Rosella
"How do you mean?" I frowned as Elissa informed me about the breakfast with the other concubines.
When I asked why I should waste my time at such a gathering, she explained it was tradition. When I refused, she warned me of a penalty.
I could be stripped of my position as one of Damian's sex slaves or, worse, locked in a cell. "I hate this stupid law and everything surrounding it," I groaned, rubbing my forehead.
The memories of last night replayed in my mind, haunting me with every thought of what Damian had done to me.
He had left me alone in the room, frustrated and desperate for no reason.
"You should get along with the other concubines, as you are all the King's women, and even though he will have a Luna Queen soon," Elissa paused, zipping up my dress. "You are still going to serve him." She turned me to face her, lifting my chin. "You look stunning," she said.
I smiled at her and turned toward the mirror. The red sequin dress screamed royalty and power, making me feel confident and rebellious.
The memory of last night with Damian returned, sharp and unrelenting. I could not stop thinking about him.
Why can't I get him out of my head? I sighed deeply, pressing my palm against my forehead. "Get him off," I muttered.
"Don't ruin your makeup," Elissa said gently, removing my hand. "It will only get worse, darling." She tapped my shoulders and smiled. "Chin up and go with a smile."
"Why are you being so kind to me?" I wanted to ask, but we had only known each other for two days, and I didn't feel I could question her about Damian yet.
"You remind me of someone," she said, taking my hand and guiding me from the closet toward the center of the room.
I stopped her. "Who do I remind you of?" I asked.
"Nothing to worry about, Rosella." She released my hand and moved to the door, opening it wide and beckoning me to follow.
I did not know why I liked her, but she had a motherly presence. Having lost my parents at fifteen, I saw in her the mother I never had. "I feel reassured being with you, Elissa," I said with a smile.
"Let's go," she said, closing the door behind us. "Keep your chin up, Lady Rosella," she instructed.
I obeyed, raising my head and smiling at her.
"What should I expect from the breakfast?" I asked.
"Just keep your chin up," she said lightly, making me laugh. It was the first real laughter I had felt in years.
When we reached the dining hall, the concubines, sex slaves, or whatever they called themselves, were already seated. The only familiar face was Danielle, sitting at the head like the Queen she would never be. The rest of the girls filled the other seats. Only one silver chair remained empty beside a girl. As I approached it, she kicked it to the ground.
"It seems no one wants to sit with the new sex slave. She reeks of virginity," Danielle remarked.
I scoffed and bent to pick up the chair, but the girl kicked it again, causing it to hit my legs.
I hissed and clenched my fists. The maids attending the concubines burst into laughter at my failed attempt. I bent down again, but Elissa was faster, helping me raise the chair.
"Are you alright?" she asked. Instead of replying, I walked toward the girl who had kicked the chair.
"What do you want?" she asked, her expression cold like a doll.
"Don't you ever tell me what to do again!" I pushed her off the chair, and her tiny frame hit the ground.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Danielle shouted.
"Have you gone crazy?" another girl demanded.
"Maybe if you focused on your own chest, spilling out as it is, you'd understand that you cannot speak to me that way," I retorted, pointing to her breasts.
She frowned, dropping her fork. "You have no idea how long I have served the king! I am the oldest here!" she shouted.
I laughed, taking the empty seat opposite her, ignoring her protests. "If you are the oldest, then why did the king get other sex slaves?" I asked.
As she opened her mouth, Danielle interrupted. "Rebekah, please sit," she said, pointing to the empty chair beside me.
Rebekah obeyed, and Danielle continued. "We should not fight on our first morning together," she said, smiling at me. "This gathering is to know each other, not act like children." She tapped the table with her fingers. "I am Danielle, the king's favorite toy," she squealed. "I am so good in bed that the king always returns for more," she clapped, and the other girls followed. "Last night," she whispered, beckoning them closer.
I leaned forward, curious about what had happened.
"The king, who should have been with the new sex slave," she laughed, looking toward me.
I found her attitude disrespectful and childish. She assumed I was bothered by her night with the king, which I was, as Damian had said he did not want to have sex with me.
"Tell us what happened last night!" Rebekah demanded, drumming her fingers on the table. "We need to know what made you so happy."
"He left her for me!" Danielle said, laughing, and the other girls pointed at me, mocking me openly.
I stayed seated, glaring at them. It was Damian's fault I was ridiculed, but I also blamed myself for falling for him. I felt hurt over a werewolf for the first time in a long time.
I looked at Elissa, who mouthed words to me, but I ignored her and shouted at everyone. "Enough!" I slammed both hands on the table. Instantly, the room fell silent. All eyes were on me as if I had grown a second head, and I did not care.
"Why are you so pained?" Rebekah asked, moving closer. "The king is not yours alone; he belongs to everyone at this table," she said, pointing to the other girls. "The king's favorite is Danielle," she added, and the others nodded. "Do not act like a queen, because you are not."
I scoffed, rising from my chair. I ruffled my hair and clenched my fists tightly. I was never going to be disrespected, especially in their midst, so I turned to walk away.
"Damian will never choose someone like you. He wants wild girls who can serve him, not virgins like you," Danielle shouted behind me. She was not wrong. Damian might not want me, but it wouldn't make me a fool like the girls.
Danielle was right about my inexperience, but at least I had restraint. I only bent to Damian's will because I wanted revenge.
"I am inexperienced, but I am better than you, who throws yourself around like a dog," I said, turning toward her with a smirk. "I am better than you!" I laughed.
"How dare you, bitch!" she screamed, lunging at me and grabbing my hair. I reacted instantly, twisting her hand, pinning it to the table, and stabbing it with a fork.
"What did you do!" she cried out.
The dining hall erupted with the screams of concubines. They moved away from me, terrified.
"What have you done?" Elissa shouted. "How could you stab her hand?" I ignored her and focused on Danielle, who was screaming in pain.
I laughed and gripped her hair. "Why are you crying?" I shouted in her ear. "Earlier, you mocked me as if you owned me." I laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Never speak to me like that again!" I said and yanked the fork from her hand.
Danielle screamed, collapsing to the floor while clutching her hand.
I smiled, satisfied with the chaos I had caused, and turned to leave.
"What the hell is going on here?" Damian's voice boomed as he entered the dining hall. "What happened here?" He scanned the room, and his eyes landed on mine. "What..."
I smirked, approaching him. I raised the fork, stained with Danielle's blood, and let it drop to the floor making a loud clattering sound. "Oops, I think I just stabbed one of your sex slaves!" I laughed.