The Ruthless Beta’s Forbidden Mate

006

RUBY

I paced back and forth across the cold floor of the guest chamber, the coarse fabric of my maid’s apron swishing heavily against my knees with every agitated turn. My pulse rattled against my ribs like a trapped bird. The reality of what I had done was crashing over me in cold, unforgiving waves. I had wanted a taste of freedom, a way to observe the Beta of Blackthorn without risking my skin, but now I was locked in a strange room in enemy territory, wrapped in a lie that was rapidly suffocating me.

The door swung open with a slow groan.

Shane stepped inside. His towering frame filled the doorway instantly. The room suddenly felt tiny, the air growing thick and suffocating as he stepped over the threshold.

My spine went instantly rigid, every nerve in my body screaming in warning. "Why did you bring me here along with the princess?" I demanded, the words bursting out of me before I could stop them. "She was your target. Why grab me?"

Shane closed the door behind him, the iron latch dropping into place. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at me with a dark, unblinking intensity that made my throat go completely dry.

"I didn't expect you not to stay loyal to your princess," he said, his deep voice carrying a dangerous edge. "All maids are supposed to be loyal. They're supposed to offer to sacrifice their lives for their masters."

A stubborn knot tied itself in my stomach, overriding the fear that threatened to paralyze me. "I didn't come into this life to sacrifice myself for anyone," I snapped back. My chin lifted in defiance, even as my knees trembled under the folds of the cheap servant dress.

Shane shifted closer, his large frame swallowing the small space between us. He moved with a predatory grace that made my heart leap into my throat. His dark eyes narrowed as he studied my face, taking in every tense line of my jaw, reading the subtle shift in my breathing.

"Your aura is different," he murmured.

Before I could take a step back or draw breath, his hand shot out with terrifying speed. His fingers wrapped around my throat. The warmth of his skin burned against mine, shocking and invasive.

"Are you hiding something?" he growled, leaning in so close I could feel the hot air of his breath against my cheek.

My heart hammered wildly against my ribs. I lifted my hands, my fingers swatting at his thick wrist, my nails digging into his tough skin until his grip loosened slightly. "What is there to hide?" I gasped out, forcing the words past my tight throat. I took a quick, awkward step backward the moment he released me, putting as much distance between us as the small room allowed. I forced a exhausted sigh through my lips and smoothed down the front of my wrinkled apron with trembling hands, trying desperately to look harmless. "I'm not hiding anything."

Shane didn't press the matter, but he didn't look away either. Instead, his dark blue eyes drifted slowly down my body, taking in the cheap, frayed linen of the servant's dress, the outline of my waist, and the rapid, uneven rise and fall of my chest. He looked at me without a single trace of shame or hesitation, scanning me like he was trying to solve a complex puzzle.

"You're beautiful," he said plainly, the quiet declaration cutting through the silence of the room.

Heat flared instantly across my face, a fierce, burning blush spreading down my neck despite my best efforts to stay cool and composed. My breath hitched in my throat. I clamped my jaw shut to keep me from making a sound or giving him the satisfaction of a reaction.

He took a slow step forward, stepping right back into my personal space until the toe of his boots brushed against mine. The scent of rain and iron clung to him, overwhelming my senses.

"Normally, I don't take inexperienced women," he rasped, his eyes lingering on my lower lip as his tone softened. "But maybe... just maybe... there can be a solution to it."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Shane didn't give me an answer. He took a step back, turning on his heel and walking toward the door with calm strides that told me he knew exactly how much power he held over me.

"Don't you dare do anything!" I called out after him, taking a quick step forward, my hands clenching into tight fists at my sides.

He didn't even turn his head. He pulled the door open, stepped out into the dark hallway, and shut it firmly behind him. The loud sound of the lock sliding into place echoed through the room, leaving me completely alone in the dim light.

I let out a long, shuddering breath, pressing both palms firmly against my burning face as my knees gave out slightly. I sank onto the edge of the narrow bed, completely drained. I was so damned. The regret bit deep and fast, I could have just gone to my father when I found that letter. I could have confessed the truth about sneaking around in a servant's dress, taken his furious reaction, and dealt with whatever punishment he gave me. But now, I was stuck here in enemy territory, miles away from home, hiding behind a dangerous lie.

A while later, the brass latch clicked from the outside. The door swung open and a rough guard shoved a figure inside before slamming the wood shut again. The key turned in the lock with a final clink.

Raven stood in the center of the room.

Her dark hair was a wild, tangled mess falling over her shoulders, and the fine silk of my royal gown was torn and dragged around the hem. Her face was flushed dark with absolute fury, her shoulders shaking with anger as she straightened her back.

She turned her burning gaze onto me, her chest heaving heavily as she spat out the words.

"How dare you?"