Chapter 3 Three

Kora made it back to the maids' dormitory without falling.

Her legs shook with every step, but she kept her head up. She had already been humiliated in front of the entire pack. She would not give the servants another reason to pity her.

The moment she closed the door, her strength disappeared.

She slid down the wall and landed on the cold stone floor. Her hands went straight to her chest.

It hurt.

Not like a broken bone. The pain was deeper, as if someone had reached inside her and torn away a piece of her heart.

The bond.

She could still feel where it had snapped.

Kora pressed her palm against her chest and shut her eyes. Her gray dress clung to her skin, damp with spilled champagne and sweat. Her cheeks were still wet, and the blood beneath her nose had dried.

She could still feel Killian's hand around her waist.

She could still hear his voice.

Be my mistress.

A bitter laugh escaped her.

The Alpha King had looked at her like dirt in front of hundreds of people. Then he had summoned her to his room and offered to keep her in his bed.

Had he thought she would be grateful?

Perhaps she should have been. He was the most powerful Alpha in the Northern Realm. One word from him could give her a comfortable room, beautiful clothes, and protection from the people who had spent years treating her like she did not matter.

For one terrible second, she had wanted to say yes.

Not because she loved him. Not even because she wanted his money.

She had wanted to feel wanted.

She had wanted someone to look at her and see more than a wolfless handmaid who should keep her eyes lowered.

But Killian had not offered her love. He had offered her a place where nobody would see her.

He wanted her in his bed, but he did not want anyone to know she existed.

Kora wiped her face with the back of her hand.

"No," she whispered to the empty room. "Never again."

She forced herself to stand and changed into her thin nightdress. Her cot creaked when she lay down, and the rough blanket scratched her skin.

She pulled it over herself and turned toward the wall.

Sleep refused to come.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Killian standing before her. His silver eyes burned with anger, but there had been something else beneath it. Something she could not understand.

Then she remembered Vivienne.

They had once been close.

When Kora was twelve, Vivienne had been the only person in the palace who called her a friend. They had shared sweets beneath the stairs, whispered secrets after midnight, and laughed whenever Luna Marguerite complained about the servants.

Then, almost overnight, everything changed.

Vivienne stopped sharing her secrets. She stopped eating with Kora. Soon, she began giving her orders instead of asking for her help.

Kora had never understood why.

She had blamed herself. Perhaps Vivienne was ashamed of having a wolfless girl as a friend. Perhaps she wanted to fit in with the other princesses.

Tonight, however, had felt different.

Vivienne had watched Killian reject her with a smile she could barely hide.

Kora's stomach tightened.

A soft knock came at the door.

She sat up.

"Who is it?"

"It's me. Tilly."

Kora opened the door a little. The young maid stood outside, twisting her fingers together.

"What's wrong?" Kora asked.

"Princess Vivienne wants you in the east wing. Right away."

Kora's heart sank.

"Did she say why?"

Tilly shook her head. "She looked upset. I think something happened during the ball."

"Did she ask for the healer?"

"No. Just you."

Kora hesitated. Every part of her wanted to stay in bed and pretend the night was over.

But Vivienne was still the princess, and Kora was still her handmaid.

She pulled her gray dress over her nightdress and tied her hair back.

"Thank you, Tilly."

The younger girl caught her arm before she left.

"Kora, are you all right?"

The question almost broke her.

For once, someone had asked.

Kora forced a small smile. "I'm fine."

Tilly did not look convinced, but she released her arm.

Kora followed the empty corridor toward the east wing.

She found Vivienne waiting outside a guest suite. The princess had changed out of her golden ball gown and now wore a pale robe. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders.

Her arms were crossed, and her face looked pale.

"Kora," she said. "Finally."

"You sent for me?"

Vivienne pressed a hand to her stomach.

"I don't feel well."

Kora stepped closer. "Should I get the healer?"

"No."

"But you look sick."

"I said no." Vivienne's voice sharpened before she quickly softened it. "I'm sorry. I just feel dizzy. And nauseous."

Kora studied her face.

"Did you eat something bad?"

Vivienne shook her head.

"It started after the toasts. I think someone put something in my drink."

Kora went still.

"What?"

"The wine." Vivienne looked at her. "You brought it to me."

"I brought champagne to the tables. You asked for water after the first dance."

"Did I?"

"Yes."

Vivienne's lips pressed together.

"I remember you carrying a tray near my table."

"So did half the servants. I wasn't the only one serving drinks."

"Come inside."

Kora followed her into the guest suite.

The room was lit by several candles. A small table stood beside the window, holding an empty goblet and a silver tray.

Beside the goblet sat a tiny glass vial filled with dark liquid.

Kora stopped.

"What is that?"

Vivienne pointed at the table.

"That was in my drink."

Kora stared at the vial. A bitter smell reached her nose.

"What's inside it?"

"Nightshade, according to the healer I called before you arrived."

Kora's stomach dropped.

Nightshade was poisonous.

"Vivienne, I didn't put that there."

Vivienne picked up the empty goblet.

"Your fingerprints are on the stem."

"I carried hundreds of glasses tonight."

"And your scent is on it."

Kora shook her head.

"I never touched your wine. I swear."

Vivienne set the goblet down.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Vivienne's worried expression disappeared.

