Chapter Thirty-five

“A map? My lady? What do you need it for?” she inquired, startled at my request.

“I want to know the terrain. It seems like I will be here for a while so just to be familiar with the place,” came my response.

“You are not thinking of running away, my lady, are you?” she asked, watching my face to infer a response.

“Of course not. Where shall I run to?” I asked her playfully.

“I will see if I can get you a map from the library but it will be very difficult,” she told me.

“Why should that pose a problem? Shouldn't it be like borrowing any other book?” I asked.

“A map is a delicate item, my lady. It will be dangerous if it were to fall into the wrong hands hence the strict regulations surrounding getting one. There was a time one could be arrested for requesting one at the library,” that was news to me. I was certain there was a reason for that.

“Why is that?” I wanted to know.

“The underworld waged war against us a long time ago; the Shadowclaw pack has been careful since.”

“I see.”

Diane put me to bed afterwards. I pretended to be asleep because she refused to leave otherwise.

Once I was alone I sat up in bed and began to hatch a plan for escape in my mind but no matter how hard I reached my brain I could not come up with a feasible plan. How would I leave the palace unnoticed to start with? Perhaps I could disguise myself as a servant? But I knew that would not work as there were only a few servants who could leave the palace at will and they all had to present identification cards to the guards.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?” The voice surprised me so much that I jumped from my bed.

“Tyler!” I exclaimed. He was the last person I had expected to see.

“I mean, Lord Tyler,” I corrected myself but he waved it off.

“I got to know that you've been lonely without me, so lonely that you fell ill,” Tyler said and I rolled my eyes.

“It is not a question this time, Alpha Dagen will really have your head for real,” I said, shaking my head. I was not sure what to call his attempt at seeing me foolishness or bravado.

“I am hoping that he does, my head is beginning to feel quite heavy for my neck,” said Tyler, bending his head this way and that way to express what he had said. I simply rolled my eyes at his silliness.

“Really? Shall I scream then, my Lord?” I asked and I opened my mouth as if to scream but he placed his hand over my mouth. I bit his hand and he withdrew it and cried in pain.

“You're too aggressive,” he complained and I laughed.

He walked to my door and I wanted to ask him if he was mad but he bolted the door.

“Why don't you lock your door at night?” he asked me.

“I didn't know I could do that or if I am allowed to,” cane my response.

“You've not been given any express instruction saying that you cannot do so, have you?” he asked and it occurred to me that I was not.

“No.”

“Great. So guess what I brought?” he said, his voice holding suspense.

“A novel?” I quipped with excitement in my tone.

“Even better, the ranch has given you full claim of Tristan,” came his reply.

“Tristan? Really? That's wonderful!” I would have shouted at the top of my voice in my excitement but I had to keep things quiet.

“Here, this is the document that gives you ownership of Tristan,” said Tyler, giving me the document.

“I cannot accept this, my Lord,” I said in a grave voice.

“Of course, you can. You deserve it, you won Tristan,” cane his response.

“Did you not hear that Lady Nydia ransacked my room? She took away all my prize money saying that I stole from her,” Tyler's eyes shone with anger as I reported what had happened.

“I am stuck here now, she has banned me from even stepping a foot out of my room except it is on her command,” I said with a heavy heart.

“I didn't know she'd take things that far,” replied Tyler.

“So you see I cannot accept Tristan,” I did like the horse but it will have to go for now or perhaps forever. Then an idea struck me.

“Lord Tyler, will you be so kind as to accept the horse on my behalf? I shall request for it at a later date,” if I hoped to escape this pack, a horse would be very helpful.

“Of course, you do not think I will leave such a fine horse unclaimed, do you?” he teased and we laughed.

“You know…” but before I could complete my sentence I heard a knock on my door which was quite strange as it was still midnight.

We both kept quiet but the knock persisted.

“Regina, I know you're awake,” Tyler and I looked at each other in alarm, it was Alpha Dagen's voice at the other end of the door.

“The window, quick!” I whispered hurriedly as he dashed for the window.

As he opened the window a gust of wind and water sprayed into my room; it was raining. However, we had little choice. It was better for him to take his chances with the rain than for Alpha Dagen to meet him in my room.

“I will break down this door,” came Alpha Dagen's gruff voice.

“Your Majesty,” I said as I opened the door for Alpha Dagen. He did not acknowledge my greeting, instead, his gaze was focused on my window that was still open. My heart skipped a bit. Would I appear suspicious if I closed it now?

“Why is your window open? It is a cold night,” he said, his gaze still fixated on the window.