Chapter 05: And I dine with the Lycan Royals II.

*LILAC*

"Lilac Hirav." My heart jumps at the deep voice that calls my name — The Lycan King. He continues, "May I officially welcome you to the Royal family of Lycania, and congratulate you on your Marriage to my second Prince." The words feel strange coming out of his mouth. I know that the word "Marriage" is meant as an act, but the tone of his voice still feels weird. It seems like there is an underlying meaning behind it though and my cheeks flush red.

What do I say? Thank you, your Highness? Your Majesty? Or should I bow?

Thankfully the moment doesn't last long because Kael speaks before I can decide what to say.

"Thank you," Kael replies and I seem to be the only one that hears the underlying strain in his voice. "My wife is deeply grateful for your beautiful speech of welcome, Your Majesty" His smile seems genuine for some reason but his eyes have lost their warmth.

"She is indeed a beut, just like we heard." I almost gag at the remark that comes from the man beside the king who is seated at the head of the table. It's as if the whole place freezes with him uttering those words, I'm sure everyone here can sense how uncomfortable he makes me feel. "Talon, can you at least mind your words at the table!" The Alpha King snaps. Talon looks at him but then he turns back to me.

"I was only making a compliment, Father." That sentence almost sounded rehearsed, the sarcasm dripping off his every syllable.

"Tal!" This time it is one of the young ladies that speak, she then turns to me. "Do not mind my husband's rudeness. I'm Lola, by the way." Her accent is thick, I don't think anyone else could understand what she says, but judging by their expression, they do.

She is Talon's wife. "It's fine, I take no offence," I tell her. Lies. My stomach still churns at the leer underlay in his tone when he had spoken.

"Lola is right, my brother is a dickhead."

"Language, Issy!" The queen snaps at her daughter. Issy shrugs and winks at me, clearly unapologetic for calling her brother a dickhead.

"We can always kick him out if you want?" She adds casually, giving me a toothy grin.

"Issy! Stop talking nonsense!" The king scolds, "Now let's all eat our breakfast and be civil," The queen adds, just as the maid starts to bring in the food.

There is a loud clatter as the plates are placed on the table. They are covered, so I don't know what food it is, but my curiosity piques. What sort of food do they eat? as Lycans?

Issy, probably noticing my curiosity, answers my unsaid question. "Don't worry, the only difference that we might have with you humans is that we eat a lot of meat," She gestures towards the plate in front of her. "We serve eggs, bacon, toast, sausages, potatoes, tomatoes and pretty much much everything you can think of, raw meat excluded," she grins at me, and I can feel my cheek turning a bright shade of red. Embarrassed though, I nod. "If you are hungry, just ask for seconds or thirds," Issy informs me.

After that, everyone starts eating quietly. Issy takes a forkful of egg and starts to chew thoughtfully, while the rest of us continue eating in silence. I find myself thinking about how odd it is to have such a formal meal. I've seen it done before in movies and TV shows — and once when I saw it on YouTube, but that was a few years ago. I've never actually sat down and had food being served at a royal feast.

I am picking on my food, even though I am damn hungry, but it seems like no one seems to notice. They finish eating and the maids move to pack the plates. I set down my cutlery.

"You barely ate," Kael tells me in a disapproving tone. He sounds like someone who has caught his child in wrongdoing.

"What do you expect from a human like her? obviously she is being smothered, right Love?" Talon remarks.

His wife, Lola, shoots him a look which is enough to shut him up.

"Talon, I think we've had enough of your saucy comments at the table, now I will like for you to keep quiet until we return to your room," The King warns him, although his face betrays nothing, there's a slight shake in his hand that means the threat is serious.

"Yes, Father," Talon mutters, looking down at the floor, although I do not miss the glare he sends my way

"Now, Lilac," the King addresses me, "Since we are celebrating your marriage to Prince Kael, I must make clear that your status will increase by twofold. In addition to the fact that we will be living together in the palace, soon you will be required to attend meetings with us and other high ranking members of Lycania. You are required to learn our customs, politics, and traditions which is why I have made arrangements to enrol you at the Academy."

