Episode5
995 Words
CHAPTER FIVE.
~~AKIRA LUNE~~
This lifetime…
The words echoed in my mind like a curse of their own. I mouthed them silently, confusion and unease twisting in my gut.
I didn’t understand what he meant, and I refused to give him the satisfaction of asking.
“I might have won the title of your consort by surviving the Games,” I said through gritted teeth, “but I will never belong to you, Alpha Kaelen.”
He dismissed me with a casual wave of his hand, as if my defiance were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Still completely naked, he strode back toward the raised stone platform that served as his bed, the silver stake still clutched tightly in his fist. The sight of his powerful, unashamed body made my cheeks burn with a mix of rage and unwanted awareness.
“Get some rest,” his voice echoed inside my head once more. He nodded toward the massive bed tucked in the far corner of the room. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”
“Stop getting into my head,” I grated out.
Silence answered me.
He didn’t respond. He simply climbed onto the stone platform and stretched out, his eyes still watching me with that unnerving intensity.
The casual dominance in his posture made my blood boil.
I stood there, clutching the silk dress against my bare body, heart pounding with fury and confusion.
I had no intention of sleeping.
Not while he was in the room.
Not while the silver stake was still within reach.
***. ***
But the day’s brutality; the arena fights, the blood loss, the emotional whiplash, had taken its toll on me.
I don’t remember lying down. I don’t remember closing my eyes.
When I woke, the black curtains had been drawn, and soft morning light filtered weakly into the chamber.
My body ached everywhere. The cuts on my shoulder and arm throbbed dully, already starting to scab over.
I sat up, heart racing.
The massive stone bed was empty beside me. Kaelen was gone.
I strained my ears, listening for any sound from the washroom.
Nothing.
Only silence.
He must have left for his first official appearance before the council. The thought sent a strange mix of relief and unease through me.
Relief that I didn’t have to face those golden eyes again so soon… and unease because I was still trapped in his chambers with a failed mission.
A soft knock sounded at the door before it opened.
Maids filed in quietly, each carrying silver trays laden with food. The rich aroma of roasted meat, fresh bread, and spiced porridge hit me instantly.
My stomach gave a loud, embarrassing rumble.
I hadn’t eaten a proper meal since the hard lump of bread I’d given Leo the day before the Games. The thought of my little brother still locked in that dungeon made my chest tighten with guilt and fury.
The maids kept their eyes lowered, moving with practiced efficiency. One of them set a tray on the small table near the bed while another arranged plates of glazed fruits, warm bread, thick cuts of meat, and a steaming bowl of porridge.
“His Majesty ordered that you eat well,” the oldest maid said softly, almost apologetically. “He said you will need your strength today.”
I stared at the food, my mouth watering despite myself. Every instinct screamed not to accept anything from the tyrant’s table. But my body was weak. Starving. If I wanted any chance of escaping or finishing what I started, I needed energy.
With reluctant hands, I reached for a piece of warm bread, tearing off a chunk and dipping it into the porridge.
The first bite nearly made me moan. Rich, flavorful, nothing like the stale gray loaves we survived on in Sector Zero.
I finished devouring as much food as I could stomach, barely chewing between bites..
When I couldn’t eat another mouthful, I pushed the tray away and headed into the washroom.
The day’s exhaustion still clung to my bones, but the food had given me back some strength. I remembered Kaelen’s words… “ Tomorrow will be a long day”.
The question was, what exactly did that mean for me?
New feminine washes and luxurious oils lined the marble basins. I stared at them, a deep frown settling on my face. Had these always been here, prepared for whatever woman he decided to claim after ordering them around like pets? The thought turned my stomach.
As far as I knew, no human female had ever actually won the Omega Games before. So who were these supplies meant for?
I cleaned myself quickly, scrubbing away the dried blood and arena grime until my skin was raw.
When I stepped out, the maids were waiting with fresh garments.
They dressed me in new layers of expensive clothing .
Deep emerald this time, embroidered with gold threads.
The fabric felt far too soft, too luxurious for someone who had spent her life in rags.
Once they finished, the oldest maid bowed slightly and announced, “We will now lead you to meet the other consorts. They await your presence.”
I almost cursed out loud.
“Other consorts? Did they win the omega games too?”
“No. They did not”
Of course. A tyrant like Kaelen wouldn’t be satisfied with just one prize. I was simply the newest toy in his collection.
A bitter taste filled my mouth as I followed the maids out of the chamber. Utter disgust warred inside me. How many women had he broken before me? How many had warmed his bed while my people starved?
I cleared my throat. “How many consorts are there?”
“Five consorts”
My breath caught momentarily before I nodded. If there really were five of them, at least one of them would hate him as much as I do. Or Worse.
- Writer
