*Theo*
As I followed Ciana and her forr governess, or so I’d learned, back to the Alpha’s mansion, I couldn’t believe the story she’d made up about . How dare she?!
The girl was obviously having way too much fun. It all seed so amusing to her, and I just wanted to shake so sense back into her–to take her in my arms, stare into her eyes, breathe in her scent—and tell her it wasn’t funny at all.
But I knew it wasn’t the right ti to do so, so I forced myself to filter the nonsense pouring out of those two won and focused on the key piece of information—revolution?
Would it have anything to do with that Luther guy? What was their ultimate goal?
Regardless of the situation, sothing wasn’t right here, and I needed to know exactly what was going on, not only for Ciana and her pack, but also for the overall security of the country.
After turning the corner, we arrived at our destination. The Alpha’s house was clean, fairly sizable, and well kept. The mont we entered it, I could tell the owners put their heart into their ho.
Unlike the royal palace, which was filled with aningless luxuries, the design and decoration of this place was quite simple. Yet, the mood was such that the mont anyone walked in, they would feel welco and relaxed, like a long-ti traveler who had finally reached their ho.
Needless to say, Ciana’s parents had good taste. Maybe one day, I would be able to et them.
I followed Ciana through the door and noticed that, unlike most Alphas’ residences, there weren’t other servants. The place was quiet—quiet and nice.
“Miss, you must be very tired,” Susan said to Ciana while looking at . Did she want anything from ?
I ignored her and walked straight through the door, as I heard her mumble to Ciana, “Miss, he doesn’t act like a servant at all... I can ask my nephew to co here to help, if you’re okay with it.”
“Oh, no, no need, Susan! Um... Thorn is actually very competent.”
“I don’t see it. Miss, you need soone who is smart and understands what his master wants to serve you.”
I clenched my fists. Ciana better get this done quickly. My patience was limited. Obviously, Ciana could tell I wasn’t happy. She looked at with a bright smile.
Good. And she’d better say sothing nice.
“Thorn, would you fix Susan and a nice glass of lemonade?”
I frowned. She really wanted to treat as a servant? Was I too nice to her?
But then she gave a pleading look, and she mouthed, “Please.”
I stared at her for a second, and for the reason I didn’t understand, I nodded. Maybe I knew she was trying to put so distance between and that Susan woman, so that I wouldn’t hear more of her ridiculous comnts, or maybe I just couldn’t seem to be able to turn her down....
As I was making the drinks, I saw Ciana offer Susan a chair and then struggle out of her jacket, hanging it on the back of her seat as she pulled out the heavy chair and sat down.
Susan made a noise that drew my attention to her. “Really, Ciana, what kind of a servant is he that he doesn’t help with your jacket or pull out your chair for you?”
“He was busy making our drinks,” she said, a bit more defensively than I would’ve expected for her to be when it ca to defending good ol’ thick-headed Thorn.
“Still,” Susan said, shaking her head. I supposed she thought I didn’t understand her—since I’d been kicked in the head by a mule and all. “What is it that made you choose him as your servant? He’s so... daft and inept.”
I had never in my life had soone talk about like that right in my face. So I picked up the lemon scooper-thingy and placed it down into the table with a clatter that startled them both.
“See!” Susan spoke again, trying to prove her point. “I told you he’s—”
“Susan!” Ciana prevented her from saying anything more. Then she lowered her voice. Maybe she thought I really couldn’t hear her when she whispered, “Well, he is... hot.”
What?
Susan giggled and covered her mouth. “You’ve got that right, dear. Man, oh, man. He’s got such a tight bottom, and those abs—”
Ciana cleared her throat. “Anyway... what else is going on around here?”
Hot? Was that how she felt about ?
I couldn’t help an up-curl on my lips. Good to know....
Susan started talking about this Raymond fellow, who clearly needed to be investigated by my people and dealt with—easy enough—and Ciana sipped her lemonade. The face she made wasn’t missed by .
“Oh, my!” Susan also took a drink of hers and sputtered, sending the yellow, sticky liquid all over the white tablecloth and nearly hitting Ciana in the face. “This is dreadful. It tastes like... piss.”
Now Ciana almost spat out her drink.
I grunted and was about to say sothing but Ciana got out of her chair, standing between us.
“Thorn, it’s all right, honey,” she said, patting on the shoulder while she gave a look that was ant to remind not to blow our cover. “Susan didn’t an it.”
I cented my lips together in an effort to keep my language to myself.
Ciana turned back to Susan. “I think it might be ti that Thorn lays down for a nap. He gets agitated when he’s tired. Perhaps you could go?”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, dear?” Susan asked. “You don’t know him that well. He might be dangerous.”
Ciana laughed. “Susan, you know what I’m capable of.”
