Enslaved by the lycan king

The king’s request

ALYSSA’S POV

~~

Again, just like a sick routine nightmare, I woke up to the now familiar ceilings of my chambers. The birds chirped outside like I was in a heavenly place, but only if they knew how much I wanted to run away. I rolled around the large bed, still trying to pull myself up from sleep since I slept rather late from overthinking yesterday.

And after the embarrassing moment of being caught by the king, how did I think that would have worked? The scars on his body would have told me otherwise, that it was a foolish attempt to attack him. And worse, I had met his right-hand man, Sir Cole, who was as scolding as ever.

But I could read him more than I could the king; I could tell the intense hostility he had toward me. I had to be careful of him. It didn’t take long for my needed silence to be interrupted by the knock on the door.

"My lady, you need to get up," one of the maids called as they entered my room. I couldn’t help but groan as I leaned up to the bed frame, half of me wondering what it was about while the other half just wanted to go roll right back under the sheets.

"What is it?" "The king needs your attendance for a private breakfast with him.

"What ?!" I shrieked; any wink of sleep left was being wiped out of my eyes from what she had just said.

"why?"

"It is customary for his quest to eat with him." I wanted to snort out loud at how absurd that sounded. Why would a prisoner eat with him, even though he wasn’t necessarily in chains? I knew where I was in this palace. With the bath filled the next second without even hearing my decision, I knew I had to say no to the king, no matter how stubborn I was. Did I know that I was sitting up an early grave for myself again with the oils that would enhance my scent?

She had brought in an airily light blue gown that would bring out my figure; it was long and flowy, not much different than it was used to. I asked her to specifically braid my hair; I remembered he said he liked it down and loose. Me going out like that would make me look like I had all my walls down on him; he wouldn’t get that satisfaction so easily.

I was reluctant to wonder if I would be ambushed last night, and if Cole had told him how he was suspicious of me, I could only hope I stood up. After dressing up, I was led from my chambers, passing through decent, magnificent paintings and statues in the palace. It was so large that I was sure to get lost if I didn’t have a guide. The maid then stopped right at the door where two armed guards stood; they didn’t even look at me.

I was sure they all knew who I was, so I went into the private dining room, where there were only four chairs. Before I could choose the one further from him, he had pulled out a chair that was close to where he sat. I told myself I wouldn’t meet his eyes, but I went back on my promise, looking up as my eyes were eagerly fed by his face. He gave me a smile that made him look so handsome.

But I knew better—it was the yes of a tyrant. "Your majesty," I called, earning a satisfied look from his face filled with the surprise that I had greeted first. I made sure he saw my hair was tightly bound and braided, making him let out an amusing smirk.

"Well, you look lovely this morning," he called before she leaned back on his chair to look at me, silently studying my every move. I didn’t answer that, not knowing what my voice would sound like or if it would betray me. He then came closer, brushing the stranded red hair that was covering my face and putting it in my ears as he shifted closer to admire me, his warm hands brushing against my skin, making me let out a shudder.

"That’s better," he whispered before pulling back into his seat, leaving him dazed. My hands were so sweaty and stiff as I took small bites from being so conscious of how he looked at my every move. He had ten hands on his table while his chin lay on his folded palms on the table.

"Why did you run away last night? Were you embraced because you were seen by men in an unguarded position that night? Were you scared I was going to do something to you after seeing the measly weapon you had brought to hurt me?"

Now I was caught off guard, almost coughing up the small food I had eaten, not having anything to say or guard myself against him. I wouldn’t be foolish to even want to use the table knife as a weapon against the king.

"Do not fret, Clara; I have seen people who have wanted to use worse on me," he chuckled bitterly.

"But never a maid; tell me, Clara, what have I done so much wrong to you? What makes you hold so much rage in your eyes? It seems more out of revenge; neither are you grateful I saved you from a doomed place that was a rat's house, where alpha would have come and had their way with you; you seem angrier that I did."

"I didn’t ask you to save me, your majesty, I-" I called before I was held by the neck; his eyes had turned intense as he veered closer to me.

"Yes, you’re beautiful; I will admit that, but you’re a threat, Clara, so I ask again, why do you want to kill me?"

Here I was thinking that Cole was the person I needed to watch out for when the most dangerous person in the first place was in this very room with me.