Chapter 39
Orange hues lit up the sky as the sun started to disappear behind the mountains just as they entered the streets of Bromel.
All the men were on high alert, and she kept her axe casually in her hand resting on her leg. She had been relieved to see the males had retrieved it after she was taken and kept it waiting for her in the wagon.
No one seemed to bat an eye at them as they maneuvered through the streets to the governor's mansion on the other side of town. Most people just kept to themselves and moved quickly around the different shops.
It was still a clean city, stone buildings and well maintained roads surrounded them. If she was an unknowing traveler she would have thought it was like any other town and been content traveling through.
However, she knew better and could see the dangers lurking in the shadows under the awnings and down the allies as they passed by. None ventured towards them but she knew Kaden was well aware of their presence as well.
It only took a few more minutes before they made it to the mansion, guards posted every few feet and they stopped on the outside of a large steel gate.
Kaden rode up to the front, switching positions with Xander and she watched him start talking to the guards.
“They should know we are coming, right?” she whispered towards Xander.
“Yes.”
Guards moved around them and when they looked at her, she could see suspicion in their eyes but didn’t say anything to her. Once they looked over the group, they waved them in towards the gate and a few minutes later they were at the stable on the estate.
“Did you have any problems?” Finnley asked Kaden once they were all in the stable.
“No, they just are extremely wary of strangers.” Kaden growled.
It didn’t take long to get the horses untacked and settled into the stalls for the night before they were escorted into the mansion. The grounds were well maintained, a large pond in the front lawn and flowerbeds all around the building.
She had never met the governor of this town, but by the looks of his home, he cared more about himself than his people. It didn’t give her the best first impression.
Kaden walked next to her with the others behind them as they strode down the gravel to the main front door, a half a dozen guards keeping pace with them.
Vast marble pillars lined the inside hall just past the main door and led to a large foyer with stairs on each side. The second level could be seen with large banisters coming off the top of the stairs and it was all immaculately clean.
Everything was more modern than the castle, and she had a feeling this governor wasn’t just greedy with the guards, but his people’s money too.
“Welcome!” A male's voice came from her left side and they all turned to see who it belonged to.
The sheer roundness of the man walking towards them made her want to drop her jaw, but stopped herself only because she didn’t want to be rude. He was large and obviously never missed a meal or snack in his life, unusual for fae.
A cane tapped on the floor next to him as he leaned on it with every step and his formal clothes barely clasped around his large figure. The blond hair on his head was tied up and it was clear he took very good care of it.
“My name is Oak and I’m the governor of Bromel.”
They all nodded a hello and Kaden stepped forward in front of her.
“I’m Kaden, and these are my men Xander, Finnley, Boone, and Titus. Also our maiden Raine has joined us for the journey.” his hand gesturing to each one and then his eyes connected with hers. “Finally, let me introduce you to Alyra, Princess of Mydalsa.”
She had to consciously leave his stare and looked towards Oak, her head dipping slightly in his direction.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.” Oak said, his eyes looking her up and down slowly.
Kaden cleared his throat and Oak pulled his eyes away from her, her skin feeling extra dirty all of a sudden.
“Emris said we are to stay here for a week. We will try to stay out of trouble and be gone as soon as possible.” Kaden said plainly, his eyes watching Oak carefully.
“Of course. We do have a ball planned at the end of the week in celebration of summer starting soon with Princess Alyra as our guest of honor, feel free to do as you wish until then.” Oak’s eyes glanced back at her and she tried not to flinch. “If you need anything at all, please let me know.”
All she could do was give a slight nod, her throat going dry with the awkward tension she could feel and waiting for direction from Kaden.
“My men will take you to your rooms, we have one for each of you ready.” Oak continued.
“We will only be needing five rooms, not seven.” Kaden interjected and Oak looked at him with a curious expression. “I stay with Alyra and Finnley with Raine as we want to keep our females protected.”
She could tell there was an aggression in Kaden's tone and she wondered if he was feeling the same creepy vibes as she was.
“Of course.” Oak added and he gestured for his guard to escort them away, his eyes gazing over her again quickly.
She stepped around to Kaden's other side, out of Oaks line of sight and felt his familiar hand resting on the small of her back.
