"Oh, he definitely felt that," Cherry whispered in my head, smug as hell.
I didn't come out of that cabinet until I was sure he'd left. Which, honestly, felt like forever. My heart had been pounding like some kind of tribal drum in my chest, the rhythm wild and out of sync. I pressed a hand over it, as if that would stop the echo of the bond, or the way my whole body had reacted the moment his eyes flicked to mine.
"He saw you," Cherry added helpfully. "That hiding spot? Girl, not exactly Oscar-worthy."
I groaned softly, my hand dragging down my face. "Yeah, thanks for the commentary."
Somehow, I made it out of the kitchen without crashing into anyone or making a scene. A miracle. But I could still feel eyes following me, whispers trailing behind like perfume. The castle walls had ears—and worse, mouths.
"You know we've never really explored this place," I mumbled to Cherry. "Not properly."
"Yeah, except this place is the size of three city blocks and we can't afford to get lost in it," she muttered. "We don't need a surprise run-in with the Sexy Alpha King again. I don't think your heart can take it."
"No kidding."
The halls felt colder today. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the weight of secrets I hadn't asked to carry. My boots clicked on marble floors, too loud, too exposed. My hand rubbed around my neck, as if that could erase the mark his hand left.
"Let's just find our damn room," I whispered. "Preferably without people staring like we grew two heads."
"What do you expect?" Cherry said dryly. "You think they see chocolate-skinned girls walking these halls every day? Girl, we're rare around here. Exotic. A walking mystery."
"I don't think that's why they're staring," I muttered, though I wasn't sure I believed it. There was something else in those looks. Something curious… maybe even suspicious.
I was rounding a corner when a light tap on my shoulder made me jump out of my skin.
"Oh! There you are!" came a soft, breathless voice.
I turned and froze.
She was stunning. All wild red hair and forest-green eyes, like something plucked out of a fantasy book. She had flushed cheeks, slightly winded like she'd sprinted here, but she still managed to look like a fairy who drank green juice and never had a bad hair day in her life.
"Are you okay?" I asked cautiously.
She exhaled, then smiled brightly. "Oh yes, just… give me a second to catch my breath." She inhaled dramatically, hands on her knees. "Okay. I'm Daisy. I'm a Healer here. I was the one who treated your injuries. Freya told me you'd arrived—just not where."
"I'm sorry… who's Freya?"
"Bitch, no," Cherry groaned. "The beautiful goddess of a woman who saved us from getting ripped apart in the woods? Ring a bell?"
"Oh. Right. Freya," I said quickly, trying not to sound like a complete idiot.
"She's our Alpha General and Advisor," Daisy added proudly. "She basically runs things here. Keeps Alex from burning everything to the ground when he's in a mood."
"She sounds… strong. Like Luna material," I murmured before I could stop myself.
A sharp pang hit me in the gut—jealousy, raw and petty. Of course, Freya would be a perfect Luna. She was graceful, lethal, beautiful, and respected. The opposite of everything Ronan said, I wasn't.
"Girl, where is your goddamn head?" Cherry snapped. "Worry less about whether Freya's a better Luna and more about whether she knows we're from Shadowmoor."
"She probably doesn't," I whispered internally. "She wouldn't still be this nice if she knew."
"Thanks for healing me," I said aloud. "Sorry, I didn't say that before. I was… processing."
Daisy's smile softened. "No one should ever have to go through what you did. I'm just glad I could help."
Then she clapped her hands together. "Right! Almost forgot. I'm also your guide today, and I'm here to assign you your official room. Come on!"
"Wait, official room? What happened to the old one?"
"Oh, that was just temporary. Housekeepers assigned to Alpha Alex's wing get rooms in his corridor. He doesn't like strangers in his space."
I instinctively rubbed the sore mark on my neck.
Daisy's eyes flicked to it. "Yeah… sorry about that. I'll drop off some ointment from the greenhouse. Should take care of the bruising."
"Thanks," I murmured.
As she led me down another impossibly grand hallway, I found myself staring. There was too much to take in—carved archways, flickering wall sconces, oil paintings that looked like royalty in mourning. The air even smelled expensive.
"You think they use phones here?" Cherry asked in my head.
Before I could even answer, Daisy spoke up like she had read my thoughts. "I know you're probably wondering about phones."
I blinked. "A little."
"Outside the castle, yes. Plenty of tech. Inside? Not so much. We respect the old traditions. Less noise. More awareness. But Alex started allowing phone breaks during the day. He's not a monster."
"He sounds… nice," I said without thinking.
Daisy smirked. "Sometimes."
We arrived at a grand double-door entrance with two guards posted like statues. They stiffened as we approached.
"She's the new housekeeper," Daisy said with a roll of her eyes. "Rain, don't make this awkward. You let her in this morning."
The guards looked at me again. One nodded, the other just stared.
"They forgot our face already," Cherry muttered. "Rude."
Finally, Daisy stopped at a door near the end of the corridor.
"This is your room," she said, placing a brass key in my palm. "It's five doors down from the Alpha's quarters. You'll probably need space to breathe."
I raised an eyebrow. "Five doors?"
She nodded. "Don't worry—I stocked the place with essentials. And when you've rested, I'll take you on a real tour. Maybe even show you the city."
"Thank you," I said, touched by her warmth.
She turned to leave, but paused. "Oh—and good luck."
"Wait… what did you say?"
Daisy was already halfway down the hallway, waving over her shoulder. "Nothing! Sleep well!"
Cherry exhaled dramatically. "I don't think it was nothing."
I opened the door, and my jaw dropped.
"This… this isn't a room," I whispered. "This is a goddamn apartment."
High ceilings, a velvet chaise by the window, a small kitchen space, plush bedding fit for royalty. Soft gold and deep green everywhere. It was warm, stunning, and private.
"We didn't accidentally sell our virginity for this, right?" Cherry asked.
I ignored her.
I collapsed onto the bed, and everything crashed into me like a tidal wave: Ronan's rejection. Marissa's betrayal. The man in the woods. The second bond. The bruises. The fear. The quiet ache of being truly alone in a world that didn't want me.
So I cried. Ugly, silent, body-shaking sobs.
Because no one would hear me here.
And because, for the first time in a long time, I didn't know who I was.