All Chapters of The Mate Games: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

ALTHEA The next morning, I wake to a soft knock at my door. I barely have time to register it before the door creaks open, and two young women step inside. They move efficiently, as if they’ve done this routine a hundred times before. One of them carries fresh towels and a tray of food, while the other sets out neatly folded clothes on a chair near the window. Their uniforms are pristine, their movements graceful, but I don’t miss the way their eyes flick toward me, filled with quiet curiosity. I sit stiffly on the edge of my bed, feeling strangely out of place in the silk nightdress I was given. The palace’s luxury still unsettles me, and somehow it still feels like this is a world I’ll never fit in. The events at the woods yesterday has only made me even more certain of that. My ankle is wrapped tightly beneath the sheets, a dull ache pulsing with each movement. My body is sore, but it’s the memories that weigh the heaviest. The bed beneath me is too soft. I feel like I’m si

ALTHEAI hurry back to my room, my breath uneven. My hands clutch at the torn fabric of my dress, fingers trembling as I try to smooth the jagged edges. It’s no use. The rip is too big, running straight down the side, exposing way more skin than I’m willing to show on live broadcast.Panic squeezes my chest. I’m supposed to be on stage in minutes, answering questions, pretending I actually want to be here. And now, I look like a disaster.I swallow hard, trying to force back the tears burning behind my eyes.Not now. Not over this.I squeeze my eyes shut and take a slow breath, but then—“Elena! Be careful, or you’ll—”The door bursts open.Elena stumbles in, nearly dropping a sewing kit, her dark curls bouncing with the movement. Mira follows behind her, arms crossed, a knowing look on her face.Elena’s eyes widen when she sees me. “Althea, we saw what happened?”“It’s ruined,” I say, defeated. “And I don’t have time to fix it.”Mira hums, unimpressed. “Well, good thing we came prepa

ALTHEADays pass slowly after lady Ivanna’s announcement.Each morning, one of the girls gets called away by a guard with a message from Prince Asher. Every single time, she returns with stars in her eyes and a story to share.Elise was the first. “He took me to a movie,” she said, practically glowing. “An actual theater. There was popcorn and everything.”Then Isobelle, a quiet dark-haired girl, came back from a garden walk. Her lips said little, but the blush on her cheeks told everything.Caroline had a picnic by the lake. “He brought my favorite dessert,” she gushed. “How did he know?”They all returned changed. Lighter. Giddy.And I—well, I barely sleep the night before my turn.Not from excitement.From dread.Whatever Asher has planned for me, it won’t be sweet. It won’t be charming. No, I know exactly what kind of game he’s playing. And I refuse to fall for it.After breakfast, Mira and Elena come to my room, full of excitement and nerves on my behalf. Mira brushes out my hair

ALTHEA“Go to the back of the room, ladies!” the head guard yells, his voice loud and firm. His name tag says Mark and he runs quickly toward a window.That’s when everything changes. A wave of guards rushes into the hall, their boots heavy on the floor, weapons drawn. I see more of them lining up just outside the room, and then the large doors slam shut. There’s the sound of metal scraping as the guards bolt the doors and slide thick bars across them.Everything happens so fast.Most of the other girls are confused. Some gasp. Some look around in fear. I move with them to the back of the room, just like Mark ordered. My heart is pounding.“They’re inside the halls, Your Majesty, but we’re holding them back,” Mark says. His voice is grave and tense.My stomach drops. My heart feels like it’s about to stop.No one here knows who I really am.What I really am.And if they find out—if anyone finds out—I’ll be dead before I can explain.I don’t know how I didn’t expect this. It should’ve

ALTHEAI walk out of Asher’s room, my thoughts spinning too fast for me to catch a single one. My heart still beats too hard in my chest, like it’s trying to remind me of what just happened. What I just saw.The scars.They were everywhere. Slashes across his back. Faded burns along his side. I want to scream, How? How did I not notice them that night?Was I that caught up in the heat, the rush, the chaos of it all? Did I not care enough to look? No… I didn’t care. Especially not that night.My hands are shaking. I press them to my sides and walk faster. I don’t want to think anymore. I don’t want to see his face again in my mind—eyes wide with pain, chest heaving, broken whispers I didn’t understand.Back in my room, I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing. The room is quiet, but my mind is anything but.I lay down eventually. My body’s tired, but my brain won’t shut up.I close my eyes tightly. I don’t want to think about scars. Or dreams. Or Asher. Especially not Asher.**