Page 23 of Beyond Those Gilded Walls

I kept my eyes on his boots, the black leather spotted with darker stains. Wine pooled around the soles.

He said nothing, but I felt his stare, heavy on my shoulders. Finally, after a long moment, he asked, “Why would I have punished you?”

“For bumping into you. For speaking. For touching you when I took the tray back.” I could have continued, but I stopped, not wanting to give any other reason he might not have considered.

“That man pushed you into me. I would not have punished you for that, little wolf.” His head tilted slightly. “Did someone tell you I would?”

“I—” I hesitated, unsure if this was a trick or if he really wanted an answer.

“Tell me; I promise no harm will come to you from my hand.”

“Everyone seemed to be waiting for you to punish me. They seemed startled I touched you, more so than that I had spoken.”

He hummed and continued looking at me, though the gaze was far less heavy than it had been at first.

I could not bring my eyes up from the ground, but I moved my focus from his boots to the spilled wine and broken glass mixed with my own blood. My stomach twisted as I realized the damage I’d truly caused here. It was more than just my physical injury; this wine was likelyexpensive,and I’d thrown it at a Soulshade. “Do you know who I need to report this to? I imagine the wine will need to be replaced and taken out of my pay.”

“No one will miss it,” he said. “You need to tend to your injuries.”

“All respect intended, but I am fine,” I said, fighting the urge to raise my head and snap at him. I tried to mimic Talyssa with my voice, soft and meek. “I must return to my duties.”

“Stubborn little wolf, aren’t you?” He bent and once more, I found myself frozen as his breath washed over my ear and neck. His whispered words were hot against my skin. The facade had fallen once more, and the voice this time was softer, though it still held a teasing lilt. “I know you did not trip. Tell me what happened and perhaps I will consider letting you tend to your wounds yourself.”

Shivers exploded across the back of my neck, sending goosebumps down my spine. His marks… did that mean he could sense the Soulshades as well? I doubted someone of his obvious standing would be wandering the castle after the parties alone. Did I draw him here? Didthey?

I swallowed hard and again fought to keep my head bowed. I could not risk anyone finding out my secrets, my vulnerabilities. It’d just been proven that there was no such thing as trust inside this gilded prison, and it would be foolish of me to forget that so soon. “Truly, I merely lost my footing. I am still growing accustomed to the length of this dress.”

He remained close to me, close enough that I could smell the wine still on his breath from the ball, and too close for him to be ignorant of the discomfort he was causing. “Liar. I heard your cries.”

Fingernails dug into flesh as I struggled to keep my body from reacting to his words, his voice. It would only give him confirmation that I was lying, and though he certainly seemed confident he knew, I’d be damned if I handed it to him on a silver platter.

Finally he straightened, leaning away from my space. He nodded at my hand still clutched to my chest. “You need to get that taken care of.”

“I can manage, but thank you.” The words were pushed through gritted teeth as the firm flesh of my palm throbbed with each heartbeat. Pain was temporary, and I’d enough experience with it to know how to work through it. I would bandage it myself later in the privacy of my room, after I’d cleaned up the spilt wine and shattered glass.

“I insist, Odyssa.” He crooned my name as his hand reached to cup the elbow of my injured arm. I wanted to protest, to yank my arm from his grasp and run the opposite direction, but I knew I couldn’t. Not just because my hand wasthrobbingand still bleeding, but because of our roles in this castle. I could not refuse him, not without consequences. He hummed, looking at me with that same titled head and searching expression from the party, and then he dropped his hand. “I will not hurt you, little wolf, if that is what you’re worried about.”

I swallowed hard around the bitter taste of my pride. Hewouldhurt me if he needed to, and more, hecouldhurt me, and I needed to remember that, despite whatever promises he’d made. I was lucky he hadn’t so far for my refusal and disrespect. Lowering my eyes again, I replied, “I will go with you. I appreciate your offer of assistance.”

He clicked his tongue, leaning back and crossing his arms over the silver brocade buttons lining his coat. “You do not have to do that, Odyssa. The offer is just that, an offer. It is not a demand. I do not own you.”

“But the prince does.” The words were out before I could stop them, hanging in the air of the halls. I raised my eyes to look at him. The words were spoken. What more could I do to condemn myself now? I continued, “The prince owns me, and if you are here, he owns you too. So pardon me, I may be new here, but I understand who holds the power in this castle, and,Tallon—” his eyes narrowed as I said his name— “I understand it is not me.”

He watched me for a moment, and I tracked every twitch of his muscles, waiting for the abrupt strike I knew was coming. It never did. Instead, a broad smile crossed his face as he nodded. “You are not what I expected, little wolf.”

The fight bled out of me, dripping from the cut on my palm and falling to the floor to join the puddle of wine and blood. “What?”

“It will be difficult to clean and bandage that properly with only one hand,” he said. He offered out the crook of his elbow. “Let me help you and I’ll escort you back to your room.”

“I must go back to the kitchens and assist with cleaning the ballroom.” I did not take his arm. The floor was sticky beneath my feet as I shifted my weight. “I should also clean this up before someone sees.”

“Clean what up?” he asked.

I spun around. “The—” Nothing was there. I blinked rapidly, as if expecting the wine pool to suddenly reappear, but there was nothing. Lifting my feet revealed that even the stickiness of drying wine and blood had vanished as well. My head swam, feeling like it weighed twice what it should and would at any moment tip precariously to one side or the other. “The wine bottles. Where did they go? Did you do that?”

“Come now, Odyssa, before your hand gets infected.”

His words pulled me out of my stupor. I’d survived the blood plague, but it did not make me invincible, and an infection—even here in the thrice-damned halls of whatever Castle Auretras was—could very well be a death sentence.

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