"We all hold the keys to our own jail cells."

Chapter 67

Home Sweet Cell

River's POV

Alastair's head leaned forward, brows merging.

"What?" He whispered in disbelief, "what for?"

"I shifted Alastair," his lips pulled to a thin line as I spoke, "right before him."

"Him?"

"Your father."

"Shit," Alastair clicked his tongue as his fingers raked anxiously through his hair, "Goddess," he breathed out.

Alastair's eyes roamed the walls, searching. Yet not for anything tangible. Perhaps he was concocting an escape plan but there was no use. There was no way to get out of this. Perhaps if it were a maid that caught me we could blame it on her own insanity but it was His Highness. The prior king. He had more control over the council than Alastair. He'd been king for over thirty years. Alastair hadn't even been king for a full year yet. How was he planning on getting me out of this?

Silently, Alastair lifted me from the ground. My legs wrapped around his waist as I tucked my head into the crook of his neck. He fell lightly onto the cold, rock bed, pressing his back against the wall as his arms wrapped around my waist. His nose nuzzled against my neck as I breathed in his musky, masculine scent.

After a few minutes of silently soaking in one another, I spoke.

"What are you going to do?" I whispered, lifting my head to meet his eyes.

His gaze held mine, yet not a word escaped. He let out a shaky breath as his hand lightly swept against the stubble on the chin.

"To start, I'm going to call for a council meeting. I'm only hoping my father hasn't spoken to them yet," his eyes once again roamed the cell walls.

"He can call for a meeting even though he's no longer king?"

"For an emergency, he can," his eyes pulled to my face as his fingers dragged lightly across my collarbone

Heat coursed through my skin, burning beneath everyone soft pad of his fingertips. I sucked in a shaky breath as I bent my head and kissed him lightly on the cheek. His nails dug lightly into my scalp as he pulled me closer and laid a soft peck on my lips.

"I love you, River," his eyes glazed to a soft glow as his lips pulled into a small, strained smile. "No matter what happens starting now, I will protect you," his hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing lightly against my wettening cheeks.

I could only hope it was a promise he could keep.

♚

The bars clanked together as the cell door closed behind Alastair. With his back facing me, my eyes dropped to the floor. It had been the fourth time today that he had come to visit, each time with more presents to spoil me with. My fingers ran lightly against fur lining around my waist as I watched him round the cell and out the jailhouse.

He had been in and out of meetings all week, stretching out the court date as long as he could and fighting councilmen until he was red in the face and short of breath.

My eyes wandered around my cell. How different it had become through each of Alastair's visitations. According to law, I was not allowed to leave my cell but since there was nothing against visiting, Alastair took the initiative to come every moment he could. Though he never came empty handed, he took it upon himself to redecorate my cell after coming in the first time, horrified by my living conditions. He took to lining the rock bed in layers of pillows, claiming I was going to bruise myself against such a hard surface. Not to mention the amount of fur that lined both the floor of my cell and my bed.

The other cellmates had grown quite jealous by Alastair's gifts, taking every opportunity they could to throw bread through the cracks of our cell bars. They usually missed, not getting far enough to actually hit me because of the distance between our cells. After all, thanks to my status I was put in the farthest cell.

Though, as I was slowly growing used to my living conditions, Isaiah nearly had a panic attack every time he visited me. He would flutter around my clammy cell like an anxious mother hen, petting my hair through his frenzy with hushed words of reassurance.

The click of my cell door lifted my mind from its wandering as I eyed two forms by the door.

"Oh, River," Isaiah gasped, catching my eye as a guard opened the door to my cell.

Without a minute delay, Isaiah was across the tight space and cradling me against his chest.

"I can't understand why they're keeping you here like this," he whispered, sending a dirty look at the guards across the jailhouse, "you're royalty. Can't they just keep you under lock and key in..." his eyes wandered to a spot by my bed where a cockroach was nibbling on what was left of my lunch. He shuddered and continued, "better living conditions."

"It's the law, Izzy," I laughed lightly, patting his head. "You're a councilman; you know that."

"Doesn't mean I agree with it," he muttered under his breath.

I let out a breath. A sudden picture flashed through my mind and a breathy laugh escaped my throat.

"So where are your two stalkers?"

