Before I could argue or say another word, on a second thought, I couldn't dare say a word, it was his personal property after all, another voice cut through the hallway, smooth, mocking.
"Aldric, dear brother… You're home early."
Lucas.
My stomach turned to ice.
He appeared leaning against the doorway, smirk wide, golden eyes gleaming like he was watching the opening scene of his favorite drama.
His gaze slid to me, wet hair, Aldric's shirt hanging off one shoulder, buttons undone, trembling.
His brows shot up.
"Well," he purred. "Aren't you a cute little trespasser."
"Leave," Aldric said without looking at him.
Lucas laughed. "Oh no, no. If you've finally picked up a pet, I absolutely need to see, "
Aldric lifted his head and gave him a look.
A single, silent, lethal look.
Lucas shut up so fast it was almost comical.
But his smirk returned a heartbeat later. "Fine. But Father wants you in the council hall. Now. Something about the rogue attacks."
My stomach twisted.
Rogue attacks.
If they connected me to anything… I really hoped they didn't, the upper council had mostly likely known I wasn't harmful, or would try anything to harm them, didn't they?
My entire village was murdered, it was horrifying, I never wanted to think back to that moment ever again.
Aldric stepped away, gaze leaving mine.
My cheeks burned. In heat, anger, then embarrassment, immediately coming out of my reverie.
He turned and strode out the door.
Lucas winked at me as he followed.
"Well, well… things just got interesting."
And then they were gone.
Leaving me alone in the heir's room.
I had to take off his pyjama set, the one that probably cost more than anything I had ever owned in my life. My fingers shook slightly as I folded it neatly and placed it on the bed. Now I had nothing to wear again. Perfect. Just perfect.
Wrapping my arms tightly across my chest, I looked around desperately for something else I could borrow, but the moment I took a step, I heard the door handle turn.
My breath stopped.
Aldric?
Heat exploded across my face. I bowed my head so fast my damp hair fell over my eyes. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. My heart stuttered painfully as I peeked up, praying it was not him.
But it was worse.
Not Aldric.
Not Lucas.
A tall lycan princess.
My blood ran cold.
She was beautiful in the kind of way that made you avert your eyes, not out of admiration, but out of instinctive fear. Her golden hair fell like liquid metal down her back, her eyes sharp and molten, glowing with superiority. Every step she took sparkled with a confidence I could never match. A perfect goddess descending into the room.
And she was looking at me like I was dirt on the floor.
She didn't say a word at first. She just approached quietly, predatory, slow. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I backed away until the back of my legs hit the bed.
Her hand shot out instantly.
A fistful of my hair was yanked upward, forcing me to stand straight. Pain shot through my scalp and I gasped, eyes watering.
"Where is Aldric?"
Her voice was a threat all on its own.
I swallowed hard, my throat thick with fear. My body trembled as I whispered, "he stepped out with Lucas".
Her lips twitched. Not a smile. Something darker.
"Is that so…."
She dragged her tongue across her bottom lip, eyes roaming over me from head to toe like she was calculating the easiest way to break me. Her golden gaze lingered too long on my chest, my thighs, my still-exposed skin.
My heart hammered painfully. Every instinct screamed danger.
Then she leaned in closer, her breath brushing my cheek.
"What a beautiful pet Aldric has"
Pet.
The word made my stomach twist. I tried to pull away but her grip tightened, and she smiled with a sharpness that made bile rise in my throat.
I hope he will not mind if I play with this one.
Her other hand reached for my face, caressing my cheek almost gently. Then she pulled harder on my hair, making me whimper. Shame flooded me, white hot and choking.
"Let me go. Please. Aldric would not want this."
"I'd love to hear you beg again." She said, ignoring everything I said and shoved me backward. I fell onto the bed, bouncing lightly on the covers, my breath choking in my chest. Before I could scramble away, she crawled onto the edge of the mattress, eyes gleaming wickedly.
Her hand slid down my stomach.
Lower.
I froze in pure horror.
Her fingers wrapped around my length like she owned it. She hummed, tilting her head, amused.
"What a surprisingly nice dick you have."
My entire body jerked away instinctively. I curled up, trembling violently, shivers of disgust and hatred jolting through my spine. My hands flew up to cover my face, tears burning behind my eyes. She didn't care. She touched my thighs, squeezing them, sliding her nails gently across my skin.
Silk skin. How cute.
She bent down and sank her teeth into my thigh.
I choked on a broken sound, my body twisting away, but she held me firm, laughing softly as she tasted me. I wanted to vomit. I wanted to disappear. I wanted Aldric to walk in right now and break every bone in her body.
I forced the words out, shaking.
Aldric would not like this.
She paused thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her lips. Then she smirked.
Hmm. Perhaps you are right. He just found you after all, did he not. He will not want to share.
That should have relieved me. It didn't.
Because then she leaned forward, her hair brushing my legs as she whispered.
"I know what I will do…."
She rose gracefully from the bed, eyes sparkling with mischief and malice.
"I will dress you up for the ball tonight."
Her smile widened.
"What do you think?"