Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Rayden’s help

CA SSANDRA

After I concluded that the pendant wasn’t in the backpack, I discarded it and looked around the room I’d been confined to. There was a stack of boxes in the far

corner I hadn’t noticed when I’d first arrived.

I rushed over to them and wasted no time. I rummaged through the closest one, and once I finished rooting through it, I moved on to the next.

I continued this way for nearly an hour.

In the process of searching my belongings, a pair of se rvants took turns delivering more boxes. With every one, I prayed to the Moon Goddess that the pendant had just gotten misplaced in a pocket or bag, and when it wasn’t in any of the spots, my frustration grew.

Finally, the se vants stopped arriving, and I began to give up. My mother’s

n*ecklace wasn’t here.

Thankfully, one thing was certain the pendant hadn’t been found by the Alpha King’s guards. If it had, things wouldn’t be nearly as quiet as they were now. If my true identity had been revealed, Asher Collins would have been crazed and frantic, and the entire Pack House would be up in figurative smoke.

Since it wasn’t here, my mother’s pendant had to be back in my house, most likely hidden away somewhere. I tried to search my memory in an attempt to figure out where it was, but my brain was drawing an absolute blank.

There was only one logical plan of attack.

I needed to get home and find it before the guards did.

I would have to act quickly and sneak out of the Pack House as swiftly as possible.

It would only take a short amount of time- just a quick in and out, and then I could sneak back in and act like nothing ever happened.

I spent the next half hour working up the courage to make my escape, and once I was finally ready, Finnick surprised me and entered the room.

“Hi, Mommy,” he greeted me in a happy tone, but his gray eyes were even more

serious than usual.

“Hi, baby,” I replied, and my eyebrows creased together. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he murmured, and then after a moment of consideration, he continued. “Well… I ran into the bad man earlier. The King.”

“The King?” I repeated back in surprise, and a lump formed in my throat. “What… what happened? Did he say something to you, Finnick? Were you polite to

him?”

“Yes,” Finnick replied, and worry painted his face. “He invited me to dinner, but I

said no.”

him.”

I

“Oh,” I remarked simply as I tried to find the words to say. “That was kind of

Why would Asher Collins have invited Finnick to dinner?

My heart raced in my chest, but I did my best to collect myself. I couldn’t let Finnick know I was scared, not even a little bit. I needed to stay strong for my little

I

boy.

I crouched down until I was level with him, and then pet his soft hair. After a moment or two, Finnick’s features softened a little.

“I was polite and told him we ate already,” he said.

I could sense that there was more to the story, but I elected not to push any further. Finnick didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about the exchange. All I could do was hope that Asher Collins hadn’t accosted my son or said anything that could

worry him.

“That’s my good boy,” I replied. I leaned over and k*ssed the top of Finnick’s head, and then I rose to my feet and gestured to the boxes. “I think the se rvants grabbed some of your toys if you want to play for a bit before bed.”

Finnick’s eyes lit up and he grinned. “Okay, Mommy!”

I took a little while to help him search the boxes, and after we rounded up some of his favorites, he found a corner of the room to play in. He wasted no time and began to talk his little stories out to himself. Finnick loved to play with Dominic, but he was also great at entertaining himself. His mind was so imaginative and creative.

I waited until he was deep in it to make my escape.

“I’m gonna be right back, baby,” I said, and I gave him a small smile. “Just keep playing and stay here until I get back, okay?”

Finnick nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”

He immediately returned to his toys, and I decided it was time. I took a breath and then left the room. I closed the door quietly behind me and then scanned the

hall.

Luckily, there were no guards around…I was surprised. Perhaps Asher didn’t think I’d have the guts to actually sneak out again. Of course, I wasn’t about to complain. This miscalculation on his part would work well in my favor.

When I got closer to the lobby, there still weren’t any guards around, not even Gareth’s. Usually, the Pack House was brimming with activity, but tonight, all was

quiet.

I made my way to the backdoor, which I knew wasn’t heavily guarded as the front door was. It would be much easier to sl*p out that door undetected, as it was

rarely attended to.

Unfortunately, as I approached, I noticed a tall guard standing at the ready. I tried to search my memory for him, but I didn’t recognize him right away from my

distance. But as I got closer, I realized I’d seen him before. Luckily, he was one of Gareth’s guards, not the Alpha King. He would likely let me leave.

However, my calculations were wrong when I approached. The guard stiffened as I got closer, and then gave me an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, Healer Ca ssandra,” he said in a stern tone. “I’m afraid I can’t allow your to leave the Pack House.”

It took all of my effort to keep from tearing up.

Why was I being treated like a prisoner?

“Please,” I pleaded. “I’m just going to my house to pick up something I left. behind. I won’t be longer than half an hour. I’ll return right after-

“The guards can help you with whatever you need, Miss Ca ssandra,” the guard insisted, and he raised his chin and pointed down the hall. “Just go to the front. lobby and let them know what you want.”

I fought back a sigh. Why wasn’t he letting me leave?

“Please-” I tried again, but the guard shook his head. My hands began to shake at my sides as panic set in. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.

“Ca ssandra?” a familiar voice asked, and when I turned around, I was pleasantly surprised to see Rayden behind me.

“Rayden,” I greeted him. “Hello.”

Gareth’s son frowned and then tilted his head to the side. His dark eyes studied me curiously, and it took all of my effort to keep from worrying. My cover was

blown.

“Is everything okay?” he wondered, and his eyes flew to the guard.

“She was trying to leave, Prince Rayden,” the guard said, and then Rayden turned to me.

I couldn’t lie to him, so I simply nodded. “Yes. I was trying to go to my house to find something I think I left behind, that’s all. I was going to return right after.”

“Ah,” Rayden replied. He flashed me a small smile and then turned to the guard.

“Let her go,” he commanded in a regal voice, and the guard’s crow-footed eyes. widened.

“Prince Rayden, please understand,” he pleaded. “I don’t want to lose my job. I’m simply following orders.”

Rayden nodded, and for a moment I thought all was lost. Then a thought seemed to cross his mind.

“What if I accompanied her?” he proposed. “Is that prohibited as well?”

When the guard didn’t answer, Rayden released a sigh and ran a hand through

his blue-black hair.

“If the Alpha King seeks punishment, you can hold me accountable,” he said after a moment of pause.

The guard took a moment to consider, and then he sighed and stepped aside. Rayden gestured forward, and without hesitation, the two of us made our way out

the door.

Once we were outside, we were greeted by a small garden. I took a moment to admire it, and then made my way to the gate. Rayden followed behind me silently, and the entire time, I considered my plan of action. Once we were past the garden, we’d be close to the main street, and it would only be a little longer until I was at my house. I needed to move quickly if I was going to pull this off, so I took a moment and then turned around to face Rayden.

“Thank you for helping me,” I said. “I think I can handle it from here-”

“Nonsense, Ca ssandra,” Rayden replied. “I’ll come with you. It’s not safe out

here with the hunting festival going on. Besides, you’re still injured. I’ll keep you safe and make sure you get there okay.”

Rayden wanted to come with me?

I was a little taken aback by his offer. It was kind of him to step in and try to help me, but I couldn’t risk him seeing the pendant and asking questions. I needed to get to my house and get there quickly.

So, I needed to find some way to get there on my own.

“I appreciate your kindness,” I said slowly. “But you’re going to get punished if you follow me, and I don’t want that to happen, Rayden.”

Before he could say something more, I started to walk again, and when I heard his footsteps behind me, I tried my best not to get impatient. Why was Gareth’s eldest son so insistent on coming with me? Was he spying on me for his father?

Or perhaps the Alpha King?