Baka couldn’t say she was thrilled to be back at Khandom City, but she was glad she wasn’t in Avenue City anymore. She never wished to return to that place ever again.They had arrived at night and as luck would have it, it was Thorin who greeted them at the gate.“Welcome back, my lord.” He smiled at Baka but said nothing to her.“Thank you,” Tatum replied, getting out of the car. “There are suitcases, three bags of grain in the back seat, and a boy in the trunk. See to them.”Thorin stared at him in confusion. “My lord?”With little force, Baka got out of the car and went over to the trunk, tapping it lightly. “His name is Stephan and he’s hurt. Please take him to Healer Freya.”Thorin looked first at her then back at Tatum. If perplexity were a person, it would be Thorin at that very moment. “Do as she says, Warrior.”An expression of concern crossed Thorin’s features but he said nothing else. With a brisk nod, he went over to the trunk of the car and opened it. Sure enough, ther
Baka wasted no time to see her mother and the girls. She missed them immensely and hoped they were all okay.But under all the excitement was a little trepidation—a feeling of shame over her liaison with the Alpha king, their oppressor.Deep down, Baka felt like she was betraying her kind. There was no easy way to say it. The feeling pooled in her belly and weighed down heavily on her like a rock.After Tatum had kissed her senseless last night, she had felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt. It had ended up being a bitter-sweet moment.What could all this lead to? Surely, nothing good. It wouldn't end well. They didn't have a future.All her thoughts about them always hit a brick wall. She shut her mind from it and focused on the visit with her mom who had been overjoyed to see her.They were at Healer Freya's shop, tending to an unconscious Stephan. The girls were still working so she would have to come back later to see them before their curfew. She missed little Mosaan and Bessia'
Tatum frowned, wondering why he didn't believe the slave boy. Maybe it was because of his association with Baka. Or because he didn't seem the sort to think up this treachery.“Do you understand what you're saying? I want to hear you say it. You're accused of poisoning our crops, subsequently leading to the starvation of the entire city. Do you deny it?”There was a small pause, then Bekon replied. “I do not deny it.”Tatum heard Baka’s gasp from all the way to his throne seat. Again, he tried not to look at her.“Who do you work for?”“I acted alone.”Tatum did not believe him for a second. Yet his heart rate didn't spike up.“How were you able to procure the pesticides for your destruction? You're a slave. You don't have that kind of money—or any money at all.”Bekon stared at him. “I stole it.”This time, his heart rate spiked. “I just caught you in a lie. You will do well to answer me truthfully.”Bekon lowered his head.“Do you know what the punishment for treason is? Death by wil
Thorin’s meeting with Tatum was short. He had barely spent up to five minutes there when he left to escort Bekon back to the prison cells.Baka followed quietly after him. She had never seen the insides of the prison cells and was struck by what she saw. There was no segregation. Werewolves and humans alike stayed in the same bacteria infected prison cells. But maybe that was the idea—to pit them against each other, slowly killing the humans, and the werewolves would no doubt win because they had their abilities on their side.Thorin had turned around twice and seen her but never tried to stop her or tell her to go away. Bekon had barely spared her a moment’s glance.When he was escorted into his cells and was locked up, Bekon didn’t turn around to acknowledge her. “Keep it short,” Thorin warned and he walked away. There was no one else in Bekon’s cell, and the one next to him had three female werewolves. They too didn’t give her the time of the day apart from the brief looks of c
“What’s this I hear about you being engaged to a werewolf called Ruby?” Takoda asked.Both Mother Tina and Tania’s head shot up. “What?”It was breakfast time and they were sitting around the table eating. They weren't the kind of family who had breakfast and dinner together like Boaz’s family did. Everyone ate their meals in their private rooms. Today was different however as it was Mother Tina’s birthday.“A necessary lie,” Tatum admitted as he inspected his plate for any extras he didn't like out of habit. He should’ve known he would come up with nothing as Baka had personally prepared his plate. The thought made him smile, just like he had at Boaz’s breakfast table when she had taken care of his plate so instinctively.There was something very intimate about that action. He had wanted to gather her up in his arms and kiss her silly after she pulled that stunt.“Why was it necessary?” Takoda raised a brow, his arms braced on the table. “It has spread like wildfire.”Tatum shrugge
Baka’s vision became two red orbs of fiery flames as she watched Aksana, unable to take her eyes off her for even a second.If she had to guess, Aksana was still in the business of betraying her kind. Baka couldn't understand how one seemingly shy woman had managed to convince their whole community that she was good.A slew of curses raced through her head.She had dreamt of the day when she would see her and beat the living daylights out of her. Then she would amputate her body, starting from her treacherous tongue. When that was done, she would strip her down naked and strap her to a horse, drag her through miles of bramble and gorse. Then she would burn her alive and scatter her ashes to the wind.Oh, how she would love to start now. Takoda and Aksana finally left the balcony and rejoined the other guests. Baka kept her gaze strewn on Aksana, keeping tabs of her movements.She was talking flirtatiously to one of the guards. Baka didn't know him. He was a tall and gentry fellow a
Couples were twirling and swirling in the throne room to the beat of the fast music. Guests' laughter and voices filled the atmosphere as the room buzzed with the sound of the orchestra and was illuminated by warm light from the chandeliers above.Baka spent the rest of the evening trying to put Aksana out of her mind. She knew Aksana would make good on her threat but she didn’t have the heart to ponder on it a moment longer.She had no control over what Aksana would do so it was stupid to worry twice. That snitch wasn’t worth her time and energy. But she would do well to stay as far away from Baka and her friends as possible. There was no telling what Baka would do if Aksana ever double-crossed the people close to her.She continued serving the guests their food and drinks.After a long while, Baka stood at a small corner close to the kitchen, waiting for orders to carry another round of food and drinks. It was going to be a long night. She could kill for a chance to rest her aching
The kitchen was a mess. The dishes were voluminous. They filled the sink, the counter, and several huge buckets. Baka stared at them in horror.It would take all of them, a small village, and the king’s army to finish those dishes. Her body was beginning to revolt against her for the hardship she was putting it through.“How long do masquerade balls last?” she asked Aja who was standing next to her with a similarly appalling expression as she towered over the sink.“It's not set in stone,” Aja replied with her hands on her hips. “Guests just sort of…. start dispersing slowly.”“Okay, but from your experience? How long?”“Till dawn.”Baka whimpered. At the rate they were going, she would finally sleep next year. She was very positive that she was going to faint from exhaustion. “Instead of standing around and complaining, start washing the dishes now!” Carlton yelled from behind them as he toasted meat on the fire.He’d been cooking all night. Some guests kept asking for a refill or