, there are no right words. <br /> Just as I’m about to go back inside myself, a new scent drifts over to me, flooding my senses in a way that’s almost overwhelming. It’s the smell of leather and horses, my favorite smell in the whole world, and it takes me a minute to realize that it’s coming from a man, one who’s staring at me with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. <br /> His face is as chiseled and handsome as Drew’s, but with none of the kindness in his eyes.<br /> “Well, well, well,” he says, taking a step closer to me, like a hunter stalking his prey. “What do we have here?”<br /> ~~Bree’s PoV~~ <br /> Mate? my wolf whimpers in my head as the unknown man steps closer to us. I always thought wolves were meant to be excited when they find their mates, but Topaz doesn’t sound excited at all. She sounds… scared.<br /> “Hello,” I say out loud, hoping he doesn’t notice the way my voice trembles. Topaz’s uneasiness seems to have seeped into me as well, leaving me feeling completely off-balance. Or maybe it’s the rejection I just witnessed between Drew and Katherine. What are the odds he and I would both find our mates within seconds of each other? <br /> On the other hand, why shouldn’t we? It’s not like Drew and I are anything more than passing acquaintances. <br /> “I’m Brianna,” I carry on when the man still doesn’t say anything, still staring at me with his intense, dark eyes. “Brianna Berkeley. I live here. Well, not right here, not in the palace, but here, in the city. Wh-who are you?”<br /> At last, his face relaxes and clears, and I realize that his wolf must have been in control before. His eyes are brighter now, his face a little less hard, and I breathe a secret sigh of relief. He doesn’t look quite so scary anymore, and without the hard look, he is even more handsome. <br /> “My name is Dalton Bancroft.” His accent is slightly unusual, and the name is very obviously upper-class. My mother will like the name, though I don’t recognize it from the times she made me study the list of most eligible young men in the empire. Of course, the prince was at the top of that list, but he’s off the market now. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brianna.” <br /> His manners are impeccable as he takes my hand and kisses the back of it, and though I’m still a little thrown by his odd behavior before, I am growing a little more comfortable now. He is slightly older than me, probably in his late twenties while I am just 21. He and Drew are around the same age, I figure, as if that matters.<br /> “It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” I assure him, following my own etiquette training. “Do you live here in the city as well?”<br /> I am expecting the answer to be no, and it is. “I am here with the delegation of Prince Henrik, to give our congratulations to the happy couple. I did not expect to find my own mate here.”<br /> From his tone, I’m not sure if he thinks it’s a good thing or not, but he hasn’t rejected me, at least. I gave him my full name, so if he wanted to, he could have done it already. <br /> I am also frantically searching my memory for what I know about Prince Henrik. The empire I live in is vast, but it is, of course, not the only one in the world. The territory Henrik rules is far to the south, thousands of miles away. It must truly be fate that brought Dalton and I together tonight, when it would have been very easy for us to go our whole lives without meeting. <br /> “I wasn’t expecting it either,” I tell him honestly. “But I’m very pleased to meet you.”<br /> His eyes flash dark again as his wolf comes to the surface, and the predatory look in them sends a chill through me. A moment later, he blinks, and it is Dalton in control again. “I must introduce you to the prince, then.”<br /> This is hardly the romantic meeting I had hoped for, but he is polite and handsome and well-mannered. What was I expecting?<br /> The memory of Drew’s arm around me and his voice in my ear flashes across my mind, but I push it away. That isn’t at all helpful. <br /> Dalton offers his arm and I take it, little sparks tingling up my arm and through my body as we make contact. Topaz whimpers again in my head. <br /> What’s wrong? I ask her, keeping a pleasant smile on my face as we make our way back into the ballroom and through the crowd of people. <br /> It feels… cold, she tells me nervously. Dark. Dangerous.<br /> I feel it too, but I try to convince myself it’s nothing. In the bright ballroom, surrounded by people, what can the danger be? <br /> Dalton leads me to a group of men - only men - who are standing together and talking, each with a drink in their hand. “Your Highness,” he says, bowing to one of the men who turns to look at us both, and I immediately bow my head too, as I’ve been taught. “May I present Miss Brianna Berkeley, my mate.”<br /> Hearing him say it out loud makes the whole thing feel a little more real and I can’t stop myself from glancing up to see the prince’s reaction. He must be around the same age as Dalton too, though he looks younger and softer. His face is wide, with a large nose, and though I would not call him handsome, he’s not unpleasant-looking either. His expression remains neutral upon Dalton’s announcement, but I can’t help noticing the looks the other men throw at each other or the way their mouths curl in amusement. <br /> Why is Dalton finding his mate funny? The uneasy feeling that’s been lurking in my mind grows even stronger. <br /> “Congratulations to you both,” the prince replies, his accent thicker than Dalton’s. “Go and meet the girl’s family, and then we should depart.”<br /> Depart? Does he mean the party or the empire? It is just now sinking in that I will have to go with him to live in a place where I know no one. <br /> Dalton bows his head again and we step away while he instructs me to take him to my parents. As I make the introductions, I am starting to feel that I am on a runaway train, heading downhill with no way to stop it. <br /> My mother is delighted by Dalton’s pedigree and manners, and even my father, who is usually so buried in his business he does not even notice me, looks pleased. When Dalton says he would like me to leave with him tonight, to return to his kingdom, neither of them bats an eye. <br /> “There is something I need to do first,” he tells me, kissing my hand again as he lets my arm go. “Say any goodbyes you need to and I’ll be back within the hour.”