Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 408

Chapter 408

“What’s your name?”

I met his gaze and held it. “Viktor.”

He studied my eyes through the slats in my helmet for another long moment. I could see his suspicion in the way his hand drifted toward the hilt of his sword. If he called for backup, I was done. I’d have to fight my way out, and that would alert the entire stronghold. There was no way I would make it on my own.

But then, by some miracle, he grunted and said, “Whatever. Get to your post, newcomer. And don’t cause any trouble.”

“Yes, Sir.” I nodded once and walked past him, forcing myself not to rush.

Once I rounded the corner, I allowed myself a moment to lean against the wall. That had been too close. I needed to find Natalia and get out of here before my luck ran out.

I continued through the palace, listening. Watching. Guards patrolled in pairs, but it was the servants in black robes that really caught my attention. They all looked hunched, crippled, limping like their bodies were broken and completely unfit for labor, but most of them were carrying cleaning supplies.

When I passed by one and met his gaze, his eyes were strangely glazed over and… empty. It was unsettling, like looking into a doll’s face.

Finally, I passed two servants who weren’t in black robes or crippled. They were speaking in low voices. I slowed my pace, pretending to adjust the straps on my uniform.

“-the Queen is taking her meals in the suite now,” I heard one whisper.

“The King wants her well–rested,” the other replied with a nod. “Tomorrow’s an important day.”

I frowned. Queen? Suite? Tomorrow? None of it made any sense; I’d never heard about the Winter King having a “queen“.

Suddenly, the first servant said, “And those two children, too… But they won’t eat… They’re still asleep…”

My footsteps froze. Children. Two of them.

That had to be the twins.

“Excuse me.” I turned abruptly. “I’m looking for the Queen’s suite.”

The servants looked at me warily for a moment, but they saw my guard’s uniform, and one pointed. “Third floor, east wing. The suite with the double doors.”

“Thank you.”

I hurried away and found the staircase and climbed quickly. By the time I reached the third floor, my ribs were aching, but I kept going. If Natalia was being held here, referred to as some “queen“… Then perhaps the Winter King’s plans with her were even more sinister than we could have thought.

The corridor was quieter here, thankfully. I passed several doors before I found the one the servants had mentioned: massive double doors with a single guard standing watch outside.

1/2

“Relief shift,” I said, approaching.

The guard looked at me, confused. “I’m not scheduled for relief for another hour.”

“Change of plans.” I shrugged. “Take it up with the captain, if you’re so inclined. But he’s in a pissy mood; something about newbies from Bloodmoon wasting his time.”

“Ah, shit.” The guard sighed and stepped away from the doors. “He’s always pissed about something, isn’t he? I should probably stay out of his hair.”

I nodded, and with that, he handed me a small keyring with two keys on it and strode down the corridor. The moment he was out of sight, I tested the door. It was locked, so I tried one of the keys, then the other. The second one worked, turning with a satisfying click.

Glancing over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being watched, I slipped inside and shut the door quietly behind me.

The suite was warm and luxurious. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting golden light across plush rugs and velvet furniture. And there, in the large bed near the window, were the twins.

Relief flooded through me so suddenly my knees nearly buckled. They were alive. Unharmed. I rushed over to them. “Max!” I hissed, shaking them. “Jane!”

But they didn’t stir. My wolf growled with concern; he said they were in some kind of stasis, probably due to the trauma of getting here. Their wolves were sleeping.

I looked around for Natalia then, but I didn’t see her anywhere. All I found was the crippled body of a woman who looked five and a hundred years old at the same time curled up in the closet, making me gasp and stumble

backwards.

“What the fuck?” I whispered, staggering out of the closet.

I was just about to call Natalia’s name, fearing the worst, when the door swung open behind me and a small, hunched form in a black robe slipped into the room.

2/2