Chapter eleven: painfulKaren crept through the dungeons as silently as she could, searching for Eve. She held a bundle close to her chest, inside was bread and some water she had managed to sneak out of the kitchen when Inez wasn't being a bitch and breathing down everyone's neck."Princess?" A voice whispered sternly. Karen paused and crept back to the cell she had walked past. "Eve!" She whispered, a smile spreading on her face. "I've been looking for you!" "What are you doing here?" Eve said, she looked around, her eyes flashing alarm. "If they find you here they'll hurt you."Karen felt her heart break as she started at Eve. She looked like a ghost of herself. Her hair was ashy, and her skin was pale. There were cuts on her face, and as much of her body as Karen could see was littered in bruises.It hurt her to see the most powerful warrior she knew reduced to a shell of herself."They hurt you..." Karen whispered, tears filling her eyes."Princess," Eve said with a soft laugh.

Chapter thirteen: A sliver of hope"It will take a few days for your injuries to heal." The healer announced after examining Karen."Why?" Karen asked.The elderly woman shrugged. "If you don't understand your body, how do you expect me to?"Karen hugged her body close. "Can you at least give me some herbs to ease the pain?""I tried, I applied a salve on you, the tea you just drank was supposed to help." The healer said with a sigh. "They aren't working on you."Karen sighed heavily. "I'm doomed."After the throne room incident, it had been two days. Kai summoned Karen again. Karen was scared, but had to obey him. She tried, she really tried to ignore the pain. But she couldn't hold it in for long and started crying. He sent for the healer. And here she was, with no solution."So I should just suffer till it heals?" Karen asked. "That's what it looks like." The healer said with a sigh. "I'm really sorry I can't help, okay?"Karen nodded. "It's all my fault. If only I had controlled

Chapter fifteen: a crack in the iceVerena knocked on the door to Kai's suite, a smile on her face. Finally. He had finally summoned her! At long last!"Come in." Kai said. She walked in and instantly froze. Lying on the couch was Karen, naked. She was asleep, and Verena could see the bruises on her body very slowly vanishing.Verena swallowed her anger and made her way to Kai. He was at his desk, working. Even though it was past midnight. AVerena bowed. "My alpha, here I am.""Take your clothes off," Kai said simply. Verena was more than happy to comply. She took of every piece of clothing and went on her knees in front of him. At the back of her mind she wished that Karen would wake up and see the two of them together. That would be perfect."Come here." Kai said, a strain in his voice.Verena's heart leapt with joy to know that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She got to her feet and moved over to him, proceeding to kneel in front of him. His eyes gazed upon her, his

Chapter seventeen: an unexpected guestKaren changed the sheets on Kai's bed, her mind wondering what he needed such a big bed for. She was positive the bed could fit four people with enough space. And fitting the sheets was something really exhausting to her. She had to run round the bed a couple of times to get it done. It has been two weeks since Eve killed herself, or so they said.Slowly, her days got better. Kai restricted her to cleaning and making sure his suite was in pristine condition. His suite was like a complete apartment, with a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms with his study in the master bedroom, a library and bathrooms attached to both of the bedrooms. It was large, spacious and tastefully furnished, themed in white, gold and black colours. Karen noted that the kitchen looked like it was barely used.Everyday, she has to clean and polish till everything shone. She would attend to him all day and return to the servants quarters at night. Each day that went by, th

Chapter nineteen: allowed to breatheKai watched Nicolas leave, an uncomfortable feeling settling in his stomach. Nicolas had acted like a completely different person. But Kai had a feeling that he was the one acting like a different person. His eyes focused on Karen who was still kneeling on the floor, crying quietly. Knowing that Nicolas was the cause of her tears made anger spark in his heart.She raised her head, her eyes big, shiny and filled with tears. "My master..." She whispered. "Did you....did you have to endure that too?"Kai didn't respond. Her eyes widened and filled with horror. She clamped her hand over her mouth "oh goodness..." She sobbed. "I'm so sorry..."A few weeks ago, Kai would have been enraged at her apology. A few weeks ago, he would have had her beheaded alongside her monstrous father. A few weeks ago, she wouldn't be in his suite on her knees in front of him. Her cries were exceedingly painful. "Take my life, please" she suddenly said, reaching out and