NIKOLAS POV
As Xaiter left my room, I felt a mix of emotions like relief, gratitude and fear.
I was relieved to be safe, grateful to Xaiter for saving me, and fearful of what my life will bring.
So, I made a decision as I am eager to talk to someone about what just happened and that someone was Luca, my best friend,
we were brought to the castle together, but got separated upon arrival and I have been wondering if Luca was even alive, or if he had been sent to some other part of the castle like me .
I waited until night when the coast was clear to slip out of my room and into the deserted corridor moving quickly and quietly, I have no idea where to start looking, but I knew I had to try. I searched room after room, corridor after corridor, but there was no sign of Luca.
The castle was eerie quite at night making the walls looks wide, I saw two guards coming in my direction, quickly I scanned my surroundings and spotted a door to my left slipping inside just as the guards turned the corner.
I found myself in a small room listening as the guards walked by, I let out a sigh of relief as they passed, knowing I can't stay here for long before I get caught.
Looking around, the room was small, with shelves lining the walls containing books and strange artifacts. I spotted a window on the opposite side, partially hidden by a curtain.
Making my way towards it, I realized it was locked so I went back to the door and looked out until I saw that the coast was clear and ran out into the hallway back .
My feet pounding the stone floor as my eyes scan the shadows for any sign of movement, I tried to remember the wing that held the human slaves knowing that's where I would find Luca.
I took a few wrong turns, but finally, I saw the familiar dull brown hallway where the human slaves were kept.I could hear the sound of voices and shuffling footsteps,quickly I hid in the shadow when a very handsome man with extremely expensive clothing comes out of the slave quarter. He was dressed in fine silks and his jewelry sparkles.
"Who is this man, and what was he doing in the slave quarter?" I thought because he looked like a noble, or maybe even a Lord.
The man looked around cautiously his eyes scanning the hallway as if he was worried about being seen. He nodded to himself and started to walk away, his expensive clothes flowing as he moved.
I waited until he was out of sight before come out from my hiding spot. I am curious about who he is and what he was doing here.
And I had a feeling that Luca might know something about him.
I made my way to the room I remembered is the one where Luca and I have been held captive before the king made me his personal servant. I entered the room, my eyes landed on Luca who is lying on a bed and his lips looked swollen as if he had been kissed repeatedly and his neck was covered in hickeys. our eyes met and Luca's expression changed from shock to relief as he took in my presence. "Nikolas, thank God you are alive!" he exclaimed.
I rushed to his side , "Thank God you are too, Luca, and what is with the swollen lip and hickeys?"
Luca's face turned bright red as he touched his lip, as if remembering what had happened. He looked away, his eyes avoiding mine.
"Nikolas, I...I don't know what to say," he stammered.
"Tell me, Luca. anything?" I asked while sitting beside him.
Luca took a deep breath before speaking. " His name is Lord Ryan and he is the lord of Asia."
"So he's the one I saw when I was coming to meet you but he doesn't look like a vampire." I said
Luca shook his head. "Because he's a werewolf and he came yesterday to the palace. I didn't know what he was at first, but he told me."
I raised an eyebrow. "A werewolf? but why is he with you a human ."
"He says he is interested in me and he is kind and gentle with me." Luca said
"And are you even interested in him, Luca? because He is a lord and a werewolf, at that. Don't you think he is just using you as a toy?" I asked
Luca looked at me, "I like him, Nikolas even if it's just yesterday we met, it feels like we have known each other for years."
"That's just it Luca , you have only known him for a day and you can't seriously be considering a relationship with him, can you?" I reasoned.
"Why not, Nikolas? Just because he's a lord and a werewolf doesn't mean he's not genuine. And I have to admit, I feel a connection with him that I have never felt with anyone before."
I sighed, trying to think of the right words to say. "Luca, I just don't want to see you get hurt. You deserve so much better than to be used as a plaything for some powerful noble."
Luca placed a hand on my arm. "I know you are just trying to protect me, Nikolas. But I need you to trust me on this one. I know what I'm doing."
"Okay, Luca. I trust you. But promise me one thing , be careful around him, okay?"
"I promise, so enough about me Nikolas, where have you been since yesterday? You were dragged out of here, and I was worried sick about you."Luca said, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I took a deep breath as I process everything that had happened before answering. "I am now the king's personal servant."
Luca's eyes widened in shock. "What? How did that happen?"
"After I was dragged out of here, i stumbled into the king and he chose me to be his personal servant and today I was nearly drained by a noble."
"Who did that to you?" Luca growled.
I placed a hand on his arm to calm him down. "It was Lady Victoria. She said she is the king betrothed But I managed to escape So it's okay, Luca and I can take care of myself but I need you to be careful around Lord Ryan. We don't know much about him, and I don't want you getting hurt."
Luca nodded. "I will, Nikolas. I promise. But what is it like being the king's personal servant?"
I sighed finding the right words. "It's complicated and I came here to see if you're still well, maybe we could escape from here."
"But do we have a good plan?" he asked.
"I've been thinking, maybe we could try to make a run for it during the night because I noticed that the guards are less vigilant then."
Luca nodded " okay but when"
" I don't know and I have to get back to my room before someone find out I am missing"
Luca's eyes filled with sadness . "Okay, but be careful the guards are still out, and we don't know who we can trust."
"I will and you too, Luca. Don't trust Lord Ryan too much. We don't know his true intentions."
Luca nodded, "I won't,"
"Until next time, Luca," I replied smiling before turning and slipping out of the room.
As I made my way to my room, I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. I avoided any guard I saw, when suddenly I am pinned into a nearby wall, the shadows swallowing us whole. I struggled to break free, but a strong hand held me in place.
"Stay still," a low voice whispered in my ear.
I tried to turn my head, but the hand held me firm. "King Alexander?" I whispered, he didn't respond, but his grip on me relaxed slightly. I tried to wiggle out, but he held me firm. That's when I saw a guard pass by. If King Alexander hadn't pinned me to the wall, I would have been caught for sure.
I stayed still, my heart pounding in my chest. The guard disappeared around the corner, and King Alexander bent down, his face inches from mine. I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead, he stuck his nose into my neck and started to smell me.
I froze, unsure of what to do. His hot breath sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. What was he doing?
"I can smell a human male on you," king Alexander said, his voice low and husky. "I want to know who it is and what you were doing sneaking around."
I tried to think of a convincing lie, but my mind was blank. "I don't know what you're talking about and I was just coming from the garden, Your Majesty," I stammered.
His grip tightened. "Don't lie to me, Nikolas. I can smell the scent of a human male on your skin. It's disgusting."
I tried to squirm away, "I don't know what you're talking about, Your Majesty,"
"Don't play dumb, Nikolas," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. he pressed his body into mine, his chest against mine, his hips against my mine. I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I realized how vulnerable I was.
"Who is it?" he demanded, "Tell me, Nikolas. Who is the human male you are hiding?"
I tried to think of a convincing lie, but my mind was blank. The king's body was too close, too overwhelming and I felt like I was suffocating.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered again.
king Alexander grip tightens again as he pressed his lips against my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine. "Tell me, Nikolas. Who is it?"
"Your Majesty, please," I begged, feeling traped in his grasp.
"Please what?" he asked, I tried to think of a convincing reason to stop him, but the king didn't wait for an answer. He pressed his lips into mine, his mouth claiming me in a fierce and possessive kiss. I realized I was completely at his mercy.
"Your Majesty, stop," I mumbled against his lips pushing him away but he didn't stop he deepened the kiss, his tongue invading my mouth, claiming me as his own.