“Ready to go?” Warren asked , poking his head into the bathroom.
I tightened the drawstrings of my hoodie, pulling it snug around my head.
“I’m ready. Don’t you clean up nice?” I asked, turning to smirk at him.
Warren held his arms out and turned from side to side. “I suppose I don’t look so bad.”
“She doesn’t stand a chance,” I teased, sticking my tongue out.
It was the night of Warren’s date with the fake Ciana, but I didn’t want to sit around the house waiting for him to get back. I needed to see and hear what was going on first hand since I missed part of it last ti.
While he spiffed up his hair and put on a nice outfit, I ruffled my hair into a ss and applied so disguise makeup.
I didn’t want anyone to be able to recognize , so I used so makeup to make my eyebrows look thicker and added a little “shadow” to my chin that would look like facial hair in the darkness.
I covered my head in a hoodie and wore baggy pants. Hopefully, I wouldn’t be seen at all, but this way, I was covered just in case.
“You better get going if you’re going to find a hiding place before she shows up,” Warren suggested, shaking his head at .
I left my parents’ place and went to the packhouse backyard ahead of Warren. This garden was much bigger than the one at ho, which made it even easier for to hide.
It didn’t take long for Warren and fake Ciana to show up. She had her arm looped through his and they were walking together looking very friendly.
If Sophia could see them, she’d be so pissed!
I shook my head and focused on listening to what they were saying. I had to strain my ears a little because of how far away they were.
“I know I was at the castle for your brother, but I never felt like I had a connection to him. I wish it had been you I’d been sent to the castle for,” fake Ciana said, her cheeks turning red in the strong lights that lit up the garden.
“I won’t deny wishing that, too,” Warren admitted in a friendly, gentle tone.
He was so good at being the “good guy.” What else did I expect? When I’d t him when we were younger, he’d done a huge favor for , getting that Sun Blossom. I always thought it made special but maybe Warren was just like that with everyone.
“You’re so nice to . Why are you so nice to ?” she asked, resting her head on Warren’s shoulder for a mont as they walked through the garden path.
They got to a stone bench and I ducked around the tree to get a closer look at them as they sat down together.
Warren put his arm around her and she leaned against him. Her eyes were lit up and she kept smiling. I wondered who she really was. What kind of girl would pretend to be soone else? What was her real na? Did she even know who I was? Why did she want to hurt my pack?
“You know the answer to that. I’ve felt like we share sothing special, ever since you reminded of our past,” Warren explained soothingly.
He was being careful not to give her too much information but just enough to allow her to keep pretending to be . That was smart. If he made it seem like he suspected she wasn’t the real , this would go bad.
“Warren, I have to confess sothing to you.”
“Should I be concerned?” He arched his brow.
She lifted her eyes to his. “I’m in love with you.”
For a mont, I thought Warren was going to blow his cover. His brow creased and I could see how tense he was from where I was hiding. The next minute, he was smiling and hugging the fake Ciana closer.
“I’m so glad you showed up when you did. Being back in the pack has been... hard,” she admitted in a defeated tone.
I rolled my eyes.
“I thought you wanted to co back ho,” Warren said.
He was testing her responses now.
“I did,” fake Ciana said quickly, raising her head. “I thought it was what I needed. But there has been so much pressure on since I ca back. Not to ntion Hawke.”
“Hawke, you an Beta Raymond’s son?” Warren asked.
“Yes! He is always hanging around. Half the ti, he seems mad at and like he wants to hurt . Other tis, he makes uncomfortable with his dirty language,” she explained, shaking her head and sighed.
“That does sound rough,” Warren admitted.
She took his hands in hers and held them to her chest. “Do you think you could help escape from him?”
I strained my ears to keep listening but the rancid scent of alcohol and the one person I didn’t want to see filled my nostrils. My stomach turned and I was distracted from my eavesdropping.
“What’re you doing ou’herr?” Hawke slurred as he ca over to .
I moved away from him but he dropped down on the ground beside .
“None of your business,” I hissed, making my voice lower and deeper. I hoped I sounded like a boy to him, but as drunk as he was, he probably wouldn’t notice.
“Hmm... der I kno’youuu?” he asked, his unfocused eyes roaming over my body.
