Zeeb was waiting when Zephyr landed, hastily setting Selene down to put space between them. Zeeb's eyes flickered between them with a smirk playing on his lips. "Cozy flight?" he teased.
Zephyr's glare was his only response.
Selene eyed Zeeb, surprised by his boldness to joke in front of this cold and unfriendly Alpha.
"Take her to her cell," Zephyr ordered, "Then meet us in the study."
"Shall we?" Zeeb's tone was neutral as he addressed Selene. "Can you walk or am I supposed to carry you like Zephyr did?"
Selene blushed, ready to tell him that she could walk but Zephyr cut in faster. "She can walk."
"Very well." Zeeb nodded, and Selene stepped toward him.
"I appreciate being asked," she said, glancing at Zephyr. "Thank you, Alpha Zephyr."
She walked on with Zeeb, leaving Zephyr stunned by her sharp, yet polite rebuke. He understood that her piercing glare said that though she was thanking him, she did not appreciate him picking her up without asking.
Her voice echoed in his mind: Thank you, Alpha Zephyr.
It was the first time she'd called his name. His eyes trailed her as she walked with grace and poise.
Zeeb and Selene walked together in silence and after she stepped in to her cell, he made to leave but paused. "Are you... comfortable?"
"Yes, I am," Selene answered even though what she really wanted to say was, Would you be comfortable here?
Zeeb nodded and left.
———————————————————————————
"Something's not right," Ralph said, lost in thought.
"Of course not. The Shadow Wolf's absence coinciding with her arrival? His dark magic is at play!" Zephyr growled.
Ralph raised an eyebrow. "I meant the riot."
"Oh." Zephyr said simply.
"The people were so agitated, I thought we were infiltrated. They were unrecognizable," Ralph explained.
Zephyr shrugged. "Disappointing, but understandable. The Dark King's daughter and a strange illness? That makes Inflammatory rumors. I would be agitated as well."
"True, but it seemed so….put together. And how did they find out?" Ralph spoke.
"Something to consider," Zephyr agreed giving it a thought.
"And you lied to them. Will you keep her a secret forever?"
"I didn't lie; I said it's a rumor, which can be false or true."
A knock came at the door and Zeeb casually joined them. "This is the most interesting full moon I've had." He said as he sat down on the chair beside Ralph, opposite Zephyr.
"Let's focus on the important things," Zephyr said sharply.
"The Shadow Wolf's absence? The cursed princess? The riot? Or your curse words?" Zeeb listed.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed but Zeeb was saying the truth.
They had a full plate.
"Don't tell me you believe she's the guide," Zephyr began.
"Don't tell me you don't, Alpha." Zeeb countered.
Zephyr turned to Ralph, who shrugged. "It explains everything. Her arrival, the Shadow Wolf's disappearance...Whatever happened to her led her here. The curse said that when the guide to the map comes, the shadow wolf will disappear."
"So, we welcome her as our savior?" Zephyr asked sarcastically.
"Not that. I don't fully trust her. She's the Dark King's daughter. 'Guide' might just mean she's the key to information," Ralph suggested.
"Makes sense. Her purpose is to inform us ," Zephyr agreed.
"So why is she your mate?" Zeeb asked, breaking the silence and when the air was too thick with Zephyr's glare, he said something else . "I think she's a good person."
"Don't be fooled. She's stubborn," Zephyr growled remembering Selene's defiant gaze and the day he met her in her cell.
"Good or bad, we need information. I think we should proceed with Xander's plan," Ralph said, looking at Zeeb. "She needs to trust someone."
Zephyr's discomfort was evident as he followed Ralph's gaze. "No."
Ralph turned in surprise and a slow smile crept on to his lips. "Are you jealous of Zeeb getting close to her?"
"Me?" Zeeb asked catching on to what was being suggested .
"I'm not jealous. I just don't want it," Zephyr said.
"Well, there's no one to trust," Ralph stated.
A knock interrupted them.
Dorianna entered, then paused. "Oh, i didn't know you had company..."
"We'll reconvene tomorrow," Zephyr said mentally tired.
"Think about it," Ralph said, leaving with Zeeb.
"Goodnight, Ralph," Dorianna said.
"Goodnight." Ralph replied.
As the door closed, Dorianna confronted her brother.
"What's happening?"
"Honestly, I don't know where to start," Zephyr said wearily.
"A bald thing emerged from the Silveren! A creature of darkness that you now think is your mate? What madness is that? And you say you don't know where to start?" She said angrilly.
Zephyr looked at her in surprise. Then from feeling tired, he felt annoyed.
"How did you know that?" He spat.
"That's not the-"
"How did you know?" He demanded angrilly with his fist coming down on the table so hard that Dorianna froze.
She bit her lip, her brain searching for what to say.
"I overheard you and mother talking about it the other night." She lied with the hopes that he will believe her which, he did.
"I need to rest. I want you to leave." He said starring at her directly.
She had offended him by storming in to his study and yelling at him. But he was too tired to deal with her now.
"I have a right to know why she still breathes!!" Dorianna protested angrilly.
"Leave now!" Zephyr said in a low growl that scared her.
She knew it was time to leave. She couldn't overcross her boundaries with Zephyr.
"I hope you know what you're doing! I hope you are thinking as much as I am about the Justice that must be served, For Father and for Lucian!" With those final words she stormed to her room feeling the rage within her.
It was almost morning and she was contemplating on going for a run to calm her down but someone slipped in through the window and she gasped stepping back before settling for a glare.
"What are you doing coming in through my window?" She demanded irritated.
"I only wanted to thank you." Jareth said walking to her bed and sitting down on it.
"There's nothing to thank me for. Get out now!" She said angrilly.
"You played a part in this riot, remember? You helped me-"
"Get out now or I'll howl loudly!" She said angrilly.
Jareth laughed but he stood up and walked to the window.
"When you're ready to join heads let me know. Thank you sister." With that he was out the window.
Dorianna was left more irritated but still at the brim of her thoughts was the daughter of the dark king and she vowed inwardly to get rid of her and subject her to vengeance.