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It was difficult to get used to the extravagant dining room that seated at least twenty-four—and this was the small dining room. Coupled with the guards alongside the serving staff, I found it difficult to enjoy my meals in the castle.
But after Nyx went to work in the weeks that I’d been there, I generally retreated to my suite or spent the day roaming through the garden maze behind the palace, which had turned brilliant colors in the season. There were so many places to explore, away from the watchful eyes of the staff.
Although I was technically on “vacation” from Maximo’s, I sensed that Nyx was going to ask me to give that up for good, too, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to do that yet—or ever. Our next cabaret show at the castle was only a few days away now, and I had to meet with Tristiana and the others. I would have them over to practice at the castle soon, but I kept putting it off, unsure of how to answer the inevitable questions that my best friend was sure to put to me.
“Are you finished?” Nyx’s voice brought me back to the table, and I nodded quickly, realizing that one of the maids was hovering, waiting to take my half-eaten plate.
“Yes… thank you,” I told her smiling.
She didn’t return my smile as she picked up the dish and retreated from the table. Nyx caught my distracted expression, his own smile fading. “Are you sure you’re all right? You haven’t seemed like yourself since you got here.”
I refocused my eyes on him and tried to share in his enthusiasm.
“Yes,” I reassured him, but the single word got stuck in my throat. “I just… I’m not sure if…”
I bit on my lower lip and hung my head, worried that I was about to say it wrong.
“Maren, you can tell me whatever’s on your mind,” he urged. “What is it?”
“Um… you know I didn’t grow up like this, Nyx, with maids and servants, catering to my every move. I don’t know if it’s really necessary.”
Seriousness fell over his face, and he sighed heavily. “You have to learn to accept them as part of the process,” he said quietly. “Because you deserve to be waited on, hand and foot.”
I tried to return his smile, but it didn’t feel right.
“Are you sure you had enough to eat?” he pressed, and I nodded. “Come on, then,” Nyx said excitedly, bouncing out of his seat like an excited child. I’d never seen him so eager. Usually, he lingered over meals, choosing to relish his food.
“Are we going somewhere?” I asked, rising to drop my napkin from my lap onto the tablecloth.
“You bet your perfect ass we are,” he chuckled, slipping his arm around my waist.
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
He ushered me out the door, his guards again at our backs. I swallowed and glanced at them, their stony expressions daunting.
Do they always look so mad? Or are they mad at me?
Nyx snapped his fingers, throwing open the front doors of the castle without touching them, and a draft swept dead leaves against the freshly polished floors. Instantly, servantsmaterialized to clear them away with brooms and dustpans, but Nyx kept moving toward the waiting car, the doors already open.
I listened as he spoke to the driver, hoping to get some clue as to where we were going, but he didn’t give me much.
“You know where we’re headed, right?” he asked the chauffeur.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Good. Let’s do it then.”
The king settled back, draping his arm over my shoulders, and pecked me on the cheek as we began to move.
“You’re making me nervous,” I half-joked, wiping my palms over my tights.
Going out in public with Nyx always felt so awkward in my wardrobe, especially when it took no effort for him to look so handsome, so distinguished.
His hand closed around mine, stopping me from fidgeting. “You have no reason to be nervous when you’re with me,” he reminded me. “But I think I have just the cure for some of your insecurities.”
My eyebrows shot up, but he refused to give me more clues, and I gazed out the window for a hint.