<br /> Panic starts to settle in my chest as I realize this is really happening. I don’t know anything about this man and everyone expects me to drop my entire life and go with him because of the mate bond. What if we don’t even like each other? <br /> What if he is dangerous?<br /> “Mom?” With no one else to turn to, I try to appeal to my mother. “Do I have to go right now?”<br /> Her nose wrinkles as if the question is distasteful. “Why wouldn’t you?”<br /> “Because I don’t know anything about him?” It feels like a reasonable objection to me.<br /> “I knew nothing about your father when we met,” she points out, as if they are a shining example of the kind of relationship I should aspire to. She spends her days fussing over us while he works. They have nothing in common but their bed and their children. “I knew he came from a good family and had a good job. If you are worried about mating, don’t be; your wolf will take care of it.”<br /> Topaz whines in my head again, making it clear she wants no part in this. <br /> My father, meanwhile, has pulled out his phone to research Dalton’s family. “They are a noble family who work closely with the king,” he says in approval. “The men are all well-respected.”<br /> “What about the women?” I can’t help asking. <br /> He frowns as he scrolls further down. “It doesn’t say anything about them, but I don’t think that’s unusual down there. Their society is more traditional.”<br /> What does that mean? <br /> I don’t get a chance to find out. My mother drags me around to her friends to share the news of my new mate, and almost before I know it, Dalton has returned and it is time for me to go. “You can ship Brianna’s belongings to my villa,” he tells my parents. “I will make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, I can provide her with anything she needs.”<br /> My parents beam at the consideration he is showing, though no one has asked me if I want him to buy me things. <br /> No one has asked me what I want at all. <br /> My whole body feels numb as Dalton takes my arm again and heads towards the main palace doors. Security guards stand next to the exit, and it is only as we reach the door that I realize one of them is Drew. <br /> For a brief, crazy moment, I think of asking him for help. For reasons I can’t explain, I feel like he would understand what is happening and the way I feel, but as we draw level to him and he looks at my arm in Dalton’s, he simply gives me a curt nod. “Have a good evening.”<br /> Those are the last words I hear from anyone in the empire. There is a car waiting for us at the bottom of the steps that takes us to an airfield and a private plane, and on to Dalton’s home. <br /> ***********<br /> That was three years ago now, and I am determined that this will be the last night I ever spend in this cold, dark room. <br /> Tomorrow, we are hosting a celebration, a special party in honor of King Carter, who is visiting the kingdom for the first time since taking control of the empire, and I will use the distraction it creates to slip away. <br /> Maybe I will fail. Maybe I will die trying, but at this point, that would be better than living without hope any longer. <br /> There is nothing here for me, so my only chance of living at all is to run.<br /> <br /> ~~Drew’s PoV~~<br /> “You have to get over this irrational fear of flying.” <br /> Carter’s voice makes me jump, and when I turn to glare at him, he laughs good-naturedly at my unease. I had been concentrating so hard on the view out the window, and on gripping onto the armrest with my good hand so tightly that it was starting to go numb, I missed him sitting down next to me. <br /> “It’s not irrational,” I point out once again. We already had this argument when he asked me to accompany him on this trip in the first place. If it was anyone other than my king and friend asking, I would have refused. Being on a plane was one of my least favorite things in the world. “It’s only irrational to be afraid of something that can’t hurt you. If the plane crashes, we die, and being afraid of that is completely rational.”<br /> “You face death all the time,” he points out, looking frustratingly cavalier as the plane dips lower in the sky, feeling like it might stall at any second. We’re on our descent now but I won’t relax until my feet are back on solid ground. “First in the forces and now in my security team, your chances of dying on any given day are much higher than they are on a plane, statistically speaking.”<br /> “At least in those scenarios, I can fight back,” I grumble, my gaze returning to the view outside. “In a fight between me and the ground, I don’t like my chances.”<br /> He laughs again, slapping me on the shoulder as if I’m joking, which I most definitely am not. “It’ll get easier the more you do it. Maybe I should start bringing you on all my diplomatic visits now.”<br /> “Don’t even think about it,” I mutter, making him laugh again. <br /> “It’ll be worth it when we get there,” he promises. “And who knows? Maybe your mate’s waiting down there.”<br /> Though he gives me another smile, this one is tinged with concern. He feels bad that I’m still mateless when everyone else our age has mates and families. He even tried to get me to sign up to the same Mate-Match dating app where he met his queen, Quinn. His third child, after Quinn’s daughter, Rosie, and their son, Kian, is on the way in just a couple of weeks. <br /> I’m the only one in the king’s inner circle who’s still single, but what he doesn’t know, what none of them know, is that I already found my mate three years ago. <br /> I found her and she rejected me at first sight.