CHAPTER SEVEN
1096 Words
Morning came too quickly.
Phaeryl had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she could've sworn that she saw the faint glow in the mirror and the mark staring back at her.
The same as Xhanes’.
Her stomach twisted at the thought .
Across the room, Isla was already awake, pacing quietly while tying her hair back.
“You look like someone who just discovered her worst nightmare,” Isla whispered.
Phaeryl groaned, rubbing her face.
“I did.”
Isla stopped pacing.
“Do you still want to leave?”
Phaeryl answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
But before either of them could say more, a loud horn echoed through the palace.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
They both froze with their eyes locked.
“That’s not normal,” Isla murmured.
Footsteps thundered through the corridor outside as others rushed past the door.
Phaeryl stepped outside and caught a familiar passing werewolf.
“What’s happening?”
“All female wolves are to gather in the courtyard immediately,” the girl said breathlessly. “Lord Xhanes’ orders.”
Her stomach sank. Xhanes was completely unpredictable.
“Of course it is,” she muttered under her breath.
The courtyard was already crowded when they arrived.
Dozens of female werewolves stood in uneasy clusters, whispering nervously. She inspected the courtyard. The high stone walls looked unusually high
And at the center of the courtyard or what she thought was more of chaos.
Xhanes.
Sitted lazily on the stone steps leading to the palace doors, one leg draped over the other as though it were a casual morning gathering.
A glass of wine rested in his hand. She couldn’t help but remember last night.
His gaze lifted the moment Phaeryl stepped into the courtyard. She had a rather sure intuition that he was stalking her.
That same knowing damned smile appeared on his lips.
Phaeryl scoffed.
He’s enjoying this.
Isla leaned toward her.
“I really don’t like that look on his face.”
Neither did she.
Xhanes rose slowly to his feet.
The murmuring in the courtyard died instantly.
His voice carried easily across the space.
“Good morning.”
Phaeryl concluded that Xhanes had something maniac up his sleeves. It was unlike him to give good greetings.
No one responded.
His lips twitched.
“I’ve decided to introduce a small game.”
Uneasy glances spread through the crowd.
“A game?” someone whispered.
Xhanes continued calmly.
“You’ve all been guests in my palace long enough.”
Phaeryl folded her arms.Her shoulders stayed stiff, as if bracing for something he couldn’t see yet.
Guests?
More like prisoners.
“So today,” he said, lifting his glass slightly, “you’re free to leave.”
Hope flickered across several faces.
Before he added “If you can escape the palace walls.” Did Xhanes overhear her conversation with Isla last night?
The courtyard erupted with confused murmurs. Everyone's eyes sizing the walls up.
Phaeryl’s eyes narrowed, tilting her head slightly as if weighing his words.
“What kind of sick game is this?” someone demanded. A part of Phaeryl was elated at the fact that others were finally seeing through the stupid act of devoting their life to serving Xhanes.
Xhanes took another sip from his glass as their protest faded into the background.
“The gates will remain closed,” he added despite the opposing murmurs.
He took a slow sip of wine.
“If you manage to get beyond the outer walls before sunset…”
He gestured lazily toward the massive gates.
“You’re free.”
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then, the realization spread.
This wasn’t freedom.
It was a hunt.
Xhanes’ gaze drifted back to Phaeryl. He gave her a look strongly, suggesting that he knew her plans of escaping.
“Let the game begin.”
Chaos exploded instantly.
Several wolves sprinted toward the gates.
Others darted toward the garden paths, searching for openings in the walls.
Phaeryl quickly grabbed Isla’s arm.
“Running straight to the gate is exactly what he wants.”
Isla nodded quickly.
“So what’s the plan?”
Phaeryl scanned the courtyard. Fortunately, she had taken her time to study the palace after their arrival.
The palace walls were enormous; easily three times her height.
Climbing was impossible.
There was no way the gates could be broken.
Her gaze slowly moved across the palace grounds.
Then it stopped.
On the old fountain near the eastern wall.
A slow smile spread across her face.
“Follow me.”
They slipped through the chaos, moving carefully so they didn’t draw attention.
She could feel Xhanes watching them from the steps.
His sharp eyes had been tracking Phaeryl the entire time.
He didn’t stop her.
He didn’t move.
He just watched.
Phaeryl couldn’t set aside her suspicion, but escaping was a lot more important at the moment.
And that only made her more determined.
They reached the fountain.
Isla's brows drew together, creasing the space between them.
“You brought us here to admire architecture?”
“No, just wait” Phaeryl assured, crouching beside the base of the fountain.
She brushed aside thick vines climbing along the stone to reveal a narrow drainage tunnel behind them
Isla’s eyes widened.
“You’re kidding.”
“Found this when I was searching for a secret route to escape” Phaeryl whispered. “The water drains out here.I threw the bag of valuables over the wall last night. Once we get out, we need to find it.”
She glanced back toward the palace, hoping Xhanes wasn't trying to stop them.
He still hadn’t moved. He probably didn't care if his mate was escaping.
“Can we fit?” Isla examined the tunnel.
“Barely.”
“Perfect.”
They squeezed into the narrow tunnel, crawling through the damp stone passage.
Cold water soaked through Phaeryl’s sleeves as they pushed forward.
The tunnel sloped slightly downward.
Then upward again.
Light appeared ahead after several tense minutes of struggling.
Phaeryl’s heart began racing. They were finally free. Almost.
A wave of fresh air that she could've avowed was very different from the cramped air in the palace.
They emerged from the other side of the wall into the forest beyond the palace grounds.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, trying to assess their situation.
Then Isla burst out laughing.
“We did it.”
Phaeryl stood slowly, staring back at the massive stone walls.
Freedom.
A victorious smile spread across her face.
“Looks like your little game just lost, Xhanes.”
- Writer
