Embarrassment mars her face and she holds a finger to her mouth. “I didn’t mean to say… did you bring that from Summer? It smells…” she trails off in search of a word that probably doesn’t exist.
I giggle, but press my lips together forming a thin line when I realize how wrong it is to laugh under the dire circumstances I’m in the midst of. “One of the wolves brought it to me.”
“Liana, my lady,” she stutters as her face flushes.
“Liana,” I say. “Please, call me Liana.”
She smiles again. “Don’t eat that, Liana. I’ll bring you something else. Something that won’t give you food poisoning.”
“Thank you.”
“And I’ll speak to Noble. I know it’s been an awful day for him, but he must be made aware that his wife is not being fed properly. You are his wife and mustn’t be mistreated like this by his pack.” Her face reddens, and she rises. “Your pack,” she corrects.
“No.” I drop my blankets in my attempt to reach her. “Don’t say anything to Noble. He has enough to deal with.”
Her eyes widen as she takes the sheet covering my body and pulls it off me. She assesses my naked body and the various bruises lining it.
“Did Noble…?” She stops to draw in a deep breath. “He wouldn’t,” she determines, and I nod in agreement. Noble didn’t do this to me. “Who did this to you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. “I just need food, water, and some clothes.”
“It does matter,” she squeaks out before another gasp from her fills my desolate room. “Why aren’t you wearing your wedding ring?”
“It was taken from me.”
“Who would…”
“It doesn’t matter, Winnie.” Except it does. I know it and so does she.
“Noble must know about this.”
“Please.” I don’t bother hiding the plea or shame in my voice. “Please don’t say anything to him. I’m sure the ring is already back with his mother, the rightful owner.”
“Liana…”
“I could really use a friend right now,” I interrupt. “I’m surrounded by people who hate me, who mistrust me, who want to see me gone. I’d really like to have someone in my corner, someone I can confide in.”
She searches my face and when my bottom lip quivers, she takes my hand in hers and squeezes. “I can be your friend.” She gifts me with another one of her easy smiles. “First thing you should know about me is I’m not a wolf.”
“But you’re friends with the wolves?”
“Noble and I are friends. He’s a good man, Liana. He wouldn’t stand for how you’re being treated in his own kingdom under his own roof.”
Not wanting to be on full display, I cover my battered body with my sheets. “I’m afraid you’re wrong, Winnie. I don’t think Noble cares, at all.”
“He does, my lady,” she insists.
“I do care though. So much it makes my heart hurt.”
“I know. I saw it. The way you two looked at each other during the ceremony. Anyone can see how much you love each other.”
Love? I almost snort at the absurdity of Noble loving me.
“It’s why I need to make this right, Winnie. Will you help me? Please,” I add, dabbing under my eye to rid myself of the tears that fought their way out.
“Of course. Whatever I can do.”
“Can you bring me pen and paper? I need to write to my pride and find out if anyone else was behind the king’s death today.”
“Oh, Liana.” She stands from the foot of my bed and paces in front of me. “I don’t know.” Worrying her bottom lip, she looks out my bedroom window.
“I have to know. For Noble, so he doesn’t suffer from the hands of my pride again.”
Chapter 24
Liana
Black clouds roll in and the sky only opens up to weep along with the wolves. From my window, I watch the procession of mourning wolves carry Noble’s father to his final resting place. My heated breath falls onto the cold window and fogs it. I trace a finger over it, leaving a small mark in a world I don’t belong.
It’s been three days since my wedding day. Three days since the death of Noble’s father. Three days since Noble became king, thereby making me the future queen after my coronation. Three days since I’ve seen my husband.
Three days since I wrote my letter to Crede that Winnie delivered.
Winnie has kept true to her word and she has become my only friend in this lonely realm. She’s visited me every day and keeps me company when everyone else in Winter keeps their distance.
I haven’t had word from my family back in Summer, but after Winnie visited briefly with Crede she was able to reassure me they’re well. They’re worried about me, but otherwise fine. I have no other choice but to trust her, so I do. She hasn’t given me any reason to believe she has ulterior motives and maybe it’s na?ve of me to have faith in her after such a short while, but I trust her. More, I need to trust her, to trust someone.
From my vantage point, I have a clear view of Noble. The dark shadows beneath his eyes, the lines that mar his face, the rigidity of his posture. He speaks to someone and when a female stands beside him and takes his hand, interlacing their fingers, I freeze. Unable to move, to breathe.
As if he senses me, he turns in my direction and when he brings the female’s fingers to his lips, I force myself to look away. I cling onto the window drapes and hold myself together, so I don’t fall apart where he can see me.
Even dressed in the clothes Winnie brought me, I’m cold. Never had I imagined just how frigid Winter could actually be.
“That was quite the display,” Winnie says, breaking me from my trance and I jerk in her direction. “Even grief does not give him an excuse to act in such a foolish manner. Stupid wolf.”
I shudder. “When did you get here?”
“Not long.” She shrugs. “Long enough to know you need to go outdoors.”
“You Spring animals are sneaky,” I say, trying to deter the conversation.
“We need to be sneaky around you predatory-types.” She grins, exposing two large front teeth.
“As if I’d eat a cute little bunny like yourself.”
Her eyes roll skyward, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “I have a letter for you. From Crede.”
My body stills, all the nervous energy I’ve garnered in the past three days suddenly gone, leaving me exhausted.
“Can I have it?” I ask, my voice shaking along with my limbs.
Blackness ebbs, the room tilting on its axis and I sink to the floor. I rest my head against the wall and clutch a hand to my churning stomach. Winnie sits beside me and places a small hand on my knee.
“I’ve already read it,” she whispers.
I close my eyes, already knowing I’ll hate her response. “And?”
“It isn’t good. If Noble were to know about this.” From beside me, I feel her shake her head. “We can’t tell him about this letter. And you can’t write back to Crede.”
Blood drains from my face and I swallow hard. “Can I have the letter, Winnie?”