<br /> The memory temporarily distracts me from the specter of imminent death outside the plane window as my mind returns to the palace ballroom on that moonlit night. The evening began normally enough. I had joined Carter’s personal security team once he took over from his father, and usually, I provided personal security to him or, less frequently, to Quinn and Rosie. However, with Carter and Quinn gone on their honeymoon and the palace expecting an influx of guests for the mating ceremony celebrations, I volunteered to work the party that night. <br /> The usual upper-class snobs shuffled in, most of them ignoring me as if I was completely invisible and a few of the less cultured staring openly at my prosthetic hand. That was nothing I wasn’t used to so I let it slide right off me, taking none of it personally. I moved through the party like a ghost, making eye contact with no one, until I saw the beautiful red-haired woman nearly knock over one of Queen Margot’s favorite statues. <br /> Luckily, I was close enough that when she slipped trying to avoid the collision, I was able to catch her. She was light in my arms and smelled of honey, I couldn’t help noticing as I placed her back on her feet. <br /> I wasn’t even expecting an acknowledgement, based on how most of the people in the room were treating me, but to my surprise, she spoke to me, smiled, and even shook my hand. My bionic hand, at that, and it didn’t seem to bother her. She even told me to call her Bree. She was an unexpected breath of fresh air, and when her mother arrived to pull her away, giving me the look I was far more accustomed to, it felt like the sun had turned its back on me, plunging the room back into darkness. <br /> Those were rather fanciful thoughts for a practical soldier like me, and I shook my head at myself as I returned to my rounds, ensuring everything was secure. A delegation from one of the southern kingdoms caught my eye as they stayed huddled close together, speaking amongst themselves without interacting with anyone else. Their behavior struck me as odd, and I tried not to stray too far from them, just in case something was up. My wolf, Archer, felt strange around them too, though he couldn’t say why.<br /> My intention was to stick close to them without drawing too much attention to myself, but the night provided another unexpected turn as the scent of pine trees hit me, strong and insistent. <br /> It used to be my favorite smell before the night I lost my arm and legs. Now, it only reminded me of that terrible journey home after my limbs were cut off, teetering between life and death as Prince Carter carried me to safety. I had barely been aware of anything that night but pain and darkness, but the scent sunk into my subconscious anyway. I associated it only with fear and hopelessness.<br /> It took me a moment to realize that the scent was coming from a woman, a beautiful blonde woman who was staring at me in disbelief. <br /> Mate! Archer yelped inside my head, and my stomach flipped in surprise. Was he serious? After all this time, I couldn’t believe I finally found her. The wait had been so long, I had started to give up hope. The smell would take some getting used to, I had to admit, but if this was meant to be, then I would learn to live with it. Her eyes weren’t quite as kind as Bree’s, the pretty redhead I had spoken to earlier, but perhaps she was just as surprised by my sudden arrival as I was by hers. <br /> “Hello,” I said awkwardly, trying to make as good an impression as I could as I straightened the sleeves on my suit jacket. The movement brought her eyes down to my hands, and as she saw my prosthetic hand, her eyes widened.<br /> That was okay, I told myself. Anyone would be surprised. She would get used to it, just as I would grow accustomed to her scent. <br /> “I’m…” I started to introduce myself, but she quickly cut me off.<br /> “Not here. The balcony.”<br /> She was right, it would be easier to speak out there, away from the chatter of the crowd and the press of people around us, so I followed behind her at a respectful distance. There were a few other people on the balcony but I didn’t pay them any attention, focused as I was on my mate.<br /> I thought she wanted to talk to get to know me, but that wasn’t what she had in mind at all. All she asked was my name, and that was only so she could reject me. She didn’t know a thing about me other than my position and my physical attributes, and that was enough for her to turn up her nose at the goddess’ gift. <br /> Would she have accepted me prior to my accident? Perhaps she would have, and then perhaps I wouldn’t have known until it was too late just how shallow she was. At least she showed her face early enough that no bond was formed.<br /> Although it pained me at the time, in the end, once I had time to reflect on it, I didn’t regret that she had rejected me. We clearly weren’t well matched after all, at least not by the time that we found each other.<br /> My only regret from that night was the way I had spoken to Bree, who happened to be there on the balcony right next to us while my mate was rejecting me. In her eyes was compassion and kindness, but in the heat of the moment, my embarrassment overruled everything else. She tried to offer her sympathy and I threw it back at her, unfairly. <br /> When I’d had a few minutes to cool down, I went in search of her to apologize, but she was in conversation with what looked like her parents and one of the men from the southern kingdom’s delegation. I didn’t have a good enough excuse to interrupt them, and duty called me away anyway. By the time I saw her again, she was leaving the party on the arm of the same man. <br /> It drove home just how ridiculous I was being, thinking that my apology would mean anything to her. She was from a different world than I was, and so I simply wished her a good evening. The other men from the southern kingdom all departed almost immediately afterwards, and while I still thought their behavior was odd, at least they hadn’t caused any problems at the party. <br /> As for Bree, I never saw her again, and as time passed, I regretted my behavior that night more than ever. She had told me her surname, but I couldn&#039;t remember it; I&#039;d been distracted by her smile. I did, however, have access to the empire’s security systems, so I searched all the current employment and education records for any Brianna I could find. None of them were her. It was like she vanished off the face of the earth, or at least from the empire. <br /> There were other men on Carter’s team who probably could have searched historical records for me, knowing more about the computer systems than I did, but then I would have to explain what I needed the information for when I barely knew the answer to that myself. What did I intend to do if I found her? Since I had no idea, eventually, I had to let it go.