The Princess's Revenge Chapter 53

Valencia’s POV

I made my way down the stone stairs, the sound of voices and activity growing louder with each step. The smoke that had filled the corridors earlier was much thinner now, though the acrid smell of burned wood and food still hung in the air.

When I reached the first floor, the scene was one of organized chaos. Six or seven warriors who had recovered from the wolfsbane poisoning were moving with purpose, carrying leather buckets and clay pots filled with water from the well. Their faces were streaked with soot.

"Keep the water coming!" one of them shouted, his voice hoarse from smoke. "The food storage is almost out!"

I spotted Dr. Vance near the well, directing the efforts. When he saw me, he hurried over, his face showing relief.

"Valencia," he called out. "How are the people upstairs?"

"Everyone on the second floor has been treated," I replied. "Delphine is taking the remaining antidote to the third floor."

"Good," Dr. Vance nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "The armory fire is completely out, and we've contained the supply storage. We're focusing all efforts on the food storage now."

I stepped closer to him, lowering my voice so the others wouldn't overhear. "Dr. Vance, there's something you need to know. Behind the food storage room, there are two bodies on the secret passage."

His eyes widened with shock. "Bodies? Xander?"

"Yes, and Landon," I said quietly, watching pain flicker across his face.

Dr. Vance closed his eyes for a moment, his shoulders sagging with grief. "Xander," he whispered. "Such a brave young man."

"The bodies need to be moved," I continued. "They can't stay there exposed."

"Yes, of course," Dr. Vance said. "We can store them temporarily in the underground crypt until we can give them proper burials."

I stared at him in surprise. "Underground crypt?"

"It's on the west side of the castle," Dr. Vance explained. "It's where we lay the pack's honored dead to rest. I'll need to get the key to open it."

I nodded, feeling relief. At least Xander would be treated with dignity. "I'll help with the fires while you handle that."

"Thank you, Valencia," Dr. Vance said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Every pair of hands helps."

I turned toward the food storage room, where thick smoke still poured from the doorway. A warrior emerged, coughing and gasping for clean air.

"How bad is it in there?" I asked him.

"Getting better," he replied, wiping soot from his eyes. "But the wooden shelves are still burning. We need more water."

"I'll help," I said, grabbing an empty bucket from the ground.

The warrior looked at me with surprise. "You? But the heat in there is dangerous for-"

"I can handle it," I interrupted firmly.

I joined the line of people carrying water from the well to the burning room. The warrior beside me, a young man with brown hair, glanced at me curiously.

"You're Valencia, right?" he asked as we filled our buckets. "The one Alpha Logan brought back?"

"Yes," I replied simply.

"I heard you saved people during the attack," he continued, his voice respectful. "And fire can’t hurt you?"

Word was spreading fast through the pack. "Mm-hm," I nodded, "I just did what needed to be done."

We carried our buckets toward the storage room. The heat hit us as we approached, but I felt only warmth while the warrior beside me winced from the intensity.

"Throw the water on the base of the flames!" someone shouted from inside. "Don't waste it on the ceiling!"

I stepped into the burning room, ignoring the shocked gasps from the warriors behind me. The flames licked at my clothes, but I felt no pain as I doused the burning grain sacks with water.

"She's walking through fire again!" one of them yelled. "How is she doing that?"

I didn't answer. There was no time to explain something I didn't understand myself. I just kept working, throwing water on every flame I could reach.

Back and forth we went, bucket after bucket. The warriors watched me with a mixture of awe and fear, but they kept working alongside me. Gradually, the flames began to die down.

"The wooden shelves are almost out!" called the brown-haired warrior. "A few more buckets should do it!"

I grabbed another bucket and rushed back into the room. The last of the major flames hissed and died as I poured water over them. Smoke continued to rise from the smoldering debris, but the fire was finally under control.

"It's out!" someone shouted. "The food storage fire is out!"

A cheer went up from the exhausted warriors. I stepped out of the room, my clothes singed but my skin unmarked. The group stared at me in amazement.

"How do you do that?" the brown-haired warrior asked, his voice filled with wonder. "Walk through fire like it's nothing?"

"I honestly don't know," I replied, setting down my empty bucket. "I only discovered it today."

Dr. Vance appeared beside us, having returned from his task. "The crypt is ready," he said quietly to me. "I'll have some men retrieve the bodies."

I nodded, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. At least that was handled.

"Valencia," Dr. Vance continued, "you've done incredible work today. Without you, we would have lost far more people."

