Chapter 5 Caught in a Web.

Seraphina's POV

"Are you deaf as well as stupid? I said, "Where were you coming from?"

Her question sliced through the quiet kitchen with a sharp and accusing growl. I hadn't even shut the door behind me properly when her voice that's smooth as silk and cold as death wrapped around me.

She walked slowly towards me in her white fur-trimmed cloak like she owned the castle.. even though she hadn't been crowned yet.

Her heels clicking as she moved closer.

Valeria was staring at me like she could pounce on me any moment. Her gaze held something between amusement and disgust.

I didn't know for sure what it was.

I wondered what to say that wasn't going to get me in too much trouble. I swear I could hear my heart thudding in my chest like it was going to explode.

My hands clenched the hem of Lucien's tunic that was on me as it was brushing against my thigh as I trembled. The tunic that was too large for me, suddenly became too small to hide me from her scrutiny.

"Do they not teach your kind how to answer royalty anymore?"

Her nose wrinkled suddenly.

Then her eyes darkened at the sight of the familiar tunic.

"You reek of him."

Her voice wasn't raised, but you could as well bet it had been a scream.

Instant gasps.

Whispers broke out among the maids.

I could feel every eye in the room shift toward me, even maids who'd ignored my existence when I entered now stared at me with wide, scandal-hungry gazes.

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

The room's heat became unbearable for me.

"She reeks of the prince's scent..."

"She's even putting on his clothes?"

"Was she in his chambers?"

"Do you think... she seduced him?"

"I heard she's cursed...what if she's bewitching him?"

My heart pounded heavily now. My body that still ached from the silver dagger now had shame burning more than the pain itself.

How could I explain that I'd been bleeding in his bath?

That her mate's hands had bandaged me? That his tunic now clung to my body like a second skin?

She'd kill me before I even finish explaining myself.

"She can't even speak. She's guilty," one of the younger maids whispered, not so quietly.

Before I could respond, the heavy doors opened again...and in walked Ma'am Beatrice, Head of the Court maids.

Her shoes clicked sharply against the cold floors as she stopped in the middle of the scene, brows lifting and bowing slightly to Valeria. "What is going on, my lady?"

Valeria turned smoothly, like a predator addressing a smaller beast. "This... thing," she pointed at me without even looking, "has defiled the royal line."

Ma'am Beatrice blinked. "I don't quite follow, Lady Valeria?"

"She came from the Prince's chambers," Valeria growled, her voice dangerously rising. "She reeks of him. Every maid here can smell it. She's seducing him! Goddess, she's probably using her curse."

Ma'am Beatrice's lips parted. She stared at me, and then at the gossipy crowd of maids who now stepped back guiltily.

"Enough!" Ma'am Beatrice snapped. "You're all dismissed. Return to your stations..."

"She needs to be punished," Valeria hissed. "Right now."

"Lady Valeria," Ma'am Beatrice began, voice tight. "Pardon me but you do not have authority to..."

"I said," Valeria growled, spinning toward the nearest maid, "Go to the head guard, tell him to prepare the dungeon."

My breath caught.

"You're throwing her in the dungeon, my lady?" Beatrice stepped forward. "Over a scent? What if she was called there? What if..."

Valeria slapped her.

The entire room froze.

Beatrice gasped with her hand on her cheek, staring in stunned silence.

"I am your future Queen," Valeria said. "You really want to lecture me about what my authority is here?"

Before I could even react, two guards entered... summoned by one of the maids eager to please Valeria and get on her good side. Valeria turned to them.

"Take this thing to the dungeon. Strip her and give her a beating that makes her beg me for death!"

They grabbed me by the arms. I tried to resist, but my strength was gone. The pain from earlier came rushing back like a tide. My knees buckled.

"My lady, please," I begged. "Don't do this-"

Valeria's eyes blazed facing Beatrice. "You may join her in the dungeon if your loyalty to her is so strong."

Beatrice hesitated and I wasn't surprised

I mean, you really don't want to fight another wolf's fight in this palace.

And I was hauled away like a criminal.

The halls blurred as we moved, my legs scraping the cold stone.

I didn't cry this time. I was trying not to give her that satisfaction, but, every tug on my arms sent unbearable pain through my ribs and shoulder.. where the dagger wound still throbbed, raw and healing.

We went down into the dark.

They threw me into the center of the dungeon floor. The torches barely lit the moldy stone walls, and the chains hung right there like silent threats.

"Strip her,"

Valeria ordered, stepping into the cell with the grace of a lioness on a hunt.

"No... please..." I gasped.

The head of the guards waiting in the dungeon was Dante... my mate... He smirked upon seeing me and grabbed the edge of my tunic whispering in my ear,

"Don't worry, we'll keep the prince's scent. Since you've now added being a whore to your monstrous nature."

"F*ck! You unimaginable bastard!"

I heard my wolf whimper but I had to tame her. Now isn't the time to fight back.

He yanked hard.

I cried out.

And then the blows began.

One after the other.

Fists and Boots taking turns.

Curses.

Laughter.

Valeria stood back, watching with her arms folded and her eyes gleaming with vicious pleasure. I curled inward, blood pouring from my lip, my back, my temple.

The pain blurred everything and I knew I was going to pass out any moment. But even through it, I heard her whisper:

"This is mercy, compared to what I could do."

A final kick to my ribs knocked the breath from my lungs.

I couldn't scream anymore. I couldn't even cry.

Just darkness.

Thank goddess, I heard a growl..

Low.

But ferocious and deadly.

It rumbled from the entrance of the dungeon like an earthquake was happening right beneath the dungeon.

Every head snapped toward it.

Valeria stiffened.

Dante's arm froze mid-air.

And then his voice came before he entered.

Sharp and cold, dripping with fury.

"Touch her again," Lucien growled from the shadows, "and I swear on my title that...I will rip out your throat!"

"It's the Prince, Sera! He's come for us!" my wolf whimpered, relieved but extremely weak.