Isaiah's head wiped up as his nose scrunched and eyes narrowed playfully.

I continued laughing, bending over as I did.

"They're not stalkers," he mumbled.

"Um hm," I peered up at the ceiling, humming low in my throat.

It grew silent so I lowered my head to eye Isaiah. His head hung low as he played with my fur bedding.

"What's wrong?"

His eyes lifted and a deep breath escaped his throat, "I just...I wish I had a mate is all."

My brows pulled as my head tilted, "but don't you?"

He sent me an equally confused look.

"Either Derek or Hyde. They both seem to take an interest in you. You don't appear revolted by them..." I trailed off as I eyed his tight expression.

He shook his head, "it doesn't matter."

Before I could open my mouth to disagree he continued.

"So Alastair visited again today?" He eyed the tray of chai and pastries by the bed.

"He visits as often as he can," I sucked in my lips with an escaped breath.

Isaiah nodded, "so...is it true? The rumors?"

"The rumors?"

"That you shifted," he whispered low as if my wolf would hear him.

I laughed to myself. Luna was not one to be afraid of. Poor thing. My eyes downcasted as memories of his pain spun through my head. Ever since the incident he'd grown strangely quiet. He'd speak every now and then but not much. It was like he was afraid to speak more than a vowel.

I nodded.

Isaiah's eyes widened but not a word escaped his mouth.

"Dinner," a voice boomed against the bars as his wooden stick clashed against the rustic metal.

Isaiah's head turned slowly, annoyance clear on his face. His mouth opened though he was immediately interrupted by another.

"Is that how you've been speaking to my mate in my absence?" Alastair's sharp voice entered the jailhouse. His eyes locked on the guard, freezing him in place as Alastair marched over.

His hand reached for the tray in the guard's hands, ripping it from the man's grip.

"You're dismissed as River's personal guard," Alastair waved his hand. The man's eyes hardened though he silently crept away. "You," Alastair pointed at another guard.

The man looked behind him, only to come to the realization that Alastair was referring to him. He pushed off the wall he was leaning on and strolled over to Alastair.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" He folded his arms behind his back and leaned forward.

"What is your name?"

The man's brows knitted, "Sam."

"Well, Sam, you are now the new guard for my mate."

Just as Alastair turned his back to reach for the cell door, Sam called out.

"But I'm new. This is my first month as a guard. To be a guarding a royal so soon-"

"Well, why not," Alastair laughed humorlessly, "surely you'll do a better job than the other and apparently he's the longest working guard. Longevity doesn't account for much, apparently." Alastair eyed the seething guard by the door before turning the knob and entering my cell, leaving behind a flabbergasted guard by my door.

Sam cleared his throat, "thank you, Your Majesty," he bowed his head before turning to lean against the wall beside my cell.

Alastair merely nodded his head before crossing the room and taking a seat beside me. His hand reached out, brushing a strand behind my ear with a soft smile before Isaiah cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Well, I'm going to take my leave," Isaiah lifted himself from the bed and sent me a smile before turning to the door. "I'll be back tomorrow morning. Wouldn't want you eating breakfast alone in..." he eyed the cell once again, "well, here."

I tilted my head quizzically at Alastair.

"He has a meeting tomorrow again with the council," Isaiah answered for him.

"You're not going to be present?" Isaiah is part of the council. Why would he not be there?

"Nah," Isaiah ruffled the back of his hair, "I'm going to take a little break from the council tomorrow." He eyed Alastair's arm around my waist with a softening smile, "see you tomorrow, River." He waved as he rounded the corner and exited the jailhouse.

Alastair's wrapped protectively around me as he buried his face in the crook of my neck and let out an exasperated sigh.

"So," I brushed my fingers through his thick, black hair, "any change?"

His nose nuzzled against my neck as he shook his head.

"Goddess," I breathed out.

Alastair must have felt my building anxiety because immediately his head lifted, "don't let that worry you. I won't let anything happen to you," his fingers ran light circles against my arms.

A tight sigh escaped my throat as I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. His fingers lifted from my arms to comb through my hair, cradling my head in his hands as he deepened the kiss. A groan whispered past my lips as I was engulfed in his calming heat. I crawled into his lap, pushing closer to him, getting lost in him. For at a time like this, I needed nothing more than a distraction.