5: DANGEROUS CABIN

THEODOSA. 

I felt my soul crumble.

“No…”

That wasn’t fair. I didn’t deserve to die because some girl who looked like me had wronged them.

“I’m telling you I have no idea who Oceanne or Luna Trivian is. I’m Theodosa Fane. I have siblings, Binny and Pippa Fane. My mother died years ago, but I knew her. I wasn’t adopted. I have pictures of her pregnant.” Tears slid down my cheeks. “You can’t do this. I have a life to return to.”

His eyes narrowed. “How did you end up here?”

“T-There was a game… a party. My brother and I fell into the water.”

“Quite reckless with the tides.”

Quite mean.

Quite horrible.

Quite unlike the Narra I thought I knew.

“The current washed me here,” I whispered. “I didn’t come on my own.”

“And what happened in the forest?”

My chest cooled at the memory of Xahen wrapped in shadows.

“He called me... his mate,” I dropped my gaze to the floor, “Then he told me to run.”

“He told you to run?” he asked, surprised.

“Yes. And I did.”

“Did he shift?”

“He did. His wolf chased me.”

His gaze dropped to the wound I clutched. “Do you remember how you got that wound?”

“Vaguely. I was running, and his wolf was chasing me till I got to the edge of the hill. He was about to attack and I screamed.” I shook my head, “That’s all I remember.”

“You were both unconscious when I found you.” He went back to his chair. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

If his presence kept Xahen away, I would have worshipped his boots to make him stay. “What do you know about this kingdom? Tell me the rumors.”

“People don’t come here,” I said, “The river was closed off a really long time ago, when it turned black.” I met his gaze, “And that people who come here don’t make it back alive.”

“Why?”

“Because of Xahen’s wolf. He kills anything that enters.” My hand brushed the wound.

He smirked. “Is that all?”

“They say your king can’t control his wolf.” I recalled his words from earlier, “You said so too.”

“Because it’s true. Everything you’ve heard is true.”

Goddess.

“Do you feel a mate bond with Xahen?”

After a moment, I nodded.

“Ah. For the very third time in a row.” He leaned back, scrubbing a palm over his smile, “The goddess must hate him.”

I tried to think a way out of this.

I didn’t think escaping was an option; they had to have stationed guards.

“Please,” I whispered, “let me prove I’m not who you think I am. I’ve never hurt anyone. I’m not a monster with a target on Xahen’s back. I’m scared of him. I’ve always been scared of him. Stories about him are told all the time in Duskmire. You have to believe me, I’m begging you.”

The man watched me so carefully, and then he did a slow survey of me from top to bottom.

Self-consciously, I remembered my dress was short and ripped at the side. It had dried badly and was sticking to my flesh at all angles.

“I will say, there are some differences from the last two.”

My cheeks went pink.

The difference was that I was much, much chubbier than them.

“No need to be embarrassed,” he noticed my reaction, “I’m only stating the obvious. Keep for the red hair and face. You may be a different person after all.”

Hope blossomed.

“But it doesn’t matter. Xahen won’t take the risk.”

“What risk?” I cried.

He cocked his head sharply, “Have you not been paying attention? You’re the very reason he is not himself anymore. You, or someone who looked like you, struck a knife deep in his heart and left him to die. Your betrayal severed the bond he had with his wolf.”

My breath stilled.

“And despite that,” he continued, “you show up a hundred years later with no memory and a mate bond pulsing between you. He forgave you. And then you betrayed him again. The man my brother has become today is as a sole result of you coming into his life. And I can assure you, the next time you’re near him, you’ll be dead before you realize he’s the one slitting your throat.”

“No! No! Please!” I covered my ears, shrinking into myself, “I’m innocent!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, “Let me go! Let me out of here!”

“What a waste of time.”

I sank to the floor, sobbing.

“I’m willing to help you escape.”

I looked up, stunned.

“But you’ll have to do something for me in return.”

“What?” I stood up, wiping my cheeks.

“Seduce him.”

What? “You want me to seduce a man who wants to kill me?”

“I want you to lower your voice first.” He stepped closer. “And not just seduce him. Give him the best night of his life.”

“I can’t do that. I won’t even get the chance.”

“I’ll get it for you.”

“How?”

“I’ll convince him it’s better to execute you tomorrow. Tonight, he won’t be conscious. I need him in the state he’ll be in after you’re done.”

“What state is that?”

“Satisfied,” he said flatly. “And pliant enough to stay in his cabin long enough for me to do what I need to. Pliant enough to forgive me for setting you free. It’s either this, or you die.”

“How do you know it will work?”

His grin returned, “You underestimate what a mate is to a male wolf.”

Dread coloured my heart. “H-How will I get home?”

“Slip out of his chambers. A boat will be waiting on the shore. If you can’t maneuver it, learn.”

Did I have any choice?

“How can you guarantee he won’t be conscious?”

“Leave that to me. Do you agree?”

I hugged myself.

The goddess had to forgive me.

I nodded my head.

“Very well.” He walked over to me, stretching out his hand, “It’s quite a ride seeing your face again... Theodosa. Since you can’t remember, my name... is Kane Ithorno.”

––•––

That night, Kane kept his promise.

I showered, he gave me clean clothes and snuck me out of the cell.

“You’re certain you’re up for this?” he asked as we stopped before a large cabin.

I wrung my fingers. “Are you certain he’s out of it?”

He smirked. “Xahen is hardly ever in his right mind. I’m certain you’ll have no issue. Be sure to leave while he’s still asleep. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“The boat will be waiting?” I needed to hear it again.

He nodded. “The boat will be waiting.” His hand pressed gently to my back, guiding me up the steps. Without knocking, he opened the wooden door.

“Go on,” he urged.

I sent a quiet prayer to the goddess. If this was a trap, he was still my only chance. If not, then maybe there was hope.

I stepped inside.

Instantly, my body reacted.

Xahen was definitely here.

The mate bond hit me so hard I could tell instantly.

“He’ll be in the room down the hall, to your left,” Kane whispered. “Don’t speak. And leave once it’s midnight. There’s a clock in there.”

I nodded. Hope flickered.

“Go.”

And so I walked into the bedroom of the most feared man in our realm.

Darkness filled the room, the only light spilling from a single moonlit window. But my body still pulled toward him—dangerously certain.

I moved closer to the bed.

He lay on his back, arms thrown out at his sides, chest rising slowly. My foot knocked a bottle, sending it rolling. There were several on the floor.

He was definitely out of it. But this didn’t look like Kane’s doing.

Kane had said Xahen was hardly ever in his right mind.

Was he a drunk?

My hands curled into fists as I climbed gently onto the bed beside him.

Goddess. Where did I begin?

He was all hard muscle and dark ink, wearing nothing but boxer briefs. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to get them off.

What could I do?

With a shaking hand, I reached toward his chest to see if he’d react.

The moment I touched him, his eyes snapped open.

Bright gold.

He shot upright and fisted a hand in my hair, yanking my head back. My heart died in my chest.

This was it.

I was going to die.

But he growled, “Mate!”

And then, with a rough force that stole my breath, he crashed his mouth onto mine.