To tie you to the bed

"Why does Raphael want to see me?" Winter inquired, puzzled, as Nathan escorted her to the main region of the palace.

Nathan shook his head. "His Majesty didn't share the details with me," he replied, then noticed Winter's hands. He couldn't help but remark, "It must have been tough for you, washing all those utensils."

Winter nodded and her expression grew somber. "It was indeed difficult. However, performing such chores helps me momentarily forget what has happened to me, how I've lost even the good people around me," she explained, her words laden with the weight of sorrow and loss.

"My father was indeed cruel, so I feel what happened with him was right," Winter said after a brief pause. 

Nathan glanced at her. He liked the fact that she was still strong in such a situation. She was standing her ground and had become fearless. "It's unfair that those who have no fault have to pay too sometimes," he affirmed. 

"Did my father kill your parents too? My apology will never end that pain, but still, I would like to apologize to you," Winter said humbly. 

"It's alright. You don't need to apologize for Ezkiel's crimes. I believe in justice, which I got. I won't let an innocent person die in the fire of vengeance," Nathan asserted. 

"Those words mean a lot to me. You have a nice heart," Winter said with a smile. 

Nathan smiled to hear that and asked her if anyone tried to harm her she could take his name. "No one would dare to harm you then," Nathan opined. 

Winter was slightly amused to hear that. "They may get the wrong meaning of it. I'm thankful that you said that," she asserted while politely refusing to use his name. 

"Then, you should take His Majesty's name. No one will dare to speak anything to you then," Nathan suggested. 

"I would die but never use Raphael as my shield. I hate him," Winter said in a fury. What he did to her was not forgivable either. He wasn't either lesser than a bully. In fact, he was the worst among them. 

"The King has kept you alive not because he would torture you. I believe he also doesn't want to kill an innocent. None of us saw our parents' death, but His Majesty witnessed that. That's why he's more hurt internally. You'll slowly find out about him," Nathan briefed her about Raphael's past. 

"Oh," Winter felt a bit upset to learn that. So, Raphael was also a broken soul. 

"Many of the werewolves want you to die. But in some eyes, an innocent shouldn't die. King Raphael also thinks the same, but he would never admit it," Nathan explained to her.  

Winter hummed as she nodded her head as she understood Raphael's behavior toward her. Finally, they reached the King's manor, where Raphael was awaiting her. 

"Thank you for the help, Nathan," Winter expressed her gratitude and bowed her head slightly before stepping inside the giant door. 

Crossing the main walkway, she reached the drawing chamber, which was empty. 

"His Majesty is in his bedchamber," a servant informed her, who then walked away. 

"I think he called me to give him a massage," Winter murmured and hesitated to go inside. However, she gathered her courage and walked inside. 

Raphael was still in his clothes, which relieved her, but he was on the bed. His head rested on the headboard, his legs lying flat on the soft mattress. 

"Come," Raphael said. "You suddenly disappeared," he added. 

"What does His Majesty want?" Winter queried. 

"Come here and then, I'll tell you," Raphael affirmed, signaling her to sit on the bed with him. 

Winter dragged her feet gradually toward the bed. 

"Sit," Raphael said. 

Winter shook her head. 

"Why are you so stubborn?" Raphael annoyingly asked her. 

"That's why you should not call me in your service," Winter remarked. 

Raphael chuckled to hear her response. He grasped her wrist and pulled her down. Winter was bewildered by his act and at the same time, was terrified too. He was quite powerful and the thought of what he could do to her sent shivers in her. 

"Stay still or I've to tie you to the bed," Raphael proclaimed. He showed her a circular wooden box and opened its lid. An olive-colored paste was inside it. He took it in his two fingers and gently grabbed her arm. 

"What is His Majesty doing?" Winter queried when his fingers rested above the largest bruise on her arm. He moved them in a circular motion. 

"It's a rare, herbal medicine which treats the bruise like you have on your arms," Raphael explained to her. 

Winter stopped blinking for a moment and kept looking at him. Was this Raphael's true, gentle side? She pondered. 

"You said you wanted me to die, then you should not be doing this," Winter said. 

"You are right," Raphael asserted and moved his fingers to the second bruise on her forearm, "but I couldn't neglect it."

Winter's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't want to believe it. It was all a lie. He despised her from the bottom of his heart. She let him apply that medicine. Probably, this was the last time she would see his affectionate side toward her. 

"Why are your hands so dry? They look pale," Raphael inquired and he met his gaze. 

"I washed a few utensils," Winter answered. 

"A few or a lot? Who dared to make a princess wash the dishes?" Raphael quirked his eyebrow. 

"I am no longer a princess," Winter stated. 

"Well, if I said that then you are," Raphael affirmed. 

"What's gotten into you? Earlier, you were ready to kill me," Winter confusedly gazed into his eyes and pulled away her arm from his grip. She decided to leave the chamber. However, Raphael drew her close, making her eyes go wide. 

"I told you to stay steady, Wild Wolf," Raphael whispered against her lips. 

"I'm not a Wild Wolf," Winter affirmed. 

"Oh, you are!" Raphael remarked with a smirk on his lips. "You love to defy me, your master and that's what makes you a wild wolf," he elaborated to her. His lips were barely an inch apart from hers, causing her to flutter her eyelids.