CHAPTER NINE

Ophelia

My heart is pounding out of my chest. I clutch onto Oxwell’s body, his temperature burning my skin as I hold him close. Taking a deep breath in, I tried to steady my emotions. I squeeze my eyes shut and vision Prince Hun’s face, what was left of it after I was done with him. I couldn’t stop the smile.

I felt proud. Proud that I actually did something for myself. Proud that I stood up to a man who tried to take advantage of me. Regret only seeping in for not doing it sooner. My hands tightened around Oxwell’s body.

The carriage hit something and pushed us against the wooden frame. I can hear a small whimper coming from Oxwell.

“Sh.. it’s okay. It’s okay, I am here. You are safe with me. I am going to get you better.”

I could not determine how long we waited inside that wheelbarrow. The hay proding into my sides and piercing my skin with unforgiving stiffness. My nose burned from the stench of the starch. I did my best to cradle Oxwell, to keep him from being poked by the hay as well. But he was burning up. His body temperature rose steadily.

The wheelbarrow stops and my heart begins to pound. I can hear the small whimpering from Oxwell, my own heavy breathing and what sounded like footsteps.

I blink, only to be blinded by the soft color change of the sky. No longer night but the early morning as the sun begins to rise. I lean forward, sitting completely upright. I can see the City of Timberdenn, its walls surrounding an even higher wall that makes the outside of the Marble Castle.

“Good morning!” I turn and see the face of the man who wheeled Oxwell and I out of the castle walls. His face was wide and very hairy with ash blond hair with streaks of chocolate brown in them. He had a few teeth missing but he gave the aura of friendly big brother about him.

“Name’s Christopher.” He held out a hand.

Instinctively, I flinched away from his hand. His face immediately turned pink and he withdrew it from me and patted his pant legs.

“I.. I have no money.” I felt awkward and silly. How pathetic, this man saves me and my brother and I have nothing to offer him? And now I have offended him as well?

He laughs again. “Ohhh! No! I meant it as a greeting! Sorry, I am not used to dealing with people who have court etiquette. You can say Lord Draven likes to keep things very relaxed since he took charge.”

“Lord… Draven?” My head was pounding. I couldn’t keep my thoughts straight. I tried to recall the last 24 hours. Between arriving at the Castle, being told I was marrying a monster for more land for the Duke, killing Prince Hun… Draven?

“The man who saved you? Your mate? The one who shares your Core Link? His name is Draven. He’s the Alpha of the Silverstreak Growlers.”

I couldn’t make out what he was saying and looked down at Oxwell.

“I won’t pretend to understand what you are saying. I just need to save my brother.” I bit my lip to stop myself from crying.

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Save him. It was a plead but with my options no longer existent to return back home to my normal life, it seems more like a threat. What would I do if.. No. I won’t think about it. Oxwell will be saved. He will be okay.

“This is a lot to take in. Uhh.. maybe it’s not just court I am not used to being around.” Christopher laughed again. He was so loud. Each word he spoke sending waves of pain into my skull.

I continued to look at him, unable to hide the worry in my face as my headache increased with the creasing of my eyebrows.

“We have about a mile walk before we reach the camp. From there, we have a carriage to escort you back to base. The child was not part of the plan, but Lord Draven was never known to follow plans. No matter,” I watched as Christopher hoisted Oxwell over his shoulder and then again onto his back so that he was resting his head on Christopher’s big shoulders and Christopher had his huge arms wrapped around Oxwell’s back.

“Best be going now. Don’t have the coverage of nightfall any longer.” Christopher started towards a dirt path.

I took one last look at the castle. My heart pounded inside my chest. It’s an odd feeling. When I was younger, leaving the City of Timberdenn always made me rather gloomy. My slow, boring life was nothing compared to those who live at court.

But now, looking at those walls. That castle in the middle as the sun rises high. All I feel is an urge to burn it all to the ground and never look back.

Trever

I sat on the bed as the soldiers continued to question myself and Madam Daana. I couldn’t bring myself to look away from Prince Hun’s mutilated body.

What kind of monster can do this to their fellow man?

“That was when they took the boy… and….and…and.. They.. they left. They left with little belongings. That poor, poor girl!” Madam Daana continued to sob into her handkerchief.

I stared at the discarded Rococo dress. And tried to imagine the Ophelia I remember and love. But instead, I could only picture her face covered in blood and eyes looking like those of a beast.

“Anything you would like to add?” The soldier nodded in my direction. I stared at his face in disbelief.

“You think I had something to do with this? I voted we never showed to this cursed place to begin with!” My rage was unbound. You may not understand now. No dude, it’s you who doesn’t fully understand what I am capable of. But she is safer with me, not if safer means turning her into a murderous monster. I stood up, and checked the soldier with my shoulder as I stormed out of the bedchambers.

Walking down the maze of hallways, I grabbed anything I could quickly sell and tossed it into a knapsack.

“Stealing is a quick way to get derailed my friend.” The sly voice of Count Artur pissed me off even more. My blood already a boil, nothing would stop me from ringing his neck. Not the threat of death nor torture.

“Piss off snake.” My words escaping gritted teeth.

“Snake? That’s a new one. You know, I couldn’t help but notice how carefully you watched after the Celik children.”

I stopped walking. My fist tightening around the strap of the bag. My breathing slowed down. Now is most certainly not the time to be getting in my way.

“I can tell, you have held back your true skills to not scare off the sweet Ophelia Celik,” Count Artur started walking towards me, lacing his extremely long, boney fingers over my shoulder and turning to be face to face with me.

“Spit out the venom you spew, Snake. I have somewhere to be.”

Count Artur smiled wickedly. “I just thought a man of your skills would be interested in not only a daring rescue, but one that comes with the sweet taste of,” Count Artur let go of my shoulder and sauntered away,

I ignored my inner voice telling me to continue walking. I don’t know why I ignored it.

“Taste of what?”

“Revenge,” Count Artur smile reached both his ears now. And I could swear, I saw his forked tongue slither out of his mouth.