An Unexpected Ally

Zareth’s POV

Out of instinct, I rushed toward the sound of whoever had called my name. It had come from around the corner, but before I could reach it, they were gone, as if they had never been there.

Strange.

I finally went to my room, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me.

As soon as I got to the bed, I instantly fell asleep.

I blinked twice and scanned the room for a clock.

Shit. 11 a.m.

How long had I been asleep?

I immediately went into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, examining the mark on my shoulder. It wasn’t healing.

I wore a black tank top and shorts, then let my hair down.

When I went to the dining room, nobody was there.

“Your Grace.”

I turned to look at the maid standing behind me.

“They have already had breakfast and gone out for a run,” she said.

“All of them?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Thank you,” I said before leaving.

Damn. I was so hungry.

I tried asking the servants and maids where the kitchen was, but they paid me no attention, as if I didn’t exist.

How rude.

I decided to explore and find the kitchen myself. Eventually, I did.

As soon as I stepped inside, a woman who looked to be in her late forties turned toward me. She looked like the head chef.

“You are not allowed in here,” she said sharply.

“So sorry,” I said. “I kind of missed breakfast with the others, and I’m really hungry.”

I pleaded with my eyes.

“You missed breakfast, so now you have to wait for lunch,” she replied without even a hint of a smile.

“What?” I swallowed hard.

“You heard me. Now leave before you embarrass yourself further in front of everyone.”

She rolled her eyes.

I left angrily.

“I hate this place,” I muttered.

Then I stopped walking.

“I fucking hate this place!” I shouted.

I stormed out of the palace and went straight to the garden.

I paced around the pavement, fuming. “Why do I always get treated like this?”

Then I went back into the palace, returned to my room, pulled a traveling bag from the closet, and started packing.

“Wow. Leaving so soon?”

James startled me.

“Can’t you knock?” I sighed.

“Someone is feisty today,” he said. “I did knock, but it seemed like you were really occupied.”

He smiled.

“What’s happening here?” Mae asked.

She stood at the doorway, holding hands with Kaelor, who was staring directly at me.

That made me even angrier.

“Nothing,” I said.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing.” Mae let go of Kaelor’s hand and walked toward me.

Her eyes dropped to the bag.

“You’re packing?” she asked, searching my face for answers.

“I don’t want to stay here anymore,” I snapped.

“Why?” Kaelor asked.

Fuck you.

“Have you had your breakfast today?” James asked, staring at the medicine on the edge of my bed.

I paused and looked at him.

“I left that medicine on the edge of your bed before we went for our run,” James explained. “But it’s still there.”

“Who denied you breakfast?” Kaelor snapped.

Mae looked too shocked to speak.

“So if we hadn’t arrived now, my sister could have starved?” she said.

Kaelor turned to leave, and Mae followed him.

“Don’t!” I shouted.

They paused.

“I have already made up my mind. I’m not staying here,” I said, my breath uneven.

Mae turned back and approached me.

“Please stay.”

Kaelor left.

James sat on the bed, watching me. “I thought we could spend some time together, since I like you and all. Or don’t you like me?”

“You are a clown,” I replied.

“A hot one,” he said.

“Zar, your nose is bleeding.”

“Fuck.”

I quickly grabbed a handkerchief and pressed it against my nose, keeping my head tilted forward. Mae guided me to the bed, and James moved aside so I could lie down.

A second later, maids swarmed into the room with trays of food and placed everything on the bedside table.

“Breakfast is served,” Kaelor announced, his eyes fixed on the cloth pressed to my nose.

“Now you are not going anywhere,” Mae said.

“Did I miss something?” Kaelor asked, still staring at the cloth.

“Nosebleed,” James said. “But the real question is, didn’t you tell them to serve her meal before we left?”

He looked at Kaelor seriously.

“I did,” Kaelor said. “When I asked who told them not to deliver the food, they all denied it.”

Sabriel and Virelle giggled as they entered the room.

“Sab, did you order the head chef to deny Zar food?” Kaelor asked his sister.

“Excuse me,” Sabriel said. “I could never do such a thing. Besides, I like my playthings alive.”

She winked at me.

What the fuck?

“I am not a plaything,” I snapped.

“My sister is not a plaything,” Mae added. “Kaelor, I am going to let this slide, but you need to keep your sister in check.”

Her fists clenched at her sides.

I looked at Virelle. She seemed so calm. Then, for just a second, I saw a small smile touch her lips.

Or did I imagine it?

No. I knew what I saw.

“Virelle, how long do you plan on staying here?” James asked with a smirk.

“I now work for the crown, so as long as I can,” she replied with a smile.

“Wow,” James said, turning to Kaelor. “I didn’t think you would allow your ex to stay here when you’re getting married in less than two months.”

What?

What did I just hear?

Mae stood there, staring at Kaelor.

“So you’re not royalty?” I asked Virelle.

“Wrong, dear,” she replied. “I am a princess of my own kingdom, so yes, I am royalty. Just not part of this family.”

“Then why the fuck was I not allowed to enter the library, you bitch?” I stepped toward her.

James held me back.

“What happened at the library?” Mae murmured.

“This bitch told me only royalty was allowed to enter, then shut the door right in my face,” I said, crossing my arms.

Everyone turned to Virelle, waiting for her to explain.

“She’s lying,” Virelle said calmly. “Just like she lied about not having breakfast. I heard some maids say she was given breakfast.”

“Really?” James murmured.

“My sister would never lie to me,” Mae snapped, looking at Kaelor.

Guilt washed over me.

I wished she knew what had really happened at the club.

“That’s enough,” Kaelor said. “Zar is allowed anywhere, and she must be given food.”

Sabriel rolled her eyes and left, dragging Virelle along with her.

“We need to talk,” Kaelor said, looking at Mae.

Mae touched my shoulder, then left with Kaelor, leaving me alone with James, who took a bite from my food.

“Well, that was quite eventful,” he said with a small laugh.

“James. Out,” Kaelor called from the hallway.

“That’s my cue.” James winked.

He headed for the door, then looked back. “The food is lovely. Bye.”

I removed the handkerchief from my nose and ate my meal.

After that, I took my medicine and fell asleep.

A knock on the door woke me from my sleep.

“Your Grace, your dinner,” a voice announced.

“Enter.”

The maid stepped inside. I recognized her from earlier that morning. She looked like she was in her late twenties.

She dropped the meal on the table and cleared the plates from earlier.

“Can I say something, Your Grace?” she asked.

“My name is Zareth,” I said. “You can call me Zar. But sure, ask away.”

I smiled.

“Many things are not as they seem in this palace,” she said quietly. “Don’t trust anyone. And when I say anyone, I mean nobody.”

I stared at her, suddenly alert.

“What do you mean?”

She only bowed, picked up the dishes, and left.

“Wait. What is your name?”

I rushed out of my room to find her, but all I saw were other maids and servants moving through the hallway.

None of them looked like her.

How strange.