AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She doesn’t hold a candle to you, Miss Zephyrine,” Maywin reassured me, but I could tell that the answer was affirmative.
Of course King Cade had a beautiful mistress. And why wouldn’t he? The darkness that I had felt from the moment I’d come to the castle was in full force. I hated the feeling.
“Miss, even the manor house in Carrottrove was full of endless chatter. You must know that bored servants have nothing better to do all day than make up stories,” Maywin said. “Imagine how much worse it must be in a palace of this size.”
“That’s not a comforting thought, Maywin,” I told her dryly, but I did manage a smile for her. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention, but I do think I should get my rest now. I was informed tonight that I am expected to make public appearances soon. I can’t do that if I’m not well-rested.”
“You will undoubtedly impress them,” Maywin promised me, rising from my bedside. “Should I make something to help you sleep?”
I started to refuse, but changed my mind at the last minute. I would need all the help I could get to achieve slumber that night. There was no way the demons rushing through my mind would permit a moment of peace after what I’d learned that day.
“Yes, please,” I agreed. “But not too much.”
“Yes, of course.”
Maywin returned to her room to make her special tea, and I lay on the bed, staring straight up at the ceiling in dismay.
All of those feelings I had felt toward Axel were no longer forbidden. The kiss I had fended off was mine for the taking if King Cade presented it again. But if he was in love with another, could I really accept his lips on mine? And why was he trying to kiss me if he loved another?
I have to stop creating problems in my own mind,I barked at myself.
I should have never allowed Maywin to tell me what she’d heard. I was better off not knowing. It was exactly what she had warned: gossip. I would not let it eat away at me now when I had so much more to think about. I refused to feed into it anymore.
But all the same, I couldn’t wait to down the sleepy tea and block out my hammering, anxious heart. Tomorrow was a new day, and we would all start fresh, without lies and rumors and pretenses.
Tomorrow, I would go directly to the Alpha King and truly get to know him the way I had wanted from the start.
Chapter9
Cade
Despite my intentions to keep Stralia at bay, I found myself missing my friend’s companionship. We’d known each other’s company for so long, it was hard to cut her off cold turkey. She was thrilled when I sent for her the following morning, relieving her of her work duties.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away,” she breathed, stripping off her clothes before the door secured in her wake.
My eyes bulged as I realized she had misconstrued my invitation.
“Stop!” I ordered her, freezing Stralia’s pale hands against the buttons of her work uniform. “I didn’t call you here for… that.”
Utter confusion crossed her face as I gestured toward the chess board in my sitting room, and she blinked several times. “You’ve called me here to play chess?” she questioned, failing to hide her disappointment.
“Do you still remember how to play?” I asked. “It’s been a long time since we played.”
“Of course I remember,” she growled, re-buttoning her shirt and stomping petulantly toward the board. “Is this some kind of tease, Cade? Can’t we at least watch a movie or something if you don’t want to fuck?”
Annoyed, I shook my head and took my place at the black pieces, my eyes narrowing at her crassness. “It’s not a tease. I just haven’t played in a while. You can watch a movie by yourself in your room anytime, but you need two people to play chess…”
“Okay,” she mewled contritely, sliding onto the cushion opposite me. “I’m having a difficult time accepting my new role as merely your servant. And honestly, it’s been years since I played.”
The same was true for me, and perhaps that’s what I had been thinking, inviting her to play now, reclaiming the hint of our innocence, the memory of a better time. It was already going swimmingly.
“You will never just be a servant to me, Stralia,” I promised her. “We’ve grown together, seen the trials and tribulations of orphanhood. I would never forget our history, even if we can’t be together for now.”
Unexpectedly, she reached for my hand. “For now? Is it only temporary?” she whispered, her verdant eyes boring into mine.
Gently, I withdrew my palm, offering her a taut smile. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. You know what’s at stake.”
“The kingdom. Always the kingdom,” she grumbled, withdrawing her own hand with anger.
