Chapter 2 - Undress

~Arielle ~

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, cutting through the tension that had begun to brew. The decision had been stalled, or so I thought.

My heart drummed furiously beneath my chest as I clutched the hem of my wet dress.

My eyes raised subtly when I heard the footsteps stop.

A pair of leather shoes, long legs of black pants, and a black shirt…my gaze moved further to rest on pink lips left out under the black mask he wore.

Who exactly was he?

His rare gold colored eyes pierced through my being, and in that moment it felt as though I was bare. My nipples stirred under my wet dress, making things even worse than they already were.

“Prince Darion,” The attendants chorused, their heads dropping, unable to look at the man as though he was a plague. Or perhaps someone of high status –pretty evident from his temperament.

I clenched my jaw hard, feeling the swell on my cheeks. It still hurt from last night…if not even worse.

“Miranda has put you up to pick out a concubine for me, hasn't she?” His voice rolled out of his throat, stunning me. It was…beautiful. Magnetic. My heart skipped a beat at how melodious it sounded. Filled with masculine charm.

Fuck, snap out of it!

“Prince…we…yes, she has asked us to do that,” The man who'd been deciding our fate earlier now cowered, his back arching as he bowed. I could see the beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead.

“Very well, I will pick one myself,”

“Prince? Ah, yes…” the man's mood had lifted. As though he'd been saved from the very hands of death in the span of seconds.

A guard pushed me forward, making my eyes widen with dread. Oh God! I didn't want to be taken as a concubine for some prideful prince clad in a mask. How could I let them know that I wasn't interested in all this?

My head dropped. My eyes bore onto the floor. My heart thud furiously beneath my chest–I could hear it in my ears. Fear? Dread? I was overwhelmed. I wanted to hide. Perhaps he wouldn't see me then? Perhaps he'd pick out someone else then? But I knew I couldn't.

Don't pick me.

I silently prayed, at least not until he spoke.

“Lift your head,”

Fuck! Why would I? Yet, I knew I had to. I couldn't risk being slapped again, my face already ached from the ones I'd gotten last night.

“I will not repeat myself,’” he muttered, his voice low. Dangerous. It made my skin crawl. Then I lifted my head slowly. I met his eyes yet again. This time, I didn't flinch, I didn't cower. I just stared at him dead in the eye, yet, one could see the quiver of my shackled hands against the cold metal. The cold seemed to have multiplied, making me shiver. My nipples hardened, poking through my dress as though begging to be released. I saw his eyes move, particularly resting onto my breasts for a fleeting second.

Pervert!

“I'll have her,” he voiced out, his voice devoid of any emotions. My feet had glued to the ground, unable to believe my ears. What did he mean?

Fuck, had I been chosen? I didn't want that!

I gasped as a female attendant shoved me forward, the chains clinging. And then he turned around and left. His feet thud the floor as his back faded farther away. He'd sealed my fate.

I was seized by the arms—two women, both expressionless, guiding me away from the line of trembling women.

I didn’t resist. What was the point?

We turned through several hallways, each one colder than the last, until we entered a stone chamber lit with soft candlelight. A wide tub sat in the center, steam rising from it like the breath of a beast. Except…it wasn't from hotness but from cold. The water was chilling. The scent of lavender and clove lingered in the air, warm and oddly calming, yet the storm in my heart hadn't calmed.

“Undress her,” a maid ordered, already unfastening the shackles around my wrists.

I stiffened.

“I can undress myself,” I said, my voice coming out sharper than I'd intended. They stared at me for a fleeting second before nodding.

I peeled the wet dress from my skin, each movement slow and humiliating. The fabric clung stubbornly to my breasts and hips before sliding down to the floor with a soft, wet sound. Goosebumps prickled across my skin as the cool air kissed my bare flesh.

“Get in the tub,” one of them urged, and I obeyed.

Cold water enveloped me, making me exhale sharply. It was so cold, biting into my skin harshly.

They washed me as though I was filth.

Scrubbing my skin as though to get rid of a stench that wasn't there.

Cladding me in a dress that left little to the eye, I'd never felt so humiliated. I'd tried hard to cover my almost bare breasts, yet, they'd swatted my hand away.

“You belong to the first prince now, and he likes to feast his eyes,” they'd said, making my stomach churn, yet I could only bite my lips.

When they were done, the door was pushed open. A tall man stepped in…another servant perhaps, or a guard. His eyes lingered too long before he nodded.

“She's ready,”

How could I miss the pitiful gazes directed at me by the maids as I left with the guard. The way they looked at me suggested that I had gotten caught up in something dangerous.

Walking through a few hallways, I'd finally been led in front of a luxurious door. I hadn't expected the guard to shove me in without saying a word. I stumbled, hearing the loud click of the door as it closed behind me, making me bite my lip. My eyes scanned the room that had been dimly lit, curtains brought down, leaving a torch at the side.

I had barely taken two steps when the familiar voice halted me.

“Undress,”