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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

X enia fiddled with the pins that had worked their way out of her thick, unruly hair as she’d spent the afternoon tidying in the guest wing.

A few more guests had arrived this week: several siblings of Laskaris and his wife, along with their own large families.

Xenia thought it a bit excessive—the wedding wasn’t for at least another three weeks—but she’d overheard mumblings about wanting to arrive at Stoneridge before the rebels made the continent impassable.

Why were Arran and Phidion were so keen to move forward with this wedding if war was about to erupt?

She pondered the question as she entered her final room for today’s shift.

Elodie’s room.

Xenia hadn’t forgotten about that strange encounter in Arran’s office the other day. And now she had the perfect excuse to snoop. The door closed behind her as she surveyed the messy space.

Pastel slippers were scattered across the floor while dresses in matching colors were strewn atop the unmade bed. An array of cosmetics and hair products sat atop the vanity, several containers tipped over and spilling onto the wood.

She rifled through the nightstands, the bureau, the vanity, finding nothing out of the ordinary. She had no idea what she was looking for, but assured herself she’d know it when she found it.

If she found it.

Perhaps Cael was right, and her jealousy of Elodie was clouding her judgment. Had her assigning suspicious motives to ordinary actions.

But Xenia couldn’t shake the nagging sense that something was off about the beautiful Beastrunner female who was poised to take Cael away from her forever.

She stepped into the closet, and her gaze snagged on a small chest tucked away in the corner.

Purposefully hidden.

Adrenaline tingled through her limbs.

She crouched down on her heels, then pulled the wooden chest out and attempted to pry open the lid.

It was locked.

Of course it was.

She hadn’t seen any kind of key during her initial search through Elodie’s drawers, so she checked underneath the pillows, tore through the blankets, even looked under the mattress.

Nothing.

Shit.

She searched through the pockets of Elodie’s scattered dresses, hanging them in the closet after each perusal, but no luck there either.

Venting a resigned sigh, Xenia returned the box to its hiding place, then began rifling through the dresses that were already hanging in the closet.

Her hand was deep into the pocket of a periwinkle silk dress when the doorknob turned and she froze.

“ What are you doing in here?” Elodie stepped into the room, her nose crinkling as if she scented something unpleasant. “I’ve informed Mistress Ostere several times that I do not require housekeeping services.” Elodie didn’t bother closing the door. Merely crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her manicured nails against her upper arms. “Get out.”

Xenia scrambled from the closet, her hand catching the pocket and ripping the silk dress in her haste.

“You imbecile, ” Elodie snarled, darting for the dress and shaking it in Xenia’s face. “Do you have any idea how much this cost? Likely more than you’re worth.” Claws dug into Xenia’s flesh as Elodie grabbed her arm. “Let’s go. I’m sure the High Councilor will not be pleased to hear of your ineptitude.”

Xenia didn’t dare argue, blood pounding in her ears as Elodie dragged her through the hall muttering, “…don’t need this ridiculousness when I’m trying to prepare for a wedding …going to be punished for this, surely…don’t care how much my father paid for you…”

Xenia’s body slicked with cool sweat as Elodie pulled her down the front stairs. Her feet slipped and she tumbled down several before Elodie reached for her again, her claws slicing two long, painful gashes into Xenia’s upper arm.

Elodie snarled as she tugged Xenia upright, and something glinted at her collarbone.

A thin gold chain holding a brass key.

Xenia feigned falling again, crashing into Elodie and grasping for the key in the struggle and confusion.

“Get off of me!” Elodie shouted, pushing Xenia away, but keeping a firm grip on her arm.

Xenia cursed internally and bit back a whimper as Elodie’s claws dug deeper into the cuts. Warm blood soaked Xenia’s sleeve.

As soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs, rainbow light flashed and Cael appeared, his abrupt entrance stirring the white and green floral arrangement atop the foyer table.

Relief buckled Xenia’s knees as Elodie stopped short.

“What’s going on?” Cael asked in a low voice, his expression carefully cold. Though Xenia noticed his hands curling into fists.

Elodie’s entire demeanor shifted as she released Xenia, who winced and clapped a hand over her wounded arm. Cael’s eyes flicked to it, and a muscle ticked in his clenched jaw.

Elodie retracted her claws and placed a hand on Cael’s chest, the picture of timid subservience. “I found her in my room. Rifling through my dresses . Who knows how long she’d been in there, touching my things. Ruining them with her human filth . I have half a mind to burn it all. I’m taking her to speak to your father. She needs to be reprimanded.”

Cael’s eyes darkened. “I’ll handle it.”

“But—” Elodie protested.

Cael stepped towards his fiancée, lifting her chin. “You needn’t concern yourself with such trivial matters, my darling. Surely you have more important things to worry about than doling out punishment to a measly little human?”

Elodie melted against him, tipping her face up for a kiss, and jealousy, hot and heavy, seared through Xenia’s chest. Elodie’s eyes slid closed, but Cael stepped away, angling his body in front of Xenia instead.

Elodie’s eyes fluttered open. “Yes, well,” she said, flustered, “do make sure to tell your father exactly what I told you. I do not want her or any other servant in my room ever again.”

“Of course,” he demurred.

Elodie’s expression softened, and she dipped her chin, gazing up at Cael through her lashes. “I’ll see you at dinner later?”

“Until then.” Cael offered a slight bow, which Elodie returned before floating up the stairs.

Xenia released a breath and Cael whirled on her, brows furrowed. “Are you alright?” He went preternaturally still at the sight of the small red pool at her feet. “What happened?”

“She wasn’t lying,” Xenia started. “I?—”

Footsteps echoed from the hallway leading to Arran’s office.

“Not here.” He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and bent down to clean the blood from the floor. “Follow me.”

He gently took her uninjured arm and rushed her up the stairs, turning toward the family quarters with a singular focus. He didn’t even notice as they passed the open door to Erik’s room.

Cael’s brother was sprawled in a chair eating orange segments and flipping through a thick book. His eyes caught Xenia’s and he raised a brow, though he didn’t say a word as Cael pulled her further down the carpeted hallway.

At the end of the hall, Cael opened another door, then ushered Xenia into the room.

The door snicked shut behind them, and Xenia’s limbs tingled when she realized where Cael had brought her.

His bedroom.