Chapter 4

Aira.

After the Lycan's Kings order, the maids who has been standing on the sidelines immediately swooped in, taking me and dragging me to one of the empty rooms in the chambers. I looked around in a daze, my heart hammering in my chest and body trembling as they brought it a huge tub, filled it with warm water and set up soap, fragrant oils and several clean towels next to it.

When they advanced towards me, attempting to take off my clothes, I wrapped my hands around myself, scrambling away from them.

"Don't touch me!" I growled, my voice weaker than I intended it to be. They wore a bewildered expression at first, then ignored and proceeded to get rid of my dress anyway. I was soon standing naked before them and the guided me to the warm bath.

"You don't have to bath me, I can do it myself!" I cried out when one picked a sponge and began lathering it up. She just scoffed and proceeded to scrub my back while I watched in horror. All my life, only my mother had bathed me and even she stopped once I was old enough to bathe for myself. So, this made me feel particularly exposed and vulnerable.

I sat through their torture, staring at them as they cleaned me till my skin shrunk and my skin turned pink from their rough scrubbing. One of the maids poured a generous amount of fragrant oil into the water, and the scent of jasmine wafted up, filling my senses. But even the pleasant aroma couldn't calm my racing thoughts.

They rinsed off the soap off me and helped me out of the water. My hair was combed and styled, fragrant oils applied on my skin and finally, they handed me a silk dress and prompted me to wear it. The dress was smooth and soft against my skin and after the buttons and ropes had been tightened, it sat on me rather comfortably.

Despite myself, I checked my appearance in the mirror thet was set up in front of me and a soft gasp escaped my lips. I almost didn't recognize myself. My hair looked longer and smoother than I had ever seen it, my skin resplendent. The dress, though simple was incredibly beautiful. Apart from the wound on my shoulders, I looked so many more prettier than I have ever remembered.

Reality came crashing back and I shuddered, realising why this was happening. I was going to the Lycan king. What is he going to do with me!? Turning to the maids who were already cleaning up the place, I mustered up the courage to ask.

"The Lycan king... What does he want from me?" I whispered, my gaze darting amongst them. Most of them ignored me, except one who seemed younger than most. I fixed my gaze on her, silently pleading while she hesitated.

"We also don't know. This is the first time he would be having someone like you in the castle." She finally said, ignoring the glares from her peers. My heart skipped a beat and then began pounding. That doesn't sound good.

"We're all done now. It's time to take you to the king. We must not keep him waiting." Another maid snapped, her voice filled with disdain. I stiffened, sucking in a deep breath and following them.

As was walked along the maze like corridors, my thoughts started to spiral. Is he going to hurt me? brutalize me? Kill me? Why did I do this!?

We arrived at a seperate wing in the castle and the maids stopped behind me. "Only you will be proceeding from here." The one who had answered my question earlier announced. I snapped my head to look at her, my eyes widening in shock. What the...!?

"His chambers is at the end of this hallway. You can't miss it." She added and my mouth fell open, dread pooling at the pit of my stomach.

"Remember, don't keep him waiting." The angry one added a stern warning and they all turned around to leave, leaving me standing there, confused. Looking back at their retreating figures, I turned my gaze back to the long hallway and began to walk.

As I walked, I noticed that this part of the wings looked like it had any visits in a while. Except for the torches flickering and bringing light, the windows were sealed shut and the air felt stale. I arrived at the end of the hallway and there, a huge door stood, dark and ominous.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I inched my fingers towards, gently rapping against it, my nerves all over the place.

"Come in... " A deep voice growled from within and I shivered, goosebumps breaking out of my skin. My trembling hands reached for the doorknob and I pushed it open, walking into the chambers.

One step in and I had a chilling realization. If I thought the hallways leading to this place was dark, I was dead wrong. It was pitch black in here. Everything had been shut and the air quality was even worse. How was he living in this place!? I bit back the cough building at the back of my throat, closing the door behind me as the darkness consumed me. My body started shaking, my eyes struggling to adjust to the lack of light.

"You summoned me, your majesty." I called out, my voice quieter than I had wanted it to be. But I knew my captor would hear me regardless. He was the Lycan king after all. I stayed pressed against the door, looking around for where he might be with no success.

"Your majesty?" I called out again, my voice lower as I dared to take another step forward. Still, nothing. Wasn't he here at all? Already, my heart had begun to race in my chest, my skin clammy with sweat. Then, I felt his presence beside me, domineering, menacing anddeadly. Screaming, I stumbled backwards, missing a step and falling to the ground with a loud thud.

