10

Contd

Akemi Ravenscar.

When Kie returns, I still haven’t collected myself.

My body feels off. I’m still warm between my legs, still moist—an embarrassing reminder of what just happened. When he leaned against me—I felt his porousness.

He was hard, but unbelievably soft too. A contradiction.

“Are you okay? Was the king—upset?”

I hear her but I don’t answer.

What did he just do to me?

I’m humiliated, not just by my reaction but by the fact that he could walk away so easily. Detached. Unaffected.

There are eight days.

Eight days until the consummation.

Eight days until my secret is revealed. Eight days are nothing. They’ll pass in a breath.

And when he finds out… will he sell me himself? I never lied to him. I never said I was a virgin but my stupid brothers just assumed so. Therefore, how could I stand before a werewolf king and tell him otherwise?

I saw his rage over something as simple as human fabric. If that’s his temper over clothes, what will he do when he learns the truth?

"Queen?"

"Kie!" I reach for her hand. "I have a secret."

Her brows lift. "A secret?"

She kneels beside the bed and places her hand on my lap. "What could it be about?"

I lower my voice. "It’s about the consummation."

"You and the king have already slept together, haven’t you?" she smiles. "Although… there is some dirty rumours from the omega wards in charge of laundry. They say there was no blood on the sheets."

"Drogo and I didn’t sleep together that night." I tell her.

Her eyes widen. "He didn’t touch you?"

I shake my head.

“Oh…” Lines of worry crosses her face before she tries to reassure me with a smile. "You can trust the king, your majesty. You have nothing to fear during the consummation. All you need to do is enjoy it."

She doesn’t understand. She has no idea what I’m talking about.

My throat feels tight and my fingers tremble in hers.

"I’m not a virgin." The moment I say it, she jerks away. I swear, she is as fast as lightning, on her feet at once. Her face is ice and at the same time, dark, staring at me. This lie must be a sin that is unforgivable.

I move to stand, to explain but she raises a shaking finger to her lips—shushing me. And then, she runs into the other compartments of the room and after a minute, she comes back as if she wanted to make sure we were the only ones in the chambers.

"No one must hear this. Lying to the king is treason!”

The fear in her voice seeps into my bones. It makes my legs weak and so, I sink back onto the bed.

"He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?" I start to cry.

Kie turns paler. "Everyone knows that King Drogo hates lies. He hates betrayal. His wolf hardly forgives especially when it comes to things as this—"

I wipe my tears but they keep falling.

"Then I’ll tell him." I force myself to stand. "I’ll tell him so he can just kill me quickly."

"NO!" Kie’s hand grabs my wrist. "King Drogo won’t just kill you. He will punish you until you beg for death itself. Death from the King is peace but his punishments? They never end!"

"Then what am I supposed to do? Wait until the end of ten days for him to find out himself?"

Kie hesitates. "There’s…there’s another way. I can give you a vial containing a little blood and you will place it on the sheets. During consummation, the chamber will be dim. If you’re careful, he won’t notice..."

I go still, staring at her.

Can I fool Drogo?

"I don’t think I can—"

"You have to!" Kie snaps. "You’re about to become the crowned Queen of Basgiath, the mightiest werewolf kingdom. Our Luna. The power you will hold will be enough to be move stars and moons. Everyone will bow before you. If you tell him now, you will end up in prison for lying is treason in our kingdom.”

“I know this is all strange to you. You’re human. This world—our ways—they’re not what you’re used to but as our queen, you have real power. The kind that makes the harem women bow instead of disrespect you. The right to demand the king’s attention whenever you wish. The freedom to claim his body as he will do to yours. An army at your command. A voice in council. You’re not just a farmer’s daughter anymore.”

Her eyes burn with conviction.

She’s right. I am no longer just my brothers’ sister.

"I will do it.” I nod,

Kie smiles. "Don’t worry, you will be successful. I know the moon goddess made you the king’s mate for a reason. As of now, there are rumours that you are weak because you are human. And second, because you allowed Bella and Susana to speak to you however, they please."

"They slapped you. I’m sorry—" Guilt tightens in my throat abut Kie smiles.

“I will teach you everything you need to know so they can never walk over you." She clasps my hands. "It will take time but we will work together for you to become the queen they fear.

"I promise you." I tell her and she wipes my tears.

"Ozaiah, the king’s beta is supposed to teach you about wolf customs, your duties as queen, and your responsibilities to Basgiath. She is the emblem and embodiment of brutality—inside and out. Ozaiah’s loyalty belongs solely to the king and she will not spare you, especially because you are human."

“Therefore, we need to start preparing you now for the lessons. That way, you’ll always be one step ahead."

I exhale. I've always loved reading but werewolf history and books are banned in human kingdoms. I suppose now is the time to learn everything I need to know.

“Let’s get you ready for the day.” Kie says.