bChapter /bb165 /b

    ra’s POV

    “Wait–what are you-“I barely got the words out before Kimberly’s finger pressed gently against my lips.

    She tilted her head, signaling to my left. I followed her gaze and saw a back door leading to the yard.

    I didn’t waste a second. I slid out of the kitchen with a rush of air, moving quickly but quietly.

    The head maid,pletely absorbed in her own chaos, was barking orders to the others to help with pastries. Nobody noticed me slip out

    The moment I was outside, my breath caught, and Iunched myself toward Kimberly, arms wide.

    “Kimberly!” I pulled her into a tight hug, my chest swelling with relief. “How have you been?”

    It had been too long. Half a month, maybe more. Thest time we saw each other was when I tried to escape, but Thorne caught me Locked

    me up again.

    “Been alright, considering everything,i” /iKimberly muttered as she wrapped her arms around me. “That bastard Lance sent me on patrols, keeping me away from you. How the hell are you holding up?” Her eyes widened as she scanned me, taking in the bruises on my face and bthe /bmarks on my arms. “What the hell happened? Who did this?”

    “Mi.” The word left my mouth with a heaviness I couldn’t shake. “But we don’t have much time.”

    Kimberly was already scanning the area, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it covered.”

    She whistled sharply, and a soldier–like woman rounded the corner. She looked just like me from behind–same fall colored hair, same

    height. No one would be able to tell us apart.

    “This is ire,” Kimberly introduced, smiling at me. “She’s got your back. You two talk. I’ll handle the rest.”

    ire grinned, “Nice to meet you, Gamma ra. I’ve heard so much about you. Go ahead, I’ll take care of things in the kitchen.”

    She threw her hair into a messy bun and slipped into my apron, making her way inside with ease.

    “Is this really going to work?” I couldn’t help but ask.

    Kimberly justughed softly. “Rx. No one inside knows you. They won’t make the connection.”

    “Right,” I muttered, trying to quell the rising anxiety.

    Kimberly nodded and motioned for me to follow her. We moved quickly, ducking behind a shed where the maids kept the firewood.

    Inside, Jory and Dorian were already waiting.

    The moment I stepped in, Dorian was on me, pulling me into his arms without a word. His grip was firmb, /bbut bgent/b‘

    deep inside me.

    “I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely, his fingers trailing over the p mark on my cheek.

    “Don’t,” I whispered, holding him back. “There’s nothing you could have done.”

    dI bfelt /bsomething bshift /b

    I wasn’t angry. He hadn’t had a chance. Thorne had gone too far that day. Dorian didn’t have his wolfb, /bno way bhe /bbcould’ve /bbfought /bbhim/b.

    Dorian breathed heavily, then pulled back slightly, his voice tight. “I swear I’ll make them pay ifor /ithis.”

    I met his gazeb, /bheart aching. “No promises. Let’s just focus on getting out of here.”

    Kimberly interrupted, voice sharp. “Alright, enough of the love fest. We don’t have much time.”

    I blushed, pulling away from Dorian, though his hand stayed at my waist. He didn’t let go.

    “Hey, Jory,” I greeted him, relief flooding through me just seeing him in one piece.

    He gave me a soft smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

    “The real issue,” Kimberly said, pulling me to the side, “is getting you out of here. You can’t stay here any longer, not with what those monsters have done to you.”

    “I’m safe for now,” I assured her. “Lance warned Mi offst night. I’m still useful to him, at least for now.”

    “But we all know it’s just a matter of time before he turns on you,” Kimberly said bitterly. “Once he’s done with Thorne, you’re next bon /bthe chopping block.”

    I nodded, the weight of her words heavy in the pit of my stomach. “Yeah, that’s the truth. I need to get word to Caet about the rogues, too. So if there’s a way out, I’ll take it.”

    Jory rubbed his chin, the lines of worry deepening across his brow. “It won’t be easy. The guards have doubled. And to leave the Grace bRuin/bb? /bYou need a pass from the king. This city is locked down tighter than a drum,”

    Kimberly’s brow furrowed. “There has to be a way. Some weak spot. Some breach we can exploit.”

    “Unless you know of a secret tunnel no one’s watching,” Jory grunted. “We’re out of options.”

    “The wedding,” Dorian said, cutting through the tension like a knife.

    I blinked, my mind suddenly sharp. “Right, the wedding.”

    The pce would be packed with guests soonb, /boutsiders, distractions. It would be the perfect opportunity. Guards would be stretched thin, and Lance and Mi would be preupied.

    “The wedding’s the way out,” I said, my voice firm.

    “Exactly,” Kimberly said, a grin spreading across her face. “I’ll have my guy find an opening and sneak you out. It’ll work.”

    But then Dorian spoke again, and the room fell silent..

    “No,” he said, his voice cool. “ra’sing with

    my men.”

    There was a brief, stunned silence. The others looked at him in shock, but Dorian’s gaze never wavered.

    “Your men?” Jory blinked, clearly confused. “But you work for Kimberly-”

    “Your men are her men,” Kimberly shot back/“What are you trying to pullb, /bDorian?”

    bDorian /bbdidn’t /bflinch. His eyes were locked on mine. “I’m not some ordinary soldierb. /bI have bmy /bbown /bbns/b. bAnd /bbra/bb? /bbShe’s /bbwith /bbme/b. bThat’s /bthe bonly /bthing that matters.b” /b

    Kimberly’s jaw dropped. b“/bbNo. /bAbsolutely bnot/b. Who are youb, /bbDorian/bb? /bWhat’s byour /bbsecret/bb?/bb” /b

    Dorian didn’t answer her. He turned to me, his gaze softening. “Do you trust me?”

    I hesitated. I could feel the heat of their eyes on me, but in that moment, I knew. I trusted him. Even if I didn’t know everything.

    “Yeah,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I trust you.”

    “No!” Kimberly and Jory said in unison, both of them stepping toward me. “You’re making a mistake!”

    “Calm down, guys,” I said, though I could feel the tension in my shoulders. “I can feel it. Dorian’s not a threat. He’s bon /bour side.”

    Kimberly and Jory exchanged looks, reluctant, but I could see they were starting to believe me,

    Dorian smiled then, and it was a slowi, /iknowing smile. He stepped forward and took my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “You bwon’t /bregret this.”

    I raised an eyebrow, still unsure about his identity. “I want to know who you are, though. No more secrets.”

    He gave me a cryptic grin. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

    Kimberly threw her hands up in frustration. “Alright, fine. If you trust him, I won’t argue. But know this, ra–we’ve got your backb, /bbno /bmatter what.”

    “Thanks,” I said, my heart warm despite everything. “I appreciate it.”

    Then, just before we parted, I let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of my idecision/ii. /i

    “And before I go,” I said, “I’m going to ruin Mi’s wedding.”

    The silence that followed was thick with tension. But one thing was clear: this was just the beginning.