Run! The Lost Princess of the Black Wolves

Chapter 41 - Sinister games

The next day, Freya sat back in her chair, wearing a skeptical expression as Chloe tried to persuade her to leave before the final evening. They had both enjoyed a long morning, sleeping in and now they savored a relaxed brunch in one of the castle's galleries,

finally getting some much-needed alone time.

"But tonight is when the real fun begins!" Freya protested with a pout. "Yesterday was just the dull part of the Winter's ball. Tonight is the actual party, without any old people ruining the vibe."

"But staying here won't lead to anything good," Chloe insisted, taking a sip of her coffee, desperately hoping to sway her friend's opinion. "I've learned enough about my mother's past, and I'm so done with having the Praetor brothers breathing down our necks."

"But I‘m not," Freya smirked as she tossed a piece of cinnamon bun into her mouth. She let out a satisfied sigh. "I love these so much. I should ask for the recipe."

Chloe leaned forward, her eyes pleading with Freya to understand. "Freya," she gave her a serious look. "Arnulf is not sane. You can't trust him. He attacked me last night."

"He claims that you attacked him," Freya pointed at Chloe with her little finger, cinnamon bun in hand, her expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"And you believe him?" Chloe gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at her friend. "Seriously?" she questioned, her voice filled with incredulity.

Freya avoided eye contact, her fingers nervously picking at the last crumbs of her pastry. "Well..." she hesitated, her voice trailing off. "You haven't been yourself lately, Chloe. You're so skittish and edgy, and always expecting the worst from people."

"I'm right about Arnulf," Chloe clenched her jaw.

"Whatever!" Freya threw her arms out in frustration, a mix of emotions crossing her face. "But we're constantly surrounded by people here. Nothing will happen unless we want it to!" She paused, her expression turning pensive. "Or... did Iron force himself on you?" Concern filled her eyes as she looked at Chloe. "Is that why you've been acting like this?"

"No, he didn't..." Chloe blushed, recalling the events of the previous night.

"So, what happened?" Freya smiled suggestively. "Did you go all the way? You should see the way he looks at you, Chloe. He's so into you."

"Well... we did a lot of things... But I'm still a virgin, I think," Chloe let out a hesitant chuckle, her thoughts swirling. Where did one draw the line? She wasn't entirely sure.

"So, why don't you just get it over with tonight then?" Freya teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Having s*x with him doesn't mean you have to mate with him, you know."

"Because I want to leave today, before tonight," Chloe pointed at Freya meaningfully. "Remember?"

"Please, please, please!" Freya widened her eyes, adopting the look of a puppy pleading for attention. "Let us stay just one more night. I really don't want to miss out on all the fun. This was our night to shine, wearing our matching sparkling dresses and everything. There's going to be a DJ and loads of fun throughout the evening."

"Oh no, that dress..." Chloe's voice trailed off as she remembered the red sequined dress she had promised Freya she would wear for the final evening. That dress meant nothing but trouble...

"You'll be the queen of the ball, Chloe. Please, pretty please," Freya pouted again, her eyes filled with innocence.

Chloe couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright," she sighed, giving in. "But you stay away from Arnulf, got it?"

"I'll do my best," Freya grinned, throwing her arms around Chloe's neck. "My perfect but slightly sour friend," she teased, giving Chloe a peck on the cheek. "We're going to make sure you have fun tonight, I promise."

"If you say so," Chloe chuckled. She wasn't entirely convinced, but what could she do? She couldn't force Freya to leave, especially when Freya couldn't see the need.

A few moments later, Gunda appeared at the door, asking Chloe to come with her since Thora wanted to speak to her. Chloe felt a bit nauseous, wondering what her grandmother would want from her.

"Chloe, my dear child," Thora greeted her as Chloe entered the room. She was seated by a cozy fire, flipping through a photo album. "Come, sit with me." Thora patted the armchair next to hers with her wrinkled hand.

As Chloe obliged, settling into the chair, Thora angled the photo album so they could both see. The album was filled with photographs depicting a small girl with blonde hair in long braids, her blue eyes sparkling with joy for the camera.

"Look," Thora smiled softly, her voice filled with nostalgia as she spoke. "What a wonderful child she was."

"Is that my mother?" Chloe looked at the photos with interest. "She looks so sweet."

"Yes, she was an extraordinary child," Thora beamed, flipping to a photograph of the young girl seated in front of a piano, her fingers poised to play something difficult. "So talented... So gifted," she sighed, her voice tinged with both pride and sadness. "And now, it's all going to waste..."

"What do you mean?" Chloe furrowed her brows. She hated it when her grandmother implied that her mother had made the wrong choices in life. "At least she doesn't paint those horrible scenes anymore, like slain wolves and dying fawns," Chloe added, giving her grandmother a meaningful stare.

