"You nervous?"
Gwen's voice cut through the early morning quiet of the sleeping room, her mouth overflowing with grits as she spoke. Small flecks of the gray, tasteless porridge clung to the corners of her lips—the standard servant breakfast that did little more than fill the stomach without satisfying it.
Adeline shrugged, not giving her a verbal answer. From the moment she had woken up—jolted from restless dreams by the harsh clang of a bell that echoed through the servants' quarters—Gwen had been following her around, making cutting remarks and stoking her anxiety about the day ahead. She kept saying things like "bet you won't last the day" and "I'll trade you my bunk if you come back tonight with all your teeth intact."
At one point Gwen had tried getting the other servants to join in her mockery, but thankfully they hadn't been interested. Most kept their heads down, focused on their own survival in this harsh place where cruelty seemed to be the common currency.
Adeline slid her shoes out from under her bed, the wooden floor cold against her bare feet. Then she turned and flopped down on the mattress, which creaked in protest. Leaning forward, she slipped them on and began tying the laces with practiced efficiency, her fingers moving automatically through the familiar motions.
"Those are the shoes you're wearing?" Gwen spoke up again, disgust dripping from every word. She gestured with her spoon, sending a droplet of grits onto the floor.
"They're my nicest pair," Adeline answered calmly, not wanting to provoke her further. Her voice was steady, measured—the tone of someone who had learned long ago not to rise to bait.
She had thrown away her worn sneakers before leaving King Richard's kingdom, knowing she wouldn't get away with wearing them here. Deep down she knew it had been the right decision, but her pinched toes told her otherwise. The shoes she wore now were too tight, pressing against her feet in ways that promised blisters by day's end. Already she could feel the beginnings of hot spots forming at her heels.
Ideally, she would put in a request for a new pair. But she already knew that Gwen was in charge of servant orders—a small power that the woman wielded like a weapon—and there was no way she would approve it. Given her current attitude, Gwen would probably enjoy watching Adeline hobble around with blistered feet, taking satisfaction in each wince and limp.
Gwen continued watching as Adeline finished tying her laces, her eyes sharp and calculating. The morning light filtering through the high, narrow windows cast her face in harsh shadows.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you something!" Gwen suddenly exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air in mock surprise. The gesture sent her spoon clattering to the floor, the metallic sound ringing out.
Adeline snapped her head up, her eyes narrowing. Gwen had a shocked expression plastered across her face, but Adeline could tell it was fake. The glee shining in Gwen's eyes gave her away—the same look a cat might have while toying with a mouse.
"Your work starts earlier than the other servants. You need to be at the King's chambers in..." Gwen looked at her wrist, pretending to check a watch that didn't exist. "Five minutes ago."
Adeline's blood ran cold. Her stomach, already empty save for the few bites of grits she'd managed, twisted into a painful knot.
"Are you serious?" The words came out as a quiet whisper, barely audible above the murmur of other servants preparing for their day.
Why wouldn't Gwen have told her earlier that she needed to be there before everyone else? Adeline didn't know what she had ever done to earn such hostility. It was like she had a giant stamp on her forehead that read "torment me."
Gwen nodded, her smile widening to show teeth stained from years of poor nutrition. "Mhmm. You should really get a move on."
Adeline snapped into motion. She jumped off the bed and rushed toward the exit of the women's chambers, her heart hammering against her ribs. She hadn't had time to eat any food or make herself presentable, and the remnants of sleep still crusted the corners of her eyes. But hopefully no Beasts would notice and she could quickly tidy herself up once alone in the King's chambers. She ripped open the door, ignoring the sound of Gwen's laughter behind her—cruel and high-pitched—and rushed out of the servants' quarters toward the main halls.
She didn't know where the King's chambers were located, but assuming this castle was built similarly to King Richard's, they would be on the top floor. The architecture of Beast fortresses followed certain patterns—power rising with altitude, the highest floors reserved for those of the highest rank. She continued rushing down the hallway, keeping her eyes peeled for a staircase. Her footsteps echoed too loudly in the quiet morning, and she tried to soften her stride without losing speed.
As she neared a corner, she heard loud laughter echoing off the stone walls—bright, carefree sounds that felt alien in this place of rigid rules and harsh punishments. Adeline immediately slowed her pace and moved closer to the wall, dropping her head toward the ground in a show of submission. Her shoulder brushed against the cold stone as she walked.
