Chapter 21
I don’t know how much time passes when the door creaks open, and I freeze in terror, my whole body shaking—Xandros strides in, his expression a mask of cruelty.
“Get dressed,” he barks, throwing a bundle of clothes at me.
I scramble to my feet.
“Where are you taking me?” I whisper, my voice shaking.
Xandros doesn’t answer, only giving me a cold, hard stare. “I said get dressed,” he growls, his voice low and menacing.
I quickly obey, my fingers trembling as I pull on the uniform he gave me. I can feel his dark presence hovering over me, and I can only imagine what he has in store. I try to steel my nerves and comply.
Once I’m dressed, Xandros grabs my arm, his grip like iron, and pulls me along behind him. I stumble to keep up with his long, purposeful strides, my heart racing with fear and anticipation.
We walk down a long hallway, past countless doors and chambers.
The castle is silent, save for the sound of our footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
The castle is eerily silent, the darkness seeming to press in around us like a physical presence.
I can feel the almost tangible weight of Xandros’s presence and his cruel intentions.
I know his gaze is on me, and I’m filled with a sense of dread and unease.
The hallway stretches on, the echoing of our footsteps growing ever louder as we pass door after door.
Finally, we reach a large one made of wood, and Xandros pushes it open.
We step into a grand hall filled with opulent furniture and gilded decor.
The room is filled with a mix of luxurious furniture.
Persian rugs adorn the marble floors, while velvet curtains hang from the tall windows.
The walls are filled with fine art and intricately carved woodwork.
In the center of the room is a large fireplace, its flames casting a warm glow over the whole room.
The air is thick with the smell of incense and the faint sound of music playing in the background.
Overall, it is a room of grandeur and opulence.
The room is empty, save for a lone figure sitting at the far end of the room.
It’s Carina.
My stomach drops as I realize what’s happening. Xandros is parading me in front of his betrothed, as if I’m nothing more than a possession, a toy to be shown off. I glance at Xandros anxiously.
Carina looks up as we approach, a cruel smile curling her lips. “Well, well, well,” she purrs. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
Xandros doesn’t respond, merely pushing me forward and making me stumble until I’m standing in front of Carina.
“Good morning, Sienna,” Carina says. “I trust you slept well?”
I don’t respond, merely staring at her, not wanting to provoke her. This is the woman he lies beside every night while I toss and turn, my bond screaming and aching for his presence while all I get is his cold demeanor, this woman gets his love.
Carina stands, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey.
“You know, Xandros told me you weren’t very obedient last night,” she says, her eyes flickering with amusement.
He tells her what he does with me. Hearing this makes me uncomfortable.
Do they sit down after he uses me, discuss it over tea about how much he crushed me, and laugh about it?
I feel my face flush with shame and rage. How dare she talk to me like this.
Xandros clears his throat, and Carina turns her attention to him. “Enough, Carina.” he states, his tone icy and detached.
Carina steps forward, her eyes never leaving Xandros’s face. “I just want to remind you, my love, of your place. You may have your little plaything here, but let’s not forget who you’re betrothed to. Who owns her?”
Xandros snarls, his grip on my arm tightening until it feels like my bones will snap. “I haven’t forgotten anything,” he growls.
Carina smiles as if she’s won something. My heart sinks as I realize I can do nothing to escape this nightmare. He is giving me to her? I can’t believe what I’m hearing; Xandros is using me. He has no love for me, only hate and a need he can’t control.
“Very well, leave us. She can start in the bathroom.” I peek at Xandros, hoping he won’t leave me with this woman who so obviously hates me.
My stomach sinks when he nods and stalks off, leaving me with Carina.
“Go wait in the hall; one of the maids will show you what to do,” she dismisses me with a wave of her hand.
Despite how vast the castle is, I feel claustrophobic within its walls.
My new quarters are cramped, and I can hear the muffled sounds of the royal family arguing in the distance.
I try to ignore it and focus on my tasks as a maid, even with the added distraction of my chores, my mind keeps wandering back to Xandros.
It’s like a physical pull I can’t resist, even though I know I should.
As I clean the room, I hear footsteps approaching and tense.
It’s Carina, and I can feel her eyes boring into me as she surveys the room.
“You’ll be taking care of our bedroom quarters as well.
You’ll do that once you’re finished here,” she says, her voice cold and commanding.
“And don’t be snooping through our stuff. ”
I bite back a retort, knowing it won’t help me.
Carina is just as dangerous as Xandros, and I need to tread carefully around her.
As the day wears on, I find myself caught up in a whirlwind of tasks and duties.
I serve meals, clean rooms, and do laundry, trying to stay invisible as I move about the castle.
Still I can feel the eyes of the other staff members on me, and I know they’re gossiping about me behind my back.
I try to keep my head down and ignore them, I feel like a pawn in a game I don’t fully understand.
Finally, as the day comes to an end, I’m exhausted and can’t wait to go to bed, which is what I do the moment I step into the room; I don’t bother getting out of my clothes, I fall face first on the bed.
As I lay in my bedroom, tears stream down my face. Being forced to spend the majority of the day in his chambers, the one he shares with her has played havoc with my bond, hurting it.
I try to push him out of my mind, forgetting how his touch makes me feel, even that is impossible. My body yearns for him, even as my mind screams for me to run.
As I lay here, lost in my thoughts, I hear a knock at the door. It is one of the maids coming to tell me I’m needed in the king’s chambers.
I know what that means. Xandros is calling for me, and I can’t refuse him. I drag myself out of bed, wiping away my tears as I make my way to the king’s chambers.
As I enter the room, Xandros is waiting for me. His eyes bore into me, cold and unfeeling. He doesn’t say a word as he grabs me by the arm and pulls me toward him.
I try to pull away, and he holds me tighter, his grip bruising my skin.
Xandros drags me to another room, the spare beside the one he shares with Carina, and pushes me down onto the bed, his eyes dark with lust. I know what he wants from me, and I give it to him, even though it feels like a betrayal to myself.
As he takes what he wants from me, I’m filled with an emptiness. This isn’t love. This is just a twisted game of power and control.
When it is over, Xandros gets up and leaves without a word. I lay there, feeling broken and used, knowing tomorrow will be the same.
I can’t escape him, no matter how hard I try. He is a part of me now, a part I hate and love in equal measure.
After a while, I find the courage to pull my clothes back on and step back out into the hall.
When Carina rounds the corner, she stops, looks at me up and down, then sneers; I drop my gaze, knowing she can smell him on me.
She then storms into the room they share while I sneak back into mine as if I’m the one who did something wrong.
He is my mate, yet I am made to feel like the whore, the homewrecker.