Chapter 15 - FIFTEEN - CAN YOU READ?

Chapter 15: Chapter FIFTEEN - CAN YOU READ?Serena stared at the paintings lining the walls for a few minutes before a steel figurine caught her attention. Darius had welcomed her into this place, and it was truly fit for an ambassador. "It would have been difficult to explain why an ambassador from a Cardinal pack was staying at Oakspire," Darius explained. It made sense. The Cardinals rivaled one another in power, at least, that was the long-standing belief, reinforced by massive history books and countless tales. Someone of her supposed rank staying at Oakspire would’ve been a spectacle, an invitation for scrutiny neither of them could afford. Serena nodded in response, then found herself staring at her reflection in a round mirror with silver trimmings. In truth, she understood Beatrice’s scrutiny. The woman staring back at her was unfamiliar. Her hair, hidden beneath the old white scarf, made her look more like a ghost of herself than anything else. The red-and-white dress hung loose on her frame, not quite her size. Even her collarbones stood out too sharply, jutting against the fabric in a way that made her frown. A low chuckle broke her focus. She turned, catching Darius quickly clearing his throat, arms folding over his chest. "You look as though you’ve seen a ghost." "I have," Serena murmured, turning back to the mirror. "Do I look that terrible?" "No, not at all," he said quickly. "The dress is just... er, not for you." He spoke carefully, as if afraid of irritating her, but Serena had already tuned him out. Worry etched itself into her features. The last time she’d seen her reflection had been in the river back in Lupine Hollow, not that it had helped much and mirrors were too expensive out in the wild. "Why did you choose Crimsonclaw?" Serena finally asked. The choice had unsettled her from the moment he first mentioned it, gnawing at the back of her mind as they walked in silence to the manor. "First thing that came to mind," he answered, guarded. Serena didn’t push further for now. Everything felt too tense already. More scrutiny to her reflection, and she saw her father’s face staring back at her from the mirror. Her mother had always bemoaned the fact that her only daughter had stolen her father’s face instead of hers. That "eastern look," as her former colleagues used to say with fondness- the high cheekbones, paler skin than most (though the sun had tanned her a bit), and a slightly hooked nose. Serena wondered if that had anything to do with why Darius had chosen Crimsonclaw in particular. Her father was originally from there. The thought sent a chill through her. How could he have figured that out so quickly? Had she slipped? Given something away without realizing? Her mind spun through every conversation, every glance, every offhand remark, searching for the moment she had exposed herself. A hand on her shoulder made her flinch. She exhaled sharply when she saw Darius, who regarded her with a strange expression. "I’ve been calling your name for some time now." His brows drew together, voice dry with irritation. "Have you gone deaf?" "I- no, I haven’t. My mind was just elsewhere." "Clearly," he muttered, she caught it but let it pass. He cleared his throat and spoke louder. "As you can see, I have much to brief you on. Truth be told, we have a lot of work to do." Serena heard yet another one of his thousands of sighs. But he was right- she had tangled herself even tighter into this mess, even though he was the one false claim it was only made to save her fur. She wanted to ask him so many things, but those kinds of questions seemed reserved for friends or perhaps something even more. And this man? He likely saw her as nothing more than a major inconvenience who happened to be his fated mate. The dull ache in her chest never quite faded when they were near each other. It was irritating, yet at the same time, there was something about it, something almost... expectant. And, if she was being honest with herself, she didn’t mind seeing his face all that much. "Can you read?" Serena stilled at the absurdity of the question. For a moment, she forgot that everyone believed she had been a rogue all her life. Still, it was an offensive question regardless. "Do you think I’m illiterate?" she shot back. "Perhaps," Darius said simply, stroking his chin, unbothered by her glare. Her nostrils flared. "Well, I can read." "Makes my work easier, then," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I’ve been away for a while and with you for far too long." Maybe she did mind seeing his face after all. He was rigid, nasty... maybe even worse and nothing like- "Right," she said, cutting off the thought. Darius turned on his heel, then paused. "Since you can read, books will be sent over so you can learn the customs and culture of Crimsonclaw." "I probably know more than whatever those books say," she muttered under her breath. "Do you have something to say to me?" he asked, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. Serena nodded. "Freshen up," he continued. "There’s a change of clothes for you. Do it yourself. I’m not going to spare staff for the likes of you. And listen carefully- do nothing rash. There are guards stationed outside. And most importantly: donotleave." With that, the great door closed behind him, leaving Serena alone with her thoughts. Her fingers found the knot of her scarf, pulling it free from her head. Blonde strands spilled over her shoulders, loose and tangled. She lifted a hand, running it through her hair absentmindedly. At least she wasn’t trapped in some small, stuffy cottage anymore. She caught her reflection again, the weight of her past pressing down on her shoulders. Another title to add to the growing list. Ever’s daughter. Healer. Senior healer. The Beta’s wife. Murderer. Exile. Rogue. And now... Ambassador. A bitter laugh escaped her throat. Would she ever live a normal life?