Chapter 336

Dane

I walked down the corridor, an empty water jug in hand. I'd woken thirsty, and my room was devoid of water. Rather than disturb Aurora by summoning the servants, I went to refill the jug.

I entered the kitchen and encountered Joclyn. The sizzling sounds indicated she was cooking. "Joclyn… you haven't given up this habit?" I asked with a smile, approaching her.

She turned, a playful frown on her face. "I was hungry, what else could I do?"

"Hungry, huh? But you already had dinner, didn't you?" I asked, moving to the sink to refill the jug. After returning it to the fridge, I grabbed another identical jug of chilled water.

"Of course I had dinner, but that was for the evening, and this is for the night."

I chuckled, observing her defensive posture—arms crossed across her chest. Joclyn wore a flowing nightdress, her hair in a bun, her eyes narrowed. "Do you have the gift of youth and vitality?"

She raised an eyebrow. I set the jug on the table and fetched two glasses.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

The sound of water pouring into the glasses filled the silence. I handed her one, took the other, and sat in a corner chair.

"I mean, you never seem to age. You've looked and acted the same all these years."

She smiled. "All these years, huh?" she asked, checking her cooking. "How long has it been?"

I shrugged. "A decade?"

"Two…" she corrected. "Two decades of living this life, Dane."

I sighed, taking a deep breath. I remembered when Joclyn first came to the pack house. She was in her twenties then, and I was a teenager. We were friends before duties and busy lives separated us. We were almost like siblings.

"Back then, I knew you'd be in the kitchen every night, and I'd come just to taste your cooking."

Joclyn chuckled. "Right… I remember those days." She turned off the stove, dished out the seasoned lamb and rice, and pulled up a chair beside me. "How about we eat together like we used to?"

"The pleasure is mine," I licked my lips, took a spoonful, and groaned with delight. "Still perfect in this art… this is so good." I savored a piece of meat.

"I'm glad you enjoy it… How are you feeling now?"

I looked up, noticing her gaze on my injured arm; she was referring to the poison.

"I'm good… Aurora takes good care of me."

"Of course she does." Joclyn smirked and continued eating.

I saw Trajan enter the kitchen.

"Hi," Joclyn greeted him.

Trajan approached, wearing his patrol uniform. "I was passing by and heard voices."

I nodded. "This damsel prepared a delicacy I couldn't resist."

Trajan watched us share a plate, his gaze shifting between Joclyn and the food.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes," he blurted, but corrected himself when Joclyn raised an eyebrow. "No… I'm not. I'll be going."

I frowned as he turned to leave. Was he afraid of her? Joclyn seemed harmless.

"Wait, Trajan, stay…" Joclyn said.

Trajan turned, and I stood. "Come sit, I was about to leave anyway."

"Are you full?" Joclyn asked kindly.

I nodded, picking up the water jug.

Trajan sat with Joclyn, and they began to eat. They stole glances at each other, shy in each other's presence, I thought.

I shrugged and left.

Reaching the corridor, I heard a faint sound: "Wa…"

I stopped, hearing it again: "I need wa… water."

I followed the sound to the dungeon; it was Kaida.

I turned to leave immediately.

"Water… I… would die of thirst… Water."

I gritted my teeth, searching for a servant but finding none. Sighing, I opened the dungeon gate.

"Why are you disturbing our peace?" I asked, seeing her crouched in a corner.

She lifted her head and approached slowly. "I need water."

She reached the bars, and I stepped back.

"Here," I said, handing her the jug. She snatched it and gulped it down.

Observing her as she drank, I saw the shadow of her former self. Her hair was disheveled, her dress torn—revealing almost her nipple. I quickly looked away.

Water spilled from the jug, wetting her dress further, clinging to her skin just before revealing her breast. Her chest heaved as she sighed.

She wiped the water, returning the jug. "Thanks…. But I'm so cold in this wet dress, can I get another?"

I started to speak, but she locked eyes with me, tilting her head as she removed her torn dress.

Damn it. I watched her dress fall, and she reached out from her cell, touching my chest. "I'm so cold, Dane… can you help me stay warm… for just tonight?"

She wore nothing underneath. I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe she was trying to seduce me.

I gritted my teeth, anger coursing through me. How dare she?

I grabbed her arm, growling, "Get your filthy hands off me, slut."

"Dane?"

I turned to see Aurora a few feet away, tears in her eyes.

"Aurora?" I tried to pull Kaida's arm from my shirt, but it tore.

Aurora shook her head and ran off. I followed, shouting, "Aurora!!"

"I love you, Dane," Kaida yelled.

"Fuck you," I growled.