"In the shadows of power, the lines between captive and captor are often blurred..."
Eira kept her eyes closed despite the pungent scent of blood emanating from the decapitated head in the room.
Riya fell to her knees, her face kissing the bloody floor, "A-Alpha-"
Kael kicked the other slave's head and stepped forward. He grabbed Riya by the back of the head, forcing their eyes to meet.
"I gave strict orders that no one is to be allowed in here." He said, his tone hardened.
"F-Forgive my impudence-"
"I didn't ask for your pleading." He cut her off.
Eira creased her forehead when the foul stench in the room grew stronger with the Lycan King's temper.
She had to do something before he ended up killing her too with his anger.
*Cough*
Soft coughs erupted her mouth as she slowly flickered her eyelids open. Kael looked behind Riya at the princess, who tried to sit up.
He tossed Riya to the floor, and marched over to her bedside. A sharp pain prodded at her neck from being choked earlier, that cascaded down to her legs.
'I already cannot speak, am I to lose my legs as well?' she inwardly frowned over her weakened knees.
Kael watched as the princess pretended to wake up. He raised a brow when she looked around the room with exaggerated stun in her eyes.
Right from the other side of the castle he could sense that she had regained consciousness. So, it came as a somewhat shock when he stood at her door, listening to both slaves chatter, blatantly ignoring her condition.
Recalling the slaves discussion he balled his fists.
'Me? Taking fancy to this weakling?' he cast his gaze on the princess, who squinted her eyes and jerked her shoulders, letting the most awful sounds erupt from her mouth.
Kael grimaced. Was this woman pretending to cry?
To the slave, he gave the order, "Take the corpse and leave!"
Riya widened her eyes when she heard him tell her to leave. She immediately picked her cohort's head and dragged her body outside of the room, creating a trail of blood with her.
Once she was gone, Kael returned his gaze to Eira, who was now sniffling, still trying to sell her act.
"You're as good a performer as I am a husband." He stated, folding his arms across his chest.
Eira sighed, dropping her shoulders, putting an end to the dreadful act she was putting on.
Kael pinched his chin, "It seems trouble sticks to you as second skin."
Eira parted her lips, but her eyes watered from the immense pain she was feeling. His scent made it far worse than before.
"I have no desire to hear your voice, so listen carefully to my words." He started, his scent gradually dissipating.
Eira forced a nod through the pain, keeping her gaze on the king's pale face whilst he spoke. A large part of her still mesmerized by his appearance.
"You must have been informed of your upcoming duty before now. I'm here to let you know princess, that I have no intention whatsoever of having a mating ceremony with you." He announced.
Eira tensed up. 'What is he trying to say?'
Reading the puzzled look on her face he expansiated, "You will set off to Moonstone come first light." He reached into his shirt and pulled out a white folded piece of paper.
"Return this to your father when you arrive, let him know that I have no desire to bed a weak omega." He narrowed his eyes and lowered his tone when he said, "Nor can you survive it."
Her heart skipped a nervous beat. 'What is he hiding?' she recalled the ominous feeling she got when Lyra briefed her on the mating ceremony. As though she were hiding something.
Eira unfolded the letter to see it was written in red font. A red letter, a formal betrothal proposal document, used to show sincerity.
She frowned when she realized how the ink was colored. It nearly made her want to tear up the letter and set it ablaze.
She raised her head when the King turned sharply to leave, after cruelly dismissing her, with not even a tael of gold for her troubles.
'If I'm sent back without Adrianna I'll be killed.' She panicked inwardly.
She dismissively shook her head and reached out, grabbing his wrist when she purely meant to touch his shirt.
Her heart raced when she touched his skin. It was harder than it appeared and warmer than she anticipated.
Kael glared over his shoulders, "You seem to enjoy testing my patience."
Eira tossed the letter aside, she dropped to her knees, maintaining eye contact with him and still holding his hand.
"What are you-" he got his answer when the omega brought the back of his palm to her forehead, then to her lips and kissed it three times.
Kael fiercely withdrew his hand, and gritted his teeth, "You-" he balled his fists, his veins convening by the sides of his neck.
Eira remained on her knees, despite his flaring rage, completing the proposal ritual.
Angered, the Lycan king grabbed her by the wrist, and tossed her to the bed. Eira gulped, when he climbed onto the bed, she crawled back, until her back was against the headboard.
"You must not have been taught any manners back at Moonstone. Huh." He scoffed, "Leave it to wolves to always cross the line."
Eira tensed up when his large finger traced the side of her face. She wanted to run, but knew better. Her desperate act of proposing to him seemed to anger him more than before.
The king rested his finger on the side of her lip, "Tell me, have I been unkind to you princess? Is that why you chose to insult me?"
Insult? Did he think so lowly of her kind that their sacred act of proposing was deemed an insult?
Eira shook her head.
Kael sharpened his glare, "How convenient it must be, to have lost your voice." He said, sounding pissed.
Eira could not believe her ears. Was this man blaming her for losing her voice? Just how insufferable could one person be?
Kael's finger pinched on her chin, slightly parting her lips. "Just to be clear, princess, you were the one who provoked me into doing this."
Before Eira could make sense of what he said, Kael lowered his lips onto hers, seizing them in a sudden kiss!