Page 56 of A Silent Prodigy for the Lycan Princess

For a split second, Tori looks a bit awkward, casting her eyes away. Her brother seems to have caught it, too, because he eyes her in surprise. His eyes gloss over as he mind links her. Meanwhile, Jazz is glued to Val most of the time, the two of them sticking their heads together a lot, giggling and chatting about everything.

The guys don’t talk a lot, but Aurelia told me in advance that neither Nox nor Lion are too talkative. Nox is quiet but very polite. Lion, however, seems to be a bit distanced. I wonder if it’sbecause of me; he has a history with Aurelia after all, but I can’t detect any weird interaction between him and her. I’m not good at reading cues, so I’ve always tried to learn more about body language, and I notice he doesn’t look at Aurelia constantly or seek her touch. In fact, he actually seems to be a bit more relaxed when he talks to Nox, her, and me, while he is a bit tense when he talks to Marilou, Terry, and Tori.

Maybe they had a fight beforehand.

I really need to work on my people skills if I want to be a good help to Aurelia.

Cato projects an image of me standing beside Aurelia, wolves around us. She suggested for us to be co-leaders, but I’m not sure what kind of role would fit me. I know what he wants to tell me now.You are right. I need to work on my confidence to lead a huge pack with her.

My father and my schoolmates broke a lot of my confidence, but Eric has always supported me. And Aurelia sees me as capable as well. I want to prove to them that they aren’t wrong, that I can support my alpha mate or become her lune.

*MEG*

“Don’t cry,” I tell Opal, helping her into a nightgown. She is still here; they haven’t sent her away yet.

PJ sometimes eyes her with interest, but Night has forbidden anyone to touch any of his gemstones. There was someoneworking here a while ago. He touched me once and kissed another girl. Night was furious. He beat me and the girl before going for the guy. The next day, the guy disappeared, and I was cleaning a bloodied floor.

“How old are you, sweetie?” I ask her.

“Fourteen,” she whispers.

I shiver. She’s younger than all the others before her. Not as young as I was from what I remember, but she is still a kid. “Just try to follow their orders,” I say. “They won’t hurt you if you behave.”

“I’m scared,” she sobs.

“I know.” I brush her hair.

“My name is Annette, but they call me Opal. I told them I’m Annette, but then the dark-haired guy got mad at me and hit me.”

I take her hand, gently writing her name with my fingertip on her skin. “Your name will always stay with you,” I reassure her. “Let them call you how they like, but you and I both know the truth.” I pause. “Annette.”

I just hope that Night doesn’t hear me, but judging by the silence around us, we are alone. There are several rooms next to each other, all of them barricaded with a heavy door. The tiny windows are closed firmly, but at least we have a bed and bathroom to share. Junior sent me here to make sure Opal calms down, threatening me with beating her up if she doesn’t stop crying.

“Are they also wolves?” Opal… or rather Annette asks.

I nod. This was probably the most shocking truth I learned here. Of their existence and of what I truly am.

“What are they going to do with me?” she whispers while I tuck her into her bed. “Aunt Luise will miss me.”

“Aunt Luise?”

“She is my nanny,” she explains.

A nanny? “You are not an orphan?” I ask.

Most of Night’s gemstones are orphans. Sometimes they bring someone who still has a family connection to someone, only a loose one, though.

“No.” Annette looks confused. “Why do you think that? Papa has been very busy ever since my mother died.”

Night probably thought she was on her own for that reason. Weird. He normally researches better.

“Are they going to hurt me?” Annette asks.

I make sure to put the blanket around her and stroke her hair. “Just make sure to obey them,” I whisper. “Don’t ask questions. And they won’t hurt you.”

I hold her hand, not sure what else to tell her that wouldn’t be a complete lie. I don’t know what they do with the gemstones once they leave this place. I’ve asked Night once, only once. He gagged me and tossed me into a completely dark cell for two days. I didn’t hear or see anyone. I never dared to ask him again.

To my relief, exhaustion wins over Annette, and she falls asleep. I get up, moving to one of the chairs and wait. Eventually, I hear a door opening further away and low voices, then footsteps come closer. The door opens, and Night’s dark figure is hovering in the doorframe.