<br /> At last, the wheels touch down, bringing my thoughts back to the present. Stretching out my hand, I let go of the armrest as Carter claps me on the shoulder once more. “See, nothing to worry about. Now you can relax and enjoy the reception they’re hosting for us tonight.”<br /> “You can relax,” I correct him. “I’m here to keep an eye out for trouble.”<br /> “And an eye out for your mate,” he reminds me, getting to his feet as the plane comes to a stop. “There should be a lot of people at this party. You never know, Drew.”<br /> I say nothing, letting him keep his fantasy if it makes him feel better, even though I know the truth. <br /> There is absolutely no chance my mate is going to be at that party tonight.<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> <br /> ~~Bree’s PoV~~<br /> <br /> The lock outside my door slides open, the sound of the metal grinding on metal so sharp that I wince. Although there’s no light and no clock in my room, I can guess it must be afternoon now since I’ve already been given breakfast and lunch. One thing I can’t complain about is that I have always been fed well. Dalton wants me healthy, if nothing else, though I honestly don’t know why. He doesn’t seem to care about me in any other way. <br /> <br /> And if it’s afternoon now, I can guess who is at the door. <br /> <br /> I’m soon proven right as Dalton steps into the small space of my room, looking down on me with a sneer. “It stinks in here.”<br /> <br /> Of course it does. He’s locked me up with no fresh air and no running water, does he really expect it to smell like roses?<br /> <br /> To be fair, it is not Dalton himself who is speaking or commanding the body in front of me. I call him Dalton, since it is his form, but I haven’t spoken to the actual Dalton since the night we met, three years ago. Ever since we returned to his home, every time I have seen my mate, his wolf has been in control, the same wolf that my own wolf, Topaz, was so afraid of on that night we met. Now, I know that her instinct was completely correct. We should have paid more attention to that feeling and trusted our gut. Instead, we walked unwittingly straight into the jaws of the beast. <br /> <br /> The wolf’s name is Nyko, not that he has ever told us that himself. I have overheard others whispering about him in hushed tones which is the only reason I know his name at all. Nyko speaks to us as little as possible, preferring to pretend that we don’t exist unless he needs something from us, which is why he’s here now. <br /> <br /> “The maids upstairs will help you get ready for tonight. There is a stylist to make you presentable. You will smile and nod and say nothing to anyone that might be construed as a complaint. Do I make myself clear?”<br /> <br /> I simply nod, not looking for a fight. I must pretend to be as docile and compliant as possible if I am to have any chance of getting away. <br /> <br /> When I first came here, I was allowed to attend these kinds of functions more often. As the prince’s foreign advisor, Dalton frequently entertains visiting dignitaries. I made the mistake of trying to speak to some of the people at those parties, to tell them about the conditions I was being kept in and to ask for help, and word quickly got back to Dalton. He apologized on my behalf, telling everyone I had been under a lot of strain. Comments were made suggesting I was mentally ill. Everyone believed him rather than me, and eventually, he stopped letting me attend at all, telling people I was too unwell to appear. <br /> <br /> Tonight, however, is a different story. Because the visiting party is from the empire where I grew up, from my ‘home’, the prince feels it’s important that I am seen, and Dalton has no choice. I have been warned repeatedly about the consequences if I disobey his orders, but I have no intention of asking for help this time. By now, I understand that no one is coming to rescue me. If I want to escape, I have to rescue myself. <br /> <br /> Dalton’s growl makes it clear he doesn’t entirely believe me, but since he has no choice, he lets me go and I follow the maids upstairs. Just the effort of climbing the stairs leaves me breathless, and my shoulders stoop as I try to keep up. In the guest room I’m taken to, the maids leave me alone long enough to have a shower. Although I’m on my own, I’m not naive enough anymore to think that there’s no one standing guard outside the door, and anything in the bathroom that I could use to harm myself has been removed. Dalton has taken all the necessary precautions, but I don’t worry about any of that as I remove my dirty clothes and turn on the shower.<br /> <br /> The warm water washes over me as I step beneath the stream, and I can’t help letting out a groan of appreciation. I never knew how good a shower could feel until I had to go weeks without one. Usually, the maids bring me a bucket of water once a week to wash my body and my hair. It doesn’t come close to the sensation of being enveloped in the warm, steamy rainfall that surrounds me now, and some of my tension washes away along with the grime from my skin. It feels like a new start, washing away all the misery of the last three years and watching it disappear down the drain. Not another night, I tell Topaz in my head as I take a deep, cleansing breath.<br /> <br /> Never again, she agrees. <br /> <br /> We’re getting out of here tonight or we’re going down trying, those are the only options.<br /> <br /> When I get out of the shower, I wrap myself in the robe left for me and go out into the guest room where there is a small army of people waiting to see to my appearance. The years of captivity have weakened me, as the march up the stairs proved, and my face looks sallow. The stylists do their best with their makeup to make me look healthier, and though it does help, I still don’t recognize the woman in the mirror. I wonder if anyone who knew me in the empire would recognize me either.<br /> <br /> None of the women speak to me as they go about their work; they’ve all been instructed not to, and I keep silent as well. There is no point in asking them for help, it will only upset Dalton. His spies are everywhere.