The cold water soothed Phaeryl's body.
The quarters felt more comfortable than she had imagined. Surprisingly, it contained a medium-sized tub and an unexpectedly cozy bed.
Isla 's quarter was just a short distance away from hers. They were both recovering from the traumatic event that happened earlier. This scene of Xhanes Ardegard's hand sticking out from someone's body still haunted her.
She slowly pushed herself down, letting the water swallow her up. She needed to find a way out of this place urgently.
After a while in the tub, Phaeryl got dressed. She slipped on her cloak, covering her head with its hood and leaving for Isla's quarters.
"Do you have a plan to escape? We can get away together."
Isla's gaze shot towards Phaeryl.
"We can not do that. Don't you remember what happened today? And besides, I want to serve the Ardegards. I don't have anything more reasonable to do if I go back to Erast."
"How old are you?" Isla stared at her unblinking. Her mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. She quickly took a sip from her cup of water.
"I turned 18 recently" She mumbled under her breath, avoiding Phaeryl's gaze with each word she said. Phaeryl was certain about her assumption. The bond mark usually appeared engraved on the body of werewolves on the night of their coming of age ceremony or days after. She could remember hers vividly; nothing had appeared that night. She felt less bothered; got drunk, and woke up with no bond mark the next day. Only a lingering feeling in her eye as a result of a really bad hangover.
"You are the same age as my younger brother. You have a bond mark, don't you?" The cup slipped from Isla's hand and shattered on the floor. But she didn't seem to notice— her eyes were fixed on Phaeryl, wide and clear.
"How–" A word managed to slip out of her mouth.
"I noticed when we were still at the palace. You seemed so fixated on the last girl he killed and acted more scared when he asked her that question compared to the previous girl. So I guessed and asked to see how you would react." Phaeryl tried to understand why someone would intentionally put herself in danger.
"Please, don't tell anybody" Isla dropped to her knees before she could stop herself, fingers clutched at her sleeve. Her voice broke, words tumbling out too fast.
Phaeryl quickly helped her up, her hands slowly patted her back.
"Why are you doing this? This is very dangerous; you're young, and you have a bond mark."
"I was hoping that I could somehow get his blood, sell it, and get some money to take care of my family." Her voice didn't stop being shaky as she spoke.
"Are you crazy?" Phaeryl couldn't imagine how cruel life must've been for her to be doing something so risky. "This is what we're going to do. No matter what is going on, do not come out of this place until I say so. I find a way for us to flee and maybe stash some expensive things I can find from the palace. Do not tell anyone else that you have a bond mark"
Phaeryl didn't notice Isla's eyes tear up as she was speaking until they dropped down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?" Phaeryl inched closer to her, patting her back slowly.
"Nothing. You remind me of my late older sister"
"I'm sorry. In fact, I always wanted a younger sister." Phaeryl was unsure if that counted as comforting. It seems it did since Isla quickly wiped her tears and smiled broadly.
Phaeryl had totally forgotten why she had stepped out of her quarters that night.
"Don't go out. I need to check out the walls of this place"
The walls rose like a solid horizon of stone, towering high enough to blot out the sky. Their surfaces were smooth in some places and jagged in others. Maybe showing signs of struggle during the wolves' escape. Phaeryl couldn't help but notice a large warm shallow pond with lots of lotus flowers floating atop. She reached to pick it up when she heard noises just a short distance from where she was.
Before she could think she was behind a tree. Thankfully, it was dark there, unlike the pond area that was illuminated by the moonlight.
She watched as Xhanes headed towards the pond with a girl strolling behind him. She had recognized the girl from selection; she was always with Esme since they were from the same pack. Phaeryl tried to slow her breathing and remain quiet as she observed what was happening.
The girl's hands slowly moved up Xhanes' chest, ignoring the stoic expression plastered on his face. She quickly pressed her lips unto his and started kissing him.
Before Phaeryl could even fathom what was happening, the girl had collapsed on the floor with blood gushing from her mouth. The girl was surely dead.
Phaeryl cursed herself inwardly at the almost escape of a gasp. She watched as Xhanes brought out a handkerchief different from the last one he had used in the morning. He wiped the blood of his lips and threw the handkerchief on the girl's body.
"It seems like you enjoy observing more than participating." Phaeryl shuddered at his voice. This time, it was more playful than monotone.Did he sense someone was watching him? She pleaded inwardly that he didn't notice her and was just bluffing.
"Come out" His monotone voice had returned. Phaeryl took it as a sign that he was probably more serious than before.
A cold line crept down her spine. She told herself not to move– but her body didn't listen. She swallowed, throat tight as she stood in front of him.
His hands cupped her cheeks just like earlier, but this time, his hands were colder. Was this how she was going to die? Maybe if her regeneration was fast enough, she could survive. Her mind slowly replayed the memories of that day and how helpless those girls were.
Xhanes stared intently into her eyes with a weird but oddly attractive smirk. She wondered if there was something intriguing about her eyes or was the characteristic green eyes of her family about to save her from dying.
"From tomorrow, you'll be serving me in the palace"
He ordered before letting go of her face. It took a minute for Phaeryl to process what she had just heard. Her plans of leaving were destroyed.