Setting his eyes back on Laylin in the mirror he could only grin. She was half-laying on the settee with the throw-back blanket and reading a book while conveniently ignoring his presence. Sprawled lazily, she resembled an arrogant temptress disregarding her mortal admirers. He wondered how she could so indifferently keep him at the tip of her toes when even the previous King never dared to look down on him. His chosen bride had grown a spine. She was a very clever woman and was good at reading people. Since he had lost his reason in her embrace, she knew he was enamored with her. The Ehanian Princess knew how to use his favor well. True blue blood, indeed He had come back after his conference where he announced her newly found authority. He had expected her to be fuming, instead she was still lazing around in bed, barely dressed. His smirk widened as memories from a while ago flooded his mind. “Get off me!” After their coupling had ended, the passion and yearning that was almos
“Vindictive Schemes?” He chuckled humorlessly, “These schemes are the reason you are alive.” Her childishness got on his nerves. Naturally, she should be on her husband's side, especially when Scarlet was the worst kind of ally one could have. “And I’m grateful but I would prefer no more favors from these political moves.” She shut the book and looked up at him, “You need to understand, we aren’t in love. You are a dictator in my life and this glamorous position doesn’t change that. No sane woman will ever find a man, who used her vulnerability to cage her, reliable.” Saying her piece, she stood up. “To answer your question, I would want something from you, when you will consider me anything but a territory you needed to mark.” His brow hiked up. Relatively, he was surprised, this calm no-nonsense persona of hers was new to him. She sounded like an experienced politician. He didn’t know she had such a resolve. Or where such hatred stemmed from. Laylin pushed down her emotions. S
“So you will be taking care of me now?” The young women nodded, bobbling their heads. “On whose command?” It was in the evening when she was introduced to her new busty servants. Halo and Sami. The Twin girls were hardly past their twenties but looked awfully smart for their years. “By His Majesty’s order, Your Highness.” Saying so she bowed again. Laylin just stared at them, lost for words. They were both beauties in a mature sense. They looked like anything but 'Help'. She had learned from her time in Ehanian court that a woman with a husband or fiance must never keep another pretty woman around her. It’s like giving your promiscuous spouse easy prey. Most concubines of lecherous men are usually from their wife's staff after all… Was he trying to grow his harem? Somehow the thought of him with another woman like he was with her, pricked her heart. Then she remembered Scarlet's servants. Each one was a beauty to topple nations. Maybe it was trend here. With a sigh, she went
All the ladies kept their silence, intimidated by the King's presence but their eyes waited for the confrontation eagerly. To them, a new fertile mistress who was in the King's bed regularly was a threat. Only the marked beast's spouse could give birth to strong, healthy children. Rakhbar had polygamy and there were rare instances where a child was born out of an unmarked wife. The Children are weak but lycan-born. Any heir of the King can be the next King in the absence of the Queen's heir. Besides, who's to say, this foxy woman won't seduce the King to mark her?! Ambrose hummed, still fingering Laylin’s hair. All envious stares were stuck on his fingers in her hair. “A juvenile prisoner died during investigation, do you expect me to resurrect her?” He raised a brow finally looking at her. “Lady Sayon refused visitors. Unverified claims can’t help to proceed investigation beside she recently took back her claim but that’s not what you are getting at. I’ll be generous, speak your
The King’s command had hit her like a bulldozer. The raid was scheduled for the next day. She paced, back and forth, biting her thumb. The strategy was perfect to placate nobles and eradicate any moles in the Palace but she couldn’t be investigated! She had heard they drew patterns with kohl that react to a witch’s blood. Then another thought hit her. Agatha! If Agatha was discovered to be a witch, then even the King won’t be able to save her! Just when her anxiety had almost taken the best of her brain, a commotion in front of her room caught her attention. “Let me through! The Princess is expecting me…! Princess Laylin!” The woman strode forward but Halo and Sami were quick to grab her, throwing her against the wall. “Madam! You are overstepping your limit! I suggest you walk back before I ask these good Sirs, here to-” “Sami!” Laylin called out to her, interrupting her mid-speech. She gave a subtle nod to release the older woman. Reluctantly, they did but glared at the intrud
“You think…” Laylin drawled, recounting the band of beautiful women that always followed her. “But why would Princess Scarlet need witches or wizards?” Agatha shrugged and thought out loud, “Women like Princess Scarlet are usually like crows. They like collecting anything that catches their eye. I heard from her maids, she was abused by the previous Queen but she was a rebel. The previous Queen also burnt her tongue with hot coals. They say now she can taste nothing. To the Princess, this influence and freedom was everything. Some woman among the servants of the Princess must be of suspicious origin or exotic heritage, brought in for a certain purpose.” Laylin hummed in thought, “You don’t suppose they are planning something?” Agatha bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “Princess Scarlet looks like a spiteful spoiled ill-tempered heiress to the throne. Such women are hardly up to something as their pesky tricks keep them busy.” Laylin nodded. Princess Scarlet did look like she
He walked about the room, working on his desk on multiple documents at once in his loosely tied pants. He had just embraced her and was already back at work. She was tired and sick but it wasn’t even past noon so it was hard for her to sleep. She fluffed the blanket with a huff and reached for his discarded shirt. “Glaring at me won’t make you any less miserable.” What Agatha had said about her father's perception of her bothered her. It affected her more than she let on. He was her only blood but he discarded her with such a half-baked excuse. Curse... She cried the whole evening and when he came she was the one who lured him quite brazenly to bed. She was exhausted but the intense feelings he aroused in her were welcome. She needed to numb the ache she felt. "I can't stop myself from trying." Laylin rolled her eyes at him. The tip of his lips rose in amusement and a second later he was sitting on the bed, holding a file he was working on. She averted her eyes, his loose robe h
In the dim moonlight, his face shone like stardust was dusted on his bronze skin. She glared at him. His nonchalance was what cut her pride the worst. He was a privileged conqueror, and even at his lowest, he must have never compromised his pride. How could he have ever understand her or the mocking whispers and gazes she faced every day! “Moron.” She murmured in disgust at herself. She didn't hate him but that didn't annoy her any less. It wasn't like she was deaf to all the demeaning curses of being a prostitute who sold her body to the King for favor, she pretended to not listen but it didn't hurt any less. She hated how she was such a putty in his hands despite what he did to her. What was wrong with her? Was she blinded by lust or was she this much deprived that she will yearn his comfort of all people?! But she tried not to blame herself too much. She really had no one... He was manly, there was nothing subtle or boyish about the man and he was some years older than her.