“True, true,” she said, also laughing. She pulled her plump bottom up out of the chair. “All right. We’ll talk soon.” She didn’t approach Ciana to hug her, probably because she knew I’d strike her down like a bear swinging at a beehive looking for honey.
The mont she was out of the room and we were left alone, I turned on Ciana. “Kicked by a mule, huh?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to bite back a laugh. “I just thought it would be more believable that way, and if you did accidentally say you were the prince, I could bla it on your head injury.”
“Don’t be mad... please?”
I didn’t know what this girl did to , but when she was not intentionally provoking , it was hard for to stay angry at her.
I sighed. “It doesn’t matter now,” I said curtly. “We need to go.”
Her forehead crinkled, and her eyes narrowed at . “Go? Go where?”
“Back to the palace of course.” I started to walk to the door, but she wasn’t budging.
“What? No!” Ciana shouted. “I just got here, to see if my pack was in trouble, and it turns out it is. So you want to leave? No way!”
“Ciana, I will take care of the situation here.” I folded my arms and glared at her, thinking it would just be easier to pick her up and carry her out of there. But that would cause alarm, so I didn’t want to do it that way.
“You’ll take care of it?” she repeated. “And how exactly are you going to do that?’
“I haven’t quite worked out all of the details,” I told her, but it wasn’t her concern. “I’m responsible for the safety of the country. Even in your packland, I’m still in charge here, over your father. I said I will handle it, and I will—unless you want to leave it to your father.”
“So you don’t really have a plan!”
I frowned. We were running out of ti. I tried to be as patient as I could. “But I will. I ca all the way here with you. You confird the situation, and now it’s ti to go.”
“You’re the one who insisted on coming with . I didn’t even want you here. This is my pack! I can’t just leave when I know it’s in trouble!”
Letting out a loud sigh, I tried telling her the truth of the situation. “Listen—”
“I don’t want to.”
“Ciana, think it through! You have just done exactly what those people wanted you to.”
“Those people?”
“Those who are trying to overthrow your parents. Can’t you see? That Raymond will know you’re back very soon, and if what Susan said was true, I doubt you’re welco here.”
“I’m not welco by my own pack?” she asked, her hands on her hips now. “Please, just go ahead to make up more stories!”
“You waltzed right back into your ho where they can get you.” Leaning even closer to her, I said, “This. Is. A. Trap.”
She took a few monts. I was sure that as smart as she was, she understood the situation. “Now, let’s go,” I urged her.
However, she didn’t follow . “Your Highness, I have an obligation to my pack mbers. My parents are gone, and that leaves as their only hope. I can’t just leave.”
I looked her in the eye. “You no longer had an obligation to this pack from the day you were summoned to the palace. Now, your one and only obligation is to . And as your prince, I am ordering you to return to the castle with . Now.”
She stared at long and hard, a fire burning behind her eyes before she shook her head. “You are so unbelievably selfish.”
“What?” I’d never dragged a woman forcefully before, and I wasn’t planning to start now, but damn if she wasn’t making it hard.
“All you can think about is your stupid berry! I wish I could just slit my wrist and pour all of my blood out for you right now.”
It was true that her blood and the berry were important to , but was that the only reason I wanted her to co back to safety with ?
I didn’t know. What I did know was that my patience was running out.
I took a few deep breaths so that I could reason with her.
“Let make it clear, Ciana Black. A, you stole from , and yes, because of that, you have an obligation to keep yourself safe—to keep your blood safe. B, you put yourself in jeopardy. I am trying to help you, even though I don’t have to. C, let remind you, you’re still tasked with the royal duty and you were not supposed to leave the palace. After everything I’ve done for you, I’d hope you would show at least so appreciation and make the right choice. I’m done arguing with you. We’re leaving.”
“No!” She was up in my face again. “You an, after everything you’ve done TO ? You want to play the victim here because I ate a stupid berry of yours? If I hadn’t been half-starved, maybe I wouldn’t have eaten it!”
Our noses were so close together now, we were breathing the sa air, and even though I was frustrated with her, my bottom lip began to quiver, and other thoughts ca to mind.
I pushed them away. This was stupid. She had been nothing but a pain in my ass since the mont I’d t her, but why was I not able to control my thoughts around her, and why did I keep breaking my own rules for her?
“No,” she said, her tone quiet now as she took a step back. “I’m not going. You volunteered to help , and while I appreciate the offer, I’ll stay here and find out what’s going on with Raymond on my own.”
“Ciana, if you stay, I will not be able to protect you. If you get yourself into trouble, I won’t be here to bail you out.”
Every word ca out of my mouth with a hint of pleading. How she would interpret them, I wasn’t sure, but by the expression on her face, she thought I was threatening her.
“It’s okay, Prince Theo,” she said. “Strong people can accomplish great things all alone. You of all people should know that.”
I took one more look into her eyes before I turned and walked away.
“Do whatever you want!” I said as I slamd the door.
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