I Will Save You, My Princess

Dusty Blankets

Rhiannon

I glanced around the room I was put it. The walls were green, the bed was cream, and it did not look like anything Alpha Bane had designed at all. If I had to guess, it was probably Luca's mother who had decorated. It certainly had a feminine touch, but everything was covered in dust. I wondered what had happened to his mom. Was she still around? I doubted it, given Bane's behavior, but he could have her locked up somewhere too. I didn't think Luca would abide by that, but what the hell did I know? He was fine with his mate being held captive.

I pushed that thought away, surveying the room again. It was a step up from the basement, but there really was a thick layer of dust over everything. I didn't even want to sit on the bed.

I'd shake out the blankets later. There was an attached bathroom with a floor-length mirror. I locked myself in the bathroom and took off my shift dress to assess the damage. Without Keia, I wasn't healing as fast as I should. It was still faster than a normal human, but Keia was probably using all her strength to heal me. Or, rather, what strength she had left after the wolfsbane. I still had the collar and chain dangling from my neck. Around the edge of the collar, my skin was red and blistering from contact with the silver. I had big bruises going up the sides of my ribs, both sides. I couldn't count the number of times I'd been kicked or hit there. Taking a deep breath, I felt a lot of pain, but I don't think any ribs were broken. They didn't feel out of place, just sore. My face was a mess of bruises as well, and my throat had claw marks from where Bane had held me by the neck. My neck, though, in the marking spot was blessedly unblemished.

I had thought my parents were silly when they put that protection into place, thought there was no way I'd need it, but now I was incredibly grateful that they did. I didn't think there were any princes or princesses among my ancestors who had ever had anything like that placed on them. It made me wonder about my parents' foresight. It made me wonder about my parents in general and made me miss them. I'm sure they were going crazy trying to find me, probably sending wolves out to every pack to search. I actually had no idea where I was, so even if I could send them a message, I had no idea where to tell them to go. I should ask Luca. He should be able to give me that, at least.

Alpha Bane would probably rather kill me than return me to my parents if it came to a siege. I had to admit that having Luca pretend to still be on his father's side was an advantage, and I was getting the feeling he'd been wanting to defy his father for a while. Alaric's comment about timing made me think he had something planned, and I'd thrown a spanner in the works. Which, like, oh no for him. It's not like I asked to be kidnapped and tortured and raped.

I didn't want to think about that last part.

I didn't want to think about him touching me. I didn't want to think about anything like that. I didn't want to think about being touched by anyone, and I didn't want to think about what I had asked Luca to do.

I still wanted it, mainly for utilitarian purposes, but I couldn't deny that when he touched me, it felt like heaven. I just needed something to hold onto, something to look back at. To know that before I was defiled by Bane, I'd known what it felt like to be one with my mate, truly and completely. It was supposed to be an incredible moment, some say the best of their lives, and I wanted that at least before I gave up everything else.

I sighed, and pulled my shift dress back over my head. Going back into the main bedroom, I surveyed the bed again.

Should I do something to get ready for when Luca came back? Should I try to make myself look more appealing? What could I even do with only what's in this room?

No, it was stupid to worry about what I looked like. I had to keep reminding myself that this was utilitarian, not romantic or dreamy.

I shook my head. I'd leave my appearance alone. Besides, what could be more embarrassing that Luca realizing I tried extra for his approval? I was not about to give in the mate bond on that front. I was not here to impress him, I was here as a captive.

Regardless, I definitely needed to do something about the bed, but I didn't know what else to do other than strip the comforter off and hope that most of the dust went with it.

I felt the sheets under the comforter and they felt clean enough, besides being musty.

That was about all I could do except wait.

So, I sat on the bed, crossed my arms, and did just that.