Taking a deep breath, she rounded the corner and spotted two female Beasts up ahead. Both were tall and elegantly dressed, adorned with jewels that caught the morning light streaming through the windows—rubies that gleamed like drops of blood, emeralds the color of deep forests. They looked to be mother and daughter, but they weren't accompanied by guards, which meant they likely weren't royalty. Perhaps the wives or daughters of high-ranking Beasts, enjoying their privileged position in the hierarchy.
"If he accepts your proposal, you'll definitely need to redecorate," the elder woman laughed, her voice carrying easily through the corridor.
They approached quickly. Adeline made sure to keep her steps even and her face blank, making herself as invisible as possible. She became a ghost, a shadow, nothing worth noticing.
The younger woman gave her mother a playful push, bringing her dangerously close to Adeline. The scent of expensive perfume wafted over—something floral and sweet, a stark contrast to the lye soap smell that clung to servants.
"That's if he even accepts!" she said, her voice bright with hope and nerves. "You know how particular he is about bloodlines."
Adeline reminded herself to keep her eyes straight ahead and her breathing even. Her heart pounded in her ears as she neared them, and she prayed they couldn't smell her fear the way Beasts were said to be able to—that distinctive scent of adrenaline and sweat that marked prey.
They passed by without incident. Adeline's clenched muscles relaxed when they didn't acknowledge her presence and continued down the hallway, laughing and joking with one another. To them, she was furniture, part of the castle itself, as unremarkable as the stone walls.
Picking up her pace once more, Adeline resumed her hunt for a staircase. She was pleased to spot one up ahead on her left, its entrance marked by a subtle arch in the wall. She scurried over to it and slipped inside, immediately taking the steps two at a time. The stairwell was narrow and dimly lit, with only small slits for windows that let in thin beams of dusty sunlight.
The first couple of floors passed easily, but by the fifth she was panting and using the railing to stay upright. Her legs burned with the effort, muscles protesting the steep climb after a night of poor sleep. Her tight shoes bit into her feet with each step, the friction building heat that would soon become painful blisters.
As she reached the sixth floor, the stairwell suddenly ended. This had to be the top. Adeline stopped behind the door leading to the hallway to take a quick moment to collect herself. Her breaths were coming out rapidly, each one burning in her lungs, and she forced herself to breathe more slowly through her mouth. The air tasted stale, tinged with the faint scent of wood polish and something else—something wild and musky that she was learning to associate with the Beasts.
Reaching up, she ran her fingers through her hair, haphazardly combing out the worst knots before throwing it into a low ponytail. She would take more time to clean up once she was alone inside the King's chambers, but for now this would have to do. She smoothed down her dress, trying to make herself look at least somewhat presentable.
Taking one last deep breath, Adeline pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway. The floor was completely silent. Not a soul could be seen anywhere. The corridor stretched before her, lined with expensive tapestries depicting scenes of Beast victories in ancient wars—humans kneeling in submission, cities burning, the natural order being established. She had expected the King's chambers to have guards nearby, and the lack thereof made her worry that her assumption had been incorrect.
She continued forward down the hallway anyway, taking care to step lightly to minimize the echo of her shoes against the polished floor. The wood gleamed, reflecting the morning light that streamed through tall windows. She noticed several doors up ahead, all very large and imposing, and regretted not asking anyone to show her where to go. It had been foolish to assume she would be able to find his chambers on her own. By now her tardiness was sure to have been noticed, and the consequences could be severe.
The doors were all identical: solid dark wood with black detailing, intricate carvings of wolves and bears and other predators etched into the grain. They looked eerily similar to the ones at King Richard's castle—as if all Beast kingdoms followed the same design principles. Adeline carefully walked up to the first one on her left and placed her ear against it, the wood cool against her skin, trying to hear if anyone was inside.
She was moving to open it and peek in when she heard someone clear their throat behind her.
Adeline spun around to find King Heloix standing at the end of the hallway near the stairwell she had exited from just minutes ago. He must have moved in complete silence—the way predators do.
"What are you doing?" His voice was gruff, edged with irritation. The morning light behind him cast his face in shadow, making his expression difficult to read, but his posture radiated displeasure.
Adeline opened her mouth to answer, to explain that she was looking for his chambers to clean them, but nothing came out. Instead, she stood there with her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. Her mind went blank with fear, every carefully prepared explanation evaporating.
The King stared at her, annoyance clear in his expression. His dark eyes were hard, unforgiving—the eyes of someone who had no patience for incompetence. She could see the flicker of amber in their depths, a warning that his Beast was close to the surface.
"Well?" he urged, his patience obviously thin. His hand flexed at his side, a subtle movement that spoke of barely restrained violence.
