#Chapter 5: “A Close Call”

Vincent took the rest of us on a tour of what would be the Royal Guard recruits’ whole world. The training grounds were state of the art. I couldn’t help but imagine what I could do with some of these resources.

“This space is open 24/7, so when you want to work out, you can,” Vincent told them. “You’ll have a locker space with your name on it by the end of the week.”

Next, he walked us through the dormitory where we would all live. The men’s side was large, but they were four to a room. The women’s side was much quieter, and we would only have one roommate a piece.

The dining hall was the last piece of our little world. It was grey walls and grey tables with benches. Utilitarian to the core.

It was a step down from where I had lived my entire life, but my heart had never felt so light…except the part where I was going to be hiding my Mark from a roommate for the foreseeable future.

But that was future-Melinda’s problem.

“The last place we’re going to see is the palace,” Vincent announced. “Unless specifically commanded to, this will be the only time you will see it.”

“Why’s that?” the woman who had frowned at me—her name was Vera—asked.

Vincent stared at her, like he was trying to assess whether she had designs on one of the royals. “The Guard stays on the fringes,” he said. “Our job is to protect the Royal family, and anyone else we’re told to. Their palace is their home, and we do not belong there. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir!” we all called together, and Vincent nodded and led up the path to the palace.

The palace was, frankly put, the biggest building I had ever seen. I thought my father’s estate was large, but this was massive. It looked like an entire city of people could live inside. “How big is the Royal family?” I asked.

Vincent looked at me. “Why?” He was instantly suspicious.

I kept walking, gesturing to the palace. “This is just a massive place,” I said. “Hundreds of rooms. Surely, there aren’t that many people who live there.”

The Beta studied me for a moment, trying to decide whether I was being genuine or not. “The Royal family is, for now, relatively small, but the palace also houses a retinue of servants that ensure that the Royals are well cared for.”

Just like we were there to ensure their safety.

We entered the palace through the massive front door. The Entrance Hall had soaring ceilings, gilded in gold. It was beautiful, but I couldn’t help but think that so much money had to be wasted in order to build and maintain it.

Wouldn’t those funds be better spent elsewhere?

I shook my head. It wasn’t my business what the Royal Family did with their money.

Vincent stopped us in front of the grand staircase, and after a moment, Prince Kai came down the stairs. I had heard that the Prince was a handsome man, but the rumors didn’t hold a candle to the real thing.

Stephanie, you can eat your heart out.

My sister had been chomping at the bit to get even a peak at one of the Princes, and here he was in front of us.

The more I stared at Prince Kai, the more familiar he became. Had I seen him somewhere before?

A cold knot formed in my stomach.

There was no way that Prince Kai was my—

No. Absolutely not.

I immediately started looking for differences. His hair was too neat; he was far too sharply dressed. The man I had encountered was grubby, near feral. His eyes had been red. Prince Kai’s eyes were an icy blue.

He didn’t smile as he neared us, and a hush fell over us as a group. “Welcome, recruits,” he said, and his voice was smooth and deep. Not at all the raspy gravel of my Fated Mate. “I want to thank you for leaving your homes in order to serve us here at the palace. I expect you all to work hard while you train so that we may welcome you as official Royal Guards.”

His eyes scanned the crowd, and when he landed on me, my muscles seized. I dropped my face, trying not to avoid eye contact. It’s not him, I told myself. It’s not him. It’s not him. It’s. Not. Him.

The speech continued, but I didn’t catch most of it. “Again, welcome. I’m sure I’ll be seeing each of you again soon,” Prince Kai concluded, clearly dismissing us.

The group turned as a unit to head back to the training grounds. Vincent said that we would have time to settle into our rooms before dinner. “Melinda Hobbs.” Vincent’s voice seemed to echo around us.

Every eye turned to me, and I felt heat in my face. “Yes, sir?”

“Stay back.”

The order didn’t make the staring any less awful. I dipped my head. “Yes, sir.”

Vincent pointed them straight back out the door before he led me into a small side lounge. My heart pounded against my ribs. Was I going to be dismissed? And, if I was, why wouldn’t they just turn me away like the others?

Before I could question anything, Vincent opened the door for Prince Kai, and then he left us alone. I stared at the Prince, and my pulse pounded in my ears. I dropped my eyes and dropped into a curtsey. At least some of my father’s teachings had kicked in.

“Well, that’s a surprise,” Prince Kai said. “Where are you from?”

“I’m from the Hobbs Pack, your Highness,” I said. “My father is the Alpha.”

He looked even more surprised, and I tried not to take offense. I knew what people thought when they looked at me, especially when they got a look at my sister first. At least Stephanie wasn’t here.

“Do you have a mate?”

I forced myself not to react. “The screening investigated my background, your Highness,” I reminded him. “I have no Chosen. I wouldn’t have passed the screener if I did.”

His icy blue eyes pierced through mine. I had to fight not to look away; it would only make him more suspicious of me. “There’s another kind of mate, Ms. Hobbs.”

My nails cut into my palms. “I wouldn’t be so favored by Fate,” I said, honestly. Even Marked, I wouldn’t call myself blessed by the Moon Goddess. More, I was just a bit of amusement for her. Why else would she bestow me with a Fated Mate?

I didn’t want one. I didn’t pray for one. The whole blessing was wasted on the likes of me.

“I’m looking for someone,” Prince Kai said, keeping himself composed. His voice was flat and cold.

He walked in a slow half-circle around me. I forced myself not to turn with him.My wolf was pressing against my chest, and I shoved her down so hard my ribs ached.

 "I've searched the palace. I'm searching the surrounding territories. But there was one group I hadn't checked."

He stopped behind me. Close enough that I could feel his body heat against my back.

"The new intake," he said. "The candidates who arrived this morning."

My heart leapt into my throat again. I was sure that he could see my pulse pounding through my skin.

 “You match several characteristics.That’s why I had Vincent call you back.”

“I’m not her, your Highness,” I said. “I can’t be. I’m not Marked.”

Prince Kai hummed, thoughtful. “Take off your clothes.”

“What?” I yelped. “I can’t do that.”

“You don’t have the authority to resist me,” he said. “You can take off your clothes and show me that you’re as unmarked as you say, or I can do it for you. It doesn’t bother me either way; it’s your dignity, after all.”

My mouth filled with saliva, like I was going to throw up. I can’t do this. If he saw my Mark, it was all over. For as desperate as he was to find his Fated Mate, he would never believe that she wasn’t me.

My hand moved to my collar.My fingers found the top button and undid it. Then the second.The fabric loosened. Air hit my collarbone.

One more button and he would see it.