Chapter 17: Dropped Off The Board

Saana's POV 

I excused myself from Miss Fae's presence, claiming to relieve myself urgently. I ran off to the servants' quarters and bolted the door behind me. I quickly unfolded the note and ran my eyes over his beautiful cursive handwriting.

Washing area. 2 am. 

I heard the triangle's familiar ring in the distance signalling dinner was ready.

I jumped to my feet and headed to the kitchen. The cooks had already set all the tureens on the trolleys. I just pushed the trolley I was assigned to the banquet hall. The nobles weren't seated yet. I set the tureens down as usual and returned the trolley to the kitchen.

All done, we did the dishes and headed back to our quarters and various rooms.

Anya sat upright, with the air of a cat. She went on and on about how good Lady Seraphina had been to her. I could see the longing in Freya's eyes. She obviously wished she could be in Anya's shoes. Lyra appeared to be listening to Anya's chattering painstakingly. It was amusing to watch.

“Lady Seraphina is such a sweet person! I hope she gets to be Luna, and not anyone else! She let me have better dresses, and I don't look so bad in them. Do you get preferential treatment from Alpha Kieran too?" She tattled.

Lyra looked so cut off from everything going on around her. She shook her head slowly, looking away.

"Does Lady Seraphina need another personal maid? I would give anything to be so honored, Anya. You're so lucky,” Freya said, her voice laced with a mix of admiration and envy.

“What about you, Saana? Don't you admire Lady Seraphina?" Anya asked me.

“I have no business picking favorites among nobles," I replied, sliding under the covers and listening while they chatted. 

Soon, the lights went out, and the room was quiet; only their breathing sounds could be heard as they slept. I placed my pillows up under the covers and sneaked out of the room in my night clothes. 

I went out into the washing area, waiting for my prince charming. I heard the familiar whistle and adjusted my night dress. Even while looking plain and natural, I didn't want to appear disheveled. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I've missed you," I whispered into his left ear.

He didn't need words to express the way he felt. The way his fingers clutched my night dress and dug into my skin said a lot to me.

His arms around me once more sent electric currents down my spine. He kissed my neck and set me down. He took off his cloak and covered me up.

“It's pretty cold tonight, and your clothes are very light." 

I blushed and lowered my eyes shyly. 

“Where are we going tonight?" I asked expectantly.

“How about you find out after I give you a ride there?" He replied with a question.

My insides tightened, and I clenched my toes. I held on to the back of his neck as we rode off into the night. 

We came to what seemed like a level grassland, only that it had flowers that were strangely shining in the moonlight. 

“What are they?" I asked as I watched them curiously. “Can I touch them?" 

“No. It's the Queen of the Night. They're poison." 

I took my hand back quickly. But why were they so alluring? And why did they only shine at night?

“Then, why are we here?" 

“I just wanted you to see something new," he replied and then stretched out his hand. I took it and followed him as we left the midst of the flowers and went towards a huge tree that had lots of vines twisted around it.

Ethan cradled my head after we sat down. He looked deeply into my eyes, and I could see the desire there. He pulled me in as if for a hug, but took my lips in a hot kiss instead. Stars exploded behind my eyes. The flavor of his lips seeped deep into my senses.

I responded, and he grabbed me, lifting me up and laying me down gently on the grass. He locked both my hands above my head with just a hand, and kissed me even deeper. His lips moved from mine to my ear, then traced a line down my neck to my nipple, and circled there for a while before sucking hard on it.

A moan escaped my lips and he raised his head to watch my face. He stopped and pulled me up to himself. He caressed my hair and kissed my face profusely. 

“I love you, Saana, but I promised to wait till I claim you before having you. I don't want you feeling used." 

I nodded. This was the most explicit we had been in all the time we've known each other. I was convinced the passion was there, and the respect too. I buried my head deeper into his bosom.

"Tell me: has the council spoken to Lyra?" He asked.

I shook my head. “Only Lady Seraphina has spoken to her. She wants Lyra to put in good words for her with Alpha Kieran." 

“Hmm…smart move. Then she picked Anya to be her personal maid? Are they still close?" 

“You mean Anya and Lyra?" I asked to be sure. He nodded.

“They're not close anymore. Since the whole discovery of Lyra's dealings with the Alpha, Anya has been deliberately spiteful to her. You should have heard her chatter on and on about how Lady Seraphina treats her well." 

Ethan chuckled. “She's only a pawn in Lady Seraphina's game. Once her time is up, she'll be dropped off the board." 

I pulled away a bit to hold Ethan's gaze. 

“What about us; what's going to become of us? Will I also be dropped off the board once I'm done playing my part?" 

He planted a soft kiss on my lips.

"I love you so much Saana; I don't think I'll ever be able to do all this with someone who isn't you. You're meant for me, as I am for you. Let's stick together and fight for what we want.”

"How would you do that? The whole council is against Alpha Kieran just because he showed interest in an Omega,” I argued.

Ethan shook his head. "I'm not the Alpha; no one would care to know who I chose as my mate, even if I were to choose wrongly.”

"But what if he isn't genuinely in love with her? What if he wants her just because he's the Alpha, and she works in his palace? Don't they see that?” I proposed, trying to get Ethan to see the same picture I saw all the time.

"That means you think the same way of me, Saana,” he replied with so much resignation.

How hard it was to have difficult conversations with Ethan!

"You are not the Alpha! You just said that. I love you, I trust you; I only hope that you love and trust me the same way that I do.”

Emotions constrained my throat as I talked.

“Let's take you back," he said as he planted a kiss on my forehead. I only nodded and put his cloak back on.

I snuck back into bed and fell asleep immediately.