Chapter 47

Gideon

I caught Clara’s scent a short distance from where I found the hidden raft. I followed it deep into the woods and up into the mountains.

I found occasional signs of trails, and what looked like some small patches of cultivated vegetation. Someone lived in the area. But I found no sign of a castle or village.

I did stumble on a small lean-to built of the same type of branches as the raft. I sniffed around it. There were several scents layered over each other. The little shelter held a cot, some supplies tucked into a weather proof crate, and a fire pit. It must be some kind of waystation.

These mountains were occupied. I was sure of that. And Clara had come this way. But where was she? Where were the vampires who had taken her? Surely they didn’t live in the trees like a bunch of blood thirsty squirrels!

I don’t know how I missed the vampires. I was certain I was alone on that trail. I would have sworn it before my king.

But then I was surrounded. One moment, I was alone and the next there were a dozen armed vampires surrounding me. Could the damned creatures teleport? And if they could, why had not a single one of our spies or agents ever warned me?

I didn’t have time to wonder where they had come from. I had to get away. I was surrounded and outnumbered.

I lunged at the smallest and weakest of the vampires. She laughed at me and danced out of reach, and I felt something tighten around my wolf’s throat.

I shifted back to my human form, so that I would have the dexterity I needed to untangle myself from whatever they had thrown over me. I felt the ropes bind around my wrists. I felt them wrap tightly against my legs. I felt more ropes circle my neck. But I couldn’t see anything.

When I tugged at the invisible cords, they only tightened around my limbs. A sharp pull from behind took my knees out from under me. I crashed to the ground, as more and more unseen ropes looped around me and held me tight.

“You got him?” one of the other vampires asked, moving in front of me.

“He’s secure,” the smallest vampire declared.

Her hands moved in odd patterns. I realized she must have one of the rare vampiric magic gifts. No blade could cut these ropes, and not even the strongest wolf would be able to rip their way free. I was trapped.

The vampire who’d spoken first crouched in front of me.

“Now, what is a lone castle werewolf doing way out here?” the vampire wondered aloud. “You’re not a Rogue, I can tell.”

I gritted my teeth and glared. I was not going to give them any information.

“Oh, you’re a stubborn one, then,” the vampire said. “Okay, that’s fine.” The vampire stood back up and motioned to one of the others. “Secure him, and blindfold him. We’ll take him to the holding cell for now, and figure out what he’s up to later.”

I struggled, but I was held too tightly by the magical bindings. A blindfold was wrapped over my face and someone dragged me back to my feet.

I was tugged along by the bindings on my wrists. I stopped trying to struggle. At least I was still going in the same direction as Clara’s scent.

I was surprised when one of my captors warned me about a branch before it tripped me. I did not expect courtesy from a bunch of vampires.

The journey was short. I had been close to the vampire’s encampment, apparently.

I was unbound and shoved through a door. I heard the door close and latch, but I wasn’t alone. I could hear another person moving nearby.

“You can go ahead and take that blindfold off now,” the vampire who’d been giving orders out in the woods, spoke.

I tugged the blindfold free and looked around. I was in a small room, a cell, with a cot, a blanket, a pillow, and a bucket in the corner. It was actually nicer than the dungeon cells in the castle.

I turned to look at my captor.

“I think I know who you are,” the vampire said. “Let’s get this thing off on the right foot. My name’s Ronan, and I’m the lead scout for the Warren. Are you going to give me your name, or do I guess?”

I kept my mouth shut and crossed my arms. There was no point in attacking the vampire. I doubted taking him hostage would do me any good. But he would have to open the door to leave, and I could rush him then.

“Of course you’re going to be stubborn,” Ronan grumbled. “I know who you are, Prince Gideon. Your face is well known. You’re on the coins, for pity’s sake.”

I shrugged, still refusing to speak.

“Oh, we’re doing this, then?” Ronan asked. “I talk, and you just glare at me all self righteous and what all? Boring. But then what did I expect from you, Prince Stick-in-the-Mud?”

I glared. How dare this low born nobody of a vampire mock me?

“I’m guessing you managed to track us from the castle, and that’s pretty impressive,” Ronan said. “What I can’t figure out is why. A couple of prisoners can not be important enough for a prince to march off into the woods with no escort and no back up. You were alone.”

I shrugged.

“It’s not the prisoners,” Ronan mused. “You would send out troops to bring them back, maybe, but you wouldn’t come after us yourself.”

I focused on keeping my face expressionless. Could this vampire read minds? I thought about exactly what I would do to him as I made my escape. He didn’t react.

“We’ve rescued prisoners before,” Ronan said, “and never got a royal response. But this time something was different. There was a girl in the dungeon, one of yours not one of ours. She came with us.”

I refused to flinch. Had Clara gone willingly, or was he lying?

“Yeah, that’s what’s different this time,” Ronan declared. “You’re after her, aren’t you?”

“Is she still alive?” I asked. They’d figured out that much, there was no point in denying it. I knew she’d made it this far. But was she still alive? Was she a prisoner, too?

“Yeah,” Ronan said. “I’ll give you that much for free. Clara’s alive, and well. No thanks to you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“She told us you folks were gonna execute her,” Ronan said. “And she wasn’t lying. I can tell.”

“No, it wasn’t a lie,” I said. “But my father will reconsider,” I insisted.

“Sure he will,” Ronan snorted. “Your king is well known for being reasonable and willing to change his mind once he’s made a decree.”

I glared. “Mind your tongue.”

Ronan chuckled. “You aren’t the one conducting this interrogation, your highness. I’ll talk about who I want how I want.”

“I won’t tell you anything,” I declared.

“You sure about that?” Ronan asked.

I glared at him.

“Oh, relax,” Ronan snorted. “I’m not going to torture you. We don’t do that. We’re not like you.”

“How dare you-” I started.

“I have one of your victims in our healer’s ward right now,” Ronan’s easy charm dropped into a low, angry growl, “and a girl terrified for her life and not even able to beg for it because your guards took her slate and chalk. Yeah, the other prisoners saw that little bit of bullying. So don’t be so high and mighty, your highness.”

I glared. “If it’s not to be an interrogation, what will you do with me?”

Ronan shrugged. “It’s not my call. We’re holding a trial, first thing tomorrow. Don’t worry, we’ll let you speak in your own defense.”

He left. I tried to rush the door when it opened, but more invisible ropes held me back until it was closed again. I sat on the cot and waited for my fate. I knew there was no way I was getting a fair trial from a bunch of vampires.