Moonlight Secrets (#2 Penderry's Bizarre)

Chapter Eighteen

Anju went to her bed chamber's covered balcony and stared down the long expanse of grass. A light shower of raindrops splashed into an ornamental stone fountain, while a brightly coloured peacock wandered amongst the rose border, its call echoing around the walled-garden. At the far end of the lawn, the valley jungle beckoned, but escape was unlikely. A guard manned the gate, a rifle propped against his shoulder as he sheltered under a tree. He was a werewolf, like her. She could smell the musk above the rain-soaked vegetation.

Although she wasn't permitted to leave the grounds, the maharaja had allowed her to roam the palace. Without the silver collar, her heightened senses had returned. She had picked up the scent of each servant, guard and royal family member. Some of the domestic workers were human, seemingly unaware of the royal family's dark secret. But the guards, Madhur, Lala, and the maharaja's assistant, Amjad, were full-blooded werewolves. She estimated thirteen of them in total. An unlucky number to the English. If Bunny still wished to escape, the odds were not in their favour.

Her friend had been tasked with chores. At this moment, Bunny was in the servants' quarter, assisting Lala with the laundry. Anju's thoughts were interrupted when she caught the scent of sun-warmed skin, sandalwood and almonds.

"Good morning, Anju." Prince Sujit stood in the chamber arch.

When she refused to answer, he exhaled a long sigh and stepped onto the balcony.

"You have every right to hate me," he said. "I don't blame you. But please believe me when I say it's not my wish to hurt you."

"You kidnapped me and my friend." Her gaze followed the peacock amongst the roses. "You've made us prisoners."

"If I hadn't brought you here, one of my father's servants would have. Trust me, it is better this way."

"Trust you?" She offered a doubtful huff of laughter. "Why should I trust you?"

He stepped close. The sweet fragrance of incense clung to his hair.

Quietly, he said, "Let me put your mind at rest. I didn't ask for any of this. I was content to stay in England, studying. It is because of my work in London that you must trust me. I'm working on a way to free us all. I'm talking about a cure, Anju. A cure to our condition."

There was no cure to their condition, was there? Then she realised he was confiding in her.

Curious, she turned to face him. "Do your parents know?"

"Of course not."

"Then you are taking quite a risk sharing this with me. How do you know I won't tell your father?"

Deep brown eyes, framed by thick black lashes, flickered over her face. "Perhaps I'm making a foolish mistake, but I trust you. During our long journey here, I recognised the good in your heart. I wanted to tell you everything on the train, but the time wasn't right. Now I'm confident you won't betray my secret."

Her gaze dipped self-consciously. "Tell me about this cure."

"My studies in London, five years of living and breathing science, filling my brain with every aspect of biophysics until my head might burst. I've experimented upon myself with almost fatal consequences, ingesting so many trial medicines that my digestive system is in ruins, my stomach lining in shreds. But it will all be worth it. I'm close, Anju. I really think I'm close to curing this disease. The key lies in electricity."

She listened closely, appalled, "You- you've been experimenting on yourself? Sujit, what you're doing could kill you."

"That's not important. The cure is important. Not just for myself, but for everyone like us. I'm sure I can't be the only one tired of living this way?"