Lienna.
Days went by, and the whispers grew louder. Everyone, including me, confirmed that my status had indeed changed in the fortress. Even if no one was vocal about it, or they were keeping it away from me, I couldn’t deny the obvious. Veronica was right about one thing. I may be well on my way to being appointed as their second mistress due to the amount of times either of the Shifter Kings had opted to be with me intimately instead of their mistress, Veronica, or by purchasing other slaves, which was concerning.
A position that would have been a good idea to anyone, or even me, if it was only about sexual pleasure. And yes, the sex was amazing, leaving me breathless and wanting more. But my feelings for them were also deepening, and that was the concerning part. I didn’t know if anything I felt for them was real or just a result of the amount of time I had spent in their company.
Were my emotions genuine, or were they just a product of their charms and my captivity? I couldn’t distinguish between the two, and that uncertainty terrified me. If my feelings were real, I didn’t know how to navigate them. I had never intended to fall for my captors, and yet, here I was, torn between my desire for freedom and my longing for their touch.
And then there was still Veronica’s threat to worry about. Her words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows. I didn’t know how she would strike this time or how to protect myself from her wrath, even if it happened. The uncertainty was suffocating, making it hard for me to sleep some nights. My mind raced with thoughts of escape, of freedom, and of the Shifter Kings, leaving me exhausted and on edge.
Today was one of those days when I enjoyed the favored treatment the Shifter Kings gave to me. It was in the evening, and the aroma of roasting meats and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, signaling that it was time to serve dinner to the kings. I had been called to the Royal kitchen, where the meals of the Shifter Kings were being prepared with precision and care. Maids, chefs, and other assistants worked fast, their movements choreographed to ensure that every dish was perfect.
I maneuvered my way between the stern-looking people, their faces etched with concentration, as I made my way to the table where trays upon trays of food lay, already ready to be delivered. Though there were maids specifically designated for bringing meals to the Kings, for some reason, King Caspian had preferred for me to be the one serving him. This usually ended up with me eating at his table sometimes, and more often than not, spending the night with him tangled in the sheets.
Thoughts of those nights made my cheeks warm, my heart racing in my chest. If I was still falling for the other Shifter Kings, I was already head over heels for King Caspian. The way he looked at me, the way he touched me, and the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the world, all combined to make my feelings for him impossible to ignore.
“Listen up maids!” The Head chef called out, clapping her hands. We all straightened up, turning to look at her.
“Pick up a tray of food and get into single file, these meals are going to the dragon king.” She announced, her voice stern. We promptly picked up a tray of food, arranging ourselves to a single file and leaving the kitchen, going straight to the dragon’s King wing. My heart began to pound, my mind filed with so many possible scenarios. Would King Caspian ask me to stay with him again? Would we talk long into the night, sharing secrets and laughter? Or would we simply lose ourselves in each other’s eyes, our bodies speaking a language all their own?
I couldn’t wait to see him again, to feel his presence, and to bask in the warmth of his gaze. We made our way to the Dragon King’s residence, my heart beating with anticipation. The sound of clinking dishes and muted conversations filled the air as we approached the corner that led to the Dragon King’s residence.
As we rounded the corner, a group of guards emerged from the other side, and I could see Veronica standing in the midst of them, looking as breathtaking as always. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her emerald green eyes sparkled with a hint of malice. If only she wasn’t a witch beneath all those expensive clothes that she wore.
As if on cue, her gaze wandered towards me, and she paused, staring at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Her eyes narrowing, she called me out of the line to come see her. After a moment of hesitation, I did so, my heart racing with trepidation.
“What are you doing on that line?” she spat, her voice venomous. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to be there?”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. “I’m in the line because King Caspian ordered it,” I replied, hoping my voice sounded as calm as I hoped. “I’m part of the maids who take food to him.”
Veronica’s eyes widened slightly before narrowing even more as she took a step towards me. I instinctively took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. “Wow… I’m impressed,” she muttered, staring at the tray I was holding. “This kind of trust from either of the kings to a mere human is hard to come by. Make sure you don’t lose it.”
Her fingers brushed against the tip of the tray, and I jerked it away from her, feeling goosebumps rise in my skin. She gave me one of those strange stares again, her eyes seeming to bore into my soul. Then, she turned around and walked away, her soldiers following behind her like loyal shadows.
I watched her go, my heart still racing from the encounter. Trying to push it to the back of my mind, I hurried back to the line and joined them just as they were about to enter the dining area of the Dragon King. The table had already been prepared, with fine linens and sparkling silverware, and we set the dishes down with precision. After that, we stood close to the walls, waiting for King Caspian to arrive.
A courtier soon came to announce his presence, and we lowered our heads as King Caspian strode in, his ceremonial robes billowing behind him. His long dark hair danced free on his shoulders, and his aura and strength dominated the room. We greeted him in unison, our voices barely above a whisper, and he responded with a hum as he lowered himself into the seat provided. His stance was relaxed, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of intensity.
My fingertips began to tingle, my heart racing in my chest. “Thanks for the meal,” Caspian murmured, his tone neutral as usual. “You may go. Lienna, stay.” He ordered, not sparing anyone a glance, his attention fixed on the food before him.
My heart skipped multiple beats as I felt the brief stares and glares from the other maids who were there with me. A low murmur rose in the air as they walked out of the dining area, leaving just me, a number of soldiers, and King Caspian. Moving uneasily on my feet, I watched as King Caspian ate, the silence in the room deafening.
King Caspian ate with so much grace and ease that I could watch him for hours, entertained by the way he savored each bite with such elegance. For a while, he didn’t acknowledge my presence, and I was free to watch him to my heart’s content. His eyes seemed to gleam in the candlelight, and his hair shone like silk.
Until he paused and fixed his gaze on me, and I stiffened. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as our eyes met, and I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his gaze. “Join me,” he said, his voice low and husky, and I felt my heart skip a beat and I hesitated for a moment.
“Um… Thank you for the offer, your Majesty, but I’m afraid I will have to decline. I just ate from the maid’s quarters before coming to serve you, so I am still quite full.” I muttered, lowering my head quickly, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel his gaze on me, but thankfully, he didn’t press the issue and continued to eat.
I let out a shaky breath of relief, looking at everywhere but him. The soldiers present in the room stood at attention, their eyes fixed on the king. He continued to eat for a while in blissful silence, until suddenly, his demeanor changed. His brows furrowed slightly, and he cleared his throat.
“Is everything alright, your Majesty?” I asked, noticing that he didn’t seem to be feeling any better. The soldiers had begun to advance towards him, ever vigilant.
“Yes,” he answered, his voice slightly strained. I didn’t believe him. Taking a step forward, I tried to guess which food must have caused the reaction, but that was clearly impossible. He continued with his meal, albeit more slowly this time around, but his color only got worse. He stopped abruptly, a coughing fit seizing him.
This time, I panicked. “Is something wrong with the food?” I asked in alarm as I rushed towards the table, checking one dish after another as I sniffed them. He helped himself to a glass of wine, his eyes watering.
I picked up another spoon and dropped it quickly, as if it burned me. It was strange; everything about the food looked and smelled normal, yet why did it feel so repulsive? I didn’t get time to contemplate my answer as Caspian had grown worse. Another coughing fit took hold of him, and when he took his hand away from his mouth, there were blood stains on it. My blood immediately turned to ice, my eyes widening in horror.
The food had been poisoned.