I blink twice at the mention of the Academy. What does that mean?

"is it a kind of School?" I ask carefully. Noticing that Talon keeps giving me this look like he is waiting for me to screw up. "Well, yes, in a manner of speaking. It is just like your regular college, only with more stricter rules. I expect that you'll make great use of the opportunity, I will allow you rest today, but you will resume your classes tomorrow," The king states firmly, leaving no room for objections or debate.

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Academy. School. College.

Those three words keeps ringing in my brain when I am back in my room. I stare at the wall blankly. I want to go to college, but hearing the King saying those words to me a day after my marriage to his son only leaves me gaping. Is this how Lycans behave?

Is this what marriage to royalty means? Having my life dictated out for me? The King did not even give me a chance to object, why would I object in the first place though? I married his son. It is in times like this I inwardly curse out Nina and her daughter.

The door slams open, startling me so much that I nearly jump off the bed.

Kael stands at the doorway, his expression hardening as he locks gazes with me. He walks in. "We should talk." His words are sharp, cutting through the air.

"About what?" I reply cautiously.

He walks over to me, closing the door behind him.

"We are married" he says flatly.

Obviously, "yes" is the answer I wanted to give him but his face looks too intense to simply nod. So I nod. Again.

Kael runs his hands through his hair.

I bite my lip.

"What about it?" I ask again.

"Why didn't you refuse to marry me?" He asks harshly, staring directly into my eyes.

I sigh, remembering I had asked him almost the same question last night and his reply had been very weird.

Instead of giving him a reply, I shrug. "Why didn't you?"

"I told you, it was either this or death, or worse." The last part is said under his breath, almost like he couldn't help himself but say it, as if he hadn't meant for it to slip out. I frown. What exactly was that supposed to mean?

"I don't know you, you don't know me." I gulp because as soon as I say that, he invades my personal space and puts his fingers under my chin and raises my head up. I can see his blue irises glowing dangerously dark and his mouth twisted in an unhappy grimace. I close my eyes instinctively, afraid of the angry beast within him. But when he finally speaks he is still in control, at least for the moment

"You are scared of me , aren't you? Afraid that I'll hurt you?" His voice sounds calm, but there's something in his tone that makes me shudder.

"No...no, I...I..." I try to form some coherent answer but my mind is drawing a complete blank. I don't know how to put into words just how terrified I am. How can I describe how terrified I am at the idea that one day he might just snap? He is a Lycan after all, half human, half animal.

He won't hesitate to break a person's neck if he feels threatened, and if I were him, I'd definitely take advantage of any excuse to hurt me. The fear of getting hurt is just one of the many things that I fear about him.

Slowly, his fingers caress my chin lightly, making goosebumps erupt across my skin.

"Lilac-" It is the first time he calls my name without using any formality or title, he's addressing me by my name, and his touch feels electric.

He moves closer, and I'm sure I would fall backwards if he wasn't holding onto me. We're standing inches apart, so close that I can feel every single drop of his body heat.

"I see you, Lilac."

His soft gaze flits towards my lips and his finger tips brush along my jawline lightly, making my whole body shiver involuntarily, causing his gaze to lock mine as if he can read my thoughts.

A sudden burst of electricity travels from my scalp down to my toes and I swear I can hear the static electricity crackling. His eyes, I realise, are not quite blank, something else dances in them. And I realise that maybe he isn't as dangerous as I initially thought. Maybe.

My gaze falls, I can't hold his stare.

"It's just you and I now, you need to learn to live with this—us."

I gulp, I say nothing.

"Are you scared?" he asks again.

Fear grips me tightly around my heart and squeezes mercilessly, I cannot speak, I can't think. All I know is the warmth emanating from his body, his nearness. All I know is my heartbeat pounding fast and heavy inside my chest, beating frantically trying to escape my rib cage and reach the bottom of my stomach where it belongs.

I wait, what is he going to do now? My eyes flutter close, awaiting the worst.

"Fear is a good instinct, Lilac. It helps us live."

Nothing happens. And when I open my eyes again, he is gone.

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