<br /> <br /> The dress that has been chosen for me is silver-colored and beautiful, but it doesn’t fit me properly. The strapless bodice slips down since my breasts have shrunk too much to hold it up. After a lot of debate among the women responsible for dressing me, they pin it tighter around me, cutting off my air, and I’m reminded of the night all this began at another party with another too-tight dress. That night, Dalton took me away, and tonight, I will leave him behind. Perhaps it’s fitting that I’m once again short of breath.<br /> <br /> At last, they’re finished, and not a moment too soon. Nyko appears at the door, in Dalton’s form, and his nose wrinkles in disapproval as he looks me over. “I suppose you will have to do. Come along, the guests are beginning to arrive.”<br /> <br /> Without a backward glance, I follow him out of the room, and towards the rest of my life.<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> ~~Drew’s PoV~~<br /> <br /> I wasn’t informed that the reception we’re attending tonight is outside of the prince’s castle, and I’m not happy about it. <br /> <br /> “I need to check the security before we go anywhere,” I tell Carter as he changes into his formal wear. He already met with the prince briefly but they will speak further at the party tonight, along with everyone else who wants to meet him.<br /> <br /> “The prince’s men are looking after the security,” Carter assures me. “Relax, Drew. We’re at peace, remember?”<br /> <br /> I do remember, but I also remember the odd way the delegation from this kingdom behaved at the party for the prince’s mating ceremony, which was the last time we had any direct contact with them. Even though I never found any evidence that anything unusual had taken place, something about the whole situation still strikes me as strange, as though things weren’t exactly what they seemed. That feeling lingers over me as I look out the window of the guest room at the castle where Carter is staying.<br /> <br /> “I’d like to go to the house ahead of time and have the prince’s men brief me on their preparations,” I insist, not willing to let this go. “Just because we’re at peace doesn’t mean some crackpot with a personal grievance can’t do a lot of damage. My job is to keep you safe, Your Majesty. This isn’t a vacation.”<br /> <br /> He waves his hand to dismiss me as he focuses on his bowtie. “Go ahead, then. We’ll wait until we hear from you to come over. But are you really wearing that?”<br /> <br /> I glance down at my usual black-on-black button-up shirt and dress pants. It helps me blend in, as much as I can with my bionic arm. My legs are less noticeable since you can’t see them beneath my pants and shoes; nobody would realize at first glance that they’re both artificial as well. “What’s wrong with it?”<br /> <br /> Carter raises his eyebrows at me before shaking his head. “Never mind. I’ll see you soon, Drew.”<br /> <br /> Leaving him on that note, I go to speak to the other members of the security team who have come with us. One agrees to come with me while the others stay with Carter until I send word that it’s safe for them at the party.<br /> <br /> The landscape here in the southern kingdom is very different from the empire, I notice as we drive over to the party location. There are no lush green forests or lakes or meadows. The ground is rocky, growing more mountainous in the distance, and apparently, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are relatively common. Low shrubs are the primary form of vegetation with the occasional dead tree forming a lonely silhouette against the darkening sky.<br /> <br /> Perhaps the overall look of the land adds to the feeling of foreboding that is growing in me the longer we spend here. <br /> <br /> And yet, when we arrive at the house where the party is taking place, the gardens are green and vibrant with exotic flowers and shaped topiary. It must cost an absolute fortune to keep it in this state when it goes so completely against the natural habitat.<br /> <br /> We are stopped by security when we arrive, which is a good sign. I introduce myself and my colleague and tell them why we’re there, and they check our names and ID against the guest list, and that pleases me too. Perhaps Carter was right that they have things under control but it never hurts to double check. <br /> <br /> The house belongs to one of Prince Henrik’s advisors, his foreign minister, a man by the name of Dalton Bancroft. My research on him didn’t turn up much other than that his family is very old and very wealthy. Besides working for the prince and the wealth of his family, there’s no mention of him online or in the public records I have access to. He has a mate, apparently, but there’s no record of her name or a mating ceremony between them, which seemed strange to me until I realized the same was true of most of the king’s advisors. There is hardly any record of the women of the kingdom at all. <br /> <br /> As for Bancroft himself, I couldn’t even find a decent picture of him, the only one available was grainy and several years old. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but the image wasn’t clear enough for me to place him. He was probably part of the delegation that came to the empire three years ago.<br /> <br /> When we reach the house, the head of Bancroft’s security team comes to meet me and runs me through all the preparations for the evening. Their on-site security room has cameras positioned throughout the house and grounds with men stationed at every entrance and exit point. They are taking security very seriously, which I appreciate, and the man’s sure and competent explanations help to ease my concerns. <br /> <br /> He even brings plans of the house for me to review, laying them out on a small table in the security room. As I scan them, I notice a small room in the basement with no windows. “What’s this space here?”<br /> <br /> “Storage,” the head of security tells me. “It’s secure, there’s only one door in or out. Nothing to worry about.”