Chapter 36

[ 1,127 words ]

Arabella Toussaint:

I kept crying in his arms, but he didn’t let go. His arms remained around me while he quietly murmured one reassuring word after another.

“It’s alright.”

“You’re safe here.”

“Don’t worry. You aren’t alone.”

He kept trying to keep me calm until I finally realized who he really was. The king. The Lycan king.

I immediately tried to move back, but he didn’t let me. I raised my head in confusion and found Amy staring at us with a puzzled face. However, the queen’s face had turned dark with that unmistakable hatred.

My heartbeat accelerated as I tried harder to control my fear.

“Your Highness… please… let me go,” I stammered in panic, but his arms refused to release me. In desperation, I again tried to push him and then started hitting his shoulders with weak, trembling fists.

“P…please… I said… let me go…”

“Know your limits, slave!” The queen shrieked.

“Arabella!” Amy called my name loudly to stop me.

The king’s body seemed to go rigid as he tilted his head to look over his shoulder. His expression had turned cold, “Both of you… out!”

There was silence. Nobody dared to move first.

“I said…” His voice turned into a dangerous growl, “Out!”

Was it me, or did the room tremble beneath his command?

Both the ladies looked at me but didn’t dare to argue. Without another word, they turned and walked out.

Once they left, I didn’t know if I should feel relieved or scared. He was now looking at my face while his knuckles were brushing my cheek.

I winced when I realized what had happened last time.

“Your highness… you… you need to go… I mean…” I swiped my tongue over my dry lips, “I’m sorry for being out of line… but I don’t want another punishment where I’d be dragged down the hallways.”

His hands moved to my cheeks, holding my face, “No such thing is going to happen. Okay? I’m sorry for whatever I did, but…”

“Sorry?” Gathering all my courage, I broke free from his grip, “My King,” I bowed, “I’m the one who killed your sister. Remember? It’s me who should apologize.”

He was shaking his head, “No… I’m working on it. Okay? We might be wrong…” he paused as if trying to decide what else to say.

Caught up in our argument, we almost forgot about the little girl lying beside me.

“Ara?” When Zara’s small voice reached my ears, we went still. Clutching my gown, she tried to get up.

“Zara?” I quickly held her in my arms, forgetting about the king.

“My uncle… is he trying to hurt you?”

I shook my head with a big fake smile, “Not at all. Why would he?”

There was disbelief on her face as her eyes darted between us, “Were my mom and grandmother trying to kill you?” she asked me innocently.

Good Goddess! For how long was she awake? And how much did she hear?

“No, Zara,” The king reached out to hold her, but she rejected his touch and tried to press into me, “Hey, Zara. It’s me,” he said softly, and I saw hurt flashing across his face.

“You’re the king, right?” She asked her uncle, who nodded at her with an unreadable expression.

“Uncle. Make sure nobody hurts Ara. Please?”

The king nodded again, and I didn’t miss the solemn expression on his face, “I will, Zara. I’m not here to hurt her.”

When Zara kept staring at him with uncertainty, he smiled and leaned towards me. Before I could understand what he was about to do, his lips barely brushed against my cheek.

“See? I don’t hate her,” And this time I didn’t miss the mischief in his molten golden eyes. Heat rushed to my face as I stared at him in complete disbelief.

His face was still so close that I could feel his breath against my skin. I looked down, and that was a mistake. Because now my eyes landed on the stretched t-shirt over the hard muscles of his chest.

His closeness was making my heart pound for an entirely different reason. I swallowed hard and looked up… that was another blunder from my side. Because the moment our eyes met, he had the audacity to fucking wink at me.

“Well?” he turned his gaze towards Zara with a faintest hint of amusement, “Are you convinced, or should I kiss her other cheek too?”

Oh, please, Goddess. What was he up to?

Before I could protest, Zara shook her head, “No.”

The handsome king blinked, “Huh? No?”

Zara’s face remained unusually serious, “You don’t have to kiss her, Uncle. Just keep your promise.”

I turned my head to look at her innocent face. My heart went out to her. This was not the same girl who was chatting nonstop when we were walking to the lake. This one seemed to be a grown woman in the body of a four-year-old.

King Lucien must have felt it, too, because the trace of amusement disappeared from his face. Her tiny fingers tightened around my arm, “Don’t let anyone hurt her.”

For a long moment, the king simply looked at his niece…and then he gave her a slow nod, “I won’t,” he whispered, “I won’t let anyone hurt her.”

Zara studied him for another moment, and then she finally relaxed against me, “I’m tired,” she yawned loudly, “I want to sleep.”

The tiredness in her voice reminded me that I also needed to take some rest. I tried to control my yawn and helped Zara lie down.

Without a word, the king picked up the spare pillow from the chair beside the bed and gently slid it beneath my head. I stared at him, “Your…Majesty…”

“Lie down, Arabella,” He said gently. It felt odd not to be called a slave or a girl or not even a bitch. He was calling me by my name.

He placed a hand behind my shoulder and carefully helped me lower myself onto the mattress beside Zara. His movements felt like he was scared that he might hurt me.

Why was he doing this?

He leaned over and brushed a kiss against Zara’s forehead, who was already fast asleep. A faint smile appeared on Zara’s face, and for some reason, I found myself smiling too.

However, before I could even process what was happening, he turned towards me and brushed a kiss against my forehead too.

I froze as my breath got caught in my throat. The world around me seemed to stop.

“Get some rest,” he murmured before pulling back. I stared at him, unable to move, unable to think, and unable to understand why my heart had suddenly forgotten how to beat properly.

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