Page 27 of Sold to Three Alpha Kings

“Well, go on.” The older woman’s gaze doesn’t leave me. “Take them off.”

A small scowl perches on my face. “Could you like, maybe…turn around?”

The younger one arches her brows while the older one keeps a straight face when she says, “What difference would it make? We’re still going to bathe you.”

“Just turn around, will you?” I insist.

The younger one leans in and whispers in the other’s ear. She then heaves a sigh, and the two turn their backs to me.

I take off my clothes, making sure my coins are still hidden in my inner pouch. I fold my dress and gently set it on the floor beside the bed.

I hate that I have to reveal my plus-sized body to these women.

I hate that they now have to see my nakedness and the insecurities I always hide underneath my clothes.

I exhale softly. “You can turn around now.”

They do.

Neither of them looks at me weirdly. They both had their eyes on my face, and to my surprise, it’s not as awkward as I thought. Well, it was at first. But I ease into it smoothly.

“Come. Follow me.” The older woman leads the way toward the bathroom. “Brianna, make sure her clothes are washed…” The statement is directed at the younger one.

“No,” I cut her off.

She pauses and looks at me.

“I’ll wash them myself.” I can’t risk anyone getting their hands on my money.

The older woman stares at me for a moment. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”

I don’t reply.

“Fine. Now let’s get you cleaned up.”

The bathroom is spacious and very neat. With the help of the two women, I sink into the copper tub, the warm water wrapping around my skin.

I let out a quiet exhale and close my eyes, basking in this pleasure and comfort.

For one disoriented second, I think I’m dreaming. This is way too good to be true—me, treated like royalty.

“Sit still, please.” The older woman’s voice slices through my thoughts.

I sit still because I don’t know what else to do. My mind hasn’t caught up to my body yet. The younger one is scrubbing at the dirt still ground into my hands. When she finishes, she rinses the suds from my shoulders like I’m something worth being careful with.

“Where am I anyway?” My voice comes out low and even.

“Your new quarters.” The older one doesn’t look up from her work. “Orders of the Kings.”

Kings? All three of them? Including the mean one?

I guess King Sinth must’ve convinced them to move me here. Maybe he’s told them what he learned from me about how I got into this situation.

Just two nights ago I was waiting to die on a cell floor. Now there’s warm water and a robe held open for me like I’m someone who matters. None of it adds up, and I don’t trust it, not for one second, no matter how good the water feels against my skin.

When we’re done, I rise and step out of the copper tub. I’m offered a clean, dry towel, which I use to wipe my skin before slipping into the rope held up for me.

I’m cleaner than I have been and I smell like the jasmine perfume they’d added to my bathing water. I feel like a brand new person, like the old me had been washed away in that tub.