Chapter 11
1477 Words
Sophia
With a panicked expression and frowning eyebrows, I looked at Ala before we both burst out in laughter.
“It looks like you don’t want to be here either.” I smiled, shaking my head. “And please, call me Sophia.”
“I will, and please don’t listen to anything that old woman has to say.” Ala rolled her eyes, coming a bit more out of her shell. “Truth is, I am here to keep you company and I hope we’ll get along.”
“I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.” Being around someone normal for a change felt great.
The last normal interaction I had was with the knight, Landon, and I had not seen him around anymore.
“I’m just glad I got appointed to you.” Ala gritted her teeth.
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s say, not every concubine is as easy-going as you.” Her words gave me a headache.
I knew the historical days were full of jealous mistresses, and I had expected to deal with a few. Ala had just confirmed that suspicion.
“What are our plans for today?” I fished for a way to get to the halls.
“Plans?”
“Yes.” I shrugged. “There sure must be something to do around here.”
“As someone of your status, you are not to leave the palace.” Ala shut me down. “You are allowed to take a walk around the garden with a knight present—but most of the mistresses remain inside.”
“What?”
“Although you are the king’s mate, I’m sure you will have to train your abilities.” The girl ignored my cry for help.
What abilities?
I was useless. I was wolf-less, and other than that time I supposedly summoned the witch, I was powerless.
“I don’t have one.” I didn’t beat around the bush. If the Lycan king sensed it, then it would only be a matter of time before the others would.
“We know.” Ala made a thin line with her lips.
“Really?” It was hard to believe her words.
How could their reaction be this calm?
Not having a wolf was the one thing that made it difficult for me to adjust to the Hixon pack.
“We can all sense it—but it’s not a big deal.” Ala shrugged it off. “Your duties are to produce pups, that’s it.”
Well, too bad I wasn’t capable of producing any.
I had failed with Eli.
“Is everyone in the palace a shifter?”
“No,” Ala spoke. “There are a few human concubines, they are the only humans in the palace.”
“Right.” It was still so confusing to comprehend that the humans and supernaturals lived in harmony, or that my lack of strength wouldn’t be an issue.
“Are you all really okay with me not having a wolf?”
“You clearly must have one.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, and maybe it’s better that way.” Ala released a small chuckle. “Power scares many around here, it makes them feel threatened.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You are the Lycan King’s mate—that makes you a threat. You can’t shift, that makes you less of a threat.” She explained.
So what she really meant to say was that this was a place where someone like me, if I had the ability to carry pups, could live in peace.
Without any further expectations.
Could that be the reason why the king was so kind to me?
Because I was not a threat to him?
“The king…” I eyed the blonde-haired girl. “Tell me more about him?”
Ala eyed me strangely.
“We’ve only…well, you know.” I blushed, touching the mark on my neck. “I don’t know him well.”
“He is an immortal cold stone, a king many fear. He is powerful, strong.” Ala opened her mouth almost immediately. “Once in a while, he unleashes the beast and leaves the palace. Some say he can’t control him, others say those are just rumors.”
He seemed to control ‘the beast’ just fine yesterday. They appeared to be working as one and he appeared to be in full control.
“How old is he?” I wondered.
“Over a hundred years.”
“Sure, no big deal,” I muttered under my breath, refusing to accept that I had slept with an immortal grandpa.
“What’s with his scar—“
“Did you see it?” The girl grabbed both of my hands, looking at me with curious eyes. “Is it really as horrific as they say it is?”
So the scar was quite the topic around here.
I couldn’t help but wonder how he got it.
“Well…” A smile reached my lips as I thought about the handsome and gentleman-like king, who had his own insecurities. “No. And the king was very kind to me.”
“Kind? His Majesty?” Ala let go of my hand, scoffing. “It must be the mate bond.”
“I suppose.” Until now, I hadn’t seen any signs of the king being cruel and dangerous.
“Urgh, this dress is truly suffocating me.” I groaned, sticking out my tongue to breathe. “I think I prefer comfy sweatpants?”
“C-Comfy s-sweatp-“
“Never mind.” I waved her off, as she wouldn’t understand anyway. It probably also wasn’t the smartest to mention anything from the future. I had to be the one to adjust.
“Can you grab me some water?”
“Yes, Sophia.” Ala had already turned to give me what I desired. It was her job, hopefully, she got paid to do it—but that didn’t make it less awkward.
Even at the Hixon’s, I didn’t order anyone around, especially not other wolves.
Even the king had done it so easily this morning when he spoke to the maids as if they were nothing.
“So the king,” I called out, realizing I knew so little about him. I knew he was a passionate lover, and that was about it.
“Yes?” Ala yelled back.
“Does he have a name?”
“Yes.” Ala returned with a cup of water. “But how can I possibly say it out loud?”
“Because I’m giving you permission to do so?”
“Sure permission.” Ala took a deep breath, her eyes blinking as if she was about to commit a grave sin. “His name…” she took a breath.
“His name is Lycan Castiel.”
Lycan Castiel?
No…
It couldn’t be…
Hearing the name sent a wave of nausea through me, my stomach burned as I realized that Lycan Castiel was the very same man who had killed Eli.
The Lycan Castiel was the very same man the witch sent me to kill.
It was him.
The king I had shared a bed with.
The king turned out to be my mate.
“Sophia, are you okay?” Ala’s voice grew with concern.
My heart raced, and a cold sweat formed on my brow. I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself.
How could this be? How could the man I had just spent a passionate night with be the one responsible for Eli's death? The thought consumed me, and I felt dizzy, struggling to breathe. My emotions were a whirlwind of love, hatred, and despair.
How could fate ever be this cruel, and how could my life be entwined with the man I felt connected to?
Even now, as much as I wanted to hate him, there was a part of me that still yearned for his touch, his embrace, and it was all because he was my second mate.
No.
I couldn’t allow myself to be swept away by these feelings.
I had a mission to complete, a purpose that went beyond my own desires. I had to find the book and the sword, to avenge Eli and I would kill Castiel.
I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind and focus on the task at hand. I had to be strong. For now, I had to put my feelings aside and use my newfound position to my advantage.
This is what the witch must’ve wanted and why she sent me to the woods near the capital.
Castiel was already in sight, and all that was left to do was find the book and the sword.
Killing Castiel was my endgame.
- Writer
