Chapter 4
862 Words
I keep my eyes trained on the ground as I walk Into the throne room.
It's not until silence ensues for nearly a full minute that I bother lifting my head slowly.
I meet eyes with the mediator's expectant brown ones first before he nods in front of us.
Taking a deep breath, my orbs flit in front of me where they come into contact with the king's
emotionless stare. King Braven. Grey hairs take over the majority of his once black-haired head
and some wrinkles make themselves apparent on his pale face.
He seems to be scanning me before clearing his throat and nodding to the mediator.
"Your majesty, this woman was seen dancing with a boy in the woods by her own parents. We
have no eyes on the boy, but he is said to have been the instigator."
The King nods once before looking to me again.
"How unusual," his rumbly voice echoes through the room.
"Majestic really," he continues vaguely.
"Say Kairon, when was the last time you saw a woman with midnight colored locks?" The King
questions standing from his throne and walking down the three small steps towards us.
The mediator looks at me hesitantly before stiffening the arms he keeps locked being his back in
the classic soldier stance.
"Only in paintings from nearly half a century ago, my king."
The old ruler nods and stops a few feet away from me before walking around me in a slow
predatory circle.
I can feel his gaze burning through my skin as he devours the sight of my body.
"Indeed," he agrees coming to the end of his full circle and proceeding back to his throne.
"Dancing. A crime few are willing to commit. An activity, I despise doing myself even before
my queen passed."
I'm not sure whether to give my apologies or look away, so I just gulp akwardly and drift my
gaze back to the ground.
"Tell me girl, who do you think you are to take part in such a practice?"
I shuffle on my feet nervously and lift my gaze once more.
"I just wanted to see what it was like," I say softly.
I couldn't tell him Ari pressured me into it. He'd hunt him down!
The King nods and licks his teeth, for whatever reason I can't fathom.
"Was it worth it?" He asks.
"No," I answer honestly.
Definitely not. I could be home now, or hanging out with Ari, but Instead my life is in the
balance.
The King nods once before sighing.
"She's certainly to pretty to be a maid don't you think Kairon? To dainty to be a cook."
The sound of the door we came in opening behind me meets my ears, but I'm too frightened to
turn around.
"I bet you can't even reach the plate shelf," the king Taunts.
Whether it is intentional or not, I can't tell. So I'm short, 5'0 as everyone likes to remind me.
Slow Footsteps echo from behind me and I ignore them in my efforts not to let my eyes water.
My height is a sore spot for me, and at the sound of things, I'll probably have to clean the floors
since I'm nearly on the same level as them.
"Perhaps you'd do as my mistress?"
My blood seems to freeze in my veins as I try to keep the cringe off of my face.
His...
"Father?" A deep and stern voice from being me seems to fire out in succession with the still
continuing footsteps being me.
The pace of whoever is walking speeds up until they come to stand next to me and I look up at
the dark haired stranger with confusion.
Did he say father?
The man's dark uniform is the same as the other guards, but it is pleated with artfully placed iron
pellets along certain places to provide a contrast against the all black fabric.
His dark grey eyes stare at me with both wonder and concern before he snaps his gaze back to
the king with a harder look in place.
"What are you speaking of about a mistress? Mother died not two years ago."
Father... Mother...
This can only mean one thing.
This is the king to be. This is Draven Jenaekiynne, son of Braven Jenaekiynne and heir to the
throne.
The King waves his hand and looks at his son with the same cold eyes he looked at me with.
"The mourning period is only one year, boy. This woman broke the law blatantly and she's far
t0o lovely to make into a maid. I'll rule her punishment as a permanent resident in the castle and
she will take the place of your mother to warm my bed."
I take the smallest, almost imperceptible step back in horror.
This doesn't go unnoticed by the prince who looks at me with alarm before lifting his gaze to
stare at the mediator Kairon.
Looking to the king one last time, the prince clears his throat and shakes his head.
"That is unnecessary father. I’ll be an alpha leader soon and this the woman I'm going to claim."
- Writer
