Chapter 16 Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Chapter 16
Cohen looked back at his Alpha king strangely. The hesitation in his eyes was clear. So he wondered what he was thinking about this important Moon Gala. Cohen let out a deep sigh, speaking after a moment of pondering,
" I think, this year, Alpha Edwina should accompany me. Technically, she is a mistress too."

Cohen's mouth fell open in disbelief. Representing Edwina in front of the other kingdom kings had only one meaning, presenting the future queen of werewolves. Each year, it was Angelina who accompanied the king because everyone had already counted her as Hades's future queen.

Cohen presented his thoughts carefully after clearing his throat,
" My king, she isn't your forever Mistress. Besides, she is an Alpha in your imprisonment now. It might stir new rumors about you again. I advise you to reconsider the decision."

Hades glared at Cohen first then shrugged moving to the other side,
" I don't care. I am their fucking king. I make rules, not them. Edwina is much more elegant than Angelina. Do you wanna hear what Angelina did last time? She started arguing with one of those councilmen's wives, claiming that that woman was always eyeing me. Can you believe that she revealed it at an open party? So, Edwina should come with me this time. Also, she isn't marked yet by her mate. No one will dare to judge our relationship. Send her to my room."

______

Edwina was cleaning the dishes when Cohen appeared in front of her, and urged her to drop everything aside. Learning that she received a call from the king, her expression turned deadly.

Did he want to have sex early this morning?

She bit her lips at the thought but had no choice in reality. Delaying would only lead her to encounter severe punishment. Her only hope was that she wouldn't get used to his touches.

Moments afterward, Edwina pushed the door open to enter Hades's chamber. His freshly showered back met her eyes first. She looked away with slightly blushing cheeks, clearing her throat to get attention,
" Did you call me?"

Hades's eyes pulled over to see her unhappy face. This thought was a little bothersome for him to think that she wasn't happy to be summoned by him at this hour. Other women would have died in happiness if they had earned such attention from him. Hence, Silas dropped the idea of convincing her courteously.

Stepping a few steps forward, he informed in an ordering voice,
" You will be joining Moon Gala with me tomorrow night."

Edwina's eyes widened slightly as if she couldn't trust her ears. She knew how important this event was for the kingdom. Even average-ranked packs like theirs had never gotten this opportunity to join this event. But as far as she heard, werewolves with mates or female companions joined the event each year. Certainly, she was nothing to Hades.

After his words were heard, Hades turned around to walk back into the room. Edwina blurted without having a second thought instantly,
" I am not coming, King Hades. That's not my place to go with you. I am your slave, prisoner only for these 2 months."

Hades withdrew his step vigorously, shooting a raging glare at Edwina. Instead of feeling honored, she turned him down like he meant nothing to her. Hades's expression turned grim and he gritted his words out, stomping forward,
" When I am asking you to come with me, you must come, Mistress Edwina. I wasn't asking for your opinion."

" Why should I come?", whispered back Edwina whose eyes teared up in rage and unknown pain. She still remembered his words when he openly admitted in front of Alpha Duncan that she was nothing to him. The strange part was that it hurt her emotions terribly.

Hades's face turned complicated, unable to give her any proper response. Before he could say anything, Edwina continued, battling hard to keep those tears down,
" You have your favorite mistress and many other women in Red Darkling. Why should I take the place of your Mistress when I am not even your permanent, King Hades? Don't ask me to do anything that doesn't suit your character."

Edwina slightly turned to leave but her arms were grabbed fiercely, forcing her to stay on track. Hades's eyes glazed in fury, ringing his words out on her face,
" You are my Mistress. You should do everything that Angelina does."

Edwina's eyes curled up in mockery. Arching her eyebrows in question, she blurted in a deep voice,
" Angelina is your favorite. Am I?"

This one single word put Hades in a trance. Stumbling a step back, he watched her nearly fallen tears in the corner of her eyes. Yes, he disgraced her too much to make any choice.

Edwina broke into a bitter smile, noticing how he stood back from answering her question,
" See, you don't even care about my status in this Palace. Don't act like you are asking me to go because you want."

Once again, Edwina whirled around, ready to leave his chamber but Hades broke into a roar out of anxiousness,
" Edwina, I am your king. I can choose anyone."

Edwina turned around vigorously, giving him a long thoughtful stare. Although she didn't want to talk about how he acted around other people, she couldn't stop herself this time. Knitting her brows slightly, she replied with a dark chuckle,
" Really? You don't choose everyone, King Hades, because sometimes you forget that you are the actual king of this palace, not any outsider."

Hades caught the underlined meaning instantly but unfortunately, he was too blind to see through her emotions and concern. Instead of accepting his fault, his anger erupted, rushing forward to grab her arms,
" EDWINA!! HOW DARE YOU!! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE TO DISRESPECT MY FATHER-IN-LAW! "

Edwina hissed in pain under his clutch. She could feel his claws threatening to come out. Hades on the other hand gripped her arms painfully, too blinded by anger. Edwina squeezed her words out, wincing slightly in pain to glare at Hades,
" I wasn't.. disrespecting..him..King Hades..I was showing you..your place..A ruler.. should.. always make people understand his power..but you were doing the opposite.. Don't you remember what that executor said before leaving his life? "

Hades jolted slightly, releasing her arms to step back slightly. Indeed, it was the truth that he didn't want to behead those guards. But at the same time, he couldn't avoid Alpha Duncan's order because of the promise, he made to Amelia.

When Edwina saw him falling in silence, she released a long sigh of irritation. It wasn't her place to be concerned about his reputation yet she said too much. Not wanting to humiliate herself anymore, Edwina mumbled, rubbing her arms to leave hurriedly,
" I am leaving.."

She had already walked a few steps towards the door, hoping to leave his sight as soon as possible. Hades felt complicated emotions inside his mind. In the past, no one dared to point out his mistake in front of him except Alpha Duncan. When Edwina elaborated on how vulnerable he acted as king, somewhere it stirred a new emotion inside Hades's mind.

He blurted, not wanting to let her go,
" What can I do to make you come with me?"

Edwina froze in her tracks. As if she had heard something wrong, she peered back at his face, questioning. Hades appeared eager to have her as his companion. When he realized that he had acted too obviously in front of her, he added to cover up his lies,
" Well..There will be other kings too..I just want a suitable person to take the place of my female companion.. You can ask me anything in return."

Edwina's face looked troubled, considering his offer deeply. Hades Lysander was finally willing to give her anything in her imprisoned life as a slave in this Red Darkling Castle. As she fell silent, Hades kept thinking that Edwina must be thinking about asking for something for her pack.

Edwina bit her lips tightly after giving it a thought and spoke, looking up at him again,
" I just want you to compensate those families whom you beheaded last night."

Hades stared at her face in disbelief. She didn't ask for her pack nor for herself to live a lavish life in Red Darkling. Somewhere, it made him more guilty that an outsider was caring for his people rather than himself.

Hades nodded after swallowing hard and whispered in a low, promising voice,
" As...you..wish..but you must come.. with me..Will you?"

It was unexpected for Edwina that Hades would approve her wish when she thought that she was going to face another blow from him. Besides, he was asking so nicely that it made it impossible to say 'No' to his proposal. Biting her lips, she murmured back softly,
" I will but just for tomorrow night. Then, you will never ask me to act like your pretentious queen, Alpha."