No one said a word as they walked down a maze of hallways and passed over a dozen doors before the guard finally stopped.
“These last seven were reserved for you. Take whichever ones you like.” The guards directed and then headed back the direction they came from without another word.
“Xander and Boone, take the outer rooms and the rest of us will be in the middle. I don't think we have anything to worry about but I would rather have Alyra protected on both sides.” Kaden demanded and everyone disbursed to their rooms silently.
Footsteps echoing down the hall, she followed Kaden a few rooms down and entered the room with him.
The people’s money obviously went to use in this giant mansion. The four post steel bed was accented in what looked like real gold and silk sheets. Fine chiffon cloth draped from the top frame and synthetic vines wrapped around the four posts.
“Well, this is interesting,” she mumbled.
Watching Kaden start across the room, she continued to glance around her surroundings more, her blood boiling hotter as she assessed what surrounded her.
Paintings and more furniture were placed around the room, all looking brand new and unused. Just the amount of money it took to furnish this room could help over a dozen of the townsfolk who were struggling from the thieves lurking in the shadows tainting their town.
Kaden stopped on the opposite wall and looked into the bathroom as a precaution in securing the room.
“Well,” he chuckled. “I know where you will be spending most of your time.”
She gave him a confused look and crossed the room quickly, brushing up against him as she leaned through the bathroom door. The heat from his body pressing up against her distracted her for a split second before she saw the large space in front of her.
Large windows surrounded a giant stone in-floor basin, two large water boilers on one side and a large counter with a sink next to it.
Another door was cracked open and she could see the privy had its own closed off area with a small window showing light coming through the door.
“Wow.” was all that she could muster, her eyes not knowing what to look at the longest.
“I’m pretty sure you could fit four people in that thing.” Kaden scoffed before turning and walking back into the main room.
She followed and sat on the edge of the bed watching him carefully.
“I can see why none of his citizens looked happy.” She sighed. “He lives in luxury while they barely scrape by.”
Kaden continued walking around the room, studying it and looking for anything that might be suspicious or dangerous.
“Most governors are like that.” He shrugged and continued to check the room.
Shivers ran down her spine, the creepy feeling still lingering on her skin and she tried to take a deep breath. She was with Kaden and knew being with him was the safest place she could be.
“You do not leave my sight.” he warned, walking towards her and reaching his hand out. “I don’t have a good feeling about this place or that man.”
She grabbed his outstretched hand and let him gently pull her up against him, his arms wrapping around her casually. Nothing felt better to her than being against him these days, and she knew there was something forming between them she couldn’t ignore.
“At least we are only here for a week, then we can leave,” she breathed against him.
“If things get too strange we will leave before then,” he whispered against her hair and they stood silent for a few minutes wrapped in each other, something she was becoming accustomed to.
It wasn’t until a knock on the door that they separated and Kaden walked across the room to open it. Their bags from the wagon were sitting out in the hall and a few guards looked him over carefully.
“Thank you.” Kaden said plainly and she could hear the other doors down the hall open.
“The help staff should be by with food shortly.” One of the guards added before leaving the doorway.
Kaden just nodded and she could hear more footsteps getting closer from both directions of the hall, their friends appearing in her line of sight.
“Does anyone else get an unsettling feeling?” Finnley asked quietly once the guards were out of sight.
“Yeah.” Xander mumbled.
“Keep Raine close.” Kaden demanded. “I also want everyone paired when they go somewhere, including another male when we leave with the females.”
They all agreed and dispersed with their bags, Kaden dragging theirs in then shutting the door.
“Go take a bath, I will get our stuff situated,” he said casually and she smiled at him, his eyebrow raising back at her. “What?”
She walked closer to him, her eyes drinking in his confused stare and lifted herself up to press a soft kiss to his cheek.
“Thank you for caring,” she whispered.
He didn’t say anything and she could see his body relax as if a huge weight was thrown from his shoulders.
“Don’t mess with my stuff though, I might have things I would be embarrassed for you to see.” She smirked playfully.
He chuckled and she skipped off to the bathroom to enjoy a warm bath, one she knew she would enjoy.