Lycan Castiel’s Vengeful Mistress

Chapter 8

Sophia

Humming a song, I drew circles in hot water, and played with the wet flower petals as the maids watched from a distance. There was no point in resisting, and that is why I would make the most out of it.

A few days ago, I was brought straight to my chambers where I was forced to undress and received a scrub, strong enough to remove any death skin. I was taught how to prepare tea, how to greet the king, how to talk, how to react.

The same routine had been going on for several nights and I was not allowed to leave the room. In the meanwhile, I had several dress fittings, facial massages and lessons on how to serve the king his tea.

It was all for this so called union, which would be taking place tonight.

I didn’t know what to expect, but I guessed it would’ve been somewhere along the lines of me offering him some tea while he would explain the conditions of a mistress.

Of course I would let him down, gently—because there was no way I could stay here.

I needed to get between the palace walls to search for the book to retrieve the sword, find the Lycan Castiel and focus on my duties to bring back my husband.

This was not part of the plan.

An empty feeling took over my body as my mind went back to my late husband, my sweet Eli.

Falling asleep without his arms wrapped around my body felt like a disaster, and I was willing to do anything to get him back.

“Oh, Eli.” I closed my eyes. “I will find the monster that did this to you, and I will make him pay. I will get you back.”

My hand moved to the wedding ring which was supposed to be on my finger, but once I couldn’t find it, my eyes were shot open and a sharp pain traveled to my chest. It was all I had left of him.

“No!” Within seconds I had jumped out of bath, fully undressed, and ran back to the dressoir, leaving behind a trail of water.

“Lady Sophia!” The maids ran after me, their heads bowed.

The only reason why I had been able to survive those first nights was because the ring gave me strength. It gave me hope that Eli’s soul was still present someplace and waiting to be saved.

I had never taken off my ring, I had always left it around my finger. Someone must’ve taken it. “No, it can’t be.” My head felt heavy as tears rolled down my cheeks. “Please, no!”

My hands were wrapped around my body, the cold breeze slowly torturing my skin. One of the maids wrapped a cloth around me, and not long after, Dain and Arlena burst through my chambers.

“Lady Sophia, you have to calm down.” Arlena pushed the maid aside, placing her hand on my shoulder.

With eyes full of hatred, I looked at the two mistresses of the king. They must’ve stolen the ring and hid it to make it more believable I was a free woman.

“What happened to my ring?” My voice was loud and clear, demanding an answer.

I pushed Arlena off me, observing the guilty look on Dain’s face. The brunette bit her lips as she twirled a strand of her hair with her finger.

“What ring?”

“My ring!” I couldn’t remember the last time I had ever yelled at someone out of anger, better yet—I was certain this was the first time. As the Luna of the Hixon, I was known to be kind, soft and obedient.

Not your usual Luna, that’s what everyone kept telling me—but even so, I had never changed my honey-like personality.

“You best forget about your late husband. He’s dead, and it’s time for you to move on.” Arlena covered her friend with her arm, taking charge of the conversation. Out of the two, she was definitely the one with the filthiest mouth. “The king is known to have a…temper.”

“I need that ring!”

Dain gasped. “Your ring is—“

“You will get it back.” Arlena side-eyed the young woman. “After you meet the king.” I had not expected to get blackmailed in order to get something in return which was rightfully mine.

“And when is that?” My hands were in my hips and the intimidating expression vanished. No matter what, they clearly had the upperhand.

Just a bit longer and it would all be over.

“Now.” Arlena snarled, snapping her fingers and everything after that went so fast.

With a lot of struggle and swearing, the maids had managed to get me into a white satin night gown.

“That wasn’t that hard, wasn’t it?” Arlena commented as the maids placed a mirror in front of me.

“You look perfectly splendid. He will be absolutely smitten.” Dain stood a few inches behind her.

Not feeling content with where this was going, I slightly pouted my lips as I traveled my hand through the braid in my hair.

Judging by the overly exposed gown and the ‘pure’ look, I had a great guess that this so called union wasn’t just a simple meeting.

It was much more than that, and I couldn’t let it get that far.

I couldn’t do that to Eli.

“I-I-I can’t—“

“Oh, dear Moon Goddess.” I was stopped mid sentence as the king’s mistresses and the maids knelt on the floor to pray, their voices in unison.

“We have gathered here today to grant the king a new mistress. Please guide the Lady Sophia and may she bless the king with many sons.”

“Bless Lady Sophia.” Arlena ended the prayer, with everyone repeating after her.

Her eyes glared at me as she slowly raised herself from the floor. “I think you’re quite lovable, Lady Sophia.” She said. “That’s why I need you to listen to me.”

I huffed. “Listen to yo—“

“Yes!” She raised her volume. “The king is not someone you want to mess with. So I suggest you complete your duties without being a prattler.”

“She is right.” Dain added. “He is good in bed, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Take her.” Arlena said.

"Wait—no!" I kicked my arms and legs, trying to break free from the maids' hold as they forcefully dragged me to the halls.

"Good luck, Sophia!" Dain called out encouragingly as I continued to struggle. My heart raced in my chest, panic coursing through me.

"No, please!" I begged, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. The maids' grip on my arms tightened as they dragged me to the king's chambers. The door opened, revealing a lavishly decorated room, dimly lit by flickering candles. A large bed stood at the center, with crimson silk sheets.

Despite my best efforts, I was practically thrown inside the room, and then the door closed, leaving me all alone.

I stumbled, barely managing to catch myself before I hit the floor.

I could hardly comprehend this was the way these maids handled a so-called mistress.

The second I got up from the floor, I glanced around the room, desperate for an escape or something that could help me avoid the inevitable.

No matter what, I could not lay with the king. It would’ve been betrayal.

Seeing no way out, I carefully walked to the low table, surrounded by candles, and sat down on the floor. My hands were wrapped around my body which was shivering from anxiety.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. My heart pounded in my ears, and I could barely breathe.

I had to find a way out of this situation, but how? My mind raced as I tried to come up with a plan, anything to keep me from being forced into the king's embrace and I meant that.

I had to fight for my freedom and for the memory of my beloved Eli.

“You can’t cry, Sophia.” I reminded myself. The book I had to find was hidden inside these palace walls, so whether I wanted to or not, I could not run from this place.

Not yet.

I fumbled with my hands, it felt like hours, but then the door finally creaked open, revealing a dark figure in the dim candlelight. I could see the outline of a tall, strong man, his face half-covered by a mask.

This was him.

The king.

He was wearing a red robe, leaving little to the imagination regarding his intentions for the night.

Just as taught, I stood up awkwardly, and with a shaky voice, greeted him, "Your Majesty." I curtsied, having a hard time maintaining my balance.

He stepped closer into the light, his intense blue eyes locked on mine. His presence was definitely something, I could not deny that.

I couldn’t help but think there was something familiar in his gaze, but I couldn't quite place it. Swallowing my fear, I sat back down at the table, waiting for him to join me. The king moved gracefully, taking the seat across from me.

As we sat across from each other, the tension in the room was readable. I tried to steady my breathing, preparing myself for whatever might come next. Suddenly, his head shot up, his piercing eyes boring into mine. It felt as he could see straight into my soul.

I was supposed to be terrified, but for some reason I wasn’t. I was impressed, I wanted to know more about him—and I didn’t know why.

In that moment, I realized that the night's events could take a turn I could never have predicted.