Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
ESTEE
A fter returning from my run, the focused energy I’d clung to out in the forest stayed with me. But between the day’s emotional upheaval and the physical exertion, I’ve managed to sleep most of the morning away.
Getting up slowly, I stretch my arms above my head as I let out a deep yawn. A tiny smile breaks across my lips—one that feels almost foreign.
Secrets and unease aside, today I feel ready to deal with whatever I’ve stumbled on here in Selaris. I want to know the truth, and I’m going to have an open mind. There’s a reason I’m here. I may not know what it is yet, but I will soon.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, and the cool hardwood floor sends a shiver through me as my feet touch the ground. When I enter the ensuite bathroom to get ready for the day, my toes sink into the plush maroon rug covering the tile floor, but the smell of food hits me, and I go back into the room.
I somehow missed a tray of fresh food on the table by the window. A small envelope sits beside the towering plates, my name scrawled across the front in delicate, looping script.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I grab the note. Did Theo leave this for me? I tear open the seal with a startling urgency, but when I read the words inside, my chest tightens with unexpected disappointment.
Dearest Princess Estee,
My name is Keera, your royal handmaiden. I came to prepare you for the day, but you were resting so peacefully that I didn’t wish to disturb you after your travels yesterday. Please ring for me when you’ve awoken, and I will return to assist you as needed.
I’ve left your breakfast—a variety of local breads and fruits, along with some boiled eggs.
I look forward to serving you.
Signed,
Keera Brindle
The note is kind, formal, and carries no hard edges, but I can’t ignore the fact that a part of me was hoping to see Theo’s handwriting, to see his thoughts laid out before me. Why that absence bothers me, I don’t know, but my stomach twists with an odd sensation I can’t quite place.
I shake my head and force myself to focus, so that I can at least brush my teeth before my thoughts run wild. As I pass the tray of fresh berries and breads, I grab a ripe strawberry and pop it into my mouth. The sweet taste floods my senses, but I decide to clean up before sitting to eat. Leaving the food for now, I step back into the bathroom.
My shower is brief, but the heat of the water is soothing. Once I’m dried off, I dress in a pair of loose cream pants and a navy-blue sweater—a comfort outfit pulled from the depths of my steamer trunk.
As I brush my teeth, I realize the note mentioned that Keera was meant to help me prepare for the day, which would normally include assisting with my clothes. While that’s part of the role for handmaidens, it’s not something I’ve ever taken advantage of—except when it comes to ballgowns. I’ve yet to meet a woman who can cinch herself into one of those torturous corsets.
Once I’m done, I go back to the table, piling a few things on a plate then butter some toast. As I lift the bread to my mouth, a soft knock sounds at my door.
“Come in,” I call before I take my first bite.
A young woman enters, wide green eyes, a sprinkle of freckles across her round cheeks, and a nervous smile on her face. “Good morning, Princess Estee. I’m Keera.”
She brushes a loose strand of deep red hair back behind her ear and keeps her gaze on my feet. Her light grey dress is clean but thin and almost stiff as it hangs from her lean frame, accented by a white waistband.
I offer her a warm grin and motion for her to step forward. “Please join me.”
She does, quietly closing the door behind her, but doesn’t come much closer. “What may I do for you this morning, Your Highness?”
“You can come help me eat this food,” I tell her, doing my best to keep my tone light. She reminds me of a frightened animal, one that might run at any moment.
“Oh.” Her cheeks somehow pale even further. “That’s not… I can’t?—”
“Keera,” I say a little more firmly, “come and make yourself a plate and tell me about yourself. Anything less will make me very displeased.”
So much for taking it easy on her, but she looks as if she hasn’t eaten in a week. I’m trying not to be furious about that fact since I don’t know how this kingdom is run, but I certainly intend to find out. No member of the pack should look as frail as this one. Not for any reason.
Hell, she barely looks old enough to be working in the castle.
Keera shuffles closer to the table, her fingers twisting together and her head down as we both take our seats. With a shaking hand, she grabs a croissant and puts it on a plate.
“How old are you, Keera?” I ask, no longer interested in my food.
“Sixteen, Your Highness.”
My teeth grind together. This girl should be in school, not coming to tend to a princess.
“And what of your mother and father? Are they proud that their daughter works in the king’s castle?” I do my best to make her job sound like an accomplishment, even though this is the last place she should be right now.
She chews her next bite slowly before answering. “They, um, well, I never knew them.”
An orphaned wolf? Outrage storms through me like an uncontrollable wildfire. This is unacceptable on so many levels, yet I know this growing rage has nothing to do with Keera and everything to do with how this kingdom has been run, even before Theo took the crown.
“I’m very sorry to hear that,” I tell her gently. “Do you live here in the castle? Is that why you’ve been asked to work at such a young age?”
“No, Your Highness. I applied for the position myself and they’ve only just offered me a room.” Her fingers twist the fabric of her dress, and her voice shakes. “Today is my first day.”
I pull a harsh breath in through my nostrils, the air tearing through me like jagged blades. “And it’s going to be your last day.”
She gasps and begins to cry. “Please, Princess. Whatever I’ve done, please let me fix it. I need this job.”
I kneel before her, grabbing her hands and holding them tightly as I look up into her fearful eyes. “You haven’t done anything wrong, Keera. It’s your king and the pack who’ve failed you. You will live here in the castle, but you won’t work unless that’s what you choose for yourself later in life. I’ll make sure you have clothes, food, and a warm bed to sleep in. Anything less is unacceptable to me, and it should be to you as well.”
