“I would like to retire to my quarters,” Bastien interrupted again. “That is all I wish for right now.”
“Of course,” Detrius said. “Your quarters remain as they were—nobody has occupied them, at least not to my knowledge… your father’s, however, are being utilized by my father. I’m sure you understand,” he added. “We believed none of you were coming back.”
Bastien did not respond to this. Instead he just swept me toward the exit, leaving Detrius to hurry along after us. “Allow me to escort you,” he said.
My heart was hammering in my chest as I gaped up at Bastien, wishing he would meet my eyes. I did not know this man at all, and I found myself wondering whether I had gotten completely the wrong end of the stick regarding what he had intended me for all along. But too many things simply didn’t make sense to jump to that conclusion. I had no choice but to stay silent as we made our way upward through the levels of the mountain castle, until we stopped at what I guessed was the very top, in front of a mahogany door. Here, Bastien set me down on my feet before turning to his cousin, his father’s crown still gripped firmly in his right hand.
“I do not wish to be disturbed for the rest of the night,” he said. “But tomorrow morning, I will take up the throne.”
“Good night, cousin,” Detrius said. “Once again, I cannot express enough what a relief it is that you have returned.” He gave Bastien another smile that didn’t reach his eyes before turning on his heel and heading down the corridor.
With the two of us now alone, Bastien pushed open the door and pulled me inside. He closed it behind us and bolted it. The calm exterior he had assumed in front of his cousin melted, giving way to disturbance.
“Bastien,” I whispered, gripping his wrists, “What on earth—”
He pressed a palm over my mouth and widened his eyes at me. I fell silent.
He pushed his ear against the door, listening for what, I didn’t even know. Then, after an intense ten seconds, he pried himself away and made his way deeper into the chambers. I followed after him, having no idea what else I was supposed to be doing with myself. I gazed around at his regal, yet simple quarters. There was an odd, musky smell. Thick rugs sprawled across the stone floors and richly patterned, burgundy tapestries lined the walls, but otherwise the furnishings were rather minimal. Glowing lanterns illuminated the place, and it was cold. Terribly cold. I wrapped my arms around myself as I followed him down a corridor. He stopped outside a door and mouthed, “Wait here.” He opened the door and stepped into a bedroom.
He emerged barely a minute later, fully dressed in fresh clothes. He wore a plain off-white shirt and dark pants, similar to what he had been wearing when I’d first come across him.
He continued down the corridor and entered a smaller room, an armory. Its walls were covered with hanging swords, daggers, spears, as well as bows and arrows. Bastien retrieved a belt and a thick satchel that hung from the back of the door. He began piling daggers and arrows into the bag before fastening a bow to the belt.
I could not hold in my anxiety any longer. As he seemed to have finished sifting through the weapons, I moved forward and gripped his shirt, tugging at him and forcing him to look me in the eye.
“What is happening?” I mouthed.
He glanced at the door, as if expecting somebody to be standing there listening to us. Of course I knew that wolves had exceptional hearing, which must’ve been why he was being so cautious. He approached a wooden closet in one corner and opened it. It was filled with dusty black cloaks, tall and wide enough for four people to stand comfortably inside. Without warning, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into it with him before shutting the door, closing us both in. I could hear our hearts pounding. He leaned closer before lowering his mouth to my right ear until he was so near, his lips touched my skin. Then he whispered, so softly I could hardly hear him even at this proximity, “We need to leave.”
As he drew away, his rough cheek brushed against mine, sending an unexpected tingle down my spine.
“Why did you lie?” I breathed. “Why did you call me your concubine?” And what am I even doing getting embroiled in all this? How am I ever going to get back to my family?
His eyes darkened. “The less truth they know, the better… I believe this lair has been compromised.”
“What do you mean, compromised?” I asked.
“I do not even understand the extent of it myself yet. I’m still pondering it. But… it was a mystery to me how the hunters managed to sweep so quickly through our chambers. I…” He paused, looking pained to say it. “I believe my cousin and uncle turned us in.”
“What? You think they’re in alliance with the hunters?”