Page 54 of Chained

Cade

Ididn’t notice that Zephy had been avoiding me until two days later. I had dismissed her rescheduling of our training sessions and dinner plans as anxiety following the attack, and I had been so consumed with the details of learning what I could about Leonid and his intentions that I didn’t delve into it.

But when she canceled our third dinner, I frowned and looked at Grisella, who delivered the message again.

“Is she sick or something?” I asked worriedly.

“Not that I’m aware of, Alpha.”

“Where is she now?”

“In her suite with her maid. But I don’t think she wants to be disturbed.”

I smirked at the housekeeper. “Have you forgotten whose palace this is, Grisella?”

“Of course not,” she mumbled. “I’m merely relaying Miss Zephyrine’s wishes.”

The words perplexed me more. The last time I’d seen Zephy, she had been responsive and loving.

Did something else happen that she’s not telling me?

It was the only explanation I could think of, and it flew me out of the dining room toward the second floor in record time. I knocked once, and Maywin answered, her face draining of color when she saw me on the other side.

“Where is Zephyrine?” I demanded.

“Oh… Alpha…” she sputtered, tripping into a curtsey. “I—we weren’t expecting you.”

“It’s all right, Maywin.” Zephy appeared, ushering her servant away, and I stared at her face, my chest tightening with affection as I realized how much I’d missed her.

I immediately reached for her, but she drew back, allowing me inside where Maywin stood, shifting her weight uncomfortably.

“That will be all, Maywin,” Zephyrine told her. “You’re dismissed for the night.”

Uncertainly, Maywin looked at Zephyrine, confusing me more, but she didn’t argue and headed toward the adjoining door.

Again, I reached for her, but Zephy held back, turning away from me. Startled, my arms dropped.

“Zephy, what’s wrong?” I asked. “Has something happened? Something new?”

She didn’t face me, but I saw her shoulders draw back as if she was gathering her breath.

“It’s not fair to you, the way this happened,” she blurted out, still not looking at me. Confused, my eyebrows knit into a vee.

“What are you talking about, Zephy?” I implored her, stepping closer to gather her in my arms.

She resisted slightly but didn’t fully pull away this time.

Finally, she looked at me directly. “This marriage. You don’t have to go through with it, Cade.”

Baffled, my arms dropped, but just as quickly, I realized where it was coming from, and I pulled her back into my embrace.

“You don’t need to worry, Zephy,” I swore. “I meant what I said about protecting you. I did it before, and this thing with Leonid—it was a random act of violence. Things like this won’t happen all the time. I promise you.”

She tipped her head back and met my eyes, her expression not remotely relieved. “That’s not what I mean, Cade.”

My frown deepened. “Whatdoyou mean?”

“I mean…” She again drew in a breath before blurting out her innermost thoughts. “If you have feelings for someone else, it’s not fair for you to commit yourself to me. We can find a way out of the blood oath. You owe it to yourself to pursue your true love.”

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