Chapter 4 Unbroken mate bond

[Ciara’s pov]

Everyone left the room as though staying there with me for another second might suffocate them. I remained beside the dusty window while staring at the closed door.

Luther's footsteps stopped midway, he looked back at me one final time. “Stay here tonight, Ciara.”

I raised my brows.

“No one in the royal family wants to see you. Do not come downstairs. Do not let anyone see you.” His voice was cold.

I almost smiled.

Of course they didn't want me to join the festivities. Why would they? To them, I was the murderer who had killed their one and only daughter.

The criminal who had ruined Prince Thomas's life.

I lowered my gaze without any disappointment. “Don't worry.” My voice was calm as I mocked him. “I have become very good at hiding, right brother?” 

Something flickered across Luther's face, but he quickly turned away. The door closed and I was alone again.

I walked toward the window. From there, I could see the long driveway and front yard of the Laurent estate. 

The moment I saw Prince Thomas again, every single memory of our relationship came rushing back.

And then it happened.

Pain exploded through my chest as I gasped holding the window sill. My knees nearly buckled as I felt Thomas’s sharp hatred overlapped with the mate bond. 

It had never disappeared.

It slammed into me with such force that I couldn't breathe. For five years, my wolf had been silent but now she yelled in my head.

Mate.

The word echoed through my mind as I crouched and tried to breathe in between. “No.” I whispered with my hand flew to my chest. “Don't.”

But my wolf didn't listen.

She recognized him even after five years, even after his rejection. I saw Thomas's expression change when our eyes locked with each other. I couldn't understand what he felt, maybe he was disgusted.

I stepped away from the window immediately. My back pressed against the wall, I couldn't breathe. My wolf was still pacing inside me, restless and confused. But now she had awakened because of him.

I hated her for it.

I hated the Moon Goddess for it. Most of all, I hated myself for a tiny part of my heart knew he still affected me. 

I remained hidden until the sounds of celebration grew louder downstairs. 

Eventually, hunger became stronger than any other emotion, I hadn't eaten properly since yesterday’s soup that is more like dirty water. 

When I heard the servants moving toward the banquet hall, I quietly slipped from my room. I kept my head lowered as I made my way toward the kitchen. Nobody seemed to notice me, perhaps that was what I had become.

Invisible.

The kitchen was overflowing with activity. Servants rushed between counters carrying roasted meat, bread, fruit, and desserts on silver trays. I stood near the doorway, uncertain.

For a moment, I felt like a piece of unwanted furniture someone had forgotten to remove. But I knew exactly where everything belonged. 

This kitchen has been my favorite place in the Laurent estate.

Before Alicent returned.

Before everything changed.

I was still looking around engrossed in the remnants of my memory when a familiar voice called me out. “Ciara? Dear, is that you?”

I froze.

My nanny stood at the opposite end of the kitchen, her hands slowly rose to her mouth as her eyes widened.

Then tears filled them. “My goodness…” She hurried toward me. I barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms around me. “Ciara, my dear!”

Her embrace was warm.

For one heartbeat, I felt I was eight years old again.

I could hear her almost crying happily to see me, when she kissed my cheek and I flinched violently. My entire body reacted before my mind could stop it and I stumbled backward.

Her smile disappeared as she stared at me as if she had figured out something about me. Then her gaze moved toward my cheek.

The patch.

The faint scars visible around the edges.

Her face crumpled. “Oh, child…” Her fingers trembled as she reached toward my face but stopped before touching me. “Oh my dear, child. What happened to you?”

I looked away. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Her voice broke. “Ciara, your face…” She swallowed hard as she tried to touch my cheek. “They did this to you in prison? Who? Why would they hurt you? You are already suffering so much!”

I couldn't answer.

She didn't need one to understand my pain, her eyes filled with tears. I suddenly felt ashamed because she was looking at them with pity.

I thought I could learn to hide my face, to hide my pain. But seeing my nanny cry almost broke all the walls I had built.

“It doesn't hurt anymore.”

The lie came automatically.

Her lips trembled.  I looked at her and she wiped her tears quickly. Holding my hands tightly she whispered again. “Wait here. I’ll bring something for you to eat.”

She disappeared behind the kitchen doors. While I waited, I slipped outside through the servants' entrance. 

Someone was standing beneath the stone archway.

His head was down, but I recognized him anywhere.

My heart raced and my wolf was stirring.

Thomas stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. His gaze moved over me and then stopped on my face.

“What happened in prison?”

I stared at him.