Chapter 3

SAPHRA’S POV

My heart hammered so loud I thought it might burst. Their grip on my arm was so hard.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, fighting to pull free. “I was just doing my job.”

“Shut up,” one of them snapped.

Workers stopped and stared as we passed. Some looked at me with pity. Others glanced away fast, like they didn’t want to be near me. It felt like forever as we kept walking down the hallways, until we reached huge doors. The guards knocked twice.

“Enter.” That was his voice. As cold as ice.

They opened the door and dragged me in. When they had come close to his throne where he sat, they shoved me before him. I stumbled and nearly fell. The room was huge. It has high ceilings and gigantic sculptures. I kept my face to the floor. I came here for the sole purpose of ending this very man but now, he was about to end me and finish what he started all those years ago

The guards bowed.

“My lord, we found this girl sneaking around your chambers,” one said.

“I wasn’t sneaking,” I blurted. “I was told to deliver food.” I needed to say something. Have a good excuse or else I was done for.

“Silence!” One of the guards ordered.

“Let her speak,” Lucien said, very coldly. I looked up at him and saw him staring at me with a stern look. My throat went dry. I cleared it and began to explain myself.

“I work in the kitchens,” I said. I had managed to keep my voice steady even though my insides shook. “Hilda sent me. I didn’t know it was off-limits.”

Lucien said nothing. He just stared and remained silent. Didn’t he hear what I just said? Would it be rude if I asked if he heard me?

“What’s your name?” he finally asked.

“Saphra.”

“Saphra,” he repeated, keeping his strength gaze. “Where are you from?”

“A small town by the eastern borders.

“And why are you here?”

“I needed work.”

“Is that all?”

His eyes felt like knives. I could feel them piercing into me. I tightened my jaw.

“Yes.”

One of the guards muttered, “She’s lying. We should—”

“I’ll decide what to do with her,” Lucien said sharply. The soldier fell quiet. Actually, everywhere was quiet. Everyone quietly watched what would unfold.

He rose from the throne and came down the steps toward me. My heart pounded with each stride he took towards me, with his gaze still fixed on me. He stopped a few paces away. His eyes didn’t leave mine.

And just then, an odd, hot feeling flared in my chest. It was sudden. And it was too tangible to be denied. It twisted something inside me. Lucien’s face equally flickered that very second. His stern face had contorted briefly into that of confusion, before it vanished. Just then he walked back to his throne and sat down.

“Keep her alive,” he ordered.

I blinked.

“What?” everyone chorused in horror. That was definitely new.

“She’ll serve under me personally.” He said again, like he hadn’t just done something unusual. No one dared meddle with the Alpha in his chambers unless being told to do so or given the right, and survived it. Even my father wouldn’t tolerate it. More or less this arrogant heartless man.

Everywhere was in freeze mode. No one moved, nor said a word.

“Did I stutter?” he asked, looking at the guards.

“No, my lord.” They said and bowed. Then they came around to lift me off the ground.

“Take her to the upper quarters. Give her proper clothing and a room.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The upper quarters were nothing like the workers’ rooms. The halls were clean, and had paintings lined the walls. The windows had glass. The guards pushed open a door.

“This is your room.”

It was small but warm. It had a real bed with blankets, a table, a chair, and a wardrobe. I stood there, stunned.

“Someone will bring clothes later,” a guard said. “Don’t leave this room unless told.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked.

“The Alpha will summon you when he needs you. Until then, stay.” They said and walked out of the room.

Immediately they shut the door, I sank onto the bed. It was soft. I wanted to be happy, but my head buzzed with questions. This wasn’t the plan. I was supposed to be invisible, not seen.

If Lucien knew my face now, that could ruin everything. Or…..it could be an opportunity. Serving him up close, I would have chances. I just had to be smart. A few hours later a woman knocked and set a bundle of clothes on the table.

“The Alpha requested these,” she said.

Then she laid the simple, better-made tunic and pants on my bed. I smiled. For the first time in years, I could wear something a bit decent. I changed and they fit. She looked at them on my body and smiled too. Just when she was about to leave, I stopped her.

“Why did he spare me?” I asked.

She looked around like she feared ears. “I don’t know. The Alpha doesn’t keep outsiders near. If I were you, be careful. He’s unpredictable. One wrong move and you’re dead.”

Fantastic. I nodded and whispered my thanks. She in turn nodded and left the room.

The next morning, a guard stepped into the room.

“The Alpha wants to see you.”

My stomach dropped. “Now?”

“Yes. Follow me.”

Lucien stood by a window, by the time I had entered the hall, backing me. He didn’t turn.

“You wanted to see me?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, still not facing me.

“You’ll help me with certain tasks,” he said,

“What tasks?”

“Whatever I need.”

Not helpful. He finally turned. The burning feeling hit harder than before. It was even more sharp now. I clenched my hands to stop my body from betraying me.

He grabbed a stack of papers from the desk. “Take these to the council room. They’re expecting them.” He ordered, handing the papers to me. As I was about to collect them, our hands brushed for a bit. A surge of heat ran through me. He narrowed his eyes, like he felt it too.

“No problem,” I said, and without another word, I walked out of the hall.

The days slid into an odd routine. He’d call me, I’d fetch or deliver things. Sometimes it was papers, sometimes small items. He rarely spoke. Mostly he watched. But each time our eyes met, there was that hot, wild feeling that flared within me and left me breathless.

That night sleep wouldn’t come. I stood at the window and watched the moon spill silver over the grounds. I thought of my father. I thought of the night he died. I sighed as I kept my gaze fixed on the moon.

“I’m doing this for you Papa. I’ll make him pay.”