"What answer?" Lily asked.
"Surely you remember," Kaden replied, his voice tense with anticipation,"You are supposed to bear me my heir."
"How…do you expect me to give you an answer in three days?" Lily raised her head, lifting a brow. She wanted to annoy him and make him feel frustrated. She knew that if she accepted, he would not understand the leverage that she held. But if she was persistent, he would be desperate and be willing to do anything.
She wanted him right in the middle of her fist and she was willing to risk her life for it.
A smirk slid across her lips when she noticed him place a hand against his brow.
"Are you not scared of my wrath?"
"Of course, I am, my lord. I wouldn't be breathing if it wasn't for your kindness afterall." Lily answered.
"There are no more chances for you. I want an answer, right now." Kaden retorted as he placed a hand on her cloaked shoulder.
"I'm afraid that it is too soon to get a response from me. My Lord, you should know that even if you have those heirs, how would you explain it? Would I not be killed or would my head not be hung from the village?"
"That is not your problem and if you are proposing that I have to wed you before…."
Lily let out a chuckle,"I do not wish to wed you, my Lord. I'd rather die than marry you."
How dare he think that she was desperate to marry him? It was certainly him who was the desperate one. The one who needed her rather than she. She had picked up some information from the servants and then realized that before
any royal could ascend the throne, he had to be wed or have his own heir. It was the culture among werewolves.
"Like I said before, it is not your problem. I would ensure your safety. I would pay you handsomely. You should be grateful that a mere servant like you is given this grace and opportunity."
Lily knew that he was running out of patience and time. She could see it from the way his eyes glowed with rage and the way his jaw tightened in frustration. He was rattled by her words but he did not want to push her to the wall, for fear that she might abscond from him.
She was his lifeline after all.
"I just need more time, my Lord. Is that too much to ask?" Lily probed.
"I am running out of patience with you, Lily. You should know better not to poke me." Kaden yelled as he circled the hallway, staring at her in a way that unsettled her.
"Is that a threat, my lord? I'd rather wish that you accord me respect if you want those three…heirs that you desire or else I'll never give you the answer that you want."
Lily held her chin high, defying the prince's menacing stare. Kaden's eyes narrowed, a simmering anger beneath his facade.
"You have a sharp tongue. I should have known that you were capable of this. I should have never underestimated you. " Kaden answered as he folded his arms, moving closer towards her with quick steps.
"So what will you do?" Lily asked, without hesitation,"Would you kill me with your sword or would you punish me? Would you also wait for a thousand years before you find a woman capable of touching you without dying?"
Kaden stopped abruptly, taken aback by her words. His fury subsided briefly as if struck by the painful truth he had tried to ignore.
"You...
"I have heard…tales of the man you are, my Lord," Lily muttered, "I heard you are a monster, wicked and cursed, bound never to know true solace. How lonely that must be."
"Yet here you are," Kaden said, lifting her chin so she could gaze into his eyes, "…Standing before me, unafraid. Most would flee at the mere mention of my curse, but not you."
Lily tried to take in a gulp but she couldn't. There was a tingling in her chest, a mix of fear and courage battling within her, especially when she was staring at him, eye to eye.
She was taken aback when he cupped her entire face in his hands. A sudden feeling crippled beneath her.
"Should we not nuture a greater familiarity before you enter my private chambers?"
Her eyes were star struck, caught by the unexpected gentleness in his gaze. His lips were curved with an enigmatic smile, a blend of amusement and sincerity that left her momentarily breathless.
Lily forced herself to steady her breath, willing strength to coarse through her veins. She clenched her fist, realizing that she was standing before the man who ravaged her colony and slaughtered her parents.
How dare he?
How dare he think that he could charm her with kind words and soft gestures? She would not be swayed by a monster's facade of kindness, neither would his smile falter her resolve.
She yanked his hands away from her face and turned on her heels, running without looking back. She didn't care about the consequences that she may face but she knew that she could not stand looking at him. It didn't help when she heard his laughter float through the hallway. Yet, as much as she wished to ignore it, his laughter pulled at her, like a string winding through the corridors, tugging relentlessly at her.