The warriors around us murmured their agreement.

The praise hit me like a physical blow. I stared at Dr. Vance in complete shock, my mouth hanging open. I glanced around at all the people, my eyes moving from one face to another. They were all looking at me with expressions I had never seen before. Not disgust. Not contempt. But something that looked almost like... respect.

This was the first time I had ever received recognition from so many people at once. My heart began racing, the sensation almost overwhelming. It felt incredible, like something I had never imagined could happen to me.

"You really mean that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Every word," Dr. Vance said firmly. "Without you, we would have lost probably half the people in this castle. You saved us, Valencia."

Heat flooded my cheeks, and I felt tears gathering in my eyes. The overwhelming rush of recognition made my chest feel tight with emotion I didn't know how to process.

"Thank you," I said, my voice breaking slightly. "Thank you for saying that. I... I've never..."

"Never been told you matter?" Dr. Vance's expression softened with understanding. "Well, you do. More than you know."

I wiped my eyes quickly, trying to compose myself. There was still so much to do, and Alpha Logan was still in danger.

"Dr. Vance," I said, my voice growing steadier. "Do you have a map of Cliffwatch Pack? I need to know the route to Eagle's Beak."

"A map?" He shook his head firmly. "Maps are precious resources. Only Alpha Logan have. You're still planning to go there?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Yes," I said without hesitation. "Alpha Logan is in danger. He drank poisoned wine before he left. He could be facing enemies right now while stripped of his wolf's power."

Dr. Vance stared at me for a long moment, conflict clear in his eyes. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.

He pulled out a bottle of antidote and handed it to me. I accepted it and tucked it inside my clothes.

"Northwest," he said reluctantly. "About fifty miles northwest of here. Follow the Grey River until you reach a canyon. You'll be able to see our outposts there."

"Thank you," I said, relief flooding through me. "Thank you so much."

"Valencia," Dr. Vance said, his voice filled with worry. "Be careful. The road to Eagle's Beak is dangerous even in the best of times. And now, with rogues and traitors..."

"I'll be careful," I promised. "I have to go."

Dr. Vance nodded slowly. "May the Moon Goddess protect you."

I turned and ran toward the stairs, my heart pounding with urgency. I reached the second floor and rushed into the kitchen. Nestor was wiping down a wooden table while Kael organized some food supplies, their faces having returned to normal color.

"Nestor! Kael!" I called out, slightly out of breath.

They both turned to look at me, their expressions immediately showing concern. "Valencia," Nestor said. "What can we do for you?"

"I need supplies," I said quickly. "Water bags, food for travel, anything that might help on a long journey."

Kael's eyebrows rose with surprise. "A journey? Where are you going?"

"To help Alpha Logan," I replied. "He's in danger."

Without hesitation, both men began moving around the kitchen, gathering items. Their willingness to help without asking questions made my chest warm with gratitude.

"Here," Nestor said, handing me a leather water bag. "This should hold enough water for two days if you're careful."

Kael appeared with a small cloth bundle. "Dried meat, hard cheese, and some bread," he explained. "It'll keep well for travel."

"Thank you," I said, accepting the bundle gratefully.

"Wait," Nestor said, disappearing into a storage area. He returned with coiled rope and a small leather pouch. "Rope for climbing or securing things. And this has flint, steel, and tinder for making fires."

I stared at them both, overwhelmed by their kindness. "Why are you helping me like this?"

Kael smiled gently. "Because you saved our lives."

Tears gathered in my eyes again. "Thank you. Both of you. I won't forget this."

"Be safe, Valencia," Kael said seriously. "Come back to us."

"I will," I promised, clutching the supplies to my chest.

I left the kitchen and headed for the stairs, my heart feeling lighter. The kindness of these people - Dr. Vance, Nestor, Kael, Delphine - had given me something I'd never had before. A sense of belonging.

As I reached the staircase, a familiar voice cut through the air like ice.

"Going somewhere, little cunt?"

I turned to see Amara standing in the hallway, her arms crossed and her face twisted with that familiar look of disgust.

"I have things to do," I said simply, not wanting to engage with her hostility.

"Things to do?" Amara laughed harshly. "Like what? Running away while the rest of us deal with the mess you helped create?"

I stared at her in shock. "Mess I helped create?"

"You think I don't know?" Amara stepped closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You think I don't see what's really happening here? My pack is destroyed, and somehow you're always at the center of it."