Lienna.
“He gave you an aphrodisiac?” Mara asked, her voice filled with surprise, and a hint of curiosity. I nodded, seating myself on the bed as she busied herself preparing herbs to soothe the ache in my body. The pungent aroma of the herbs filled the air, and I wrinkled my nose in distaste.
Mara had come to my room immediately after I returned, concern etched on her face. It seemed that everyone had heard about the events in the council room. “That is surprising and genuinely thoughtful of him…” She trailed off, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. “Since he’s known to be really rough.” She finished, her voice laced with a hint of pity.
I squeezed my nose at the pungent smell of the liquid she handed me, but drank it anyway. The bitter taste made me groan, and I returned the bowl to her, my face scrunched up in distaste. Mara collected the bowl, her expression sympathetic.
As I sat there, memories of the previous night’s events flooded my mind. King Adonis’s rough handling, the way he had pushed me to my limits… If it wasn’t for the aphrodisiac, I would have been retraumatized all over again. My cheeks heated up at the thought, and I looked away, trying to compose myself.
Pausing slightly, I turned to look at Mara, a question burning at the back of my mind. “But Mara, I need to know…” I hesitated, unsure how to phrase it. “Without the aid of the aphrodisiac, is it really pleasurable?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mara’s expression turned serious, and she set the bowl aside. “That’s a complicated question, Lienna,” she said, her voice measured. “Pleasure is subjective, and what one person finds enjoyable, another might not.” She paused, collecting her thoughts. “I have very limited experience, but sometimes those actions can lead to pleasure, especial for Shifters like them.” She said.
Then she let out a sigh, gazing at me fondly, a warm smile spreading across her face. “You really caught their eyes, didn’t you?” She said, her voice tinged with amusement. I blushed, bowing my head, feeling a mix of emotions: embarrassment, gratitude, and a hint of fear.
Mara started to pack her things, her movements swift and efficient. “You need to be careful now, especially with Veronica, their mistress,” she warned, her expression turning serious. “It’s no surprise she’ll try to kill you now. That woman has completely lost her mind. She thinks she owns the Shifter Kings.”
I muttered under my breath, my rage simmering just below the surface as I remembered how Veronica attacked me after I left the Werewolf King’s wing. “She never fails to attack me whenever she sees me.”
Mara’s expression turned grim. “Now, it’s going to get worse. She’s going to try to kill you literally. You need to be very careful of who you speak to and move around with. They could all be spies for her. She is the head of the fortress in a way. Until the kings marry or choose a queen, no one can go against her.”
I felt a chord of fear at her words, but I steeled myself, resolving not to go down without a fight. I didn’t come this far to lose to that crazy woman. I thought about all the times Veronica had tried to intimidate me, and my determination grew.
Mara seemed to sense my resolve and nodded in approval. “I’ve left some medicine behind. Make sure you use them so you can heal quickly.” She smiled warmly at me before turning to leave. “Now, get some rest. You need it.”
I watched her go, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. As soon as the door closed softly behind her, I let out a sigh, breathing softly for a moment before standing up and heading to my bed. I dropped down on it, suddenly exhausted, the weight of Mara’s words settling in.
I closed my eyes, attempting to shut out the thoughts, but it was almost impossible. My mind wouldn’t stop wandering back to the night I shared with the Werewolf King, sending shivers down my body. The memory of his touch, the pleasure he brought me, and the unexpected kindness he showed me afterwards refused to fade.
Laying there, I caught myself at the brink of a smile and frowned instead. Don’t dwell on it, I thought sternly. You’re nothing more than a plaything to them. You can be easily discarded in the blink of an eye, without a second thought.
The harsh reality brought a wave of sadness crashing down on me, and I curled into myself, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to fall. I didn’t know why it hurt so much, but I couldn’t deny the truth in my words. Reading into anything the Shifter Kings did would only lead to more danger, more heartache.
I thought about Veronica’s venomous gaze, the malice in her eyes, and the threat she posed. It seemed like I had to worry about someone trying to take my life because of the unwanted attention from the kings. The weight of it all crushed me, making it hard to breathe.
I laid in the darkness for a long time, letting my thoughts wander until I couldn’t put off the exhaustion any longer, allowing myself to fall into a fitful sleep, letting tomorrow worry about itself.
A few days later, I was hard at work in the hallways, scrubbing the windows until they sparkled like diamonds. The medicine Mara gave me had worked its magic, and most of the ache in my body had already subsided, allowing me to move around freely once more. I had also managed to avoid the Shifter Kings, which brought a wave of relief washing over me. I wasn’t ready to face them again, not yet.
As I worked, the water in my bucket grew murky, and I knew I needed to change it. Carrying the bucket, I began to make my way to the courtyard to fetch a new batch of clean water. Rounding a corner, I failed to notice the figure standing before me, and we collided, the bucket slipping from my grasp. The water spilled everywhere, soaking the rug and the person I had bumped into.
“Oh my gods!” I screamed out, panicked, immediately dropping to my knees as I tried to salvage the situation. But it was useless. The water had already seeped into the rug, leaving a nasty stain, and the person I had bumped into was now splattered with dirty water.
As I looked up to apologize, my voice caught in my throat, and my eyes grew as wide as saucers. I had bumped into King Hermes’ soldier, and some of the water had spilled onto the king as well. My heart racing, I staggered backwards, trying to apologize, but the words got stuck in my throat.
To think I was just celebrating avoiding them and now this happened! Why is fate just so cruel to me. “I’m so sorry your Majesty! I really didn’t mean to!” I rushed out, my panic intensifying. He didn’t do anything, but I could swear I saw his lips twitch in a smile.
That’s it, I’m dead.