“I’m so sorry,” I say as I’m softly pushed away. I right myself, resisting the urge to kill Massa. How dare he?
“Keep your apology for the elders and the king when you see them. Now may I know what your furry arse is doing on my lands?”
She’s iced pretty, with her platinum blonde hair and chalky skin. Her eyes are a bright blue, her lips a bloody red. Her eyes burned with impatience and it was then I realized that I hadn’t answered her.
“I’m the prince’s whore my queen.” She eyed me. “I asked what you’re doing here not what you are or do you not understand English? Perhaps you speak Ice?”
I have no idea what Ice means. “I speak English my queen.”
“I will ask again. What are you doing here? You’re his whore, I get it, but must you bring your business into the palace? Couldn’t you have kept your furry self away? So, stop lying to me and tell me the truth, Stormie. Who are you? What are your intentions? And what business do you have with my son?”
“I’m not lying,” I cry out. Where’s Massa when I need him? “I’m your son’s whore my queen.”
“Two things tell me you’re still in denial. One, how can you claim to be his whore and be without a claim? Two, the scent on you is definitely not my son’s. So, be an honest wolf, who sent you? Is it Carius? Has he returned to cause calamity? Speak wolf!”
“Mother enough!”
“Enough? She’s an intruder son. A wolf! Your father is not going to like this and…”
“I know dammit. Mother, stop, okay? Just stop. Stormie is my responsibility, okay? Why are you being so mean to her? You’ve never treated any of my whores like this.”
“Last time I checked, all your whores are Icelanders. Massa, I do not know what spell this girl has you under but…”
“But nothing. And I’m not under any spell. For the claim? I would do that once I’m back from dinner.”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to take this she thing along with you.”
“That she thing is my woman mother!”, Massa yelled. “And you better stop treating her like the shit she isn’t. Stormie has come to stay and you better get used to seeing her often.”
His mother shook her head. “Who are you and what have you done to my son?”
“I’m still your son, mother. You’ve just never seen this side of me before.” Grabbing my hand, he yanked me to him.
“Close the door on your way out.”
….
“I’m sorry,” I told Massa as we exited his wing. “Why are you apologizing?”
“You got into an argument with your mother because of me. I’m sorry.”
Massa stopped and turned to me, “Stormie, you don’t have to apologize. It’s not the first time we’re arguing anyway and I don’t get why she was so rude to you. You’re a wolf yes, but shouldn’t she get to know you a little bit before condemning you?”
“Maybe you’re right.”
He kept on walking. I trudged behind him, ignoring the cold that bit my skin.
He stopped before two huge icy doors and turned to me. “Before we go in, I just want you to remind you, every statement that leaves your mouth must be punctuated with my prince, even when you’re moaning.”
“Why would I be moa…”
He cut me off, “I’m serious Stormie. A question, my prince, a request, my prince. If the elders address you, you say my Lord. You have to show them that you are capable of being controlled.”
“And if they see that I can’t?”
“You have to make them believe that you can be controlled, Stormie. If you can’t, the consequences will be severe. You’ve already angered them with your presence alone. Don’t make matters worse by challenging them. Understood?”
I nodded. It’s not going to be easy pretending that I am the submissive type but I will try.
He frowned. “Words, Stormie words.”
“I understand.”
He kept staring.
“Oh sorry. I understand my prince.”
He smiled, turned his back to me, and pushed open the icy doors.
Massa walked in and I followed suit, pushing the door closed. Just like the halls, the dining room was crafted out of ice. The table that sat in the middle was long and glassy, adorned with twenty-six chairs. The chairs were made of glass, reflecting the crystals that hung from the ceiling. It’s incredibly cold here and I fought the urge to hug myself.
My eyes first made contact with Thjis. He was seated at the head of the table, donning a white fur coat and white pants. There was a woman to his left, but surprisingly it wasn’t the queen. This woman has auburn hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. Her ears are slightly pointy and she’s a perfect contradiction to what I imagined to be Faes. The man beside her appeared to be completely normal, but there was something about his unfocused eyes and mischievous grin that made my skin crawl. He has an uncanny resemblance to Davidson.
Massa walked towards the table and I tried not to falter in my steps under their scrutiny. Massa took his seat by the last chair on the left. I stood awkwardly, eyes down.
“I bring a wolf home and my brothers along with the rest of the council refuse to show up at dinner. How shocking.”
“We didn’t refuse Mass,” a voice flitted into the room as the doors opened once more. This nasal voice was accompanied by heavy footsteps and my nose was assaulted with scents from different angles. Not able to contain my curiosity, I lifted my head and I am intimidated by the royal presence of six males. They’re tall and surprisingly huge.
“We were just imitating the god of lateness,” the male with the red hair spoke. He has hazel eyes, a chiseled jaw, and thin lips.
“That title should go to Nasia. He’s not here yet,” another said.
My ears perked at Sia’s name. I really want to see him.
“Enough of all this blabbering. Massa, won’t you introduce us to the wolf?”