Keera’s tears begin to ease and she’s silent for too many beats. I’m nearly certain she’s going to reject my offer based upon the paleness of her cheeks, but then she tries to speak and only deep, wrenching sobs escape her.
I try to ask what’s wrong, but before I get the words out, she throws her arms around me, clinging to my neck. Her cries are muffled against my shoulder, but I think she’s whispering “thank you” over and over, her voice breaking. I hold her tight, trying to pour every bit of warmth and compassion into the hug she so clearly needs.
How has this been allowed to happen? What has become of Selaris?
In that moment, I make a silent vow: Even if Theo isn’t my mate, I won’t leave this place until I know the people are safe and cared for. I won’t walk away until I’m sure that children like Keera have the support they need, the lives they deserve.
When she finally pulls back, her face is streaked with tears, but a small, fragile smile plays on her lips. “Thank you, Princess Estee,” she whispers. “You’re everything we’ve been wishing for.”
Gods, I hope she’s right, because my need to help these people isn’t something I can ignore.
“Until we find a place for you to call your own, why don’t you stay right here in my room?” She should at least be safe in here for a while.
She nibbles at her lower lip. “That’s more than I should accept.”
I offer her a friendly wink. “But you’re going to, with grace.”
I don’t want to force her to stay—it’s important that she starts making good choices for herself—and luckily it seems she doesn’t need much persuading.
Keera adds more food to her plate and nods. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’m going to go speak with King Theo.” I stand then point toward the bathroom and my wardrobe. “I’m not sure anything I have will fit you, but what’s mine is yours until we have you settled. Make yourself at home, and I’ll be back to check on you soon, okay?”
She looks up at me sweetly and sniffles. “You’re going to be the best queen to ever reign, Princess Estee.”
I rest my hand on her shoulder and smile. “We’ll see.”
There are several things I need to do this morning, and the first is finding Theo or, at minimum, his advisor Jerome. They’re about to learn what I’m not willing to put up with.
Orphaned children being uncared for is at the top of that list.
I stride down the hallway, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings. Unlike yesterday, though, I’m capable of sorting through them without losing control. My rage isn’t governing my actions, just fueling my motivation.
Bounding up the stairs two at a time to the next floor where I hope to find Theo, I do my best to keep my mind open. While he’s to blame for hiding away in this castle while his people suffer, Keera not having a family to call her own didn’t happen within the last year. She said she didn’t know her parents, which means she’s been alone since she was only a babe. That tells me I also have the previous alpha—King Airik—to blame.
Still, Theo’s finally going to open his eyes and make strides to fix the broken pieces of his land, whether he wants to or not.
For his sake, I hope it’s the former.
The office I ran from last night comes into view, the carved mahogany doors looming in the dimly lit hallway. I reach out to knock, my knuckles grazing the cool wood. The door swings open, and I’ve suddenly forgotten why I’ve come here.
Theo towers over me, stealing the air from my lungs. He’s different today. Stronger. Confident. A far cry from the disheveled man I met yesterday. He’s wearing a charcoal shirt that hugs his broad shoulders and tapers toward black slacks that cling just right to his powerful legs, making my mouth go dry. He’s freshly shaven, his jawline sharp and clean, and the unruly hair from before now lies in soft waves around his forehead.
Those dark, grey eyes lock onto mine. They appear alive today, glittering with a hidden light that wasn’t there before, and his stare wraps around me, pulling me in as if I have no choice in the matter. As if we’re the only two people in this castle. In the world. The air around us is heavy with something electric, making it so that I can barely move.
The space between us crackles with tension, hot and tense, and I don’t know if it’s my wolf awakening or just me, but I’m hyper-aware of every inch of room that separates us. My skin feels as if it’s buzzing, my chest is tight with emotion that’s almost akin to excitement, like my wolf knows something that I don’t. She prowls within my mind, close to the surface, pacing back and forth, encouraging me to step closer.
Yet, despite all that, I stand my ground, my hands curling into fists at my side to steady myself. And still, he just stares. Like he’s drinking me in, trying to memorize every detail of my face, my eyes, my soul. His chest rises and falls, the movement almost imperceptible.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he swallows, the sound almost too loud in the charged silence. “Estee.” My name falls from his lips like a desperate prayer.
Gods, is this the bond? Is Theo really mine?
Or maybe this is merely lust because while I’m finding this version of him suddenly irresistible, the uncontrollable need to touch him still isn’t present. His essence isn’t the air I need to fill my lungs.
And as those thoughts become a truth in my mind, the attraction begins to crumble. My chest shudders, and I close my eyes, fighting off the growing disappointment within me, a feeling I don’t understand nor want. Yet, one that is as real as the beat of my heart.
I don’t know what that was, and I’m not sure I want to, considering how overwhelming it was… But I came here for a reason, and I’m not leaving.
I clear my throat, trying to steady my voice, but it still comes out softer than I intend. “Are you going to let me in?”
For a moment, he just stands there, and I can see the struggle on his face—he looks like he wants to say something but can’t find the words. Then, with a slow, almost reluctant nod, he steps back, opening the door wider. “Please, join me.”
As I cross the threshold, my arm brushing his for the briefest second, I swear a bolt of lightning passes between us, scorching my heart.
Gods, what is happening to me?