Chapter Three

Kai's tail was busy flicking back and forth, revealing both his impatience and anxiety, when we finally heard a pair of voices advancing towards us.

"What else is on my schedule today, Martin?" A commanding voice asked, sounding simultaneously soft.

"There's two Shifters in your office, Master Gordon. Your parents believed you were suitable for the animals since you're next in line to take their place as the Human Representation," Martin replied, giving a name to the man who would determine if we were killed.

There was an exhale before the smooth voice said, "Have rooms prepared upstairs, where they will be away from danger. Adjoining rooms will most likely give them comfort, but preferably not too close to my own. They are but strangers to me."

"Master, they're filthy-"

"Enough! Do as I say. You did not question me before and you will not now," the voice replied, turning sharp at the hint of disobedience.

"Yes, Master Gordon," Martin finished, his voice small in comparison, before a set of footsteps began descending as they walked away.

Kai and I both perked up as the doorknob turned, our fates once again swaying from staying on the edge of a cliff to falling the second the door opened.

Right when it opened, I was able to see his appearance held as much authority as his voice did. Even the air around him commanded obedience, demanded it. What happened to those who failed to obey? The thought alone caused me to shudder.

The moment his eyes looked upon us, a frown pressed against his face, and I found myself tensing, fearing the worst. He would be just like everyone else. But the closer I looked, the more I realized I was wrong. There was something different about him.

It was his eyes. Most turned a darker shade and spat poison at us, not once giving us a chance to prove ourselves. To most, we were up there with serial killers who didn't deserve the life they were granted. We were disgusting in the worst possible way to most.

His eyes didn't display a speck of that disgust. I searched and searched as hard as I could, but it didn't matter. I could search endlessly and not find that disgust anywhere in those green eyes.

When he neared my cage and knelt down, a snarl erupted from the snow leopard beside me, the sound equally wild and loud. It made the Gordon Prince pause and look over at him.

"I am not going to hurt her. My only desire is to get you both out of these inhuman cages," he murmured, but the snarls didn't stop. I, however, was surprised.

His consideration was rare, something I certainly didn't expect from a Prince. I'd only heard of it from those who claimed not all humans were against us. I hadn't experienced it personally until now.

His knees met the ground, just as his eyes met mine, ignoring the cat beside me. We both stared, for a full minute before his eyes flickered to the cage as it clicked open, surprising me. I didn't think he would actually let us out.

He moved towards Kai's cage, turning his back on me. I could easily make it out the door, but I would never abandon Kai. Even if I would, the enforcers would kill me without a second glance.

"I will open this cage if you do not leave and stop with the mindless noise. The moment you escape this room my guards will not hesitate. You will be killed," he said, but the snow leopard didn't respond.

His ears were pressed flat against his skull in the furthest corner of the cage, his teeth bared in pride at his opponent. His fur was on edge and the snarling continued.

"Shush, kallimale. He's offering a temporary sanctuary," I said softly, but my words were still heard.

The snarling subsided, but that was all. He remained defensive, his eyes not leaving the Gordon Prince once.

The Gordon Prince opened his cage, just as I walked out of mine, hearing the click. Within seconds, the snow leopard flew out of the cage and began circling my legs, rubbing against them protectively.

The prince stood up and went to lean against his desk, his hands finding his pockets as he studied us. I knew from his perspective, the two of us weren't very much to look at.

We were both covered in the dirt and smoke that had surrounded us for hours. My once white dress was tattered and Kai's once white fur looked dusty. We looked worn out or as if we lived on the streets and begged.

It was a large difference compared to the Gordon Prince, who was the most sophisticated person I'd laid eyes on. It wasn't until I'd seen him that I realized my leap had dressed poorly. His black suit looked as if it'd just been made yesterday, not a wrinkle or piece of lint to be found. His shoe shined brighter than the floor did.

"Do you understand why you are here?" He asked, looking directly at me.

I instinctively bowed my head, my eyes on the snow leopard now sitting by my side. "Yes, Gordon Prince. We've been brought here for the crimes of-" but I was cut off as he interrupted.

"You will call me Prince Gordon, nothing else. It is what most call me," he instructed and I nodded while Kai looked displeased with this.

He continued, surprising me as he said, "As for the reason you have been brought here, it is not to punish you. It is to allow the two of you to prove that your kind has changed."

My eyes flickered down to Kai who was as silent as myself. Even he was surprised by this. Neither of us knew exactly how to respond or what to do.

