"I'll go." The words were quiet, but they were filled with weight. Kace did not wish to bring hardship to the prince. He would attend the banquet if it meant keeping Jae from being punished. Kace kept his face turned to the ground as Jae processed his request. Knowing Kace's words were rare, Jae understood the certainty with which the blue-eyed had spoken them.
Jae placed his hand on Kace's shoulder to give the kneeling male a sense of protection before turning to the Gamma. "Get out."
"Excuse me?"
A growl resonated from the true blood as he returned, "He said he would go. Now, get out."
"You better make sure he comes. If not, it's your back that will get shredded," the Gamma threatened before signaling for his men to withdraw. Jae remained in front of the blue-eyed protectively until every last soldier was out of sight.
A shaky breath escaped Kace's lips as he slumped to the ground. Jae bent down and carefully held the sides of Kace's head. "Are you alright?" The true blood's question was gentle, and he scoured Kace's body for any sign of opened wounds. Thankfully, there were none, only appearing bruises.
Kace nodded slowly in response as a single tear escaped the corner of his eye. Jae's heart broke when he saw the tear and pulled the older male into his arms. Kace held back the rest of his tears as he relaxed in the prince's embrace. The blue-eyed longed to wrap his arms around Jae and bury his face in the crook of the prince's neck, but he knew this was not that kind of hug. Jae had never hugged him like that. No matter how much Kace longed for Jae to embrace him like that, he knew the prince never would.
"You don't have to go, Kace," Jae said after a few moments had passed and Kace's breathing had calmed. "I can take it. I don't care what Fachan does, I will take it, so you don't have to go."
Kace declined the prince's offer with a shake of his head. He would go. He could not bring himself to be the cause of Jae's pain.
"Are you sure?" Jae inquired and brought Kace to arm's length, so he could look the blue-haired in the eye. Kace swallowed silently before nodding his head. "Okay," Jae breathed after a moment. "Let's get you dressed then, shall we?"
Jae remained in the common room of the cabin while Kace went to the back to prepare for the banquet. Quiet footsteps alerted the prince that Kace had finished getting ready. Jae looked to see Kace step into the common room, his gaze turned to the floor. The male was dressed in a light blue, long-sleeved shirt with a dark blue sash around his neck that served to cover the scars that were otherwise hidden by the hooded jacket the male consistently wore. The soft material of one of the pieces that ribboned off the sash draped onto his chest while the other fell onto his back. Dark blue pants were tucked into blue, leather boots that stopped just beneath his knee.
Jae had not seen this side of Kace for years; Kace had worn the same hooded jacket and stealth gear ever since the incident.
"Ready?" Jae inquired as he stood to his feet. The blue-eyed nodded and joined the true blood at the door. The two took a deep breath before stepping out into the evening and making their way to the palace.
<<<<<>>>>>
"Ahhhh, I'm exhausted!" Ibbi exclaimed and threw himself on a pile of hay that had been gathered in the main corridor as a quick source to either prep stalls in a hurry or please a cranky steed.
"Amen to that," Bevy agreed with a heave. The alpha wiped the sweat from her forehead before downing her cup of water.
"Is that all of them?" Rin inquired. His eyes were half-closed, and a wet rag was draped over his forehead. "I hope so," Valri replied before taking a drink from her mug. "The only other ones we would get is if someone was running late," Wyx informed the team as he took a seat on his stool. A round of sighs and breaths of relief came from the exhausted workers at the delta's words.
"In that case-" Kip was cut off when a group of castle guards entered the stable rather dominantly. The ten workers stood to their feet at the appearance of the guards, the higher ranking wolves instinctively stepping in front of the lower ranking members of the squad.
"Can I help you, gents?" Wyx inquired as he went to the front of the group and stopped the guards from going any further.
"We need your females and male gammas and omegas," one of the guards commanded.
"May I ask why?" Wyx questioned, his eyes narrowing at the guard's request. Kip, Calix, Rin, and Hern joined Wyx at the front and shielded the females and their three lower-ranking males.
"We need more workers for the banquet," the guard explained. "They will be paid double and will not be harmed."
"Paid double?" Kip inquired with a raised brow. The beta shifted his stance and placed his hands in his pockets as he peered at the guards. "Then why only the lower-ranks? Can't I join?" Kip's inquire brought a scoff out of the guard, but his question served it purpose.
"The Alpha requested for pretty ones to serve the guests. He thinks it will help the visiting packs loosen up and feel more at home."
"'Loosen up'?" The guard's answer did not set well with the beta. Kip grit his teeth and clenched his hands as he glared at the guard. "I know something that'll loosen 'em up-" The beta was stopped by Wyx saying his name sharply. "There is no need to not be civil. The man said they will not be harmed and will be paid double," the delta said to cool the riled beta.
"I take it this is non-negotiable?" Calix assumed.
"Ae," a second guard answered. "It was an order from the Alpha."
"Then, there's not much we can do about that," Wyx said before turning to the five standing behind him. "What do you say? Are you willing to go?"
"Don't see how there's much of a choice," Bevy answered as she walked forward.
"Whatever, let's just get it over with," Valri said before joining Bevy at the front. The three males looked at each other before joining the two females. "As long as we can come back," Danny, the silver-haired gamma of the evening team, said quietly. Syri and Ibbi remained silent as they walked forward, but Ibbi's gaze was those of daggers. This was not what he signed up to do. He had never wanted to be a castle worker.
"If we're not back by dawn, raise hell," Bevy said to the five who would remain behind as the two females and three lower ranking males were led out of the stables.
"Sure thing," Kip replied as he watched the requested five head to the castle.
Syri's chest felt as if it housed a race horse because of the speed at which his heart was pounding. One thought engulfed the zeta's mind as he was guided into the castle: Won't the prince be at the banquet?!!