<br /> <br /> I’m about to return to the plans when something catches my eye in the security feed over his shoulder. A slender woman follows a couple of other women up the stairs, and though I can’t see her face, something about her is familiar to me. I take a step closer to the screen, trying to change the angle I’m seeing her from even though it’s impossible, but she disappears out of shot before I can get a clear look.<br /> <br /> “Is there a problem?” the man I’ve been speaking to asks, but before I can answer, something on a different screen catches my eye: a man and woman having what seems to be a heated discussion in the main reception room.<br /> <br /> “Who’s that?” I ask, pointing to the screen. <br /> <br /> The security guard winces as he follows my pointing finger, only for a second, but enough that I notice it. “That’s Mr Bancroft,” he answers me stiffly.<br /> <br /> “And his mate?” The man’s back is to me so I can’t see his face, but I can see the woman clearly. She’s beautiful in that very manicured way that so many women of high society are; she reminds me of my own rejected mate, Katherine. They don’t look alike, but they seem to share the same priorities. Perhaps that’s a superficial assessment, but I can’t stop it from popping into my head anyway.<br /> <br /> “No, that’s… someone else.” The man’s vague answer raises more questions, but he does his best to move on before I can ask them. “She’s known to the staff here and not a security risk. Where do you want your men positioned this evening?”<br /> <br /> Although I’m still curious about the arguing pair, my priority is the prince’s security, so I push my questions down and get back to business. When I’m satisfied that everything’s in order, I call back to the rest of the team and tell them they can bring Carter over whenever they’re ready. <br /> <br /> The sooner we get this party started, the sooner we can leave, I hope. Despite all the security, something about this place makes me uneasy, and I’m more certain than ever that I won’t be relaxing tonight.<br /> Chapter 6<br /> <br /> ~~Bree’s PoV~~<br /> <br /> The party is just like all of the others I have attended during my time with Dalton, full of men in suits and women in dresses, glittering jewelry and expensive perfume. Waiters circulate with trays of food and drinks and a live band plays softly in the background, filling the air with mouth-watering smells and music that mixes with the murmurs of polite conversation.<br /> <br /> It is the picture of elegance, and the one time my parents came to visit, Dalton threw a reception just like it in their honor. They were just as impressed as Dalton meant them to be, which helped smooth the way for his explanation of what was happening between us. <br /> <br /> “Brianna is struggling with adjusting to the demands of her new position,” he told them, lying right in front of me as he gave me an indulgent, condescending smile. “Being in the public eye is a strain for her. My personal physician is helping with her anxiety, but unfortunately, she sometimes tells people things that aren’t true in a bid for attention. If she says anything to you that seems unreasonable, please let me know.”<br /> <br /> “That must be terribly frustrating for you,” my mother sympathized while shooting me a dirty look, as if I had embarrassed her by being unhappy with the way I was being treated. I hadn’t even had a chance to tell her any of the details yet, and now she wouldn’t believe a word I said anyway. <br /> <br /> Dalton shrugged, somehow looking put-upon and sympathetic at the same time. “She is my mate and I will support her as well as I can. There’s no question of that. I will never let her go.”<br /> <br /> What sounded like support to them was clearly a threat to me. My parents left believing I was an attention-seeking lunatic and that Dalton was a saint for putting up with me, just as he planned it. Any letters or emails I sent were censored, and sometimes he even wrote them for me, telling them I was too unwell to communicate myself. Those who were supposed to care for me most took the word of a man they barely knew over their own flesh and blood, simply because he was wealthy and well-mannered. They all believed I was crazy.<br /> <br /> Perhaps they are right. What I’m going to attempt tonight is a little crazy, but with no other options, I’m going to try it anyway.<br /> <br /> Dalton keeps a tight grip on my arm as we circulate through the arriving guests. He doesn’t trust me, but it feels like more than that too. He’s in a bad mood and I don’t know why. Hopefully, when King Carter arrives, Dalton will loosen my leash a little. I need him to give me a bit of breathing space if my plan is going to work. <br /> <br /> “Good evening, Dalton.” <br /> <br /> Prince Henrik’s voice sends a shiver down my spine, as usual. There are several men in Dalton’s inner circle who give me the creeps, and the prince is one of them. Although his title is Prince, he actually runs the kingdom. The King has not been seen in years. Officially, he is ill, but many suspect he is dead. Whatever the case, Henrik, Dalton and a few others are in charge.<br /> <br /> After greeting my mate, the prince turns to me with his usual cold smile. “Brianna. It’s good to see you’re well enough to join us this evening.”<br /> <br /> Though I don’t know for sure if the prince knows about the true nature of the situation between me and Dalton, I suspect he does. He has made enough thinly veiled comments over the last three years to suggest that not only does he know how Dalton treats me, he knows it is not Dalton he is speaking to at all. <br /> <br /> Tonight, I need to convince them all that I am harmless and compliant, so I bow politely to the prince. “Good evening, Your Highness. It’s a pleasure to see you.”<br /> <br /> My greeting meets his approval and he gives Dalton a nod. My mate’s iron grip on my arm loosens, just a little.<br /> <br /> “And here is the guest of honor,” the prince announces, stepping aside to allow the handsome man next to him to come forward. “Dalton, Brianna, this is King Carter of the northern empire. Your Majesty, my foreign advisor who is hosting tonight’s event, Dalton Bancroft.”