“Mila, do the princes have a lounge where they err… hang out?”
Mila pauses in her embroidery work to look at me. “Yes, my lady.”
“Great. Take me there.”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry my lady but I simply do not know the place.”
“You could ask your friends. They might know.”
She shakes her head. “It’s for the royal princes my lady. We know that they do have a lounge, but no one knows where it’s located.”
“Not even the king?”
“Not even the king my lady. I heard that they did it that way, a secret only known to themselves. Rumour has it that when the princes want to escape from their parents and work, they go there.”
“That’s just wow.”
“If you don’t mind me asking my lady, why did you ask about it?”
“I just wanted to talk to Sia amidst his brothers, but that won’t be happening now that there’s a secret lounge only, they know about.”
“You can still talk to him amidst his brothers my lady. I heard that they are in the dining room having some fun”
“Is Sia there?”
“Yes, my lady. With all the other princes. Should I take you there my lady?”
“Don’t worry Mila. I wouldn’t want to disturb your work”.
“Nonsense my lady. Work can wait. Let’s go.”
Mila and I meet scantily clad women leaving the dining hall when we reach there. They scoffed at us both before sashaying back to wherever they came from. “Mila, who are those women?”
“The prince’s playthings.”
“Playthings or whores?”
“Playthings my lady. The whores haven’t been around for a while.”
“Does…does every prince have a plaything?”
“Yes, my lady.”
My chest tightens. “Even Sia?”
“Yes, my lady. But not to worry my lady. He doesn’t use her very often.”
“It doesn’t matter if he uses her Mila! What matters is that he has one and he didn’t tell me!”
“Calm down now my lady. I’m sure he didn’t think it important to tell you.”
“Didn’t think…? Mila, you can go.”
“Are you fine my lady?”
“Yes, my lady, now go.”
He has a plaything? Why didn’t he tell me? Biting back tears, I forced my way inside the hall, ignoring the glares that the other princes cast my way. They look like they’re having a good time. Massa has a woman belly dancing for him, Thane is enjoying rich liquor, the twins are having a duel about whatever, and Izal is laughing at something Eoff said. Dolan is playing chess with Ruarc, and from this angle, I can see that Ruarc is failing woefully. They were just brothers, but whilst they chatted and drank, one remained quiet, deep in thought.
“Nasia, get your head out of your thoughts and come get your whore!”, Eoff yells, tipping back in his chair, laughing hard. Some of the princes laughed with him.
Sia didn’t even lift his head. “Go away Pharix,” he mutters.
I frown. Pharix? Could she be his whore or plaything or even lover?
“Who is Pharix?”, I asked loudly and all the princes paused to look at me, Sia included. His eyes are wide with disbelief as he meets my confused gaze.
“Oh, so you don’t know Pharix? Well, I’ll fill you in. She is…”
Elijah kicked Dolan and he shut up. “Who is Pharix?”, I ask again, looking to Ruarc for an explanation.
“I thought you already knew,” was all the Crown Prince had to offer.
“Well since nobody wants to talk, I’ll gladly explain. Pharix is an Icelander you’re yet to meet, and she had been specifically groomed to serve Nasia after Anita was taken care of. She would have been his concubine if you hadn’t shown up,” Eleanor says, smiling.
She would have been. So, this was what Thelia meant earlier today when she called me a thief, accusing me of stealing someone else’s position.
“Nobody asked you for a goddamned explanation Eleanor,” Sia snapped.
“So, you’re going to beef your brother simply because he told me what you failed to say?”, I ask Sia, seething. To think that it’s all his fault I got ridiculed by a Fae today.
“Watch your tongue sissy!”, Elvis snapped. “The only thing Sia failed in was saving you when he shouldn’t have. Now I don’t know why he decided to make a slave like you his concubine, but that gives you no fucking right to talk to us the way you did. We’re royal princes of this noble kingdom and nothing like you.”
I scoff. “Royal princes you say? All I see is a drunk herd, even the child is drinking alcohol!”
Kayne shot up from his chair so fast, I’m surprised the chair didn’t fall. “A child you say? I’m a hundred and fifty years old you malicious popinjay!”
I snort. “Do you expect me to take you seriously with that squeaky voice of yours? You don’t even sound intimidating.”
He mustered up a glare and sent it my way. “I’m not intimidating? Oh, I will…”
“Enough!”, Sia bellows, slamming both hands on the table. “Enough all of you!” He then turned to the dancer. “Get out!”
She scurries out. Massa pouts. “Sia was it really necessary?”
Sia glares at him. “Now listen to me. You all know better than to be exchanging words with a mere concubine.”
So, I’m now a mere concubine?
“She’s not even a concubine yet,” Elvis spat.
“But she will be,” Cocci countered.
“We can always put a stop to it,” Kayne suggests.
“Can you guys just be quiet?”, Izal shouts. “It puzzles me that the mere presence of a she-wolf has turned you guys into blabbermouths. You don’t like her fine, but being extraordinarily vocal about it, is not going to make her disappear.”
Dolan butts in. “So, you’re saying we should make her disappear? I knew I liked you for a reason”.
“I didn’t say that. Look, the Fae Queen would soon arrive, and we can’t be wasting our time discussing a she-wolf. The only thing we can hope for is that she fails the test. Then, she would have no other choice than to leave. So now, let’s get ready,” Izal says rising. The other princes rise, exiting the dining, leaving me alone with Sia. I walk up to him, stopping when he puts up a hand.
“Don’t…don’t come any nearer,” he rasped, taking off his watch.
“You have no right to be mad at me. You’re the one who wouldn’t tell me about Pharix.”
He lets out a dry laugh. “Do you women expect men to tell you all about their flings and past relationships?”
“Don’t be like that. You should have just…”
He cuts me off. “Telling you about her wouldn’t have changed anything Crinka.”
“It would have!”
“It wouldn’t have! Telling you about Pharix wouldn’t have made you less cranky and mean.”
“I’m cranky and mean? Of course, I’m supposed to be cranky and mean. I’m on my fucking period for moon’s sake!”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ve interacted with women who also happened to be on their periods, and they have been nothing but nice.”
“I bet they were only doing that so they will end up in your bed.”
“Do you think that I would let them in your bed?”
“Who knows?”
He laughs. “What’s up with you? Why are you being like this?”
“I’m not being like anything. Why didn’t you tell me you have playthings?”
“So, this is what this is about. You think I have been cheating on you?”
“I don’t want to think anything. I just want to know why you didn’t think it important to tell me you have one.”
“Every prince has one Crinka. They are changed periodically.”
“After you tire of them of course.”
“Do you think that low of me?”
“I was only returning a favor since you don’t think so highly of me.”
“Am I supposed to?”
I staggered back as the weight of his words finally settled in.
“Look baby, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I’m not the type to sugarcoat things. I care so much about you, that’s why I’m going to be honest. Crinka, you’re mean and verbally aggressive. I know it’s expected after all you’ve witnessed, but you have to tone it down a notch. Being loud-mouthed and abusive is only going to get you killed. If you’re naturally tempered, try not to let it show. Perhaps it’s losing your wolf that has made you like this but try and consider your audience before you act rashly. My brothers are short-tempered and don’t waste a minute before putting disobedient people in their place, but for your sake, I begged them to be a little patient with you. So, to avoid them running out of patience change. Care more, speak less. Think things through before saying them. I know that alphas are too quick to say what they want, but you’re no longer an alpha so change. Baby, if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
I stare at him wordlessly. He does care and I’ve been so… I take a step back, heart heavy. Sia doesn’t deserve me. Thelia had been right. He deserves better, and it’s a pity I can’t be better for him.