Chapter 14 Rules Of A King
Isabella’s POV
“My chamber. Now.”
Leon’s words echoed in my head as I followed closely.
It hadn’t been a request. Nothing close...
It was an order—one that I wouldn't dare go against.
The guards pushed the doors open and immediately bowed.
I stepped inside.
The doors shut behind me with a heavy thud that vibrated through my bones.
The room was dimly lit by amber lanterns, and smelled faintly of expensive werewolf incense and something sharper… something distinctly Leon.
Leon stood by the window, broad back turned to me, his hands clasped behind him.
The air shifted.
He sensed me.
He always sensed everything.
Slowly, he turned.
His eyes locked on mine—empty of warmth, empty of expression, yet somehow holding something too heavy to name.
A king’s gaze.
A predator’s gaze.
A man studying something he didn’t know how to feel about.
“Come forward.”
His voice was low, even, with that quiet command that didn’t need volume to be powerful.
I walked closer, forcing each step to be calm when my wolf was pacing wildly inside me.
He watched me the way people watched suspicious fires—
with caution…
and fascination.
When I finally stopped in front of him, he moved closer, invading my space without hesitation, studying me like he was reading each breath.
“I summoned you,” he said quietly, “because there are expectations of you as my… personal maid.”
The words nearly choked me.
Personal maid.
This my life now.
“Yes, my King,” I murmured, lowering my head.
He stiffened.
“Look at me.”
My head rose instantly, my eyes meeting his again.
His jaw clenched slightly, like he wasn’t expecting me to obey that fast.
Or maybe because he didn’t like how obedient I looked.
I wouldn’t know.
I wasn’t trying to understand him.
Understanding made things dangerous.
“Good,” he said after a moment. “There are rules.”
He began pacing slowly, like a hungry wolf circling.
“You will wake before sunrise every day.”
I nodded silently.
“You will tidy this chamber before my return each night.”
Another nod.
“You will prepare my clothes each morning. Polished boots, cleaned armor, pressed attire.”
His eyes flicked over my face. “No mistakes.”
I kept my expression blank.
“You will bring my meals to my table yourself. Not the other maids.”
He paused. “You.”
My breath caught.
That was new.
Personal.
Why?
He continued.
“You will keep this place in order. Dust, laundry, bed linen, my weapons—everything.”
He moved closer again, so close I could feel his heat, so close my wolf pushed up in alarm.
“And you will speak only when spoken to.”
A small ache tugged inside me.
Not sadness.
Not fear.
Restraint.
Because I could not slip.
Not even once.
“I understand, my King.”
His eyes lingered on mine… searching for something.
He stepped even closer.
Closer than any king had ever stood to me.
His voice dropped, barely above a whisper.
“There is one more rule.”
I swallowed.
“You do not run.”
My breath stilled.
“You do not hide.”
His gaze hardened.
“And you do not break character in this palace.”
Heat crept into my spine.
He knew.
He suspected something...
He didn’t know who I really was.
But he felt it.
I forced my voice steady.
“I won’t, my King.”
He studied me one last time before stepping back.
“Good.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “You may begin working. Now.”
Just like that, he turned and walked toward the adjoining office, leaving me standing there with my pulse hammering.
For a moment, I couldn’t move.
My wolf huffed inside me.
HE'S DRAWN TO YOU.
“No, he’s not,” I hissed under my breath, bending to gather a stack of scattered books by his bedside.
HE IS, she teased. DID YOU SEE THE WAY HE LOOKED AT YOU? LIKE HE WANTED TO PEEL YOU OPEN.
“Shut up,” I muttered, stacking the books neatly.
She smirked in my mind.
OH, BELLA… WOLVES LIKE HIM DON'T SUMMON GIRLS LIKE YOU FOR TOWEL-FOLDING LESSONS.
“Quiet,” I said sharply, glancing toward Leon’s office even though he wasn’t looking.
I wasn’t going to acknowledge it.
I wasn’t going to let her push that idea into my head.
I had one mission.
One vow.
Magnus.
I would not be distracted.
Not by curiosity.
Not by danger.
And definitely not by a Lyc—
No.
I shut the thought down.
The rest of the day dragged like a punishment.
I cleaned every corner of his room.
Sorted his clothes.
Washed delicate fabrics with trembling hands.
Scrubbed the marble floors until my knees ached.
And still…
it was as if the eyes of his brothers followed me wherever I went.
What were they up? I needed to be very careful.
By the time I finally made it to the tiny servant’s bed now assigned to me, my body was sore, my eyes burning.
I fell on the mattress, the thin blanket barely covering me, my breath heavy.
But my wolf wasn’t done.
BELLA… HE'S NOTICING YOU.
“No,” I whispered.
HE IS. IT’S IN HISVOICE. HIS SCENT. THE WAY HE GIVES YOU TASKS JUST TO KEEP YOU CLOSE.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the dark ceiling.
“He is the Lycan King,” I muttered. “He is not fond of me.”
My wolf snickered.
KEEP LYING TO YOURSELF.
I clenched my jaw.
“I’m only here to survive,” I whispered into the darkness. “Nothing more.”
A BIG RETURN... my wolf murmured slyly. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE PLANNING.
My throat tightened.
Little Magnus flashed in my mind... his smile, his laugh, the warmth of his little body when I tucked him into bed.
My nails dug into my palms.
“Yes,” I breathed.
“That’s exactly what I’m planning.”
My wolf hummed.
THEN HIDE WELL, ISABELLA. BE QUIET. BE SMALL. BE NOTHING.
“I know,” I whispered.
BECAUSE THE MOMENT THEY FIND OUT WHO YOU TRULY ARE... THIS PALACE WILL BURN.
My eyes drifted shut.
And sleep finally swallowed me.