Shadow wolves: The Prince's Servant (Book 4) - Complete

Chapter 4 - Moving to the castle.

Emily

“Julius, I can’t. I have already taken up too much of your time and hospitality. I am better and can return to my duties. The others will gossip that I am your mistress now and the Queen is already very upset with you. It is better that I leave now and not return to your room.” I looked sad and broken.

“Who would dare to gossip and call you a mistress? You have not done anything of the sort! You were injured!” He was horrified that anyone would say things like that.

“It is the way the world works, your highness.” I sighed, not caring what he wanted me to call him. I was a commoner, and soon he would tire of me, then I would just be a used commoner, the girl who once was the mistress to the King. I stood up from the bed, moving his arm away from me, pretending to walk over to breakfast, but as soon as I was clear of his embrace, I made a run for the servant's door, locking it behind me on my way out. I ran down the stairs into the kitchen crying. Cook tried to stop me to find out what happened, but I didn’t stop. I kept running until I reached the dark woods, not realizing until I was lost inside. There were howling winds and ash blew around me. A voice called my name. I fell on the ground crying. I knew this was my end. I was going to die in the dark woods all alone, killed by the devil who walked these woods, waiting for his payment.

“Emily.” I heard a voice.

“Yes,” Too scared to look up, I answered, shaking like a leaf. The voice was smooth as silk and calming.

“Stop your tears. You have found your way to me and everything will be okay.” He bent down to my level, his index finger underneath my chin lifting my face to look up at him. He was dressed in all glittery blue. He almost looked like … “The stars? Yes, I am. I am the creator, and I am the one that called you here.” He sounded calm with his silky voice.

“I don’t understand.” I felt confused, but safe in his presence. “Where is the devil monster that roams the woods? The one who killed everything and is waiting for his payment?” I looked around, waiting for those sharp fangs to cut through my flesh at any moment.

“Do not be scared, my child. There is no such monster. People make up stories when they don’t understand something. The old king and I had an agreement that he would give me his oldest daughter, who would become the moon goddess. She would look after all supernatural creatures for me. In return, I would give him abundance and make sure his kingdom flourished.” The man explained.

“What are you? Who are you that you can grant such things and not be called a devil or monster?” I wanted to be scared, but still feel safe.

“I am the creator, child. All you see, feel, hear, smell … All of it is what I’ve made for my creatures. But I cannot create and take care of them at the same time. That is why I made the deal with the old King.” He explained. “Now I have chosen you to be the new moon goddess. I want you to take care of the supernatural beings, be their mother, choose their mates, nurture them, plan their paths.” His eyes were filled with love.

“Huh?” I looked at him. “I’m just a kitchen girl. I don’t have any powers. Why would you want a commoner like me?”

“Because your heart is pure and true, Emily. You care for those who never even look at you a second time. You would protect those who don’t deserve protection, knowing they would not do the same for you.” He explained.

“What about my father? What will become of him if I’m not there to take care of him? What about Julius? His heart will be broken.” I looked down at the ground again.

“Your father will be taken care of. I can promise you that Julius will not let him go hungry or be hurt. Julius would get over the heartache and move on. But the entire world of supernatural creatures cannot survive without a moon goddess.” He explained.

“I need time. I need to think about this. I can’t just leave.” I felt panic rise from deep inside me when the spell of safety was broken. When I looked up, he was no longer standing there.

“You have one year to decide, Emily. In exactly one year I will be back to hear your decision.” He said, and all I heard after was the howling wind again.

“When did my life become so complicated?” I asked out loud.

“When you ran away from me,” Julius answered me. When I looked up, he was sitting atop a black horse, holding out his hand for me to take.

“Did you think hiding in the dark forest would scare me off?” He whispered when we rode out with his guard following us. He rode through town on purpose, I was sure of it, making the people talk, seeing me on the back of his horse. We reached the castle and he jumped off his horse, helping me off. “Now will you please stop running.” He held me close to him, before putting me down on my feet. We were both out of breath from the ride and I couldn’t say anything, still in shock that he had actually found me. Still not sure if I saw that being and if all of that really happened.

“I will, your highness. May I please return to my duties now, then I will stop running.” I looked down again.

“I am not going to win this fight yet?” He asked, not receiving any reply from me. “Well, at least I know you are safe. Your father has been moved to staff quarters in the castle, so there is no need for you to go into town anymore. I don’t want you near those merchants. Cook says your job is there any time you want. You may return to the kitchens if it is what you wish, on one condition.” Oh brother, here it comes. I am going to have to go to bed with him!

