Episode 16
788 Words
The next morning, before it was fully morning, Raina was pulled from her quarters.
Her new duty had begun.
She was no longer a Kai servant. No longer a guest of the palace.
Now, she was a servant serving the Alpha.
It was the hour of the first light when she entered Alpha Darius’s chambers, carrying his ceremonial cloak in her aching arms.
He stood tall, arms spread slightly, waiting for her to dress him, but he didn’t even look at her.
In his eyes, she wasn’t even a person.
Raina stepped forward, ignoring the tiredness in her eyes, ignoring the pain that still pulsed through her bruised fingers. The moment she reached to fasten the buttons of his tunic, pain shot through her hands.
The pain from yesterday’s torture had left her fingers nearly useless.
She was healing but not as fast she was supposed since silver pliers was used on her.
Raina’s eyes shifted to her hurt hand but just then, Alpha Darius cold voice sounded...
“Go on,” he said smoothly.
She sucked in a breath, willing herself to move. She gritted her teeth and reached for the first button.
Her fingers trembled. The pain was unbearable, like tiny shards of glass buried in her bones.
Still, she forced herself to push through. One button. Just one...
She took in a deep breath as push through one last time.
By the time she secured it, sweat drenched her back.
Darius let out a bored sigh. “Hurry up. I don’t have all day.”
Before she could force herself to continue, a voice rang from the hall.
“The Luna Consort has arrived!”
Raina’s eyes quickly shifted to the door!
What was one of the Alpha Mistress doing here?
It was no news that Alpha Darius rightfully rejected his mate simply because she was a slave.. Since then, Darius had taken in many mistress as he wants.
Almost immediately, the doors swung open as a fragrant breeze swept into the chamber.
Raina immediately kneel and lowered her gaze.
A woman in a silken gown entered, moving with effortless grace. Her every step exuded power.
She bowed lightly. “My Lord.”
Darius frowned. “Helena? What brings you here at this hour?”
Raina had heard the name before. Helena. Her brother was a high-ranking commander, her nephew one of Darius’s most trusted men.
She was not a woman to be taken lightly.
Helena smiled and easily reached for Darius’s tunic. Her fingers moved gracefully, fastening the buttons that Raina had struggled with.
As she did, her sharp gaze shifted toward Raina.
“I heard the Alpha has a new servant. I came to see for myself.”
Darius smirked. “And?”
Before she could answer, another announcement came.
“The Luna Court arrives!”
Raina clenched her fists. Bunch of crazy women! They couldn't even trust their husband with a servant even when he rejected one who was his mate....
One after another, Darius’s consorts entered, each one adorned in silver and gold, their heads decorated with pearls and rare jewels.
She recognized one of them.
Lady Saskia.
Her younger brother was the commander of Darius’s army, a man who had helped him seize power.
The moment they had all greeted Darius, Helena turned to them with a smile.
"What exactly you all doing here so early?”
Lady chuckled. “I could ask you the same.."
Another consort added lightly, “Our Lord has been troubled with war. We only wished to ease his burdens.”
Lies.
Raina could feel their sharp glances in her direction, even as they spoke in honeyed tones.
Word of her "affair" with the runaway prince(Kai)had spread.
These women had come to see for themselves if she was a threat.
She head remained kneeling, unmoving, knowing she could not afford a single mistake.
And then,
Pain.
A sharp, crushing pain in her hand.
She gasped, barely swallowing a cry.
She looked up, only to meet Helena's cool gaze.
The Luna Consort’s foot was pressed firmly onto her already injured fingers.
Her expression remained serene, her voice as sweet as ever.
“Ah—” Raina barely let the sound escape before biting down on her lip.
Helena smiled.
She pressed down harder.
Raina’s vision darkened.
The pain was unbearable, like knives driving straight into her bones.
The silk hem of Helena gown fluttered, obscuring the cruelty from Darius’s view.
“What’s wrong?” Darius asked absently.
Helena lifted her foot but not before pressing one last sharp grind against Raina’s hand.
Then she turned with a graceful laugh.
“Oh, nothing,” she said smoothly. “I was just curious. Who is this servant?”
- Writer
