My heart pounded in fear as I stared up at the man who stared down at me, his nostrils flared in anger. Fucking hell, what do I say? I didn't plan on getting caught. But what was I expecting? I was the one who walked into a room and landed myself inside this mess.
I thought about what to say as I stared up at the man who was a vision of masculine perfection, with his dark hair cascading around his face, two strands forming a curtain that framed his features. Stormy grey eyes held a captivating intensity, drawing me in with their magnetic pull. Long, dark eyelashes framed those eyes, adding a touch of allure to his already striking face. And his lips, oh those red lips of his….
"I thought I asked you a question." The man suddenly spoke pulling me away from whatever sinful thoughts I was having about his lips. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" He queried, his gaze bore into me, his eyes filled with suspicion and threat.
I knew I wasn't supposed to be here, I wasn't even supposed to be anywhere. I was supposed to remain hidden but I disobeyed that order and now the consequences of my actions loomed over me like a dark cloud. Panic surged through my veins as I desperately searched for a response that wouldn't get me killed.
The man inched closer towards me and a quick glance at his hands, made me realize that his claws were coming out. He doesn't seem that attractive now that I know the danger he is to me! I stared up at him, my eyes wide with fear and my mouth opened while I desperately tried to come up with a response.
As I opened my mouth to speak, a voice cut through the tension. "Aspen!" It said commanding attention.
I turned to find the prince coming into the room, his presence filling the room with an air of authority. Relief washed over me, mingled with surprise. I hadn't expected him to be here, I thought he something had happened to him.
Corion stepped into the room, before he bowed at the man. "Forgive me your Majesty, she is one of the maids that were recently hired to attend to me, I didn't think she will be missing on the first day." Corion said his gaze subtly moving to mine.
But all I could think about was his majesty! Suddenly it hit me then, Corion had called him Aspen which meant this was King Aspen, the ruler of all of Vernon and the king of the wolves! I felt my knees buckle as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place and I was suddenly torn between the need to bow or kiss hiss feet while asking for mercy.
"A maid?" King Aspen asked looking at his brother before his gaze turned to look at me, assessing me with a slight frown on his face. "Seems like she still has a lot to learn since she is so brazenly looking at me in the eye."
Immediately, I averted my gaze and bowed my head. "Forgive me your majesty, I didn't mean to intrude on…"
"Next time take better care of your maids." King Aspen said cutting me off as he turned to look at Corion who wasn't looking at him and instead stared at his feet in total submission. "How do you expect to handle matters of the states when you can't even handle a weak insignificant human being?" He asked in a condescending tone while eyeing his brother and there was no mistaking the contempt in his gaze.
King Aspen's gaze then cut to mine and I was quick to avert my eyes, I didn't need to anger him further. After a while, I heard him open the door before he left. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding before I stared back at the prince, "Does he always talk to you like that? I mean I get that he is the king and all but_"
I couldn't get another word out because the prince lunged for me, his hand closing around my neck as he shoved me into the wall. The force of his grip sent a shockwave if pain through my body and I gasped for breath, my eyes wide with fear while I stared up at his face which was contorted in anger.
"What the fuck did I tell you?" He asked squeezing my neck tighter, drawing a whimper from me. "What was the one thing you were told? To not leave your room, and yet you chose to disobey my orders?" He growled harshly at me.
The words caught in my throat, my mind racing to find an explanation that would appease his wrath. But at that moment, all I could think about was the sheer terror coursing through my veins. I had been so consumed by the worries about the king's power and influence that I had forgotten about the prince's own dark side.
"DON'T YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOURSELF KILLED?" He queried in a loud voice that was harsh and demanding.
I struggled to find my voice, my body trembling under his relentless hold. I grabbed his hand, "You…you are hurting me…" I choked out but instead of answering me Corion squeezed further, his eyes flashing red and I knew immediately he was wolfing out.
If he continued like this he was going to kill me! Tears leaked from the corner of my eyes as I stared up at Corion who was snarling and growling at me. To be honest, I never imagined that I was going to get killed this way. He assured me that I wasn't going to die but now he was breaking that promise!
I reached for him, placing my hand gently on his. "Corion…Please," I pleaded my bottom lips trembling, "You are hurting me." I managed to choke out as a tear finally escaped, rolling down my cheek before falling on top of Corion's hand.
Corion frowned slightly before he suddenly released his hand from my throat. I crumpled down to the ground, drawing deep shaky breaths as I gathered my thoughts. I stared up at Corion who was still staring down at his hands, a look of disbelief etched on his face before he stared at me.
He then took a step forward towards me but I instinctively moved backwards causing him to stop. Corion looked like he was about to say something when the door suddenly opened and Anya and her friend burst into the room.
"Corion?" Anya asked before she stared down at me, a look of anger crossing her features. "Oh you fucking bitch, you are in trouble now!" She said about to reach for me but Corion stopped her.
"Leave her alone, just take her to the servant quarters."
The man frowned as he stared at Corion. "Servant quarters? Why is that?"
"Yeah, I thought you didn't want anyone to know about her." Anya said, her face puzzled as she stared at Corion then back at me.
Corion shook his head, "It's too late for that, Aspen already knows about her, so now the safest place for her is the servant quarters." He said his gaze cutting to mine, "She's to become part of the maids that clean the castle!" He stated and without offering another explanation, he left the room in quite a hurry too leaving me to wonder what the hell just happened!