83

Cocci watched as Crinka obediently followed the concubines to their designated place. He couldn’t help but shake his head, fully aware of the impending danger lurking beneath the surface. The previous night, he had overheard their malicious plans, and he knew the unsuspecting she-wolf was walking into a perilous situation. Despite his knowledge, Cocci had no intention of intervening or allowing anyone else to save her. Instead, he had taken measures to keep his brothers occupied with drinks and women, ensuring they remained oblivious to the unfolding drama. After all, she had doused his eyes with pepper once, and he wasn’t about to forget that.
Turning on his heel, Cocci made his way toward the grand hall where the party was in full swing. Unbeknownst to him, Sia hadn’t been in the hall but with Pharix. He had wanted to spend some quality time with her before joining the revelry, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at his gut. Crinka wasn’t okay, and he couldn’t ignore that. So, he decided to bring Pharix with him to his room, hoping to find some answers. However, upon their arrival, Crinka was nowhere to be found. He searched the south wing, the east, and the north, but she remained elusive. Returning to his own wing, he felt a growing sense of unease.
“She might be at the party, my prince,” Pharix suggested quietly, her concern for Crinka evident. Despite the societal norms, she couldn’t help but care for the she-wolf. “I’m sure you’ll find her, so just relax. I’ve prepared a bath for you in the bathhouse. Freshen up, and I’ll continue searching for her,” she offered, walking towards Sia. However, when she attempted to assist him with his clothes, he pushed her away, determined to head to the bathhouse on his own. Unbeknownst to Pharix, his intentions were not to cleanse himself but to find Crinka.
Pharix waited until Sia had settled into the bathtub before closing the door and turning the lock. She knew her actions might seem sinister, but she was only trying to buy time for the concubines. By the time Sia broke free, it might have been too late to save Crinka.
Meanwhile, Massa observed his brother’s agitated pacing, the dark veins on Sia’s chest hinting at the lurking monster within. He knew that if Sycamore were to surface, it would result in chaos for the kingdom. Massa attempted to reason with him.
“Sia, you need to calm down,” Massa implored, watching the frantic pacing.
“Calm down? Why the hell should I calm down?” Sia retorted, his anxiety evident.
“If you don’t, Sycamore will take over and harm people.”
“Then I won’t calm down. Massa, I can’t find her. Where could she be?” Sia’s desperation was palpable.
“It’s possible she left,” Massa suggested, his weariness evident. He would have preferred to be at the party, getting drunk, rather than dealing with this crisis.
“Left? That’s impossible,” Sia protested.
“It’s possible. Nothing is tying her to this place, Sia. She may have decided to return to her own people,” Massa reasoned.
“I don’t believe that. Something doesn’t feel right about any of this, Massa. I can feel it,” Sia replied with a sigh.
Massa, relieved to see his brother returning to his senses, finally stated, “She’s gone, bro. Just accept it.”
“No, she isn’t,” Sia insisted.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when a voice spoke up from the shadows. Both brothers turned to see Prita standing there in the flesh. Massa’s eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn’t contain his joy as he rushed to embrace her and kiss her hair. However, she pushed him away, clearly unimpressed.
“Don’t touch me, you feather-brained prince,” Prita snapped, her tone laced with irritation.
Sia regarded the girl closely. She had to be the vraugmita, and he couldn’t hide his disdain for her. Massa, on the other hand, pouted but quickly regained his composure.
“I missed you, baby. Tell me you came here to see me,” Massa pleaded, eager for her affection.
Prita rolled her eyes at Massa’s enthusiasm. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I came here to see him,” she said, pointing at Sia.
Massa waved away his feelings of jealousy, convinced that Prita had something important to discuss.
“You’ll see him later. Now, tell me how you managed to sneak into the palace without being seen,” Massa inquired, looping his arm around her shoulders. However, she promptly shrugged off his touch.
“I don’t have time to share my adventures,” Prita replied dismissively.
“But we…”
“Leave the girl alone, Massa,” Sia interjected. “Let her speak and then leave.”
Prita clicked her tongue in irritation. “So rude. You can’t even welcome me properly.”
“Vraugmitas aren’t welcomed here, and you know it,” Sia sneered.
“I don’t care whether I’m welcomed here or not. I won’t reveal anything about Crinka’s whereabouts until I’m properly fed,” Prita declared.
Sia’s ears perked up. “You know where Crinka is?”
“Yes,” Prita confirmed.
Sia narrowed his eyes, his skepticism evident. “If you’re lying, I swear I’ll…”
“Prita finished his sentence with a taunting smile. “Rip me apart? Feed my remains to the dogs? I’m not afraid of you, Nasia Sycamore Lancaster. Instead, you should be afraid of me.”
Sia scoffed at her bravado. “And why should I be afraid of you?”
“Because I have Crinka, and since you two are blood-bonded, I indirectly have you in my hands,” Prita retorted.
Sia cursed under his breath, realizing the gravity of the situation. Massa, on the other hand, watched their exchange with interest.
“Fine! What do you want?” Sia reluctantly asked.
Prita’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Ah, the question I’ve been longing to hear!”
Sia clenched his teeth, struggling to contain his frustration. “Just state your terms.”
“Firstly, I would like to eat,” Prita requested wearily. The ordeal of bringing Crinka to the palace on an empty stomach had drained her energy.
“I can arrange that,” Massa offered.
“Secondly, I would like to shower and wear fine clothes. I haven’t had a proper bath in years,” Prita continued.
“Yeah, I can tell,” Sia remarked, scrunching his nose at her disheveled appearance.
“I can arrange that,” Massa repeated, eager to cater to her needs.
“Lastly, I would like a tour of the palace. It’s been a while, and I’d like to see the new improvements,” Prita stated.
“No,” Sia asserted firmly. “That’s too dangerous. We can’t risk you being seen.”
“I can make her invisible,” Massa interjected, trying to find a compromise.
“Avetha would know, and the last thing we need on our lands is a screaming fest,” Sia argued.
“Fine. Since I can’t have a tour, then I’ll just leave,” Prita declared, turning on her heel.
“Wait!” Massa exclaimed.
Prita halted, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Yes?”
“I have a better idea,” Sia proposed.
“You do?” Prita inquired, intrigued.
“Yeah,” Sia confirmed.
“Say it,” Prita urged.
“I have a woman in mind whom I believe you might find intriguing,” Sia revealed.
Massa glared at Sia, shocked that his brother was encouraging Prita’s interest in other partners, especially given the circumstances. He found it highly unethical.
“Sia…” Massa began to protest.
Sia, however, ignored his brother’s disapproval. Prita’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Really? Tell me more. Is she pretty?” Prita asked eagerly.
Sia didn’t have extensive knowledge of Pharix’s appearance, having never paid close attention to her, but he recalled Cocci’s compliments regarding her looks.
“Yes,” Sia affirmed.
Prita beamed at the prospect. Massa watched the exchange, his jealousy momentarily forgotten. “Ooh. Is she curvy?”
“Yes,” Sia answered, playing along.
“Do you know the best part?” Sia added, piquing Prita’s interest.
“She has never been touched,” Sia revealed.
“Do you mean it?” Prita asked, her curiosity evident.
“Of course. I have no reason to lie,” Sia replied convincingly.
“Then it’s a deal,” Prita agreed, sealing the arrangement with a handshake.
Sia smiled, satisfied with the agreement. Pharix deserved whatever was coming to her, he thought. Next time, if there were one, she wouldn’t dare lock up an Icelander ever again.