Chapter 8

Gideon

“What is going on in here?” I demanded.

I had followed an inexplicably familiar scent to one of the servants’ break rooms. Something about it drew me in. I couldn’t resist the urge to investigate.

I recognized the mute maid that Nora was so attached to. She was on the ground with several other servants surrounding her. They were obviously in the middle of assaulting her.

I was annoyed. I moved her to the palace so that the bullying would stop. She was a stranger to me, but she was Nora’s friend. I owed Nora my life. Helping one servant escape a group of bullies was a small enough favor to ask, so I’d agreed.

Only now I saw that the palace servants weren’t much kinder than the lower ranked maids. It was irritating. I expected better behavior from them.

The servants stammered some excuse I barely bothered to listen to. I could see what was happening. They tried to claim that Clara had provoked them, but how exactly could she have done that? She could hardly insult them or taunt them. She was mute.

“This is disgraceful,” I said. “You are all royal servants, and you should act like it.”

The maids surrounding Clara bowed.

“All of you will take three shifts in the stables,” I ordered. “You’ll take the dirtiest jobs the stable hands have for you. Anyone caught shirking will receive no dinner for a week.”

The maids bowed again and fled.

Clara slowly climbed to her feet. Her hands trembled slightly as they moved in the complex shapes that were her way of speaking. It took me a moment to translate the motions into words. I was more used to the simpler signs used on the battlefield.

“Thank you,” she signed.

“It is only my duty,” I said.

She nodded and bowed. Again I caught that tantalizing scent. Something about this woman was interesting. I felt my wolf’s attention lock onto her.

She looked up at me, curious. I shook myself. This woman was a stranger. I dismissed whatever odd feelings my wolf stirred.

I needed to find her some kind of work that would keep her out of the reach of the other maids. It was obvious that her inability to speak made her a target for bullies.

“In the future,” I said, “You’ll clean my rooms and Nora’s room. You’ll come directly to me for your tasks, unless Nora has orders for you.”

I figured it was safe enough for her to report to Nora. They were friends, after all.

“Your task tonight is to prepare dinner for myself and for Nora. I assume you can cook?”

She nodded and signed that she would be honored to serve us.

“Very good,” I said. “Now, report to Healer Eric to have your wounds looked at.”

Clara

Gideon’s gaze was different as he looked at me. It wasn’t just that his eyes weren’t blank and vacant anymore. There was a new coldness in his expression that I didn’t understand.

Had I offended him somehow? Was he annoyed that Nora had asked him to help me? I wasn’t sure.

I didn’t spend much time worrying about Prince Gideon’s sudden change in attitude. I assumed that it was because he’d found his fated mate. He wouldn't want to be seen showing too much attention to another woman.

He probably heard all the rumors about Nora enchanting him. He must be worried that being too nice to me would start more rumors. He wouldn’t want Nora to hear anything that might upset her.

It was fine. I didn’t need Prince Gideon to like me. It was enough that he had saved my life. More than that he continued to protect me from the bullying of the maids and from his brother.

Prince Gideon had shown that he was fair. He could have blamed me for the rumors, but he hadn’t. He gave me tasks that kept me away from the other maids.

Hopefully, after he and Nora bonded, Prince Gideon and I could be friendly. Nora was my best friend and I wanted to like her new mate. I wanted her to be happy. I promised myself that I would be polite to Prince Gideon and strive not to cause any difficulties while I was in the royal palace.

I hesitated to go to a royal healer for a few bruises. Still, Gideon might have meant it as an order. I didn’t want to be punished for defiance.

Healer Eric had a small office near the servant’s dormitory. He was the primary healer for the servants and staff in the palace. I had never met him. I tended my own injuries whenever I could.

“Hello, there,” Healer Eric said.

The healer was a slightly older werewolf. His black hair had a jaunty white streak at the temple. His smile was friendly when he looked up at me.

I signed, hopeful that he would understand. “I’m Clara. Prince Gideon sent me.”

“What happened?” Healer Eric asked.

I knew better than to tell the truth. Complaining about the other maids’ bullying only made it worse.

“I fell,” I signed.

“That must’ve been some fall,” Healer Eric muttered.

I shrugged. The healer sighed and treated my wounds. He gave me some salve for the bruises. That was nice because I was running low after tending to Prince Gideon.

Healer Eric also took time to examine my left wrist. I had landed on it at an awkward angle when the maids shoved me down. He determined that it wasn’t broken, but I should be careful for a while. He wrapped the wrist in a brace to support it.

Once the healer was finished with me, I hurried to the kitchen. I was anxious because while I could cook, I had never had to make food for a royal before. I worried that the simple recipes I knew would be too plain for a prince’s tastes.

When I reached the kitchen, though, I realized that Gideon must have been teasing me. There was a full cooking staff, already preparing meals for the evening. When I signed to the head cook that I was supposed to prepare a meal for Prince Gideon and Nora, the cook chuckled.

“Personal attendants don’t cook,” the cook said. “You just select food for their table and take it to them.”

I smiled in relief. The cook patted my shoulder and showed me where the trays and the dishes fit for royalty were kept. I selected a meal I hoped would be appropriate and found a bottle of wine to go with it.

I brought the food up to Gideon’s rooms. Another servant opened the door and motioned me inside. I was startled to find Gideon alone.

I placed the tray on a low table and looked to Gideon for orders.

“Nora will be here soon,” he said. “Go ahead and pour the wine.”

I bowed and set out the wine glasses. I opened the wine with a little struggle. My wrist was still tender, and the brace made twisting the cork free awkward.

Gideon held out his glass. I tried to pour the wine, but my wrist spasmed slightly. Rich, red wine splashed over the rim of the glass. It splashed onto Gideon’s shirt, leaving a large stain.

I scrambled for a rag. Maybe if I wiped it up quickly, the shirt could be salvaged. I pressed the rag against Gideon’s chest.

I could feel the warmth of his skin through the cloth. His muscles were firm under my hands.

Gideon reached up and wrapped a hand around my wrist. I froze, and looked up. His eyes were inches from mine.

I had not realized we were that close. His green eyes glimmered with an emotion I couldn’t name. Suddenly, the moment felt too intimate.

I stood up and stepped back. I needed to leave. This wasn’t right.

I bowed and turned to leave. Nora stood there, and I realized she saw everything.