Chapter 34

34

CHARLOTTE

" W ell, this is quite the fall from grace," Elodie comments as she rounds the corner. Her high heels click on the stone floor of the dungeon as she saunters up to the bars, one perfectly shaped brow raised.

Seemingly amused by my predicament, she stops in front of my cell and stares, being careful to stay well back from the silver wire that's wrapped discreetly around the black iron bars.

These cells were built specifically for containing shifters and other paranormal creatures. Neither Elodie nor I are stupid enough to test out the defences they have in place.

"Come to gloat," I say, suddenly far too exhausted for a conversation like this, although I am curious how she knew exactly where to find me.

"I heard a rumour someone was brought down here, and then when the prince was hurt, and you were nowhere to be seen…" she lifts one slim shoulder and smiles, like this was the obvious conclusion.

"I don't have the energy to fight with you right now. You can come back and tell me how it was never going to work out anyway another time."

To her credit, my sister doesn't really look smug, but more concerned, as she leans against the wall and stares down the dimly lit corridor at the grim lodgings I've found myself in.

Curled upon the cot, I don't even bother dragging myself up to a sitting position.

She's confirmed that I'm here, now she can go running to Mum and tell her that I'm even more of a disappointment.

"Charlotte?" Elodie's impatient that I'm refusing to look at her. But I just continue to stare at a point on the wall, hoping she'll take the hint and leave.

Far from it. Instead, she sighs and settles further against the wall, making herself more comfortable.

"Charlotte, much as you might like to think I'm annoyed at how things have turned out, I'm not. It was always Mother's idea to marry me off to the prince. I didn't hate the idea, but I wasn't wedded to it."

When I finally meet her gaze but refuse to sit upright, she sighs again.

"There are other wolves with more money, and less do-goodish tendencies out there." With a smirk, she adds, "And who don't have the hots for my sister."

There's mischief in her eyes as she stares at me, a question written all over her face, and one I can't answer. She may be my sister, but she's my mother's pet, and right now, I don't trust anybody.

"Has the hots for me, eh?" I ask, feeling pleased that she noticed his attraction to me when sometimes, I doubt how happy he is to be mated at all.

"Big time. It's comical how much he hates Theo, just because you're friends."

I finally give in and sit up when I realise my sister is prepared for a long chat and has no intention of leaving.

"I'm not sure that's the case," I mutter. "And I definitely don't think we're friends anymore."

Not if he thinks I had anything to do with this.

Elodie rolls her eyes at my self-pitying tone and smooths a loose strand of hair back into her perfectly styled chignon.

"Oh please, anyone can see he's smitten. Men don't buy diamond earrings for every female bodyguard slash fake girlfriend they have. It appears you've made quite an impression on him." She gives me a knowing wink, and I blush. I shouldn't be surprised that she knows. Elodie doesn't miss much. "It's going to take more than a mere attempted murder charge to put him off."

Despite myself, a loud laugh bursts past my lips. Because what else can I do? This entire situation is preposterous.

"But what about you?"

Pushing off the wall, she rests a hand on her hip and regards me with a rare softness in her eyes. She looks almost wistful. "I have no intention of ending up with somebody who's less than a hundred percent enthralled by me." Of course not. One thing my sister is acutely aware of is her value. "This entire episode just makes me even more certain that he's out there. We just haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet."

Rarely vulnerable, I'm stunned to hear my sister talking about her mate. It never seemed important to her. She always wanted success and stability rather than love and romance. When she slips her hand into her purse, I'm expecting her to make her excuses and run. Job done. She can report back to Mum that I'm alive, for now, and cement her position as the favourite child.

"And you don't fool me, Charlotte," Elodie says quietly. "I can tell you like him just as much. Otherwise, you wouldn't be hurting so much right now."

Blinking, I stare at her, weighing up how much I can say when I know she could potentially have been sent here by my mother to snoop on what's really going on.

"How is he?" I ask, diverting the course of the conversation away from my relationship with the prince, and onto safer territory.

I don't need to elaborate on who he is.

Elodie shrugs. "He's fine. The doctor checked him out. He's awake and able to use his legs again. The drugs they gave him have worn off." She hesitates, looking at me sympathetically. "I'm surprised he hasn't come down to visit you already. Even to ease your mind."

I say nothing, refusing to admit that I'm surprised too. How has he been up and about while I've been trapped in here, and yet, he's managed to stay away? I thought that as soon as he woke up, he'd come straight down and free me. That's what I would have done if it was the other way around.

