10: Iris
When I awakened the next day, he was gone. To my relief I got out of bed only to realize very quickly that I was not alone. Right in front of the bed
Her eyes were cold and unfeeling as she looked at me, but she kept a polite tone when she spoke. “Good morning, the greeted me. I will be your personal help
I did not react to her announcement. I was not sure what to say.
Sise. jun like everyone else in the Alpha’s count, was at least a head taller than I was. She came forward and wordlessly led me to the bath, and washed me despite my trepidation. After that, she dressed me up in royal robes of fine fabric. It draped over my body yet was my perfect size, a though i had been made specially for me.
As she made me wear shoes, she spoke again. “The Alpha’s mother has summoned you.” She let me know.
My heart skipped a beat and already dreaded the day. I managed a slinky nod and let her lead me out of the room
I followed, twisting my hand nervously as I moved through the corridors, passing my guards as we did. I did what I had done at the altar and kept my head down, focused on my toes.
Yet, the resplendence of the castle could barely be ignored. It looked nothing like what so–called monsters would call home.
Finally, we reached what seemed like a grand chamber, fit for a high noble.
The guards in front of it spoke briefly to the helper. Before they opened that door and let me in. The room was drenched in Jumary. Salk, furs, gems and gold made the room shine in the early morning light.
On the quilt was a woman. Obviously more than a decade older than me, regal in her aura. She did not look at me but dismissed the help with a gesture of her hand. The helper exited and once again the door was closed
Finally, she looked up at me, her expression unwelcoming. Her ice blue eyes, cold and sharp. Her mouth was twisted in a permanent sheer
“Maggot, do you not know how to greet your mother–in–law?” She spat derisively.
I froze at her acidic tone, my stomach instantly liquidifying. I wanted to greet her as she wanted, but my tongue felt heavy in my mouth.
Her eyes
a narrowed, and she got up, spoolding me out of my skin. She walked towards me and when I thought that she would walk right into me, she moved behind me. I stood frozen to the ground ur she kicked the back of my knees and made me kneel. Only then did she walk around to face me, her towering menacingly above me
*You maggots certainly have gall,” she remarked. “You will do well to remember your place in this court.”
I gaped at her, unable to mutter a word as lear consumed me.
“You are nothing but a tool to my son, Once your use has been fulfilled, you will be discarded.”
TOOL. The word resounded in my head, I would be a tool to yet another man. Another way to get what he wanted, after which he would throw me our of his life. But what use would be to the Lycan Alphat I wondered
As though she had read my thoughts, she spoke again. You might be wondering what use a maggot would he to the ruler of all Lycans.”
I said nothing, knowing that she would give me the answer whether I asked for it or not.
“For reasons beyond me, the moon goddess has made you immune to my son’s cursed touch. She stated. “And the only way to break his curse is for hum to sire on heir. A feat which was impossible for obvious reasons.
He would kill anyone who touched him, including any woman who could bear him an heir, But I was immume, which would mean…
“If you bear his heir, you will break his curse.” She continued. “but do not be mistaken. You are not his Luna. You are nothing but a breeder for his
needs.”
Then why marry me?” I blurted out, which I regretted instantly when her face contorted into an expression of anger.
The slap came out of nowhere. One time I was on my knees looking up at her, the next I was on my back. My check stung as though I had put my face in a furnace. My head hurt, and my vision was made lazy by the assault. A slap should not have been able to have that effect. My father had hit me enough times for me to know. Yet a hit from my father could measure up to the strength of a Lycan’s slap.
Suddenly, I was pulled up from the ground with ease by her. She threw me like a rag doll and I crashed against the door. The impact against the door left me breathless, struggling to regain my semes as the world spun aronind me. Through the haze, I could barely make out her towering figure advancing towards me again, lier ineer more pronounced than ever.
“You dare question my son’s decisions?” she lässed, venom dripping from her words like acid.
1 could feel the fear coursing through my veins, paralyzing me as I scrambled to find my voice. But before I could muster a response, she seized me by the collar, her grip like iron, and pulled me up to meet her icy gaze.
“You are nothing but a pawn in our game, a means to an end,” she spat, her breath bat against my face. “You will do as you’re told and bear him an heir. That is your only purpose here. A vessel for his child and nothing more. Maggots like you have no say and have no power. This court is not the one you are used to. We lycans are predators and you are prey.”
I was nothing but a vessel for their ambitions, a sacrificial lamb thrown into the jaws of a beast. As I had been to Kavriel. I was back to where I had begun. And I finally allowed myself to accept it. They were the monsters that I had been taught to fear all my life. All of them, including the mun
whose ring I now wear on my finger like a brand.
