Lienna.
Time has flown by since my second session with the Shifter Kings. I’m trying to adjust to the fact that they might not be done with me as I had foolishly believed. The memories from those nights continue to torment me every waking and sleeping moment. The feel of their hands on my skin, the sound of their growls, the scent of their arousal… it still lingered in my mind, refusing to leave.
But the most confusing of all is how my body had responded to them despite the atrocities they had committed. I had tried to feel disgust afterwards but my body just grows warm every time I think of them. I hate myself for it, I hate my body for wanting them despite what they had done to me. Traitorous body, I think, as I try to shake off the unwanted desires.
The mistress, Veronica, is still furious as hell, though. She’s still seeking me out, trying to get a chance to punish me, to make me pay for my perceived wrongs. But I have resolved within myself to not let that miserable woman get to me again. I have been actively avoiding her, making sure I don’t trespass on her territory, so she doesn’t have any reason to lash out at me. She just isn’t worth it.
Today, the king’s were having a council meeting that seemed to be going on for ages, and it was time to serve them some refreshments. I was part of the maids who would be going into the council room, and I was very nervous about it. We were all lined up in a single procession, each one of us carrying a tray of different kinds of delectable dishes. The head chef, a stern-looking woman with a kind heart, gave us a final once-over before nodding curtly. “Remember, girls, elegance and poise. Don’t spill a thing.”
At her order, the door to the council room flung open, and we walked in. I gasped in awe as I stepped into the room, marveling at how beautiful it was. The high ceilings seemed to stretch up to the sky, and the grand chandeliers hanging from them sparkled like diamonds. The walls were adorned with beautiful murals, depicting scenes of great battles and powerful magic. I felt like I had stepped into a different world.
The three kings were seated on their thrones, each one designed to fit their personality. King Adonis throne was sturdy and strong, with intricate carvings of wolves and mountains. King Hermes throne had tiger embellishments, with silver accents that seemed to shimmer in the light. And King Caspian throne was ornate and luxurious, with golden filigree and plush velvet cushions.
Their faces were stoic, and they looked bored, as if they had been discussing the same thing for hours. I quickly looked away before they caught me staring and concentrated on serving the food. There were so many Lords and nobles present, seated around the round table and discussing amongst themselves.
Some of the nobles looked eager for the refreshments, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the food and drink. Others, however, looked like they wanted to go home, their expressions bored and disinterested. But one thing was certain – they were all Shifters, and the way they looked at the humans amongst the maids made my skin crawl. They must think we are vermins, the absolute grub of the earth.
My hands trembled slightly as I placed the tray on the table in front of one of the lords, but I managed to do it successfully, pouring the wine without spilling a drop. I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped back, trying not to meet the gaze of the lord, who was watching me with an intensity that made me shudder.
Just then, a troupe of dancers trooped into the council room, their arrival heralded by a festive tune that seemed to match the rhythm of my racing heart. I was genuinely surprised – I had never seen anything like this before. The dancers were sparsely dressed, wearing transparent clothing that left little to the imagination, and moving their bodies in a sensual manner that seemed to hypnotize the nobles.
The bored expression that had been on some of the nobles’ faces immediately wiped off, replaced with excitement and lust. I felt a surge of fear and disgust, and I immediately scurried away, seeking out Daisy, who was serving her tray not far away. I waited until she was finished, then slipped next to her, lowering my voice as I whispered in her ear.
“Is it always this way in the council room?” I asked, my voice barely audible over the music.
Daisy nodded, her expression grim. “All the time,” she whispered back. “Sometimes it can even turn into an orgy.”
My eyes widened as I stifled a gasp. “What!?” I exclaimed, shocked. “That’s… that’s shocking.”
Daisy’s expression was serious. “That’s the way it is,” she said. “Are you done? Let’s go before the lords take an interest in us. We wouldn’t be able to refuse.”
We started to leave when someone squeezed my backside, causing me to freeze. I felt a surge of fear and revulsion as I turned to see who had dared to touch me. It was one of the lords, his face flushed with drink and lust.
“Aren’t you a pretty lass?” he slurred, his eyes roving over my body. “Shouldn’t you be part of the dancers?”
I tried to play it cool, hoping he would lose interest and move on. I placed a fake smile on my face and curtsied slightly. “No, I am not, your lordship. I’m just a lowly maid.” I said, keeping my voice low and meek.
But he wouldn’t let up. “Doesn’t matter, you all are the same to me,” he murmured, his voice dripping with entitlement. “Why don’t you strip? Let me see what you’re hiding behind all those clothes.”
My eyes grew wide with horror as I looked to Daisy, who was staring at me with panic in her eyes. When I gazed around the room, I saw that some of the lords had already grabbed hold of other maids and were forcing them to do despicable things. It seemed like there was nothing anyone could do to stop them.
But I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to be another victim of their lust and power. So I began to struggle when I saw the lord making a move to get rid of my clothes. A wave of revulsion crashed over me, and I pushed him away from me before I could think about what I was doing.
His eyes grew wide at first, then narrowed in anger. “Who are you to defy me?” he thundered, his voice rising. “I told you to strip!”
My heart began to pound, cold sweat breaking out on my skin. I didn’t want to be punished, not by this man who looked like he would kill me without a second thought. My trembling hands reached for my clothes, and I was loosening the bindings when a voice spoke, cutting through the council room like a knife.
“Let go of her.”