But maybe he doesn't trust me anymore, either. And I can't blame him, given who I'm related to. But it still stings to think he's leaving me to rot in the dungeon without even coming down to say goodbye. It hurts to think he believes I was so mad at him, so bitter, that I'd participate in any of my mother's grand schemes, or take it out on him.

Swallowing hard to clear the lump from my throat, I turn my face into the shadows to hide my pain.

"You shouldn't be here, Elodie. It's not safe." And it's not. If I'm being framed, and someone comes to finish me off, Elodie being anywhere near me is a bad idea. "Somehow, I doubt anybody is supposed to be down here until Zane comes to interrogate me."

Elodie yawns, unconcerned, and kicks her heel back against the wall behind her, looking completely unfazed by the dingy surroundings she's found me in. I don't think I've ever seen Elodie in anything less than five-star luxury. She looks so out of place in her fitted pencil skirt and white silk blouse. Her glamour is a stark contrast to the grey and grimy surroundings of the dungeon, making her presence here even more absurd.

And worse, she doesn't look the least bit scared or concerned.

"A formality," she says with confidence. "I'm sure once Zane and the prince have had their debrief, and Killian's had his chance to put across your case, Zane will be down to let you out. I mean, who's going to go to the ball on the prince's arm, if you're stuck down here?"

"Nobody, I should hope," I say with a weak growl.

Somehow, I doubt that's the truth. If I'm still locked up down here, and Killian and Zane decide to throw away the key, I'll be replaced in a heartbeat. There won't be any shortage of she-wolves lining up to take my spot at his side. He could reject me now and blame his weakened state on the attack.

Oh no, what if that's exactly what he's planning to do?

"Well, they'll have to get past me first," Elodie says with a conspiratorial wink. "Unlike some people, I'll do a much better job of keeping men away from my sister's dates."

She's joking, but I'd bet my life that she'll do it.

"I appreciate the offer," I say, even if I can't be a hundred percent certain that she's genuine.

"I did bring you this," Elodie whispers, casting a furtive glance over her shoulder as she bends down, and oh so carefully, pushes a small plastic bag between the bars, making sure not to touch the silver.

Curiosity aroused, I slide to my knees on the cold, hard floor, and pick up the tiny pouch.

"What's this?" I lift the green velvet bag into the palm of my hand.

"Well, it's not a key, if that's what you're hoping for, but it's the next best thing."

What's the next best thing to a key when you've been tossed in jail? A private toilet?

"We'll be able to stay in touch, and I can keep you posted on what's happening. Just in case you don't get out before the ball." She frowns and looks toward the entrance. "Somehow, I think once the searching of the grounds is done, it's going to be harder for me to sneak back down here and see you. But I wanted to make sure you didn't really feel alone."

I'm touched, if not a little surprised. She clearly expects something to kick off.

"Can't we just mind-link?" I ask, and she huffs, looking at me like I'm a half-wit.

"No, Charlotte, you can't just mind-link from the dungeon. It's spelled or fortified, or something." She twirls her hand around, not really that interested in the details. "It's to make sure that anybody powerful kept down here can't influence what goes on upstairs. Common sense, really. Otherwise, all you'd need is a strong alpha issuing commands, and the staff in the house would be scurrying down with keys and whatever they desired."

Elodie speaks about this all so casually, but this isn't common knowledge. Zane definitely never mentioned it when he went over the security arrangements within the palace.

"How do you know so much about the dungeon?" I ask, looking at Elodie. I'm impressed. I thought she only cared about the expensive antiques and beautiful art.

"It's my job to know everything about the palace. I'm not just a pretty face, Charlotte," she says primly. "You're not the only Webster who's been blessed with brains as well as beauty, even if I prefer not to let people know most of the time."

When she winks at me, I smile.

This is nice, even if the situation is fucked up. I rarely get to speak to my sister without my mum loitering around these days, but we used to be close before everyone started pitting us against each other.

And while Elodie seemed happy to go along with whatever she's told most of the time, as I look at her now, I'm starting to get the impression I didn't give her enough credit. She might be in the driver's seat more than I realised.

"Did Mum do this, Elodie? Do you know anything?" I have to ask, or it will eat away at me.

Elodie's smile vanishes, and she smooths down her skirt, a sure sign that she's leaving.

"I don't know anything, but Mum… well, you know as well as I do, that she's capable of just about anything."

Both of our attention is captured by some voices passing the top of the stairs.

"I better go. But be careful, Charlie. Whatever's going on, it's not over yet."