The Prince's Gift

Chapter 25.

Zane's POV

One week. It had been one week since she'd left me. It had been all I could do not to leave everything here and rush after her, steal her away. Every moment she was gone, I questioned my resolve, wondering how I could have agreed to letting this happen to her. I could feel her pain coming through the bond, sometimes more than others. The one silver lining was that it wasn't constant, which meant she must be going days without being seen.

A pit dropped in my stomach at the thought of what she must be going through. Two days after she'd left, I felt a stab so intense run through my consciousness that I knew someone had seen her mark. They'd wanted me to know she was being hurt. I'd felt every ounce of agonizing hopelessness, every bit of jarring pain. I couldn't sense who was inflicting it, or how, but I knew that it had been bad, worse than any pain she's ever known.

I had plead with my mother and father, insisting we go and retrieve her, but they couldn't. Once the bargain was struck, there was no going back. My father's instincts had been right. Since Lilith had arrived, there had been no more yearling attacks. If Maddox had been testing us, he'd stopped with his daughter here.

How was I ever going to do this? How could I forget Ana, knowing what she was going through, and mate with Lilith. I couldn't start the next part of my life until I knew she was safe. I at least owed her that much.

A slight ray of hope peeked through my mind as I dressed for the day's events. Maddox and his council would be arriving within the next hour to begin the week's festivities prior to the ceremony. I could only hope that Ana was included in the group of slaves being brought to attend them. Even if I could only get a glimpse of her, that would be more than I could have dreamt after such a horrific week.

Lilith had insisted we spend time together every day, pushing for us to become closer, more intimate. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't let her in. I had agreed to this purely from responsibility, but I couldn't forget those mesmerizing emerald eyes that had captured me completely. She owned me. I would complete the ceremony with Lilith as promised, but it would be in name only. I could never give in to the mate bond completely with her. I would be forced to do so to some degree, but the little control I held on to would be reserved for Ana alone. I would keep my promise to her.

I heard a soft knock on my door and opened it to see Lilith, waiting patiently on the other side. "Are you ready? My father will be arriving soon." Her deep brown doe eyes searched mine as she gave me a small smile. I ran a hand through my hair before giving her a short nod and stepping through the door. She took my arm and fell into step beside me. "I can't wait to see my father today. I think he will be pleased with my new life here. I know it's been bumpy, but I hope you know now that I'm willing to try and make this work. I know you didn't want to do this."

I nodded and gave her a quick smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I know I've been distant, but I'm sorry Lilith. This is all I'm capable of right now. I hope you can understand that."

A frown settled on her face before she quickly wiped it away, straightening as her hand gripped into my forearm. "I do. I only hope that will change with time."

We walked into the main hall, Fallon and the council already present and waiting for the King's arrival. My parents slowly walked to stand beside me as they smiled over to Lilith.

Fallon leaned forward, whispering lowly for only me to hear. "I've been informed eight slaves will be arriving with them today. Two are body slaves."

My heart dropped and I fought the scowl trying to pull at my features. I was hopeful that she'd be coming, but hearing that she could be included with the body slaves stabbed my heart painfully. I had to get a grip before they arrived, or I knew I'd lose it on whoever she'd been given to.