Rama sat in front of the dressing mirror while Malika brushed her hair after drying, once in a while, the maid would steal glances of her mistress's reflection through the mirror, her Jade blue eyes were hard as she caught her staring.
"Do you have something to say Malika? You're free to speak your mind when we're alone." Rama said in a composed manner, but her voice was a tad softer than her usual sharp tone that seemed to intimidate others.
Malika inhaled deeply before she spoke.
"My princess, I heard of you summoning the high court to announce your coronation, I'm just worried your cousin has the upper hand and they might take your seat on the throne." Malika said with a worried expression, her tone was low as servants weren't supposed to speak out loud.
Rama didn't say a word, her expression still blank but her eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint.
"Don't worry about me Malika, I can handle them." Her words were short and clipped as she stared at the reflection of Malika in the mirror but the maid quickly averted her gaze as she had an intimidating one.
"Are you scared of me, Malika?" Rama's face softened a bit as she gave the maid a teasing smirk and the maid's expression quickly changed as a small smile crossed her lips.
"Of course not your Highness." Malika said, she was two years older than her, but Rama seemed to be more mature and wiser in the world.
Malika continued brushing her mistress's black hair in silence when they both heard the loud howling of wolves just outside the Castle grounds.
Rama's heart skipped a beat at the familiar sound and she abruptly stood up, moving with a slightly frantic movement towards the window to look outside.
Her Jade blue eyes widened with a glint of excitement in them as she saw the familiar face, her heart raced against her chest in excitement but she quickly composed herself as she realized she was fast losing her composure.
Malika's gaze narrowed out the window to see what had brightened her Mistress's mood and when she saw the approaching figures, she suddenly realized why and a small shy smile grazed her lips but discreetly.
"I'll be right back." Rama cleared her throat before saying, hoping she didn't sound too excited as she exited her room after putting on her robe.
Her pace as she walked through the corridors threatened to increase, but she forced herself to remain calm as the guards on night duty were present in the corridors and their eyes were on her.
She felt a smile threatening to break through her lips as she saw the familiar figures approaching her, the werewolf king and two of his accomplice.
The werewolf clan and her ancestors had been great allies for centuries, peace had reigned between Saba Empire and the werewolf kingdom, and maybe a secret admiration too.
She hoped her eyes didn't give out too much excitement as she stared at them. She had grown infatuated with the werewolf king ever since they knew each other as kids.
The werewolf kingdom was a short distance away from the Empire and their Fathers were great friends so the two kids mostly hung out in the forest as they enjoyed each other's company, but with time spent, she had grown a deep affection towards him she was well aware he couldn't reciprocate.
She knew werewolves would end up with their werewolf mate as nature had already made it but she couldn't let go of her infatuation for him.
As years passed, Roshan became the Alpha king of his clan, he had to take on the role as the king of his werewolf clan which drastically decreased the time they spent together, but it didn't lessen what she felt for him, instead her longing grew as time passed.
It had been almost a year since they last hung out as he had kingly duties to now carry out in his kingdom.
He was wearing a fur cloak with pants over a leather boot as he approached her.
Rama's eyes shortly narrowed to his exposed body which the fur cloak didn't do much to hide, his tanned muscular chest and sculpted abs made her gulp softly, but she quickly averted her gaze to his chiseled handsome face.
He towered above her even though she wasn't short, his dark brown long hair was tied in a single ponytail with locks falling at the sides, and his hazel eyes locked with hers, he was excited as well to see her but she knew better than anyone the look he gave her, it was that of an older brother and it made her heart sting a bit.
"Rama, it's so good to see you. I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit. I heard of your Father's passing, I'm deeply sorry." His deep, husky voice whisked its way into her ears and she felt her legs wobble but she immediately strengthened her demeanor.
'How could a man make her feel this way?' She screamed inwardly, but in her defense, he was no man. She grew infatuated with him because of a lot of things, he was the man she had always wanted but could never get.
"It's fine, you're king now and you have a lot of duties to carry out, I didn't expect you to make out time to pay a visit." Rama said in a straight clear voice, her composure was strong and she gave herself a mental pat on the back.
She saw a grin cut through his face revealing his white teeth that had elongated canines.
"We have a lot to catch up on unless you were going to bed." Roshan said with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he smiled at her with a carefree expression.
Butterflies danced in her stomach as she stared at him.
"I wasn't sleeping yet, we can talk." She said in an almost rushed tone which made her bite down on her lower lips.
She led him outside the garden and felt the cold wind blow past them but she was wearing a robe so it didn't affect her much, she knew he wouldn't be affected either since he was a hot blooded creature.
"You've grown slightly taller and more beautiful." Her cheeks flushed at his sudden compliment but she was thankful it was dark and only the dim moonlight shone on them.
"I see, you haven't changed, you're still as handsome as I remembered and cheesy." She wasn't sure if she heard him growl or grunt but he made a low deep sound.
"Aren't princesses supposed to be given out in marriage when they reach eighteen years of age?" His question threw her by surprise.
"My Father wanted me to become Queen." She mentioned almost immediately and she heard another low grunt escape his lips.
"You'll make a great Queen, you already have the characteristics, sharp mouthed, strong, and wise." His words made her face lighten, she was glad he noticed those things about her.
"Well, it might be hard now since he's gone. Everyone wants my cousin to rule, but not on my watch, I'll spill blood if I have to..." She trailed off, realizing her anger was making her spout her devious plans to him.
She looked up at his slightly flustered face with hazel eyes widened.
"I won't judge, you're the rightful heir and no one should take that from you. I'd do the same if I were in your position." His words made her guilt seize and it didn't surprise her as werewolves were naturally violent beings, but at least she was doing the right thing in his eyes even if everyone would look at her as a monster in the end.
"Right, I'll be announcing my coronation tomorrow, I know the high court already has plans to coronate my cousin as king but I have mine and they won't be ready for it." Her voice was low, her jade blue eyes glowing in the darkness with a dark glint in them.
"The Queen you shall be, I'm ever ready to lend my assistance to you, I'll stay behind till you're coronated, if only my presence does not cause any inconvenience of course."
"Nonsense! I'll need all the help I can get, you're a very powerful man, you'll be a great help to me, thank you." Rama said as her jade eyes locked into his hazel ones and a smile reached his lips as he rubbed his neat stub.
"What are friends for." The word 'friend' made numerous cracks appear in her heart and it would shatter into millions of pieces any moment, she knew they could never be, she was human, and he was a werewolf.
She didn't want any man but him and if she couldn't have him, then she'd resort to being alone, no human man could meet her standards, to her they were just cowards who wanted to dominate over women whom they saw as the inferior genders.
Roshan would certainly end up with his werewolf mate, leaving her with a broken heart but what could she do about it, it was only the rule of nature and she wasn't strong enough to alter it.