Chapter 17

Sitting in the main parlour, I carefully examined the papers that Xander had drafted for my freedom. I ran my finger over the ink of my new name, Ida Raven, which was written in beautiful cursive lettering. It was strange to see my new name officially documented on a piece of paper, which was meant to prove my free citizenship in Airedah. I could hardly believe that I was no longer a slave to the new regime. These were legally binding documents, however, they were a complete lie.

As I read through the papers, I couldn’t help but think about my parents and what they would think of my new identity. I wondered if they would be proud of me for surviving the past decade, or disappointed with my choices. I had to bury the Cardinal name to ensure that I didn’t suffer the same fate as my parents. But, I often wondered if they would approve of my actions.

I looked around the room and I felt a sense of unease. Airedah wasn’t a safe place for people like me, and the reality of my new life was just beginning to sink in. The papers in front of me may have granted me freedom, but they also came with a whole new set of challenges.

I pondered the situation, and a thought crossed my mind—could my ability to live in secrecy ease my parents’ deception? After all, the Cardinal line wasn’t completely extinct; the spirit of Princess Cressida still resided within me. She wasn’t lost. Just hiding until it was safe to reveal herself. But when the time did come where she could reveal herself, a new Princess Cressida would emerge, and I feared that she could never be the same as she was before. She would be a blend of the past and present—a combination of her former self and Ida.

My mind was sound, but I felt broken inside. Years of hard work had taken a toll on my spirit and body. My limbs were no longer slender and graceful like a princess’s, they were muscular from the hard labour of lifting heavy things and bringing them up countless flights of stairs, and my skin harboured scars and burns that showed the hardships I had lived through.

My life had been stolen, and I had to live every day with the memories of those I would never see again and the responsibilities I would never have.

I watched the logs burn, and the flames flicker in the air. The warmth of the fire was comforting, and the dancing light illuminated the papers in my hands. I could feel the weight of my decision heavy on my mind. I had half a mind to throw the papers into the fire as if that would make my decision for me.

I wondered if I could really live the rest of my life as Ida Raven. It was a new identity, a new life, but it was still a lie. Would I be able to keep up the façade forever, or would the truth eventually catch up to me?

A golden flash caught the corner of my eye and made my lips curve into a small smile. The gold engagement band on my ring finger sparkled in the light of the bright blaze. The ring was a symbol of my commitment to Xander, and a reminder of the life we had planned together. A small voice inside me told me that I could face any challenge as long as he was by my side.

“Yes, I can do it. For Xander,” I whispered to myself.

I accepted his proposal after feeling all the love seeping through our bond. At first, I was shocked at his question, as I had hoped I could still give him an out once my secret of being a Cardinal was made known. I wanted him to have the choice. My identity could put him in a difficult position. But the way he made me feel in that instant was like a silent promise of acceptance and devotion, despite my past and who I was.

How could I say no to that?

My shoulders slumped against the back of my seat. Xander had left this morning, intending to break the news of our engagement to his parents—well, his father, I corrected myself. Lucia already knew.

I would be lying if I didn’t say it made me extremely nervous. In the duke’s eyes, I was a commoner. Even worse, I had been a slave worker. To his knowledge, I had no titles and no wealth. I had nothing to contribute to his family. I didn’t even have a dowry. I was nobody.

It made my stomach twist into knots.

Following Xander’s morning departure, I had sought solace in the parlour and brought the papers to change my mind. I had done a poor job of it.

I had sat there all day, contemplating what the future held for me, but it did nothing to ease my worry.

I looked outside the window and noticed the breathtaking view of the full winter moon. Its sheer enormity was awe-inspiring, and the beautiful shades of whites, greys, and blues that blended together made it an even more captivating sight. The moon was so bright that it cast enough light to illuminate the tiny snowflakes that floated lazily over the black forest that lay in my window view.

I wouldn’t have seen such a sight from my old maid’s room in the servants’ corner. It was a tiny room with no windows and had just enough space for a bed and a side table. I could almost touch the walls if I stretched my arms. The contrast between my previous living situation and this current one was stark.

The time was nearly midnight, and I contemplated heading back to Xander’s chambers. I had wanted to wait for him, however, I wasn’t sure when he would return.

A little while ago, I had heard Leo come back from work. However, he didn’t seem to be in a talkative mood. He had gone straight to bed without saying a word. I hoped he wasn’t feeling unwell.

Leo was a sweet boy, and I often wondered how he had ended up working for Xander. He was polite, and there was a glint in his eyes that showed he was wiser than his ten years. That was one of the downsides of living under Osprey’s rule; children lost their innocence and became small adults when they started working. Xander must have chosen him from among the children at the workhouse.

As someone who had been part of the slave world, I knew that younger workers were more vulnerable to being sold off once they grew too old or started having their own opinions. They would either remain in the workhouse or, unfortunately, be sold to pleasure houses. I was fortunate to have entered this working world as a young adult with a shaved head that didn’t appeal to pleasure houses. Otherwise, my life could have been entirely different.