****
Kaden whistled as he walked towards his father's chambers which had grown more stranger than ever. He had gotten used to the stares, the squirms and the rooted figures of the servants but it didn't help that the reason was the curse.
His eyes flickered towards an open window, showing him the vast majority of Rivera as a whole. His eyes flickered with amusement when he remembered her.
Lily.
She fascinated him. She was the first human to rattle him. Not even Aros could do it. The way she refused to back down or negotiate, it amused him greatly.
Death didn't scare her.
It made him wonder what kind of life she lived all this time but he knew it was survival.
He turned his heel slowly as he neared his father's chambers. With a nod to the guards, he extended his hand toward the door, but before he could grasp the handle, the guards stepped forward. They raised their swords in a swift, precise motion, their blades intersecting to form a subtle but firm barrier. The gleaming metal crossed in front of him, their stance a quiet message that passage was not to be granted.
Kaden's brow furrowed in confusion, "Do you not know who I am?" he demanded, his voice tinged with frustration. "I am the crowned prince and the future heir to the throne of Rivera. Let me through."
The guards remained impassive, their eyes steady as they held their positions. "We cannot allow you entry," one of them replied, his voice firm and unyielding.
Fury flashed across Kaden's face. Without hesitation, he shoved the guards aside, their swords clanging as they staggered but quickly regained their composure. He forced his way through the door and into the chamber.
Inside, he was met with a shocking sight. His father stood in the middle of the bed, visibly startled, while a naked woman, her skin exposed in the dim light, was in his arms. Her raven- haired beauty cascaded down her back while his father's hands were deeply rooted in her bosom while the woman writhled beneath, her eyes fluttering closed as she moaned.
Kaden's stomach churned as he cleared his throat and without a second glance, the woman clutched her gown closer and fled from the chamber. Kaden walked towards his father's bed as he dragged open the shield which was a rich, red cloth. The cloth, heavy and deep crimson, was embroidered with gold thread in intricate patterns. It served as a luxurious but opaque cover, concealing much of the bed beneath. The faint smell of wine lingered in the air as Kaden approached.
"I asked not to be disturbed." Came his father's voice.
Kaden scoffed, letting a bitter laugh roll off his lips before muttering, "How could you betray Mother, the one you claim to love? How could you sleep with another person…"
"H-How dare you speak to me like this?" the King thundered, his voice shaking with indignation. "You dare question my wisdom, my own flesh and blood? Do you think me a fool, a king who knows nothing of the world? It is I, who wept alone when your mother passed, who ruled this kingdom through trials and tribulations, who survived on wine when all seemed lost. You weren't there and now, you presume to tell me who I should share my bed with? You, who know nothing of the burdens I bear, the weight of the crown I wear. You will respect me, boy. I am your king, and your father."
The air was thick with the scent of old leather and wood smoke. The dimly lit candles wavered with the wind and a roaring fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow on the polished oak floor.
Kaden's eyes widened in shock, his face pale as his father's word hung in the air but he quickly regained his composure as he stood tall, his eyes flashing with defiance,"You speak of respect, Father? You, who betrayed Mother's trust and mine? Why would you do this?"
His father's face darkened, his hand rising to silence Kaden. His fingers tightened around the bed, knuckles white with tension and just as he was about to respond, the door creaked open. Isaiah, the eunuch, rushed inside with a hasty bow.
"Your Majesty!" Isaiah exclaimed, his chest heaving. "Forgive my intrusion, but... the sorcerers that were towards Rivera... they've been found dead, on the outskirts of the city. Their bodies are torn apart, and crows feed on their skin."
Kaden's eyes widened in horror as Isaiah's words hung in the air. He tried to speak, but his words were tangled in his throat. "No... this can't be... they were supposed to… break my curse."
His voice trailed off, his mind reeling with the implications. The sorcerers, his only hope, were dead. The curse would never be lifted. His fate was sealed.