Aira.
I finally was able to leave his chambers by night time by his order, and for a moment, after I closed the door behind me, I sagged against it, blinking away the tears as I lowered my head in sorrow. My hands tightened around the small vial of ointment I had used on his wounds, my lips trembling as I struggled to contain my emotions. Cleaning away the stray tear with the back of my hand, I slowly made my way to the maids' quarters, my footfalls heavy.
The words King Kael spoke should have brought me immense relief, reinforcing the fact that the king had no real use for me but just kept me around because of the deal we had made. Instead, it only filled me with bone-deep despair.
For a while now, I had been entertaining the thought that I might be his mate, but even if that were tr