<br /> <br /> The prince doesn’t introduce me, I notice, but I smile warmly at the king anyway. It is my first time meeting Carter in person, though I heard a lot about him growing up. There wasn’t a female wolf my age who didn’t dream about being mated to him, both for the prestige of his position and also simply for his charm and good looks. The drama around his eventual mating, with him announcing to the entire empire he had found his mate and then taking it back soon afterwards to say that he had a different mate instead, had been all anyone talked about for days. <br /> <br /> I haven’t heard much about him or his mate since I came here, but he is just as handsome in person as I expected. His manner is assured and confident, polite without being too formal as he shakes my mate’s hand. <br /> <br /> “Your home is beautiful, thank you for your hospitality.”<br /> <br /> “It is my privilege to welcome you, Your Majesty.” Dalton bows stiffly, his usual charm seeming stilted next to Carter’s natural behavior.<br /> <br /> “And who is this stunning woman?” Carter turns his warm smile on me, and for a moment, I remember what it feels like to be seen, even if him calling me ‘stunning’ is obviously an exaggeration. I was never a beauty, my mother’s catalog of my flaws made that clear, and after my treatment here, I am even less of one.<br /> <br /> Dalton has to hide his sneer at the compliment. “This is my mate, Brianna, Your Majesty. She is actually a former citizen of your empire. We met at the party to celebrate your own mating, in fact, at your own palace.”<br /> <br /> “Really? I had no idea.” Carter looks genuinely delighted by the connection. “I’m so glad that my own happiness could spark a happy occasion for others as well. Who is your family, Brianna?”<br /> <br /> “My father is Joseph Berkeley, Your Majesty, with Berkeley Industries.” It is surreal to be making small talk like this, beneath the glittering chandeliers, as if nothing at all is wrong. The illusion of normality is so complete, I can almost believe in it myself.<br /> <br /> “I don’t know him very well personally, but I know him by reputation, of course,” Carter assures me. “I will be sure to mention that I’ve seen you when we meet again.”<br /> <br /> That couldn’t concern me less, but I nod and thank him politely. After a few more minutes of pleasantries, the prince invites Dalton and Carter to join him in the study next door to discuss a few things, and Dalton leans over to whisper in my ear. To anyone watching, it would look like a gesture of affection, but I know better even before he hisses the words in my ear. <br /> <br /> “Behave while I’m gone. There are people watching you. Don’t try anything foolish.”<br /> <br /> He truly has no idea.<br /> <br /> When I assure him I will be good, he finally lets me go and follows the other men into the next room where they will talk business over cigars and brandy before rejoining the party. A woman in my position would normally be expected to continue to circulate amongst the guests, ensuring everyone is happy, but no one expects that of me, and I slip away through the back door instead. <br /> <br /> “Do you need something, Mrs Bancroft?” the guard at the door asks, straightening up in case he needs to act.<br /> <br /> “No, thank you. I’m just getting a breath of fresh air. Will you let me know if my mate returns and needs me?”<br /> <br /> My calm reply seems to reassure him and he lets me pass. The garden is surrounded by a tall hedge concealing an iron fence, so there is nowhere I could go anyway. Letting me out this door is foolproof, or so he believes. What he doesn’t know is that I have been scouting the grounds every time I’ve been allowed outside, and there is one place I am certain I can get through the fence, in my wolf form. <br /> <br /> I will only get one chance at this, so I need to make the most of it. <br /> <br /> But as I step out into the garden, I am stopped in my tracks by the last voice I would ever expect to hear in this place. <br /> <br /> “Bree? Is that you?”<br /> Chapter 7<br /> ~~Drew’s PoV~~<br /> <br /> I’m waiting for Carter at the front door when he arrives at the party. <br /> <br /> “Are you happy now?” he teases. He likes to keep things light because if he didn’t, the weight of his responsibility would wear him down, but I know that if I say I have any concerns, he’ll take me seriously.<br /> <br /> “Security’s strong,” I tell him honestly before sharing my concern. “Maybe too strong for a private citizen.”<br /> <br /> “The guy who owns this house is the foreign minister,” Carter points out. “He regularly hosts visiting officials.” <br /> <br /> That’s valid, and I already told myself that too, but it doesn’t fully explain it. “It’s still on the excessive side. It’s almost as if he’s expecting trouble, if not tonight, then sometime soon. People with this much security generally have powerful enemies, and that’s always a concern, whether they’re after you or not. You could end up caught in the crossfire.”<br /> <br /> “What do you want to do, then?” Carter asks me bluntly. “You gave the okay for me to come, so it can’t be that bad, is it?”<br /> <br /> I did give approval, mostly because I have no concrete evidence of any threat. It’s just this vague feeling of unease that I can’t explain, and I’m not sure it’s worth offending our hosts over. “I don’t have a reason to call the party off, but I want you to keep one of us with you at all times. If we say you need to leave, you leave immediately, no questions asked.”<br /> <br /> “Understood.” Carter gives me a firm nod that is his promise, and I take him at his word. We both know when the time is right for a joke and when we need to take each other seriously. It’s one of the reasons we work so well together.<br /> <br /> I double check that all the other men understand their assignments before I follow Carter into the main reception room, not close enough to interfere with his duties, but close enough that I can carry out mine. Prince Henrik finds him shortly after we arrive and leads him over to another group of people to introduce him, while I follow at a distance.<br /> <br /> That’s when I get my first glimpse of the red hair of the woman standing next to the man Carter is speaking to. The man and woman have their backs to me and I can’t see their faces, but that shade of red reminds me immediately of Bree. I was just thinking about her on the plane, and now she’s on my mind again. <br /> <br /> Suddenly, it hits me. <br /> <br /> She left the party that night three years ago with a man from this very kingdom. What if she came here with him? What if this is why I haven’t been able to find any trace of her in the empire? How has that thought never occurred to me before?