Chapter 32

32

CHARLOTTE

W e've been working on security teams for long enough to know that the first thing you do with any suspect is put them somewhere secure, to neutralise the threat, making sure they can't do any more harm. And where nobody else can get to them until you've been able to complete your initial investigation.

All of which leads me to the same conclusion as I see shining in Theo's eyes.

"I'm going to the cells, aren't I?"

He nods and looks at me beseechingly. "Please don't make this any harder than it is already, Charlotte. Once we figure out who really did this, then we can let you out. But for now, either you're a threat, or you're in danger, and the safest place you can be is behind bars."

Considering the attacker was able to get to Killian within the safety of his own palace walls, I disagree with Theo's assessment that I'm going to be safe, locked in a cell, in a dark and dingy dungeon, alone, while the rest of the security team is focused on looking into Killian's sword.

But there's no point in arguing. The decision has been made higher up the food chain, and most likely, Zane isn't going to be interested in discussing it. At least, not for the time being. He's got enough on his plate right now. The council will be all over this, and it's a blow to the idea that Killian's return heralds some kind of drastic change within the shifter world.

Once news trickles out that the prince has been attacked, everyone will immediately forget how positive they felt about his return, and realise that nothing has really changed, and that the powers that be can still get away with murder, if they want to.

With the defeat welling up inside me, I turn, placing my hands behind my back, so Theo can cuff me with silver laced restraints. They burn, but he's left them loose to minimise the pain.

This is a dark moment. I chose life away from my mother's influence because I didn't want to fall prey to the shallow thinking and greed rampant within her so-called friends and peers. And yet, here I am, on my way to jail.

Not exactly the pillar of the community I'd hoped to become.

Once the cuffs are in place, Theo opens the door and gestures for me to go ahead of him, out into the hallway.

The rest of the security team falls silent as I'm led through the mess area, where an impromptu emergency meeting is taking place. Nobody says a word. Everyone just stares at me with suspicion.

Theo nudges me gently in the back, encouraging me to keep moving, as shame washes over me.

Everything I've worked so hard for is disintegrating before my eyes, and I can't go to my mate.

"Ignore them," he whispers, kindly. "They'll all change their tune as soon as we find some evidence to prove you weren't the one out there tonight."

His optimism is commendable, but I was out there earlier. I was the last person to see Killian, and I'd said some horrible things that I can never take back. I even called him a coward, but that was just the pain and hurt feelings talking, because really, I've never met a more selfless man.

He won't tell me why he's so insistent on going home, but there has to be a good reason, because nothing that I've seen from Killian, from the second he walked into the ballroom at Steel's packhouse, has been for his own benefit.

If all he was interested in was himself, he'd have claimed me the moment we met. He wouldn't have cared what danger he put me in. He wouldn't have cared about fixing things within the shifter world. He'd be living the high life as a prince, with his fated mate on his arm.

Not lying unconscious.

"Make sure nobody can get to him, Theo. Please. I don't care where you put me, but make sure he's guarded, twenty-four seven. Get Blake, get Cooper, get the Walkers involved. Chase has a private security team. Get them here. I don't care what you do, just make sure nothing else happens to him, or I'm coming for you."

Theo raises an eyebrow at my threat, but I'm not done yet.

"I don't care how or when, but eventually, I'll get out, and I'll come for you if you don't do everything you can to make sure nobody gets near him."

Theo holds my gaze and lifts his two fingers to his forehead in salute.

"Scout's honour, Charlotte. I won't let him out of my sight." Theo's a big guy, but he's one man, and he can't stay glued to Killian's side forever.

"Get help, Theo. You can't do it all yourself. Put a call into Grey Ridge and get them here. They're the only other people who want to keep him alive. He trusts them, so we should too."

Theo nods but doesn't promise me anything.

Zane will want to be the decision maker on bringing anybody in, but even he won't be able to argue with the logic behind letting Killian's own family be responsible for protecting him while he focuses on rooting out whoever's done this.

But as we near the heavy wrought iron doors leading to the underground dungeon that sits beneath the palace, even I have to admit, logic doesn't always win out. Particularly, not where money and power are involved.

Looking up at the starry sky, a carpet of black, with pinpricks of sparkling light, I take a deep breath, letting the moon touch my skin for what could be the last time.

Attempted murder of a royal wolf is something that's taken very seriously, and we're dealing with professionals here. If they wanted somebody to take the fall, I'm sure they have things all sewn up. I might never get out of here if they were clever enough to pin this on me properly.

Closing my eyes, I force my feet to move forward, taking the first step down into the dark, dank hallway that leads into the underbelly of the palace.

I pass cell after empty cell, all fortified with heavy steel bars wrapped in a thin wire of silver.

When we reach the very end of the corridor, Theo stretches out a thick arm and pushes the door open wide. The only thing this room has going for it is that it looks to be slightly bigger than the rest, and there's a high slit of a window allowing a tiny bit of light inside. The small cot against one wall looks uncomfortable, and the air is stale and dank.

"So, this is it." I step into the cell and turn to face my friend.

"For now, Charlotte, this is it, for now . I'm going to do everything I can to get you out of here, but I have to focus on getting back to Killian and finding who really did this. Just sit tight, and we'll be back for you."

Scoffing, I step back and lower myself onto the bunk, wincing as a broken spring sticks into the back of my thigh.

"Killian won't let this stand. As soon as he's better, he's going to know you had nothing to do with it, and he'll fight to get you out."

I'm not so sure about that, and neither is Theo. Why would he say I was there? It doesn't make sense. After the way I spoke to him, could he really believe that I would be so angry and bitter that I'd want to hurt him?

A scorned she-wolf is a dangerous thing, especially when he was threatening to leave me. Maybe he could believe I lashed out in anger.

With a sad smile, I watch Theo close the gate. He turns the key in the lock with a loud clunk that feels like forever.

"Just protect him, Theo. I'll be waiting right here."

I keep up a brave front as Theo, visibly shaken, turns and walks out of the cells. His heavy footsteps echo loudly through the corridor as he makes his way out of the dungeon. When the heavy door slams shut behind him, vibrations reverberating through the walls, I start to tremble.

It feels like I'm being buried alive. This cell is my coffin, cramped and claustrophobic.

My mate is hurt. I don't know how badly, and I have no way to protect him. Everyone thinks I'm the one who tried to kill him, and my family certainly won't be putting up any fight to get me released anytime soon.

I'm doomed.