Chapter 30 Promised Visit

• Clara
• We spent the long, uncomfortable meal in complete silence. I could barely taste my food, and even the novelty of the iced drink Piper called coffee did not distract me from Prince Bruess’s domineering presence. He did not eat. I’m not sure why he would sit in this restaurant just to admire the colorful peaks of Terran, but I guessed that there was an unspoken rule that he could not remove his muzzle. This sort of punishment was common enough in garrisons and prison cells, but I had never seen it implemented for such a high-ranking member of the pack. It struck me as incredibly cruel and debasing, but seeing such a powerful werewolf in this state sent a clear message – there was only one heir to the throne, and it would be Deanneth.
• There were other things that I began to notice. A light golden chain was tied across his wrists. He shifted his position in his chair, and I saw that his feet were bare. Heavy golden cuffs encircled his ankles, and they were connected by a chain. There were enough gold links to grant him freedom of movement, but not enough to shift into his wolf form. I glanced furtively at his neck, and it shocked me to see how it chafed his raw skin.