"I... uh... I am the servant in charge of cleaning your chambers. I'm looking for them." The words finally tumbled out, her fear audible in the quiver of her voice. She sounded weak, pathetic even to her own ears.
He continued to stare at her, his eyes traveling over her entire body in a way that sent shivers down her spine. The assessment felt clinical, as if he were evaluating livestock—checking for flaws, weaknesses, signs of defect. His gaze lingered on her disheveled hair, her rumpled dress, her too-tight shoes.
"Follow me," he finally said, then turned on his heel and walked toward the opposite end of the hallway. His movements were fluid, predatory, each step placing his feet with perfect precision.
Adeline quickly scurried after him, careful to keep a good distance between them. For all she knew, he was leading her to a window with the intention of throwing her out of it—a quick solution to the problem of an incompetent servant. Her stomach suddenly let out an angry growl, protesting not having been fed in over twenty-four hours. The sound seemed impossibly loud in the quiet hallway. Adeline felt her face heat up in embarrassment at the noise, warmth spreading across her cheeks.
She couldn't help but want to make a good impression on King Heloix, and her stomach screaming for all to hear was not accomplishing that goal. Although at this point, she supposed it couldn't get much worse. She had been here less than a day and had already angered the King, arrived late to her first day of work, and now couldn't seem to control her bodily functions.
The King continued leading her down the hall, his footsteps silent while hers seemed to echo with every step. Adeline took the opportunity to study him. To say he was intimidating would be an understatement. His entire presence exuded confidence and strength—the absolute certainty of someone who had never been challenged and survived. He moved with a predator's grace, each step purposeful and controlled. His shoulders were broad, his back straight, and even from behind she could see the power coiled in his frame like a spring waiting to be released. She could understand why the other Beasts obeyed him without question.
King Heloix abruptly halted. Adeline managed to stop mere centimeters before running into his back, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body. She hadn't realized it, but she had been following too closely, not giving herself enough reaction time to his sudden movements. His scent enveloped her—pine and smoke and something primal that made her instincts scream danger.
"Here." He gestured to a door on the right, his hand large and capable-looking. "I will be inside in my office. Be quiet when you come in there to clean."
With that, he pushed open the large door and walked inside. It slammed shut behind him with a sound like thunder, final and dismissive. Adeline waited several seconds, wanting to give him time to settle into his office before she entered. Her heart was still racing, her palms sweaty despite the cool air of the hallway.
"When you're done cleaning the King's quarters, come to mine."
A loud voice came from behind her. Adeline spun around and locked eyes with a guard standing along the opposite wall. She had been so distracted by the King that she hadn't even noticed him there—a dangerous mistake that could have cost her. He wore a tight suit, the seams looking like they were about to burst at his arms and chest. The fabric strained against muscles that spoke of violence and power, the kind built through combat training and actual use.
The guard gave her a sly smirk, his eyes traveling up and down her body in a way that made her skin crawl. There was hunger in that look, predatory interest that had nothing to do with cleaning.
He took several steps toward her, his boots heavy against the floor. Adeline resisted the urge to back away, knowing that retreat would only encourage him. She had heard whispers that slaves were often used for pleasure in this kingdom—that it was considered a Beast's right to take what they wanted—but she had been hoping to escape that fate.
The Beast continued forward until he was only inches from her, close enough that she could smell his breath—meat and ale from breakfast. His hand snapped up faster than she could register and roughly grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger, his skin hot against hers.
He squeezed hard, forcing her head to turn left and right. His grip was painful, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her jaw until she was certain there would be bruises. Adeline felt tears begin to well up, hot and stinging behind her eyes. She refused to let them fall, knowing that crying would only cause her more trouble—would mark her as weak, as broken already. He continued his inspection of her face, a large smile spreading across his features the entire time. He tilted her head back, examining her throat, then turned her face to study her profile like she was a piece of meat at market.
"You'll be fun to break in," he finally said, releasing her with a small shove that made her stumble back a step. "Come directly to my room once you're done here."
Adeline dropped her eyes to the floor, her face burning with shame. Her jaw ached where he'd gripped it, and she could still feel the phantom pressure of his fingers.
"Yes, sir." The words tasted like ash in her mouth.
He nodded in approval at her submission and walked back to his post along the far wall, his footsteps deliberately loud—a reminder of his presence, his power. Adeline turned to King Heloix's door and began working on prying it open, her hands shaking so badly it took three tries to get a proper grip on the handle.