<br /> <br /> I move to the side, trying to get around the group so that I can see the woman’s face to find out if I’m right, but the prince gestures in the other direction and everyone turns that way. Damn it. My heart is pounding at the mere idea that I’ve found her at last, but I can’t let myself be distracted. Besides, if she’s here, it must mean she’s found her mate. That idea disappoints me, which is ridiculous. I only ever wanted to find her to apologize to her… didn’t I?<br /> <br /> Carter begins to follow the prince into another room, along with the other man they were just speaking to, but the woman stays where she is, and I quickly mind-link one of the other men in my team. You take the prince. I’ll stay out here. <br /> <br /> Yes, sir, comes the ready response, and I watch to ensure he follows Carter into the room before turning my full attention to the redhead who has started to leave the room in the opposite direction, her back still to me.<br /> <br /> Glancing around me to make sure there’s nothing important that I’m missing, I follow her at a distance, her red hair drawing me towards her like a beacon though I still haven’t seen her face. She stops to speak to the man positioned at the door and he lets her through. When I try to follow, however, he holds me back. “This is the minister’s private garden.”<br /> <br /> I don’t want to cause a scene, but I need to know if I’m right or if I’ve let my imagination carry me away, so I stay where I am but call out after her: “Bree? Is that you?”<br /> <br /> The woman stops in mid-step and turns back, and as soon as I see her face, I’m filled with both delight and concern. It is her, but something has changed. She doesn’t look well at all.<br /> <br /> “Drew?” Confusion echoes in her voice as she takes a step back towards the door, and the fact that she remembers my name after all this time makes me unreasonably happy. “How… I mean, why… what are you doing here?”<br /> <br /> “I’m here with the king,” I explain. My body moves forward, pulled towards her by some invisible string, but the man at the door puts out his arm to hold me back. <br /> <br /> “Mrs Bancroft?” he says, addressing Bree. “You know this man?”<br /> <br /> So, she is mated after all. I’d been so distracted by her appearance that I hadn’t paid attention to her scent, but I can smell it now. She has been claimed by another man, and a bitter taste fills my mouth at the thought, for no good reason.<br /> <br /> “I do know him,” Bree tells the guard before giving me an apologetic smile. “I would love to catch up, Drew, I truly would. It’s so nice to see you, but I need a minute to myself. Would you wait for me inside?”<br /> <br /> “Of course. I didn’t mean to intrude.” Obviously, I have overstepped. We have only ever exchanged a few words before; I don’t know what I was expecting. <br /> <br /> I take a step back into the house as Bree turns around to head further into the garden, but just as quickly, I stop as my nose twitches. My sense of smell has always been one of my best skills, well-developed even for a wolf, but once again, I have let myself be distracted by Bree’s presence here. It’s a rookie mistake, but now that I’m paying attention, I know there’s someone else in the garden, someone I can’t see. <br /> <br /> “Who else is out there?” I ask the man at the door as Bree heads behind a hedge that shields her from our view. <br /> <br /> “No one,” he assures me, but his eyes dart quickly to the side and back, and I know immediately that he is lying even if I couldn’t smell the other wolf myself.<br /> <br /> In a split second, I make my choice, running past him out into the garden as he shouts after me. “Stop! Wait!”<br /> <br /> Each step sends a jarring impact through my prosthetic legs as I round the corner. The guard will be calling his backup, so I don’t have much time, but that’s not what’s worrying me at the moment: I’m much more concerned about who’s waiting out there for Bree and why. <br /> <br /> I see them as soon as I turn the corner. Bree is standing against the hedge, removing her dress for some reason, while the other figure approaches silently. Bree is down to a thin silk slip and the other person’s face is obscured beneath a hooded cloak, but beneath the light of the moon, I see the glint of the knife in their hand. <br /> <br /> I sprint towards the pair but it’s obvious I won’t get there in time, so I call out as I run: “Bree! Look out!” <br /> <br /> Startled, she turns just in time to see the figure approach and scrambles back, falling to the ground as she darts out of the way.<br /> <br /> My artificial legs are designed for agility but not necessarily for speed, and the person with the knife is quick. Although I try to grab them, I only catch the edge of the cloak. It pulls off the person’s face, and I’m shocked to see the woman from the screen earlier, the one who was arguing with Bree’s mate. She hisses at me as I expose her, but she manages to twist out of my reach. Making another instantaneous decision, I let her go so I can check on Bree instead. The security guards should be coming any second anyway so they will stop the fleeing woman. <br /> <br /> “Are you alright?” I reach out my hands to Bree who is still on the ground, barefoot in her slip.<br /> <br /> “I’m okay,” she answers shakily, taking hold of my bionic hand to pull herself up. She stumbles, and I put my other hand on her waist to steady her. “But you need to leave, please. I don’t have much time…”<br /> <br /> I don’t get a chance to ask her what she needs time for. A second later, the security guards arrive, their weapons drawn as they shout at me. <br /> <br /> “Get away from her! Put your hands up!”<br /> <br /> Too late, I realize what this looks like with me standing here holding onto the half-dressed mate of another man.<br /> <br /> Your Majesty? I mind-link Carter as I let Bree go and raise my hands slowly into the air. 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