King, his gaze dark and sharp, scrutinised the terrified little thing in before him. She was so small in front of him, that he just wished to crashed her in his arms and make her tremble in fear like she was just doing. She had her eyes squeezed shut, and her breath slowed. He felt something wild spread through him watching her like that.
On the other hand, Reign held her breath as she felt the foreign, overwhelming sensation of his finger on her skin, licking at her nerves like a wildfire.
Instinct urged her to retreat. To put as much distance between herself and the dangerous man before her. But as she took a hesistant step back, a firm grip latched on her wrist making her heart stutter.
"Too late to run," King murmured, hus voice deep and unreadable.
Before Reign could think through his words, he pulled her forward with unsettling ease, dragging her to armchair he had just risen from. Reign barely had time to process what was happening and only found herself being maneuvered onto his lap.
A startled gasp escaped her lips, while her small hands grabbed the fabric of her dress tightly. Her knuckles were white and her body became as stiff as stone. She trembled violently, unable to control the whimpers spilling from her lips. Her eyes clenched shut again, as if doing so would make all this disappear.
King said nothing. Instead, he merely and carefully observed her. Hus piercing gaze studied every little reaction. How her breaths came in short, uneven puffs, how her eyelashes fluttered with poorly concealed terror, how her tiny frame trembled within his grasp. And then, something inside him softened.
He could see it now. She was not pretending. Her fear was real.
He let put a low exhale, his grip on her waist firm yet lacking the predatory intent he carried earlier. His large hands moved, prying her clenched fingers away from her dress.
Reign's eyes flew open, wide and glossy with fear. She turned to him, colliding with his unwavering gaze.
"Why are you shaking?" King asked, his voice dark, laced with taunt. "Afraid of me?"
Reign tried to respond. She truly was scared of him.
"I... I'm... Please..." Only broken syllables tumbled out, stumbling and stuttering over themselves as fear strangled her ability to form coherent words.
King simply watched her struggle. Then after a moment, he exhaled quietly released her.
Reign immediately stiffened but did not move from his lap. The silence stretched unbearably between them. Her heart pounded so loudly that she was certain he could hear it.
Panic clawed at her chest. Would he be angry? Would he see her fear as defiance? Would her punish her and her family? Her mind spiraled imagining the worst possible outcomes.
"I-I'm sorry," She blurted out, her voice trembling and fragile. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to speak, desperate to mend the situation before it turned into something worse. "I didn't mean to... I... please, I didn't mean to offend you..."
Still on his lap, she bowed her head deeply, her trembling fingers grasping onto her dearest dress.
King did not react. Instead, his next words were cold and detached. "You're name."
Reign flinched. Her insides turned to ice. The room felt quieter now as she drowned in thoughts. She had pissed off the man. How would she forgive herself to her uncle if anything happened?
After a long pause, she finally murmured, "Re... Reign... West."
King studied her. "Reign West," he repeated, as if testing the sound of it. Then his voice dipped lower. "Do you really know why you are here?"
Fear gripped her spine, cold and suffocating her. If he was asking again, did that mean she had given him the wrong answer the first time? She could not afford to make him angrier so she had choose her next words carefully.
Without hesitation, she nodded, too quickly and eagerly. "Yes. I was told... by my uncle I would do the housework... in your," scanning the place, "house until... he repays the debt."
Silence took over before King's expression turned dark. Something in the air shifted too making the fragile girl tremble in King's arms.
He leaned forward and grabbed her elbow in a not so kind manner. "Tell me, aren't you Xavier West's daughter?"
Reign slowly lifted her head and looked at him, but immediately faced down again. "I-I am... his niece."
King let go of her, followed by hus devilish laughter. "That Xavier bastard played me. Seems I have been lenient enough."
Reign felt her heart drop due to his frightening words. Her uncle? What had he done?
She was about to ask what the matter was but the man reached out for his phone on the small table, and dialed a number.
Then, she heard him give an order. "Find me Xavier West by morning." And hanged up.
Reign was terribly shaking. What did he want to do with her uncle? Torture him? Kill him?
"Mr... Vale, I... please... don't..."
"Just, shut up! Where's he?" King's demanding voice filled her ears.
"W...who?" Reign murmured wishing to get away from him right away.
"Tsk! You're testing my patience, little one. I guess you're also involved."
Reign almost broke down hearing him accuse her of what she wasn't aware. Involved in what?
"I... don't understand," She said honestly.
"Where's Xavier right now?" King almost shouted, roughly pulling her elbow.
Reign shook her head feeling tears finally roll down her cheeks. "Isn't he at home? He... and aunt and my... cousin... they are all at home."
King tightened his grip hurting her. "No, they aren't. Xavier's daughter was the one to be here... not his niece."
Reign froze for a second, registering what he had just said. "I... Ivy?"
"Whatever her name is I don't care," King mumble dangerous to her face. "Seems like I wasn't the only one whom that bastard played. He gave you to me as a collateral until he repays his debt. The problem is... it was supposed to be his daughter but he sent you here instead."
Reign slowly processed his words but they seemed too unbelievable. Her uncle, no matter how he loathed her wouldn't do that. After all, he was her father's blood brother.
Reign snapped from her thoughts when she felt man raise up, and she almost fell to to the sudden force.
"Leave and don't let me see your face again!" Those were his final words before he disappeared into another room, leaving Reign in total confusion.
Nevertheless, she hastily left the room, planning to go find her uncle. She convinced herself he had an explanation for whatever he did.