"Oh, so you've seen her artwork," Thora nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "She was so talented. Her drawings were incredibly detailed. And yes, she had a vivid imagination."

"I also heard that you trained her to become an assassin," Chloe continued, her voice filled with a mix of accusation and curiosity. She was tired of Thora's games.

Thora leaned back in her chair, her face showing signs of weariness. "Chloe, my darling," she began, her voice filled with a resignation "Your mother spoiled you too much, protected you too much from the world. Every young girl has to grow up, my dear. And every young girl has to learn how to play the game to succeed in life."

"Through seduction and manipulation?" Chloe scoffed in disbelief.

"Every woman must master the art of seduction, Chloe," Thora replied, her voice firm. "And your mother was extremely talented. We lived in dangerous times, where gathering information and influencing people were of the utmost importance. I simply taught her how to survive."

Chloe didn’t know what to say, so she simply stayed quiet.

Thora took the opportunity to press on, her voice unwavering. "It's time for you to grow up, Chloe. You've blossomed into a woman, no longer a child, and the world awaits your grasp. Conquer it, Chloe, or it will consume you..."

Suddenly, the room filled with tension as the door crashed open, and Cassiopeia stormed in, her frustration radiating from every pore. "Grandmother!" she hissed, her eyes darting briefly towards Chloe before dismissing her presence as nothing of importance. "Father insists that I attend the dance tonight with Arnulf instead of Marcus. But I can't bear the thought! Please, help me convince him to change his mind."

Thora arched an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between Cassiopeia and Chloe. "And why would I do that?" she questioned, her voice laced with both annoyance and curiosity. "Your late-night escapades have caused enough disturbance, my dear. I thought I had taught you the art of discretion. Yet now the whole castle knows of your exploits with Marcus Borg. What do you think Cato makes of it all? He accepted you not being a virgin, Cassie, but he did not expect you to throw yourself into any man's bed without purpose. We have no need for ties with the Borg family, so what you did was just for your own selfish pleasure… And that should be reserved for Arnulf alone."

“But you know me and Arnulf aren’t getting along, grandmother,” Cassiopeia groaned. “We don’t stand each other. I don’t want to spend the whole night with him. Besides, he prefers being with Freya, Marcus Borg’s little sister.”

Chloe winced at the mention of Freya's name, her mind racing with a mix of concern and opportunity. She cleared her throat, interrupting the tense conversation. "Actually," she interjected, her expression a mix of worry and urgency, ”Arnulf attacked me yesterday. He's unhinged, dangerous. He should be banned from attending tonight! And someone has to keep an eye on him."

Cassiopeia's scornful laughter filled the room, her words cutting through the tense air. "Are you stupid or something?" she sneered, her gaze locked on Chloe. "We can't uninvite Arnulf. He's just as indispensable to this event as Iron is. Without Arnulf, there is no Winter's Ball."

Thora sighed, her face contorting into a weary expression. "Oh yes, I heard about your little... dispute," she acknowledged with a hint of resignation. "But dear Chloe, that was a very stupid move on your part."

Confusion and frustration surged through Chloe's veins. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice filled with disbelief. "He attacked me! I defended myself."

"Well, Cato was seething with anger over that incident too," Thora disclosed, her tone laced with disappointment. "He claims that Arnulf was simply being amicable, attempting to guide you, and then out of nowhere, you launched an attack on him..."

Chloe's mouth hung open, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "That's not how it happened," she asserted firmly, her words carrying an undertone of confusion. Why were they so quick to believe such a distorted version of the event? Did they truly think she would hurt him without provocation?

Thora nodded in understanding. "I can imagine it wasn't as simple as Cato portrays it," she acknowledged. "But it doesn't excuse your actions either. Going for a man's... crown jewels, Chloe, is not how one handles such situations." Disappointment laced her words, leaving Chloe feeling a mixture of anger and bewilderment. "I wish your mother had taught you better."

Chloe's blood was boiling with frustration, her voice rising. "So, what? I should have allowed him to rape me?" she retorted, her brows furrowed. "Is that what you're suggesting?"

Thora scoffed, dismissing her words with a wave of her hand. "Of course not," she replied dismissively. "You should have prevented it from escalating in the first place You must learn the art of manipulation, Chloe. Perhaps Cassie could enlighten you..."

Cassiopeia's eyes narrowed with a predatory gleam, a malicious smile curling her lips as she fixed her gaze on Chloe. ""Oh, I would be absolutely thrilled to offer my assistance, grandmother," she purred, her voice dripping with venom.

A chilling shiver coursed down Chloe's spine. How had her young cousin turned into such a wicked creature?