-HER-
"Who's she?" Asked a man. He had a striking familiarity with Alexandros but was slimmer and shorter. I knew that Alexandros had a brother, and it didn't take long to wonder who that could be. Beside the man was a heavily pregnant woman. The pair was looking at me with eyes full of scrutiny, especially the woman.
Her cold eyes gleamed with hostility as she stared me down while rubbing her hand over her swollen belly, almost in a showy manner. I kept my face blank, not expecting much from anyone here.
"She'll be my guest for a while," Alexandros declared curtly, peaking their interest in me.
"Guest," The pregnant woman narrowed her eyes at me; a look of disgust filled in her eyes. I could tell she was interpreting Alex's words in many ways. "Will you be keeping her with yourself?" She asked with a particular interest.
"She is my guest, Celsa," Alex coldly told her, "She is going to be staying here with us,"
"What kind of guest?" Asked his brother. Alexandros shot a sharp look at his brother.
"A very special guest," Alexandra's answered curtly. The strength of his words was enough to knock down pillars. The couple's eyes intensified on me while I suppressed the urge to snap. I glanced at Alexanderos once again. He looked firm and stern, just like a King giving a command.
"Oh, I see," The woman named Celsa breathed as she swept her pricking judgmental eyes over me. I guessed she was his sister-in-law. "What is she called?" She asked, rubbing her stomach even more as if to bring my attention.
"My name is Theresa," I spoke, unable to keep my mouth shut. The tension in the air thickened. Celsa cocked an eyebrow at me, looking somewhat surprised at my tone.
"This is my brother, Dervis," Alexandros spoke, breaking the odd silence that ensued from my introduction. "And this is—"
"My name is Celsa, and I'm going to be the future King Mother," The woman spoke for herself, her eyes ferociously gleaming with pride as she looked down at me. Her statement rendered both the men silent and injected the air with even more tension. I glanced at her belly again for a second and gave it a good look.
"Congratulations," I told her with a small disingenuous smile, diluting her pride with confusion. But the judgement and pride in her eyes intensified as she asked, "You do know who a King Mother is? Or did you craw out of a—"
"Celsa," Alexandros interrupted, his voice sharper than a knife. "Theresa has come a long way. She needs to rest,"
"Of course," Dervis stepped in with a nervous smile, looking between Alex and me, "Celsa is just too excited about Theresa," Dervis added slyly. "I'm sure they'll make great friends,"
"That is if she lasts long here," Celsa muttered, but her husband tried to cover it with a loud, nervous laugh.
"My wife likes to joke a lot," Dervis spoke, "We will see you soon,"
"I'll see you soon," Celsa told me sharply before she left with her husband, leaving the two of us alone.
We were inside the Royals' private residential area inside Alexandros' palace. It was a grand place, much bigger than the palace I grew up in. Much more lavish and grander. The ancient architecture was still intact, reminding me that Cromeria was much older than our state.
The air between us sizzled with tension as soon as we were alone. Alex's body looked visibly tense, while his face looked stone cold and hard.
At that moment, I wasn't looking at Nico but Alexandros, the tyrant King of Cromeria and ruler of wolves. And not only that, I had said no to his face just a while ago. For once, it reminded me that I was in his territory, his palace, entirely under his control, and he could do whatever he wanted.
So far, he had been kind and decent with me, but he could choose to be something other than that if he wanted to.
I was now completely at his mercy.
"Look," I broke the silence, unable to take it anymore, "I cannot stay here for long," I told him.
"That's not for you to decide," He told me crisply. "You'll be staying here as long as there's a threat to your life,"
I pressed my lips in a thin line and glared at him. He looked adamant, not ready to take another no from me.
"You cannot keep me here forever," I told him grimly. His nostrils almost flared, and the adamant look in his eyes intensified further. He was looking at me as if I had challenged him for a duel.
He stalked closer towards me until he was standing right in front of me, his eyes piercing through my skin. I clenched my fists, pinning my eyes on him.
"I rule this place. I can do whatever I want here," He told me. I shook my head at him. It was hard for me to explain to him what I meant. I couldn't tell him about the Shrine and a very angry High Priestess waiting there for me and what would happen if I didn't get back on time.
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into, Nico," I told him honestly. He cocked an eyebrow at me.
"Then I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into," He told me, sounding more headstrong than ever.
I sighed deeply.
It's going to be a long story.
~
vote. comment. share. follow me
Read the next 4 chapters on Inkitt for Free. Read up to the next 10+ chapters on Patreon. Click on my bio's "support me" button to get there.
Also available on Patreon: Mr Night Book 2, A Touch of Desire, Monstre, Marmadoke and many other stories.
Follow me at Instagram - benita.ritz
thanks for reading<3