Ivy's POV
I sat on the edge of Kade's bed, watching his chest rise and fall peacefully. The transformation had been brutal tonight, worse than the last time. It had taken every ounce of my power to keep him from destroying his entire room and hurting himself in the process.
His face looked so calm now, almost boyish in sleep. It was hard to believe that just hours ago, he'd been a terrifying beast with glowing amber eyes and razor-sharp claws. The golden bonds of my magic had finally worked, holding him steady until exhaustion claimed him and he shifted back to his human form.
"Sleep well," I whispered softly, brushing a strand of dark hair from his forehead.
His arm was draped across my lap, heavy and warm. For a moment, I didn't want to move. There was something comforting about sitting here, knowing he was safe and peaceful. But I could feel my own exhaustion creeping in, and I knew I needed rest too.
Carefully, I lifted his arm and placed it gently on the bed beside him. He stirred slightly but didn't wake up. I held my breath, waiting to make sure he was still deep in sleep before I tried to move.
I stood up slowly, trying not to make any noise. The floorboards creaked slightly under my feet, and I froze, but Kade remained still. His breathing was deep and even – he was completely exhausted from the transformation.
Looking around the room, I surveyed the damage. Furniture was overturned, deep claw marks scarred the walls, and the remnants of his torn clothes were scattered everywhere. I'd have to explain this to the servants tomorrow, though by now they were probably used to cleaning up after his episodes.
On the small table beside his bed sat the empty plates I'd used to feed him after he'd changed back. He'd been so weak and disoriented, barely able to hold his head up. I'd had to coax him to eat small bites of bread and drink some water to help him regain his strength.
I gathered the dishes carefully, balancing them in my arms. The last thing I wanted was to drop them and wake him up. Step by step, I made my way to his door, pausing to look back at him one more time.
He looked so vulnerable lying there. Whatever curse had been placed on him was slowly destroying him, and I felt helpless to stop it. My healing powers could mend his physical injuries, but they couldn't break whatever dark magic was causing these transformations.
I slipped out of his room, closing the door as quietly as possible behind me. The castle hallways were dimly lit with torches that cast dancing shadows on the stone walls. My footsteps echoed softly as I made my way toward the kitchens.
The kitchen was mostly empty at this hour, with only a few servants cleaning up from the evening meal. I set the plates down by the washing area and turned to leave when I realized something was wrong.
"Excuse me," I called to one of the kitchen maids. "Have you seen Pamela today?"
The maid looked up from scrubbing a large pot. "Pamela? Your personal maid?"
"Yes, she didn't come to wake me this morning, and I haven't seen her all day."
The maid shook her head. "No, my lady. I haven't seen her since yesterday evening. I thought it was strange that she wasn't at her usual duties."
A knot of worry formed in my stomach. Pamela was never absent from her duties without telling me first. She was reliable and dedicated, always making sure I had everything I needed.
"Thank you," I said, trying to keep the concern out of my voice.
I left the kitchen and headed toward the servants' quarters. Pamela had a small room near the other maids, and maybe someone there would know where she was. The hallways in this part of the castle were narrower and less well-lit than the main corridors.
I knocked softly on Pamela’s door. "Pamela? Are you in there?"
Silence.
I tried the handle, but the door was locked. That was strange – the servants' doors were rarely locked from the inside.
"Excuse me," I called to another maid who was walking past. "Have you seen Pamela today?"
"No, my lady," she replied with a curtsy.
"I'm sure it's nothing," I said, though my worry was growing. "If you see her, please tell her I'm looking for her."
"Of course, my lady."
I walked back toward my own chambers, my mind racing. Where could she be? It wasn't like her to disappear without a word. Maybe she was ill and didn't want to bother me with it, but she would have sent word through another servant.
By the time I reached my room, I was genuinely worried. I pushed open my door, already planning to tell Kade later if I didn't see her in the next couple of hours.
I was about to shut the door behind me when I saw a folded piece of parchment on the floor, just inside my door. It must have been slipped underneath while I was gone. My name was written on it in unfamiliar handwriting.
I picked it up with trembling hands and unfolded it. The message was brief but made my blood run cold:
Slave Ivy,
You will meet me tonight at the old watchtower ruins beyond the east gardens. Come alone and tell no one, or your precious maid will pay the price. I have her, and her life depends on your cooperation.
If you refuse this meeting or if you alert anyone to this message, she dies. If you try to bring guards or anyone else with you, she dies. Come alone, or lose her forever.
You have one hour.
D.
My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped the note. Darius. It had to be him.
"Pamela," I whispered, my voice breaking.
He had my sweet, loyal Pamela. She was innocent in all of this, caught up in whatever twisted game Darius was playing.
I looked at the window and saw how dark it had become. How long did I have? The note said one hour, but when had he delivered it? How much time had already passed?
My first instinct was to run to Kade, to wake him up and tell him everything. But the warning in the note was clear – if I told anyone, Pamela would die. And Kade was in no condition to help anyone right now. He was barely recovered from his transformation.
I could go to the King, but what if Darius was watching? What if he saw me talking to the guards or going to Father's chambers? I couldn't risk her life on the chance that I could get help without being seen.
The old watchtower ruins. I knew the place – it was about a fifteen-minute walk from the castle, in a secluded area where no one would hear if something went wrong. The perfect place for a trap.
But what choice did I have? Pamela was depending on me. She was probably terrified, wondering why no one had come to rescue her yet.
I grabbed my cloak from the wardrobe and wrapped it around my shoulders. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every instinct I had was screaming that this was a terrible idea, that I was walking into danger.
But the image of Pamela’s kind face, her gentle smile, her loyalty to me over all these months – I couldn't abandon her.
I opened my door and peered out into the hallway. It was empty and quiet. Most of the castle was asleep by now. I slipped out of my room and hurried toward the east entrance, staying in the shadows and praying that no one would see me.
The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside. Above me, the same full moon that had triggered Kade's transformation cast eerie silver light across the gardens. I pulled my cloak tighter around me and began walking quickly toward the east gardens.
With each step, my fear grew stronger. But so did my determination. Pamela had been there for me when no one else was. She'd comforted me when I cried, helped me when I was lost, treated me with kindness when others saw only a former slave.
Now it was my turn to be there for her.
I broke into a run, racing through the gardens toward whatever trap Darius had waiting for me.