Curling to myself, the words spilled from my mouth before I had the chance to stop them. "Please, don't kill me. I'm so sorry... " I cried out like a chant, my voice trembling. For a while, I didn't hear him speak, though I could feel his gaze on me.

My pleading subsided, and I managed to peek through my fingers. He was still staring at me, his eyes the only thing glowing in this dark room. Eventually he turned and walked away, settling into something with a low yet tired creak of the furniture. A flicker of surprise travelled through me, my eyes slightly widening.

I uncurled myself from the ground, trailing the direction in which he had gone, my sniffs the only audible thing in the room. "What do you want from me?" I asked when it seemed like he wasn't going to be doing anything.

"I don't know... " Came the roughly spoken, yet tired words. My surprise grew. What!? "You wanted to be my slave so I let you."

The words didn't quite penetrate at first, but when they did, I gasped. "Y-you're not having your way with me?" I stuttered, my shock evident in my voice. He rose from wherever he was seating and pinned me a glare with that sharp gaze of his.

"You're too frail and tiny for that. I wouldn't appreciate you dying beneath me." He stated as a matter of fact.

Now I was dumbstruck. What's going on!? "Then... Why did you summon me?" I found myself asking before I could stop the words.

"How's your mother?" He asked and I stiffened, memories of how I had been cruelly separated from her filling me. My eyes watered but I blinked the tears back.

"She's fine. She's awake now and seems to be on the mend." I said, my voice heavy with emotions. He stared at me for a moment before looking away. Gathering my courage, I managed to ask. "Please, let me go back home."

"No." Came the sharp rebuttal. I flinched.

"W-why?"

"You're my slave now." He answered quickly.

"B-but... You just said you have no use for me."

"Yes. But you're my slave now so I can do whatever I want with you. Whatever that is. And I what I want is for you not to leave." He answered.

I don't understand... Why is he doing this? "Seat up." He ordered, his voice suddenly stern and I did so. A knock came on the door and I turned towards it.

"Your food has been brought your majesty." A guard announced. The door creaked open and they pushed the tray in, a little lamp next to it. Closing it instantly, we were left alone once again.

"Eat." He ordered. I glanced at him, noting the faint outline of his body thanks to the addition of light. I stared at the tray filled with covered food, it's delectable scent rising up in the air. My stomach growled but I had no appetite. Yet, I couldn't disobey him. Dragging the tray closer to me, I opened the coverings and stared at the meals.

Glancing at him, I saw he was still staring at me and I redirected my gaze to the food before. Picking up the spoon provided, I placed it in the food, scooping some of the content and shoving it into my mouth. The food was delicious, but I was in no place to enjoy it. Instead, the tears I had been trying so hard to hide came pouring out, the soup feeling like rocks in my mouth.

My thoughts stayed with my mother, her distraught face and how much this will hurt her. And here I was, eating against my will while the Lycan king stared at me, his gaze almost predatory. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and I gave up.

"I'm done." I whispered, suppressing my sobs. He didn't try to force me. Instead, he laid down, leaving me alone to cry. I did that till I was exhausted, drifting into a listless sleep.

I was awoken by a nightmare much later, my heart racing, looking around, I realized that the lamp had burnt oil, the chambers getting plunged into deep darkness once more. Though, there was no way to tell, it seemed like the night time. The night sounds filtering into the chambers were enough indication for that.

I looked in direction of where the Lycan king was but didn't find him staring at me. Was he asleep, perhaps? There was no way to know. Feeling around me with my hands, I stopped when I felt the door. My heart skipped a beat and a thought took hold. If he was asleep, maybe I should use this moment to run away. No one would care, I didn't think they even liked me here.

Slowly, yet carefully, I stood to my feet, quietly making it to the door and feeling for the doorknob with a bated breath. It took a while but I eventually found it. I let out a soft sigh of relief, swallowing tightly. Turning it slowly, I unlocked it, slowly pulling the door open. Stopping slightly, I turned back, checking if he was awake yet. Still no sign of him being awake yet. I swallowed a sigh, opening it even further till there was enough space for me to slip out. My heart began to pound in anticipattion. Almost there...

"Where are you going?" Kael growled into my ears and I yelped, slamming the door shut, jumping away from him only to realize he had me pinned against the door. My eyes grew wide, panic filling my insides.

When did he get behind me!?