Chapter 6

Sorrel’s POV

I jumped to my feet and tossed the pillow and sheets on the bed. Then I quickly smoothed my hair. With a glance at the mirror, I threw the door open.

My breath hitched.

Sometimes I forgot how ethereal Kaine was. He had jet-black hair, and I didn’t know if he put effort into looking otherworldly every day, but he looked breathtaking.

Against my very will I let my eyes commit everything about his body to memory. I just wish I could touch him—feel him

“How are you feeling?”

His question snapped me out of my trance and I realized I’d been ogling him before the presence of his fellow whiteness.

If it were possible at that moment, it seemed as if my face was on fire.

“Fine,” I rasped out, my voice rough and hard.

He looked over at me, not a fleeting glance, an intentional one that made my spine prickle.

“What are you doing here?” My eyes darted from him to his fellow Whiteness. “It’s very early in the morning.”

It was the lady who answered. “We are here to fortify your room.”

“Fortify?” I asked even as I stepped aside to let them in. “Fortify against what?”

“The plague.” They answered in unison and got into the room.

I wrapped my hands around my body, watching as they took out candles, lit them, and carried them across every angle in the room.

Pain seared through me, but I bit my lower lip to hold back a groan. However, Kaine turned back to me.

“Are you okay?” He noticed.

I was ready to lie when I heard Nadia, *don’t lie to mate to protect that monster*

“I’m fine.” I plastered a very believable smile, “Just tired.”

His eyes didn’t quickly go back to what he was doing. It remained on me longer than I liked.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Kaine?” I dropped my voice and looked at him from my lashes. “I might get you dirty.”

I made my tone very suggestive and he blinked rapidly, flustered. I snickered and the others turned to us.

Kaine put as much distance as possible between us after that. His eyes never glanced in my direction again and I frowned.

It was pleasing watching him flustered like that.

They burned some incense and waved it around the room. From the window, to the wardrobe, and then to the bathroom.

When they were down they lit one and used it over me. I held my breath, my heart pounding.

What if they found out what Nathaniel did to me? And what if they did? Would I be scared or elated? There was only one way to find out.

I held out, waiting to see if they would find anything; instead, I heard.

“If you feel anything off around you, quickly alert us,” the woman said.

Their face, hair, and body were covered in white, not a strand of hair out of place. Then on their chest was a half-crystal moon.

Kaine was dressed in an all-white garment as well. The same half moon over his chest. They looked like gods with their pale glowing skin.

“Of course,” I bowed, showing my respect even if I didn’t believe them. This just proved why I didn’t.

They left. The moment I shut the door, I let out a breath I hadn’t known to be holding.

*Why did you lie to our mate?* Nadia demanded.

“He’s not our mate anymore, have you forgotten?”

She went silent then. I sighed and stared at the room. My feet carried me before I could process them.

I was already in the bathroom. My robe was gone as I sponged my body hard. Washed between my thighs so hard, I sustained a new injury. But I didn’t mind, didn’t care.

*****

When I left the room it was evening. My body had healed some of the physical wounds and I didn’t need to worry about walking awkwardly around the pack house

Just as I got downstairs a guard walked up to me. “A letter came in for you, your highness."

A letter?

I eyed the envelope, then I took it.

Who could it be?

The guard left and I opened the letter with a finger. Immediately I read it, my heart sank. It was a cry from my mother about the aid.

Apparently, Nathaniel hadn’t sent anything. Rage, pure and hot burned inside me. If he thought he was going to do whatever he wanted without holding to his side of this sick bargain, then he didn’t know what was coming for him.

I squeezed the letter in my hand and stormed over to his study even without knowing what I was going to say to him.

Stopping by the door, my hand lingered in the air, I took a deep breath. ‘For my people, I mumbled before knocking on the door. I pushed it open to see a woman on the floor wailing. I stopped by the door and watched.

Nathaniel was busy. He was sighing on a piece of paper, then he took another one. This man was just purely cruel.

I went to the woman, and I draped my hand over her shoulder. But she shoved me away. I relented.

“What’s the problem? The Alpha is busy, I’m sure I can help you with whatever you want.”

By my words, she faced me, eyes red from crying. “You can help me?” She asked tentatively.

Making a promise was very important. What if I couldn’t help her?

“I can try to. First.” I helped her to her feet. “Talk to me.”

She took my hand. They were wrinkled and calloused, “my son.” She choked out.

“What happened to your son?”

“The—plague. He’s dead.”

My heart dropped.

“My poor son only wanted to work and get medicine for me.” Then she turned to look at Nathaniel. “He said the Alpha was his friend?”

Now my stomach churned violently. What if her son were the guard Nathaniel had slept with?

“The alpha won’t tell me what killed him.”

“I don’t know your son, woman!” He snapped, standing up.

He was walking over to us when the door to his study opened to Kaine.

His eyes first dropped to mine, then to his brother and the woman.

“I know you are the oracle but can you make your presence scarce? It spoils my mood,” Nathaniel said to his brother.

Kaine mostly just stared at him with a flat gaze, no emotions lingering, but not Nathaniel, who looked visibly ready to plunge a stake through his chest.

“My son was a guard in the royal pack house.” Because Nathaniel was closer to her now, she grabbed his hand.

“Please what happened to my son? What’s the plague? Why didn’t it hurt others?”

She was asking when Nathaniel struck her hard on the face. The woman fell and tried to reach for him again on her knees, but Nathaniel kicked her away roughly.

“Alpha!” The words left me in a rush as I hurried over to the woman.

I lifted my head to Nathaniel, but he was already by the door calling for the guards.

Kaine placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Brother.”

It happened very fast, Nathaniel twisted out and wrapped his hand around Kaine’s throat, he slammed the oracle hard against the wall.

“Do. Not. Touch. Me.” He growled, his voice glowing green.