AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Miss Maren has a visitor.”
Relief drowned me in a tsunami as I realized that Tristiana had arrived. I stood up quickly and tossed my napkin on the table, marching toward the hall without giving Odette a second look.
“… and just because she’s in a fancy dress and shoes now, doesn’t mean she’s royalty,” I heard as I wandered into the corridor, my personal guard in step behind me.
Yet another maid stood around the corner gossiping about me. It wasn’t the same one as earlier.
Inwardly, I shook, but outwardly, I held my head up, gliding to meet Tristiana at the doors. I had never been so happy to see my friend in my life.
Dripping wet from the rain outside, she shook her blonde mane over the polished floors and raised an eyebrow at me, releasing a low whistle.
“Nice dress!” she laughed. “I see you didn’t save your paycheck this week.”
Tristiana peered at me, her smile faltering as if she might add something but changed her mind the last second.
“Come on,” I told her, leading her toward the stairs as fast as I could. I needed to get away from all the staff and Odette before I broke down. Tear burns unexpectedly behind my eyes.
“Woah! Where are you going?” Tristiana demanded, rushing to catch up with me. “You can’t go…” She trailed off when she realized the guard was following us.
“We’re going to get thrown in prison, Maren!” she groaned, but I couldn’t do anything but race up the steps and hope she followed.
Thankfully, she did, and I threw open the doors to my suite, ushering her inside.
“What is going on? Are we allowed in here?” Tristiana asked worriedly as I sank down on a chaise lounge in the sitting room. Her wide eyes took in the beautiful unit with awe, shaking her head. “Is this a staging area? It’s nice!”
“It’s my suite,” I blurted out, blinking rapidly as the tears threaten to spill down my cheeks. “I live here now.”
What the hell is wrong with me?
The gleam in Tristiana’s eyes burned out, her head snapping back fully toward me. “What?”
I nodded slowly. “The king and I… we’re…”
I paused. What were we doing? Dating? Were we in love? I had intense feelings for him, but we hadn’t put any titles or labels on our relationship.
“Oh, you stupid, stupid thing!” Tristiana snapped, stalking toward me. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Taken aback, I stared up at her, pained by her anger, and she glowered at me. “He’s the damn Alpha King of Steelshire, Mare. The only reason he’s moving you in here is to have a ready concubine. I thought you were smarter than this!”
“It’s not like that! It’s not. We have feelings for each other,” I insisted.
“Oh, Mare!” Tristiana sank to my level and dropped her arms on my forearm, her voice softening. “Maybe you have feelings for him, but you have to know this can’t work.”
She’s the second one to say this in half an hour. Is this a sign from the gods?
“It is working. It has been working,” I muttered.
“Yeah, huh? Is that why you haven’t been at work?”
“I took some time off,” I said defensively.
“You’re a broke-ass owl shifter. You begged me to get you a job at Maximo’s, remember? And now, you haven’t been there in months, and I only see you at the shows. You’re taking time off because the king is financing you?”
I blushed and looked down. “You’re making it sound like it’s dirty or bad. It’s not. Nyx cares about me.”
She gritted her teeth again and stood. “I can’t argue with the willfully blind. I warned you about falling victim to this. You got taken in by all the glamor and money. Hell, even by the king’s charm. But there is no future with you two. Can’t you see that?”
Pangs of doubt resurfaced in my chest, the whispers of the maids echoing in my ears.
