CRUEL GAME
Chapter 47
ROYANNA
A heavy silence enveloped the room, everyone taking their time to understand what had just happened, what the king’s judgment meant for me.
…She will become my slave…
That sentence felt more like a pardon in disguise than an actual punishment.
Why was the king giving me a pardon? Does he doubt Saphena’s words?
Everyone else looked just as surprised as I was, the King's actions were undeniably clear, so that even a blind man would see through his facade.
“My King…” Saphena broke off the silence, her aim to object, but the king raised his hand shutting her off.
“This trial is concluded.” He declared , dismissively. Pointing towards me, he ordered, “Take her to my chamber.”
The guards moved immediately, grabbing and leading me out of the room, despite the tension rising.
The guards left me alone in the king's chamber, the same room I had woken up wrapped in his arms.
My mind refused to think of any possible reason the king wants me here except to be his sex slave.
“But he didn't specify that…” My tongue suddenly felt heavy, realizing he doesn't have to. I now personally belong to him, every part of me, my body, mind, and soul.
I was back at square one, yet I could not bring myself to hate it, death was a far worse punishment for something I didn't even do. Saphena also didn't succeed in her evil plans to get rid of me.
AUTHOR'S POV
“You spared a traitor, my king. Isn't that dangerous?” Aurora, one of the Elders spoke, displeased heavily in her tone.
Lir said nothing, allowing them to offload their opinions and worry.
“She tried to escape Frost Vale, and you spared her by making her your slave? What if she had truly escaped, my king? That would once again leave us vulnerable.”
“The Elders speak the truth, Alpha.” Lancelot joined in, his tone more worry-filled.
Lir had seen the worst of a kingdom's vulnerability, and the great loss it incurred him. He would never jeopardize what they have now for a common woman.
But Royanna is not a common woman, he has known this since the moment he sniffed her scent. His beast has been uncontrollable ever since, wanting to be close to this particular woman.
When she went missing, he almost lost it, his beast spiralled and without the Elders’ knowledge had chained himself for one more night to contain it.
However, it didn't end there, after struggling to keep his wolf at bay, Lir spent two days battling the worst cold he had ever felt. For a man who dominated the wastelands of a cursed kingdom. It was beyond his explanation as to how he suddenly felt cold.
And then the guards found Royanna, frozen and barely alive. He didn't want to accept it until he walked into his chamber where he instructed the guards to keep her and touch her finger. The cold he was feeling vanished, replaced with the original warmth he was spreading to her body.
Realizing that he has a connection, he held her closer, eventually falling asleep with her in his arms.
Lir was unsure if he could reveal this to the elders to justify his actions, on the other hand he didn't really care for Royanna,he was only keeping her alive and close to find out what connection they shared, because she could never be his mate.
“She is not a threat.” Lir simply voiced out, after being awfully quiet. “We have more pressing issues to take care of.” He said, reminding them that the queen of Prospera, their final enemy, was still sitting on her throne and their mission as a pack was to bring her down.
Lir rose from his throne, walking out of the courtroom.
Lir returned to his chamber, and Royanna was out of sight,the first thing that popped into his mind was that she was making another escape attempt. His gaze swiveled around the room until he saw a shadow on the terrace wall.
With quiet and measured steps he approached and met Royanna, who stood by the railing lost in her thoughts.
“You do not wander around in my chamber.” Lir’s voice sharply cut through the air, grasping the attention of the startled Royanna.
She immediately bowed, “Forgive me, my king, I didn't mean to.” In an effort to scurry back into the chamber, Royanna trips on her step, but Lir is quick to grab her before she can fall.
His strong large hands easily wrapped around her tiny waist. The first thing he felt was warmth, then heat, and then the stirring of his wolf. The woman's body went stiff under him, her eyes closed and her lips pursed. She was scarred as she should be, but Lie could not help but remember the night she slept on his bed, the strange peace he received that night had left him thinking for hours.
Steadying the clumsy woman, Lir walked away from her, hating everything he felt ,they were invasive, triggering, and annoying, trying to pull memories from his past, memories he had long fought to bury.
“I apologize for being clumsy, my king. It will never happen again.”
Ignoring her not so needed apology, Lir spoke“I believe you are well aware of your duties. If not, find Brielle, she will put you through what you need to do as my slave.” His tone was dismissive, but the woman did not seem to get the reference that he was asking her to leave, as she remained standing trying to respond to his words.
“Yes my king, I will find Brielle and learn about my duties….”
“Go.” He finally spat, and she hurried out as though a second longer, and he would change his mind.
Lir retired to his bed, his mind heavy with thoughts of the woman he shares a connection with. He felt displeased with this connection, it was like a cruel game the Goddess was trying to play with him.