SAVANNAH
He carried me like a princess from the bed, and no matter how much I insisted I could manage on my own, my words went in one ear and out the other.
"Hold on tight," he ordered when I wasn't sure how to settle against his sturdy chest.
I hesitantly raised my hands and wrapped them around his strong neck.
"Come closer, am I that unpleasant to you?" he looked down with a frozen glare to scorch me, and I immediately shook my head, like a doll with springs in its neck.
My fingers intertwined at the nape of his neck. His heart beat powerfully against my side, and I struggled to keep my eyes from wandering over his masculine features.
His fiery hair swirled and danced with each impetuous stride through the castle hallways and down the stairs, as if he carried no weight at all.
His skin felt warm, and a tantalizing scent wafted near my nose, stirring my senses.
Has he managed to tame his fervor yet? Perhaps soon he'll find himself dragging more of his lovers by their hair.
"Don't be afraid," he suddenly said. "Point out anyone you think is guilty, Savannah."
We stopped in front of the massive kitchen door.
"Alright. What will you do with that person?"
"I'll kill them, of course," he replied matter-of-factly, kicking the door open and striding into the room with an authoritative presence. Everyone inside was trembling.
Fear hung thick in the air, and today, more blood would be spilled.
"My Lord, I have gathered the entire guard service as you ordered," the Housekeeper governess immediately approaches us.
She eyed me oddly, as did the rest of those present, and I felt embarrassed to be in the King's arms.
He stepped to the side and placed me in a chair before taking one next to me, exuding a murderous aura that sent chills down my spine.
"Now tell me, Savannah, describe in detail what happened when you came to fetch my dinner," he commanded, and I didn't hesitate to recount everything.
When I reached the part about the maids, I looked directly at them. Both had their heads bowed, and panic was evident in their eyes.
"... then, I arrived at the Housekeeper's place, and there was no one there. Those men who claimed to be guards seized me."
"Yes, they're lower-ranking warriors of the pack; they patrol the forest's edges. I investigated their identities, and the one who survived confirmed it," he added, but I was startled to see a shadowy figure in the corner.
I hadn't noticed Lycan Reece leaning against a column, arms crossed over his chest.
"Lord, did he say who ordered him?" I asked Lycan Reece, looking at him with respect. Despite the darkness, his golden eyes gleamed clearly.
"No, he didn't confess, even under torture," he assured me, and his gaze shifted to the King beside me.
I assumed His Majesty Fenrir was the one who had interrogated him. Still, he didn't speak? Was his accomplice that important to him?
I turned to glance at the King but froze when I met his cold, accusatory stare. What did I do now, Your Majesty?!
I quickly lowered my head.
"When Maid Savannah came to my house, I had stepped out for a moment, Your Highness; that's why she couldn't find me," the housekeeper defended herself.
"Well, I'll be brief: you two are the main suspects. You can talk willingly, or I'll take you to the dungeons anyway." Fenrir pointed at them, and the two women immediately threw themselves to the floor.
They cried, swore, and insisted it wasn't them, claiming that only the cook, the housekeeper, and I had access to His Majesty's food.
"Sir, if I may add, I immediately checked their rooms and their clothing; they were not carrying anything suspicious," the Housekeeper interjected.
"Please, check my things too; I don't want any doubts about my innocence…" I added quickly, clearly seeing the hidden doubt in his eyes.
"It's not necessary," King Fenrir's commanding voice cut me off.
At that moment, the back door of the kitchen opened, and in walked the woman who had ripped out the hearts of the two men in the forest.
She seemed powerful. I didn't know what kind of she-wolf she was, but I had never seen a female Lycan before; I doubted they existed.
She greeted the King respectfully and handed a paper to the guardian, Reece.
"Sir, according to the pack's census, that warrior was the brother…of your cook" he said to the Lycan after reading the information.
"Bring her here, now!" Fenrir roared in anger.
I had my doubts. If the food had that aphrodisiac, why didn't I feel anything when I tasted it?
To me, the main culprits were the other two maids.
I stood up, limping slightly, and walked toward the service area for His Majesty.
"What's happening, Savannah?" the Housekeeper approached me and asked with a frown.
"Something doesn't add up, ma'am. I tasted the food the cook left; it didn't affect me at all," I explained, and she immediately unlocked the display case.
We began to search for something suspicious, even tasting the leftovers; nothing had aphrodisiac.
"Let me help you," a low voice spoke right behind me, so close that I felt his breath on my neck.
'Your Majesty, with so much space, why do you have to stand almost on top of me?' I wanted to cry without tears, but I only controlled the trembling that started in my hands and focused my mind on finding clues.
"I smell something strange, it's very subtle, but I detect it," he suddenly announced.
I watched his hand stretch toward the silver trays used to cover the food.
Of course, as he leaned forward, the firmness of his muscles pressed me even more against the edge of the counter.
I didn't even dare to move an inch, let alone look at the Housekeeper next to me!
It must be due to the aftermath of the heat, making him so… sticky.
"It smells like a strange substance, there are traces of a blue powder here," he announced, flipping over the concave tray that had hidden the food from view—the one I would never have thought to check.