“No,” I insisted in a low whisper.
Hawke sniffed the air, then he leaned closer and sniffed .
I stayed as still as possible, despite the revulsion rising in my throat like bile. If I made a scene, it would just draw attention to us and that was the last thing I wanted. I needed to make sure Warren had enough ti to be with the fake Ciana tonight.
“Youuu don’t sll like a... guy,” Hawke said, chuckling and covering his mouth like he was embarrassed. “Oh no. You sll like a sexy, fuckable bitch in heat.”
“Excuse ?” I snarled in a harsh whisper.
He leaned closer to , his arms in casts from Theo’s last visit.
“You heard . Mmm, that sweet bitch scent makes so horny. I could take you right here, right now,” Hawke muttered, licking his lips and smirking at .
I leaned away from him, as much as I could without exposing myself around the hedge.
“You’re really twisted if you think a guy slls like a woman,” I hissed with a sharp snort.
Hawke’s eyes widened for a mont and then he wrinkled his nose. “Your voice... you sound f-f-familer.” His voice was still heavy with drink.
With any luck, I could get away from him and he’d think it was all so drunken dream.
“We’ve never t. I’m just here as Prince Warren’s squire,” I assured, keeping my voice deep.
“No, no, no,” Hawke insisted. “Not a squire, a ripe, sweet cherry that is ready to be picked.”
He wiggled his eyebrows at and panted heavily. His hot breath bathed my face, slling sickly sweet with alcohol.
My stomach churned and I felt nauseated. I looped an arm around myself and tried to push him away.
Hawke grunted and leaned forward, pressing his nose to my arm and inhaling deeply, sniffing again.
“Mmm,” he groaned. His left hand, which he seed to have so control of, grabbed the bulge of his crotch. “I’m going to fuck your tight little ass. I don’t care who or what you are. You sll sooo gooood.”
Swallowing hard, I scampered backward, using my hands to pull across the ground so the hedges kept hidden. My heart hamred in my chest.
A flash of Hawke leaning over while his cronies held down flew through my mind. How he’d pulled his pants down and gone for my skirt.
My arms trembled as I hurried away from him, not taking my eyes off him. Even though he was drunk, I knew he could do so damage.
“Hey! Where d’you think urr goin?” Hawke slurred, crawling on his knees toward . “I haven’t gotten a taste of your sweet cherry yet.”
He grinned, showing all his teeth, the smile twisting his face.
Suddenly, the sound of flesh slamming into flesh rang in my ears and Hawke froze. He teetered on his knees for a mont and then gasped, falling forward and landing face first in the dirt. He didn’t move and after a mont, he started snoring.
Behind Hawke stood a figure completely hidden by the shadow of the tree. Slowly, I rose to my feet so I could see who had co to my rescue.
The man looked familiar.
“The... Tallis?” I asked, correcting myself when I saw he was wearing one of the carnival uniforms.
Quickly, I darted my eyes toward the garden and made sure that Warren and fake Ciana were still talking. It didn’t look like they’d heard anything or suspected anything.
“What of it?” he growled coldly.
“You just knocked him out,” I muttered, pointing at Hawke.
Tallis shrugged. “Would you have preferred that I left him awake?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head quickly. “I’m grateful for the help. Thank you.”
Was it just a coincidence that Tallis had co to my rescue? It was another very Theo-like thing to do. It seed that every ti I was in danger, he’d sohow show up.
“What are you doing here?” I questioned.
“Hmph,” Tallis muttered, tossing his head back dismissively.
“You weren’t... were you keeping an eye on ?” I asked, biting my lip and looking down.
Tallis snorted and crossed his arms. “I was just passing by and I heard a commotion.”
“That’s all? You weren’t worried about or anything?” I pressed, testing him again. I still didn’t believe Tallis was who he said he was.
“I was just passing by.” he snapped. “There’s nothing to read into, no hidden motive. Now, if you really are grateful, stop pestering about these fantasies of yours!”
I bit my tongue to hold back my retort and I took a half step back. Tallis snorted and stord off.
What was going on with him? One minute he was saving , the next he was back to being surly and rude.
I couldn’t figure him out—just like I was never able to figure out Theo.
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