“I would like to spend one hour a day with you, talking, getting to know you. What you think? What you like and dislike? It’s not negotiable, is that clear?” He commanded, still not letting me go.

“Yes, your highness,” I replied, and he put me down on my feet, letting me go. I ran to the kitchen right into the arms of Cook.

“Oh, my darling child! He found you. We were so worried about you! Don’t you ever run off like that again! What were you thinking?” She peppered me with questions. “Never mind, you are safe. I have put that grumpy old father of yours in the back of the servant’s quarters where nobody can hear his complaints about his living arrangements, if you would like to go and see him.”

“Thank you, thank you so very much for everything you have done for me. I don’t know where I would have ended up if it weren’t for you Cook.” A small tear dripped down my cheek.

“Now go on, before you make me cry!” She pushed me to the passage leading to my father. I could hear him complain down the hall, but at least it seemed that nobody else was staying in that section.

“Father really!” I scowled at him when I came around the corner. There was a plate with fresh fruit and bread on the table next to him, he had a proper bed and not a cot like the others. “Are you complaining about all of this?”

“Yes, I was told I would be living in the castle! Not in the dungeons!” He carried on.

“You better stop moaning before the Queen hears you. She won’t think twice about moving you to the pigsty. Besides, this is the servant’s quarters, not the damn dungeon!” His eyes widened.

“She would not do that to an ill old man.” He sounded out of breath.

“Yes, she would.” I pulled his blanket tightly over his bed. “Now stop complaining and rest. I need to get back to work.” I made myself scarce quickly before he could say anything else. I forgot for a moment about the Prince and the Creator, while walking down the passage smiling, thinking about my father and his complaints, but … I was not that lucky when I entered the kitchen. He was waiting for me. He was not a stable boy, so his horse was taken care of by someone else and he most probably followed me into the kitchen straight away.

“So, Cook tells me you can take one hour each afternoon to take a walk with me. We have arranged the time. I will collect you here, and we will leave through the front entrance of the castle.” He turned to leave. “Oh, and I am sending the tailor to have some new dresses made for you and Cook. I can’t have my two best girls working in rags.” He smiled and left the kitchen.

“What?” I pointed towards the stairs, my mouth hung open … Again.

“Flies my dear, flies, remember.” She said, looking at me with a face saying, I told you about flies and open mouths in the kitchen before.

“He just turned my life upside down, and you are worried about flies … I will never understand old people.” I shook my head, looking down at the ground, but my mind was somewhere else. I had a year to decide if I wanted to become some goddess. What would happen if I said no? Then I had Julius, who wanted me to … Walk with him? I didn’t realize it, but I started hyperventilating again and Cook rushed over to me with a cold wet cloth, making me sit down before I fainted.

“Girl! Don’t you realize that you are in love with him? Why do you think you keep fainting?” She held the cloth against my forehead and tried to stop me from toppling over with her other hand.

“Cook, I am a commoner, we have been through this. His inauguration will soon be announced after his father’s funeral, then he will be King.” I sighed.

“So, you take it one day at a time. Nothing wrong with just talking.” She looked at me, letting me go, and we returned to work. The next week was spent on preparations for the funeral. I avoided being in the kitchen when I heard the Queen coming. I went on walks with the prince, only because I had no choice. Two days before the funeral, there was a big ruckus in the courtyard of the castle. One of the cleaning girls ran into the kitchen, flushed.

“She is here, she is here! She is so beautiful!” She squealed, looking excited.

“What are you talking about, you stupid girl?” Cook stopped her in her tracks.

“The princess, of course, old woman. Our future Queen. She has arrived to support the Royal family through this tough time.” Pulling her arm out of Cook's grip, she ran out of the back door in the direction of the town. How was this possible? He said … I sat down on the crate where I usually sat to peel potatoes. Cook walked over to my corner, looking around the makeshift wall.

“I am sure there is a good explanation for it all, Emily. He wouldn’t have lied to you.” She frowned.

“It doesn’t matter, Cook. You were right and I knew all along. Us commoner girls never get a fairy-tale. I was just something to pass the time with until his bride arrived.” I swallowed hard with my tears forming in my eyes. “At least my father and I are now living in the servant’s quarters, away from the merchants.”

I smiled, trying to hide the heartache.