Leo had never spoken to me about his family, which made me think he was an orphan. I thought it was one reason he liked my company so much: he found a kinship with me since our parents were no longer in our lives.

I got up from my seat and walked over to the fire. The embers were still glowing, and I decided to disperse them so that they could die down during the night. After making sure it was safe, I silently made my way through the dark corridor toward Xander’s room.

As I walked the hallway, it was eerily quiet, and the only sound was the soft patter of my footsteps.

Suddenly, a deep growling sound startled me as I passed by the large wooden door. I wondered if Xander had a pet in there, but that would be ridiculous. He would have told me, and I would have seen it.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I placed my ear next to the door, hoping to listen for any sounds inside. However, there was nothing. I convinced myself that it must have been my imagination, but as I moved my feet, a loud thump and the clanking of metal came from inside the mysterious room. The sound was muffled by the massive door, but there was no doubt in my mind that something was in there.

I reached for the handle to see if the door was locked. To my surprise, it gave way easily, and I could pull it down. I used my weight to push the door open, revealing a room full of shadows and mystery. I tried to examine what was making all of the noise, but the darkness made it difficult to see.

Amidst the darkness, there was a soft panting accompanied by a sudden snarl.

Something gripped the bottom of my dress and tugged hard, pulling me down on my knees with force. I shrieked in surprise and tried to back away, squirming backward with my hands and pushing my feet. Once half my body was in the corridor, I suddenly heard the sound of paws approaching me. Before I could react, a medium-sized wolf appeared and clamped its enormous jaws on my dress fabric. The beast was trying to overcome me, and its eyes were gleaming in the moonlight that shone from the hallway windows. The wolf continued to snap at my legs, jerking its head with such force that it tore the material of my dress. I was terrified as it lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing.

I noticed the wolf trying to grab my ankle, and I knew I had to act fast. I kicked the wolf in its face, earning me a whimper from it. Quickly, I got up on my feet and tried to pull the door close, but the wolf was relentless in its pursuit. It howled ferociously and jumped close to the opening, snapping its maw near my shaking hands. When it bolted toward the door again, it hit it with enough force to help me close it. I crashed my back on the opposing wall just as I heard the soft click of the door latch.

The wooden door shook each time the beast hit it, trying to get out. I could hear its paws scratching the closed entryway. I picked up my torn skirt and ran toward Leo’s room, my heart racing with fear. I knew I needed to get that boy out of there before it was too late. What if the wolf broke the door? It wasn’t safe.

I pounded on Leo’s door, but there was no answer. Without wasting any time, I tried the handle and went in. The room was dark, and the curtains covered the windows, making it difficult to see. I called out Leo’s name a few times, but there was no response. I made my way toward his bed and could feel my heart starting to race. The bed was empty, and the sheets were cold

I searched the adjacent rooms, but there was no sign of Leo. I was about to leave the room when I heard Xander’s voice calling out for me. His voice sounded anxious, and I could tell that he was worried. I quickly made my way back to the corridor, and that’s when I saw him.

Xander looked at me with concern written all over his face. He examined me carefully, and his gaze fell on my torn dress. He tugged at the shredded fabric, asking me what had happened.

“There’s a wolf in the room. It attacked me! And I can’t find Leo anywhere. We need to get out of here!” I said, pulling his arm and urging him to move. But he didn’t budge. When I looked at his face, his eyes were still dark, and his lips were pressed into a thin line.

“Did he hurt you?” Xander asked, concerned but calm.

“No, but I had to kick it when it tried to bite my ankle and was able to close the door. We have to find Leo. How can you be so calm about this?” I said, trying to make sense of the situation.

He pulled me into his arms and let out a sigh of relief. This wasn’t the reaction I expected from him.

“Because the wolf is Leo,” Xander whispered, running his fingers through my hair.

I stilled in his arms. That had been Leo?

“He’s a shifter. I knew his parents before being killed in a raid near the border. I took the boy in to protect him. He has difficulties controlling his shifting. They started not long ago and get worse when the moon is full. I had the room changed and reinforced so we could contain him when he felt a shift overcome him. That’s why I didn’t want you out and roaming the floors at night. Leo sometimes has no time to get to the room and shifts in the hallway. It can be… dangerous when his hunting instincts kick in.” Xander sighed and took my hand to lead me back to his room. “Let me check on him, and I’ll return. He’ll be fine come morning, don’t worry. I should have told you this sooner. I’m so sorry, Ida.”

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Xander leave. My heart ached for the poor boy, and I hoped he wouldn’t remember me kicking him in the morning.

But I was comforted knowing that Leo was in excellent hands with Xander. Xander was taking a big risk by having a shifter under his care, but it only made me love him more for his compassion toward Leo. It takes a lot of selflessness to do something like that, especially considering the potential consequences.

At least with Xander, I believed Leo had a fighting chance in this broken world. Many Unnaturals didn’t have that opportunity.