"You should have stayed where you belonged."

Kora stared at her.

"What?"

"Do you really think I didn't notice how Killian looked at you?"

"He rejected me!"

"And then he summoned you to his chambers." Vivienne stepped closer. "Do you think I wouldn't find out?"

Kora's blood turned cold.

"How do you know that?"

"Does it matter?"

"Vivienne, I didn't poison you."

"Of course you didn't." Her smile was cruel. "You were simply unlucky enough to be the perfect person to blame."

Kora took a step back.

"You planned this."

Vivienne's eyes hardened.

"I want you out of my way. Permanently."

Kora could hardly breathe.

"Why? What have I ever done to you?"

"You exist."

The answer was so simple that Kora could not speak.

Vivienne reached for a small bell on the table and rang it.

Two royal guards entered immediately.

"Take her," Vivienne ordered.

Kora backed away.

"No! You can't do this!"

"She poisoned the princess," Vivienne said. "Take her to the holding cells."

The guards seized Kora's arms.

"Please!" Kora struggled. "I didn't do anything!"

Vivienne pressed a hand to her stomach and let out a weak cry.

The healer arrived moments later. He examined the goblet and vial, then checked Vivienne's pulse.

"Nightshade," he confirmed. "She needs rest and treatment."

Luna Marguerite swept into the room.

"What happened?"

"Mother," Vivienne whispered. "Someone tried to poison me."

Marguerite's gaze landed on Kora.

"You?"

"No, Luna! I didn't do it!"

Marguerite crossed the room and slapped her.

Kora's head snapped to the side.

"You ungrateful peasant!" Marguerite shouted. "We gave you a place to live, and this is how you repay us?"

Kora tasted blood in her mouth.

"I didn't poison her."

Vivienne shook her head weakly.

"Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Kora has been upset tonight. The King rejected her, and she may have felt jealous."

"I am not jealous!" Kora cried. "I would never hurt you!"

Marguerite turned to her daughter, her expression softening.

"Even now, you defend her. You have such a kind heart."

Vivienne's eyes filled with tears.

"She's still my friend, Mother."

Kora stared at her.

Friend.

The word hurt more than the slap.

Vivienne stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kora.

"I'm sorry," she whispered against Kora's ear. "You should never have come here with me."

Then she pulled back and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"I know Kora would never do this on purpose."

Kora stopped struggling.

There was no point.

Nobody would believe her.

The guards dragged her from the room while Vivienne called after them.

"Please, be gentle with her! I'll speak to the King. I'll ask him to show mercy."

Her voice sounded so sincere that Kora almost believed it.

Almost.

The holding cell was dark, damp, and cold.

Kora sat on the narrow stone bench with her knees pulled against her chest. She had no idea how much time passed before footsteps sounded outside.

The door opened.

Killian entered.

His silver eyes settled on her, and her heart gave one painful beat.

"Kora."

She stood quickly.

"My King, I didn't poison Vivienne."

He looked at the guard, who handed him a report.

"The evidence says otherwise."

"Then the evidence is false!"

"Your fingerprints were on the goblet. Your scent was on it. The healer confirmed the poison."

"Because I served drinks at the ball!"

Killian's jaw tightened.

"Treason carries the death sentence."

Kora's fingers went cold.

She had known the punishment, but hearing him say it made the cell feel smaller.

"Please," she whispered. "You know I wouldn't hurt anyone."

For a moment, his expression changed.

Then he looked away.

"Vivienne has asked me to show you mercy. She believes you may have acted out of jealousy."

"She's lying."

His eyes snapped back to hers.

"Choose your next words carefully."

Kora swallowed.

"She framed me. I don't know why, but she did."

Killian approached the bars.

"You could have avoided all this."

She stared at him.

"What?"

"You could have accepted my offer."

Understanding hit her like a blow.

He thought she had done this because she refused to become his mistress.

"You think I poisoned her because I wouldn't sleep with you?"

"I think you made a foolish choice."

Kora's eyes burned.

"You offered me a life where I would have to hide every day. I said no. That doesn't make me a criminal."

His hands curled at his sides.

"Say yes now, and I can still protect you."

For one moment, Kora imagined it.

A warm room. Good food. Clothes that did not belong to another servant. Guards who would not slap her or order her around.

But she would still belong to someone who had publicly rejected her.

She would still be the woman he kept in secret.

"No," she said.

Something flickered in his eyes.

"Even now?"

"Even now."

He stared at her for a long moment before straightening.

"Take her to the border at dawn. She is banished from the Northern Realm. If she returns, she will be killed on sight."

Kora gripped the bars.

"Killian, please! I'm innocent!"

He turned away.

"Take her."

The door slammed behind him.

Kora sank onto the bench, shaking.

Banishment was not death. She would live.

She had no home outside these walls, but perhaps that was better than staying somewhere everyone wanted her gone.

She pressed her forehead against her knees.

"Moon Goddess," she whispered, "please let this be the dawn of a new beginning for me."

A memory rose in her mind.

Vivienne's arms around her.

Her soft voice.

Run fast, handmaid. My friends will be waiting beyond the border.

Kora lifted her head.

The blood drained from her face.

Vivienne had not planned to have her banished.

She had planned to have her killed.

And dawn was coming.