Chapter 19

Nalani felt miserable and tired. Her eyes felt heavy, her arms were still aching and her entire body felt exhausting. Worst of all was her empty stomach. She felt hungrier than usual. Didn't she eat dinner last night? Why was she so hungry though?

She tried waking up but her body was tied to the bed. Something heavy was on her waist preventing her from moving forward. Did Kellen sleep in her bed again? She already told her several times to put a stop to that habit. It was annoying and inconvenient for Nalani even though she didn't quite insist on it to Kellen.

When Kellen can't sleep or on the occasions when she has a nightmare, she usually joins Nalani in her bed. It was a habit she had developed since they started working in the castle. Nalani thought maybe it was her way of copping with the changes they were facing in the castle and it was a way to deal with her fears.

Nalani allowed it as it was easierl than refusing. If she refused, she would have to stay up all night with Kellen and she was too tired for that. So to make matters easier she allowed Kellen to jump in whenever she wanted.

Without opening her eyes, she reached for the hand around her waist. She rubbed on the hand lovingly as she always does to wake Kellen up. However this hand felt different. It was larger,stronger , sturdier and she could feel the veins. This was not Kellen's hand.

If it was not Kellen's hands, then whose was it? Nalani jumped up and almost fell but the hand steadied her on the bed. She opened her eyes quickly. Before she could look around she was pulled back down and on her back then to her side. She came face to face with the king.  Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the king sleeping next to her.

She was about to die. She could feel it. What was she doing in the king's bed? How was she in the same bed with the king? Or was the king in her room and in her bed? Did she seduce him or did he seduce her?

" Oh my God! I am going to die" she whispered to herself but the King heard her loud and clear.

Her eyes were still clouded in confusion. She had so many questions and it was written all over her face. The King sighed before he pulled her closer to him and shushed her. He wanted a few minutes of peace and quiet before he can deal with her questions.

The king was not particularly excited to see her up at this hour. He had hoped that she would sleep more to allow for an easier escape from his side. He didn't plan for her to see him in bed. Now his plans were soiled by the curious yet annoyingly adorable girl.

It was understandable that she woke up early. This was the time servants wake up to prepare for the day. Her body was already used to the schedule created by the palace, so it was natural for her to be up at this time.

However it was too early for the King to wake up. Besides he was not planning to wake up early and she was sick, so where would she go.

" Sleep!" He commanded her as he pulled her closer to lie on his chest.

Nalani was shocked by his action although his chest was surprisingly comfortable. What was she doing? She shouldn't be sleeping with the King. What was the king thinking? What will people say? She can't be the object of gossip, she simply can't. She has been the object of gossip before and she wouldn't want to go through it again.

The way people openly stare at you wondering if the rumours are true. They spread all the rumours to everyone who can listen yet they don't have the courage to ask you whether it's true or not. She  always has a special kind of hate to people who spread rumours whether they are true or lies. People really don't know how to mind their own business.

Staying with the King like this was a scandal waiting to happen. Huge enough to be spread to the whole Kingdom. They will say she seduced the King even though none of that happened. How can anyone  understand that she found the King in her bed.  That she did not plan any of this. Even if she tried to explain who would believe her anyway.

They all will be more interested in the exciting story , than whether it is true or not. She decided to let it go and sleep for a few hours. Since she started in the castle she has never slept in even on her day off. This was an opportunity she might not experience again in her lifetime.

So she followed the King's instructions and laid her head on his massive chest. She could feel it move up and down as he slept and his strong heart beating beneath her ears. The sound of his heart beat soothed her to sleep.

The King knew exactly when she fell asleep. Her breathing evened out and her body relaxed on top of him. He was relieved that she slept without asking so many questions. She is the inquisitive type always asking a million questions which he never answers.

Joining her on the bed was not exactly planned . He must admit it was the best sleep he has had in ages. He slept through the night without waking up once. Holding Nalani as he slept felt so natural that he couldn't ignore it. Why did it feel so comfortable and natural to sleep next to her?

Were they husband and wife in another life?  Sleeping with her felt familiar and comfortable that he wanted to do it again and again.

' Stop it! ' he reprimanded himself

He can't do this. She is a servant girl and he is the king. It wasn't proper in other people's eyes but it felt proper to him. He felt strange everytime he saw her. Infact it broke his heart everytime he watched her scrub the great corridor.

The image of Nalani on her knees, scrubbing was an image he was not fond of. It disturbed him to watch her suffer but there's nothing he could do about it. If he let her off without a punishment people would notice and his many enemies would take this chance to hurt her.

He will not allow anyone to hurt her. She was his to take care of until he understands what he is feeling at the very least. He deeply inhaled her scent before he slept again.

After a few hours, Nalani woke up before the King. Their hands and legs were tangled up together. Without making a sound she tried to detangle her legs first from under his. Once she succeeded she tried her hands. She was too busy to notice the king watching her.

The king watched Nalani cutely try and free herself from the confines of his arms . She didn't even notice he was wide awake . She easily moved from under him however his hand on her waist kept her in place. She reached for his arm for the second time. Before she removed it, she rubbed slowly up and down.

The innocent action was felt all over the King's body. Not only on his arm but a jolt of electricity flowed through his entire body . It was exciting and terrifying at the same time.

' Who was this girl to him?' He wondered ' and why does my body respond to her so easily?'

She tried waking up one more time but was stopped by his hand again. Annoyed by his hand she turned to look at the king with an annoyed expression on her face. When she finally saw the King staring at her, her eyes widened.

" What do you think your doing?" He asked with a smirk

" My King, I didn't realize it was you" she whispered

" Who else would it be? Do you go sleeping around with other men?"

" No! Of course not my king" she gasped

" So you only do it with me?"

" I don't do it with anyone"

" Then what are you doing here?"

" Me ? Here? This is my room! What are you doing here?"she stammered

" Your room?" The king asked puzzled

" Yes my room. If I may ask what are you doing in my room your highness?" She asked confidently.

" Mmmh, I can see where the confusion is"

" What confusion?"

" Look around you Nalani, does this look like your room in any way?" He sighed.

Nalani wondered what the King was saying. Given the opportunity she moved away from his hand and sat up on the bed. Her hands felt the silk sheets as the first evidence.

' This does not feel like my sheet. It's too soft' she thought.

She looked around and was uppauled by the room. The dining table and chairs, the carpet, the two doors. This was definitely not her room but the King's room. What the hell was she doing in the King's room? The king was going to punish her again.

She moved away from the bed so quickly that she fell on her butt .

" Who told you to get off the bed!" the King growled.

He moved from the bed, took her in his arms and placed her back on the bed. He covered her with his blanket .

" Stay there if you don't want to be punished"

" But...but!"

" Enough!!"

Authors note:

Hello lovelies, so we have finally reached 30k words. finally. anyway i will be updating once or twice a week depending on my schedule. i hope you enjoy the book and thank you for joining our main characters on their journey 💜💜