Chapter 29

My eyes slowly open to the dripping sound of water hitting the floor nearby. My head feels like a brick has been thrown at it, while my body feels weighed down. I sigh, slowly taking in my surroundings, noticing the small dingy room with an equally dirty sink where the water drips into and a semi-clean small toilet I realize I will have to use eventually. Then, turning to the right, I see the wall in front is made of thick bars. This is a prison, and I am an unwilling prisoner. My thoughts turn to try to figure out how I can free myself, the thin cot I lay on not providing any comfort or luxury that I had grown used to. The prison I lay in reminds me of the dark days when my father would lock me in the basement while he attended to his current fling. I want out, I want Alekai and his comfort.

“Look who is finally up!” A shrill voice calls out, and I bolt into a sitting position, instantly regretting the quick change of position as I rush to the toilet, where any remaining food in my stomach is quickly emptied into the bowl. I want to groan, my head pounding and stomach churning, but showing any more weakness in front of this hell spawn is not an option.

“Aw, poor Little Songbird, running away from her Prince that loves her so much after regaining her freedom.” Linnate taunts, leaning against the wall opposite my cell.

“Do you have proof that’s what Alekai believes?” I ask, feeling confident that my man knows the truth.

“It’s all over the Palace, how the Prince returned to his room to find it empty with a note from you left behind.” She chuckles. I roll my eyes, remembering the mess the room was left in and knowing Alekai, he made a rumour in order to fish out the person who kidnapped me. Poor Linnate only has a few days before being caught with how loyal and diligent Alekai is.

“So, Linnate, enlighten me as to why you are doing all of this.” I suggest, standing up from the floor and pushing my hair out of my face. I watch as she thinks about this idea, slowly returning to the thin bed and sitting on the edge.

“That’s not a bad idea, but it’s a long one, so let me get a chair.” I chuckle softly as this spoiled bitch walks away, shoving my hands in the pocket of my pants I feel something push against my fingertips and freeze, remembering the piece of paper I shoved in there while trying to sneak away from Linnate and her lackey. Taking a moment to listen for her arrival, I quickly take out the paper, feeling bad seeing how crumpled it is. Unfolding the paper, careful not to rip it, tears well in my eyes as I read the note

Lyra,

I know how weird it has been for you to become my pet and now be the love of my life. I also

know that the weight of the necklace became something so familiar in your everyday life that I

bought a replica for you.

The replica only has my Crest and a function where everything around you is recorded with

audio and visual. You can take it off whenever you want because I trust you. I want you to be

free, Songbird, and know that I am hopelessly in love with you and will always be here waiting

for you.

Always yours,

Alekai

I sit there, fighting back the tears as I carefully fold the note and place it in my pocket again. My hand goes to the necklace, caressing it gently as I think about the man who has stolen my heart, wondering if he and Arabess are closer to finding me now. The sounds of footsteps alert me to Linnate’s return, and I sit up, wiping my eyes dry and turning towards the cell door . Linnate greets me with what I assume is a triumphant smile on her punchable face as her lackey sets a padded chair in front of the cell bars but out of reach from me possibly grabbing and hurting this bitch. Remembering the function of this new necklace, I position the charm and my body and pray that Linnate and her accomplice are in full view. When I ever get free, Alekai can use this as evidence.

“So you want to know why I did this?” Linnate asks smugly, leaning against the chair nonchalantly while I roll my eyes.

“No, I asked because I was bored,” I state sarcastically, seeing her jaw clench at my words.

“Either way, you are a dead woman, so I might as well tell you,” Linnate states, taking a deep breath.

“It all started three years ago when I first debuted at the spring Charity ball. There I fell for Alekai the first time I saw him, but he never paid attention to me. So I tried everything that night to get a chance to dance with him, show him myself and hope he would fall in love with me. But that oblivious fool only had eyes for a business contract with Duke Roland and a few other men.” She begins, and I chuckle. This seems like an Alekai thing, if I heard any.

“But someone did take notice of me, King Joseph. He summoned me to his office a week after the ball, and I was scared, thinking I had done something wrong. Instead, he praised me for my beauty and skills in dancing. A maid stood beside him the whole time, and then he asked if I was a virgin.” Her smile becomes soft, and I frown, remembering that noblewomen debut when they turn eighteen at the Charity Ball following their birthday. I have a feeling about where this story will go, and my heart aches for Linnate.

“Of course, I answered him honestly, and he asked if I wanted to know what a man could do for her. At first, I refused, and the King agreed that I was too young and could wait. So we spent time talking and getting to know each other. For months I would walk into his office, the King shooing away the current maid by his side as we talked, and I soon fell in love with him. One day after a year of talking, he confessed how unhappy he was without any children other than Prince Alekai, and I instantly suggested I carry his children. The next thing I knew, I was under him as he took my virginity and made me a full woman. I became addicted to him, always finding ways to spend alone time with Joseph, allowing him to do everything he ever wanted to me and loving as he filled him with his cock and cum.” I fake gag, cutting off her story and roll my eyes.

“So he groomed you into being his breeding vessel,” I point out, getting a scoff in return.

“No, he loved me! If anything, he wasn’t supposed to die, Arabess was!” She shouts in anger, her words shocking me.

“Now shut up and let me talk!” I raise my hands in surrender, deciding to allow this spoiled brat to finish her story as it will become compelling evidence against her.

“Anyway, after two years of meeting in secrecy, Joseph admitted he would love to make me his Queen, but couldn’t because of that bitch of a wife. So instead, he suggested I marry Alekai. Of course, any child of mine would be tested to see if Joseph is the father as we would continue our affair behind the mother and son’s back, and the child that was his would be the next Crown Prince after Alekai became King. But I asked what would happen if the Queen were to pass away. He said that after a year of mourning, he would personally marry me. As you can figure out, I was ecstatic and placed into motion a plan to kill her. But unfortunately, the maid made a mistake and gave the King the wrong cup. I was upset as I had just finished telling Joseph I was pregnant with his child, excited for us to be parents. But then he passed from the poison.”

“So you were attempting to kill Mother but instead killed her husband?” I ask, cutting Linnate off again.

“You call her Mother?” Linnate asks in disbelief, and I freeze, realizing that I had indeed just said that. Arabess became a mother figure to me over the weeks and knowing that the real target with not the dead King but the woman who has bonded with me causes me to want to kill the culprit and protect the woman who means so much to Alekai and I.

“You know what, that isn’t important. To answer, yes, Arabess was supposed to die. I would have married Joseph and had our child as the next Queen. But now, I have to convince Prince Alekai to marry and fuck me in order to play off the child inside me as his own.” She smiles, rubbing her flat stomach as something inside me breaks. To think this woman wanted to pose Alekai’s unborn brother as his son is sickening.

“But there seems to be a snag with you, Lyra. You are actually pregnant as well.” Linnate states, slamming a fist into the arm of the chair and shocking me. Pregnant. Me. This would explain the mood swings and my body's unexpected reactions.

“So, what are you going to do with me?” I ask, placing a protective hand over my flat stomach.

“For now, I will keep you alive until after the coronation in two days. Then, I will have you killed as if an accident happened.” With that, Linnate leaves me to my thoughts as I think about not only my well-being but also that of the unborn child inside me. Alekai and I had created life, a baby of our own, and escaping this cell and returning to Alekai’s side is something I have to succeed in as soon as possible.