Stay here!

I widened my eyes upon hearing that. The voice was feminine and I didn't recognize it, but for the guard to have bowed, she was someone important.

I lowered my head, clasped my hands in front of my body, and followed the guard's lead.

“I beg your pardon, my lady.” I said, not daring to look up. I heard the sound of footsteps and soon, a red dress appeared in my field of vision. Something hard touched my chin and lifted my face.

A pair of saphira eyes stare back at me. The contrast of the porcelain skin of the pretty-featured female, with her face framed by a cascade of black hair, was striking.

"You know who I am?" She asked with a smug air. No, I didn't know and honestly, I wasn't interested in doing so. I took a deep breath and kept my tongue in my mouth.

“No, my lady.” I answered as politely as I could.

“Well, you better never forget what I'm going to say, you little bitch. I am the King's woman, the one who will give him an heir.” She said it arrogantly, with a smirk on her lips. “You are nothing more than a pastime, a game of his.”

Oh, I couldn't hold back. I cared nothing about her King and whoever was going to be his woman or not, but I was not going to endure being called a ‘little bitch’ and treated as if I was trying to ‘steal’ someone's man. 

“If you're his so-called woman, why aren't the queen? And why would he seek out a traitor's daughter to bear his child, and not you?"

Her lips trembled and her eyes sparkled. Anger. It was unmistakable. My face was thrown to the side and the burning in my cheek made it clear what had happened: I had been slapped. But was it worth it? It damn was!

"Next time, I'll skin you, damn you!" She gritted her teeth and walked away from me.

The guard accompanying me looked at my face and motioned for me to follow him. I did and realized that we weren't heading to the hall where my room was, but the doctor's office.

"It is not necessary. It was just a slap.” I tried to speak, but the guard looked at me seriously.

“Your face will swell and the King will not be pleased.” He explained it politely, but I could tell there was something else there. Two options crossed my mind: either the guard was afraid of retaliation since he was responsible for me; or he was trying to protect that bitch.

“He won't mind that. As long as I’m in a position to give him a child, he won’t even mind if I lose a leg!” I said disgustedly. For a moment, I even wished I could lose a limb just to be unwanted, but I apologized to Selene for the blasphemy. I had to be thankful for having everything in place.

The Doctor took care of me very well, put an ointment on my face and gave me pain medicine - which was completely unnecessary. I got slapped, not punched.

As we're heading back to my quarters, again the guard bowed. I took a deep breath, already expecting to see that witch, but the pair of orange eyes staring at me can only belong to one creature. I swallowed hard.

His expression went from surprise to completely cold.

“What the hell happened to your face?” He asked and the eyes that seem to be on fire stray to the guard who was with me. “I asked what happened to her face!”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.” The guard said, still not looking at the King. “Miss Imara…”

King Johannes did not allow the guard to continue talking, as he cursed loudly. He looked at me.

“You, stay right here.” He said sharply and turned to the two guards who were with him. “You come with me.”

I wanted to argue and ask why I should stay there. Where was he going? But when I met the eyes of the guard who accompanied me, he shook his head slightly, indicating that I should remain quiet.

The King walked away, finally turning one of the corners. The last thing I saw was his reddish cloak billowing out behind him and disappearing behind the wall.

“Do not question the King, girl.” The guard said and his tone wasn't as harsh as before. “The King is not a monster. I know why you're here, but just know he's not bad."

He’s not bad, he’s not bad. It even looked like these werewolves had a broken disc instead of a tongue! Yes, I knew he was a good King. At least that's what we were told. But I wasn't exactly living that, was I? On the contrary, I was being treated like dirt, when I never did anything to deserve it. Want something more unfair than having to pay for the sins of the parents? And I couldn't believe my father had betrayed the King!

"Right." That's what I replied to the guard. He was clearly a faithful dog and there was no point in debating him. There are battles and battles in our lives. Getting into trouble simply over a silly argument wasn't worth it. Now, making a fuss about not being a farrower, yes.

I stood there waiting for the return of the dear King. It didn't take long, actually.

"Come with me!" He ordered me sharply. I could see the vein in his neck swollen. He was angry and I didn't want to have a taste of that anger. Worst case scenario, he might want to pick up where we left off the night he should have crossed paths with me. Selene forbid it!

I follow him in silence, until I decide to open my mouth. The 'no' I already have, don't I? I don't know when I'll be able to talk to him again, so I had to take the opportunity to ask about the library.

When I opened my mouth to speak, the King stopped in front of a huge white door with gold.

He looked at me and then opened the door, holding it for me to enter the room. I looked at him one last time before heading inside.

We were in what appeared to be a beautiful room. Oh damn! A bedroom! He… I felt my whole body tense and the blood inside my veins felt like it's made of ice.

The door behind us closed and I smelled that male’s scent filling the room. What the hell… ? Why does he have to smell so good? Soon, he was in front of me, his huge, muscular arms crossed in front of his chest. Even beneath the thick fabric I could see the outline of his muscles. The image of him with his bare torso came back to my mind…No!

"I don't want you to get in trouble with the concubine." It was the first thing he said and I felt my blood start to boil.

"I didn't get into any trouble with her!" I said it through gritted teeth. “She called me a bitch and started talking nonsense!”

"Oh, yes?" he asked and took another step towards me. His presence was intoxicating. “What did she say to you?”

His gaze on me was intense and I'd be lying if I said that male didn't make me feel anything.

'Fertile period!' I reminded myself.

“She said I'm nothing but your past-time. And that is for me not to create expectations, because the only one who will give birth to your children will be her.”

I wasn't the tell-on type, but I wasn't going to take the blame after being offended either.

“And what did you answer her? Because she told me you were insolent.” His tone of voice gave me the impression that he was enjoying himself. But I preferred to believe that I was mistaken. Why was he having fun with that?

“I only said that if she was your so-called woman as she boasted, she would be queen and not concubine. And that if she were so good, Your Majesty would not lie with a traitor's daughter to have a child, rather than with her, your beloved woman of your heart.”

I tried not to sound impudent.

“You are sassy.” He said, but I saw a ghost of a smile on those lips. I wasn't going crazy! The King got even closer to me, to the point where I could practically feel the heat of his skin through our clothes, which was pure madness!

“Can we… Can we return now, please?” I asked, wanting to break the moment. I couldn't even explain what kind of moment it was, but I was feeling something strange in my body and I didn't like it at all! The library was forgotten.

“Before that…” he said and lifted my chin with two fingers.