Page 149 of Wolf Caged
My parents had raised me to serve others, and to place the needs of the pack above my own. My whole life had been about taking care of others rather than myself. I had accepted that life as normal, just the way of things, and had tried so hard to set aside my own desires, striving to please my parents and my pack.
But looking back, my life hadn’t been mine.
It had belonged to the pack.
I hadn’t noticed how oppressed I truly was until Kaeleron had come along, giving me a gift I never imagined possible or knew I wanted. He had bought me, taken my freedom from me, and yet I had never felt so free.
I had never had days like I had here, where I was in charge of what I did. Where I had complete autonomy to decide about things that affected me and was able to do as I pleased. If I wanted to lie in bed all day, I could. Or I could explore the town some more, without a guard in sight. I hadn’t failed to notice that since Kaeleron had branded me, I had lost my shadows. The guards were gone, and I had gained the freedom to walk where I pleased within the protective walls of Falkyr.
And maybe it wasn’t just because he had branded me.
But because he had come to trust me.
I had proven I had little desire to escape him. I hadn’t once attempted it. And it wasn’t because I didn’t want to see the world beyond the walls, or even see my pack again.
It was because this castle felt like home.
And some part of me didn’t want to leave it.
Didn’t want to leave him.
Another long sigh escaped me as I pondered that dangerous desire. I had fallen once for a male who had flattered me, who had showered me with gifts and with affection, and it hadn’t turned out well for me. It would be dangerous to fall forKaeleron when he concealed so much from me, things that had been beginning to bother me in recent days.
I sat up and looked at the smaller stack of books I had set aside on the ornate oak coffee table in front of me and made a decision.
It was time I learned more about my purpose here.
Because I knew without a doubt now that Kaeleron hadn’t purchased me for my virginity.
I set down the book I had been skimming through, seeking something that might amuse Kaeleron at dinner, and grabbed the four books I had found and already devoured. Books filled with fables and fairy tales.
I tucked them to my chest as I strode from the library, nerves rising a little as I made my way down through the castle to the courtyard and then hurried across it, fearing Kaeleron might see me and might stop me.
The arched entrance to the dungeon was gloomy, little light making it down into the stairwell, and I had to use all of my senses to find my way down without slipping and falling on the damp stone steps.
When I neared the bottom, flickering torches chased back the darkness, revealing the cell where I had spent my first few days in the Shadow Court. I glanced off to the right, to the place I had discarded the blanket when I had cast it aside upon discovering it had been the one to cover my cage at the auction, my throat tightening and dark moments from that night flickering across my mind to still my steps and seize control of my body. My breathing grew laboured as my heart thundered, panic rising to the fore as I stared at the spot where it had been and was now gone.
“Saphira.” Neve’s soft voice shattered the spell that blanket had cast on me and I started, whirling towards her.
The pretty dragon shifter stood by the bars of her home, dressed in a stunning green gown today and her braided hair like spun gold. Her bright amber eyes tracked me as I approached her cell and she didn’t move as I reached for the lock on her door and froze.
“It’s not locked.” I looked at her, sure she wasn’t aware of the fact she could have left this place whenever she wanted.
“Of course it isn’t.” She went to the door and slid the bolt back, her tone questioning my intelligence. “I am not a prisoner.”
The door eased open and power lashed at me, buffeting me and making my limbs tremble, as if she had opened the floodgates and a great torrent had burst free.
“Hurry now,” she murmured.
I slipped inside, sensing her urgency, and she quickly closed the door behind me.
“It is better it remains closed.” She shuffled over to her armchair and pulled it across the flagstones, closer to the bars of her cell, and I frowned as I noticed her hands were shaking as she grabbed the footstool and positioned it a few feet from the chair. She noticed me staring and smiled, but there was sorrow in it, and a trace of fear that shocked me. Neve had seemed so fearless, but opening her cell door for only a second had rattled her. “I do not wish to speak of it.”
I nodded. “I’d never make you talk about it, but if you ever need someone to speak to, you can ask for me, Neve.”
Because I had been that terrified once, only I had been shut inside an inescapable cage at the time. Neve feared the opposite. She feared leaving hers.
“Now, what can I do for you?” She patted the footstool and settled in her armchair, her smile brighter now.