"You will remain here as my guests. If either of you runs, we will have no other option but to see it as an act of betrayal. If either of you act out in defiance, this too will be seen as an act of betrayal. If betrayed, nothing will change. The hunting and killings of your kind will only continue to go on.

However, you two have the ability to change the future. If I find that you two are worthy of living and protecting before I become King and take my rightful place as Human Representation, I will aid you. I will propose a change to the others in the council."

I stared at him, waiting for his laughter that would signal this was only a cruel joke. But he was serious, nothing more. He was giving us the chance to achieve something our leap had only dreamed of.

We could possibly change how our kind was viewed and how others perceived us. We might even see the day when our kind was reintroduced into society with the rest of the world. Kai and I possessed the chance to clear our kind's name.

"I understand this is quite a lot of information to take in, so I will allow you two to discuss this. However, I will need names first, as my guards did not get them," he concluded, looking at me expectantly with a perfectly arched eyebrow.

I gave him a small smile before replying, "My name is Ivy and you can call him Kai." I glanced down quickly to see his teeth bared briefly at Prince Gordon.

"A lovely name for a stunning woman," he said softly and I found myself blushing at his compliment, but my eyes never left his.

In an instant, the snow leopard at my feet once again began circling me, a building growl running through his throat in warning as his eyes stared at his threat.

Prince Gordon only laughed, not finding Kai very threatening. "He is exactly as my brother's beloved is. She is a werewolf and considers him her mate. Does he consider you one?"

I opened my mouth to give the truth, but it was a lie that slipped out. "Yes, we're mates," I murmured and almost immediately the snow leopard calmed down.

I suppose, in a way, I wasn't lying. Kai had chosen me as his Intended Mate long ago, but I'd repeatedly told him no. I had been too young at the time, in my own opinion, to begin my future role of carrying his cubs and watching over them. It was something I had fondly looked forward to with Kai, but not as soon as the leap had wanted. They'd strongly disagreed, but it was Kai who kept them at bay.

"Then do not worry. I have no intentions of courting your female. I was only giving a compliment I felt necessary," he said and Kai's tail flickered back and forth with anger.

"He's just protecting what's left of his leap," I replied, watching as he cleared his throat, standing up straight.

Prince Gordon walked over to the door, making sure not to get too close to the growling leopard as he did so. He opened it, standing next to it while making a gesture for me to step out.

"Thank you," I said, receiving a welcome back as I looked around, taking in the enforcers.

They were evenly spaced along the walls, none sneaking glances towards me. They all stared forward, some scanning the hall briefly before going back to their staring. The enforcers appeared to be trained will, and it was enough so that Kai and I couldn't sneak out even if we created the most elaborate plan.

Prince Gordon led the way, nodding to several of his enforcers. He wasn't cold to them, although it was clear they were on different hierarchy levels than him. However, he wasn't refreshing to them, as he didn't strike up a conversation or meet a pair of eyes for more than half a second. He was merely friendly, something it appeared some enjoyed by the light expression in their eyes.

"Your rooms will be adjacent to one another so that the two of you will feel more comfortable. I will allow you both to rest, as I am sure you require it, before we discuss our schedule," he explained before we finally stopped by a pair of doors.

I was sure I wouldn't remember the way here, but when I opened the door I knew I wouldn't forget the room. I found myself gasping, my eyes filled with a childish awe.

"Look Kai!" I said excitedly, although I knew he was already observing our surroundings.

The walls were a soft yellow, but brightened the room like a personal sun. The furnishings were painted a sky blue, which I found delight in. The bed was larger than any I'd seen and was covered by a white sheet, cursive words scrawled on it.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, knowing my own room would never shine the way this one did. Maybe it was the colors all together or the simplicity of its organization, but it easily appealed to me.

Kai rolled his eyes at my antics, but it was the Prince who smiled at me gently. "I am glad you enjoy it so. You will find the other room looks very much the same," he said and I smiled back before turning away.

"I want this room. You can have the other," I told Kai, who only walked over to the bed, jumping on it. He sprawled out, yawning, and I laughed at him.

When I turned to say goodbye to the Prince, I found the doorway void of any life. I frowned, but carefully closed the door, looking out it once, but not finding who I was looking for.

So I turned off the lights and crawled into the bed with Kai, pressing closely against him for warmth and comfort. It wasn't long before his fur was wet, stained with the uncontrollable tears that slid from my eyes the entire night.

[Kallimale- loved one]