His Estranged Mate

Chapter 38: Cellmate

CATRINA

The stinging in my wrist doesn't let me sleep as I twist and turn on the cot. Finally, I let go of the thought of getting some sleep and sit upon the stiff mattress in my dingy cell. I have a cellmate too but I am yet to see her face. She's been sleeping and sometimes sobbing with her face turned towards the wall. I can make out her shoulders trembling when she cries but she doesn't respond to me so I don't call her again.

I just remember that I woke up in this room a few hours ago when there was sunlight, now it's dark, with only one candle here which the cell guard lighted for us.

"Who are you?" I startle at the voice and turn to my right to look at the girl. I try to take in her features, and when I do get a clear glimpse of her face, I gasp, recognising her immediately.

"You! I know you. You are the maid, the one when I first met Xanthos," I whisper, quickly checking her form. Like me, she's also sitting and looks quite uncomfortable on that cot.

She's still pregnant but her body is severely malnourished. Only her belly's protruding and her cheeks have gone hollow as if she's being starved. She doesn't look much more than 5 months pregnant but looking at the severity of her malnourishment, I am not quite sure if she's in her third trimester.

"I am Xanthos's mate," she speaks but her voice is very low. She's trembling again and from what I guess, she's trying to control her sobs. I get up from my cot, wincing at the pain in my wrist when I move it and the sting that goes through my shoulder at being moved.

I ignore the pain and walk towards the girl's cot where she is sitting with her legs folded while resting against the wall with both her hands covering her belly. She's not hiding her face anymore and the sight of her malnourished face with all her bones sticking out elicits a shocked gasp from me. I lift my hands and go to wipe her tears but she shakes her head and then covers her face with her hands, pushing back against the wall.

"Go away," she sobs and I feel bad for her. The sight of her disparity eats me and I want to do something to make her feel good, even if we are in this rotten cell trapped by my half-brother. I still don't understand why is his own mate imprisoned in here.

Is he treating his mate like my father did his? The sudden thought sends a shudder down my spine.

No! I need to find out a way to free her. If not for her then for the sake of her child. The raging thoughts in my mind take over, and I forget about the pain in my wrist and shoulder. I push the girl's hands away and wipe her tears slowly.

"Listen to me," I speak, loud enough to catch her attention. She stops hiccupping and looks at me, her tears lessening now. Good!

"Tell me your name," I whisper, keeping her hands in mine, hoping that it comforts her.

"Alex... Alexa...ria," she whispers and I make out that speaking is also difficult for her. Maybe because she's thirsty.

That bastard brother of mine hasn't even kept a glass of water for his mate. Idiot!

"Rhea! I'll call you Rhea, okay?" I ask hoping to cheer her up a bit. She nods and then bends her head to look at her belly and then starts crying again.

"It's okay. It's going to be okay. Just a few more days, someone will come to rescue us," I whisper however I am not so sure about this thing.

"So...rry," she stutters again and this time I think she's saying sorry so I shake my head, although that movement makes my head swim, I somehow regain my balance and focus on the pregnant girl who needs more emotional support than me at the moment.