Chapter 9

I smile as I finish the last of the crown-shaped cookies, the powdered edible gold making each one shine and sparkle under the light, reminding me of the small ones Alekai has in his side of the closet as well as some vintage games that Aime, Jaida and I used to play as children. My eyes tear up as I think about my friends, wondering if I will be able to see them again and if Aime and Jaida are faring okay.

"You okay, Lyra?" Ali asked, seeing the look on my face.

"I will be. These cookies remind me of old games my friends Jaida and Aime would play as kids. I just hope that the two are okay.” I answer, wiping a stray tear from my eyes, and I turn to look out the windows to the garden.

“All three of us were at a club the night I was kidnapped and turned into a slave. I wish I knew what happened to them,” I add quietly, feeling arms wrap around me and Ali’s scent lingering in my nose.

“Ask Prince Alekai to look into it for you. You may not see it, but we do. He treats you like more than just a pet.” Ali says, giving me a reassuring smile, and I scoff.

“He treats me well because he feels bad for raping me.” I correct her, watching her sigh and roll her eyes.

“Just ask him.” She retorts, placing the finished cookies into a basket and motioning me to help her pack them, which I do happily.

"These go to the King's Council room. Care to come with me?" Ali asks me, taking the basket full of cookies and another filled with brownies.

"Sure!" I reply happily, following her to a different set of stairs. We talk in hushed whispers so that no one can hear us in the walls and giggle as we plan what to do for lunch. The idea of lemon chicken and fried rice is a mutual agreement as we ascend the stairs and think of other dishes to add to the meal. We finish our conversation just as we reach the hidden door to the Council room. Ali motions me to open it, and I oblige.

"-I am not marrying someone I don't love!" I instantly recognize Alekai’s voice, and he sounds furious. I flinch at the anger in his voice and pull Ali back beside me before she can walk in, motioning her to stay quiet so we can listen in.

"Well, you need a queen, and Lady Linnate fits the role perfectly." It was an older gentleman's voice, and I turned to Ali as she points at the cookies. So, this voice belongs to the King. I frown, wondering what kind of father would force his child into an arranged marriage.

"Lady Linnate is a stuck-up aristocrat who only cares about money and status. She looks down on commoners and would make a horrible queen.” The name Linnate rings a bell, and I frown, realizing I had met her once when she ordered a dress from Aime’s father. Lady Linnate Rushard was horrible during that appointment, even ripping apart a gown that was not the right colour of pink. This was a year and a half ago, and judging by Alekai’s reasoning now, she hasn’t changed one bit. Alekai is right; she would make a horrible queen.

"And I suppose this is why you bought the slave, so you can treat her like your lover and ruin the arranged marriage that I planned so painstakingly?" The King half asked, and half stated. Silence follows, and I quickly turn and run back down the stairs, not wanting to hear Alekai’s response. The thought of being a tool to avoid an arranged marriage makes me furious and that the last few days of him being nice to me meant nothing other than a way to lower my guard around him. If this is true, then that means I need to find a way to escape, and quickly. I am not a tool for others, and I refuse to become a tool once again. I do my best to keep my childhood memories at bay, leaning against a wall to take deep breaths and fight off a panic attack. I needed to calm down, focus, and not let past memories affect my thinking. Slowly, I slide down the wall into a sitting position and focus on my breathing, finally feeling calm enough to open my eyes only to realize I am lost in the servant passageway. I frown, knowing that being stuck in here after nine at night will lead to my death, as mentioned two days ago by Alekai, and that I would have to find my way out of here, preferably back to the kitchen. Happy to have worn boots today and not heels, I stand and decide to walk down the hall in search of an exit.

I wander the hall for what seems like forever, passing vents that look into many rooms, from a laundry room to a storage closet, where I accidentally catch sight of a guard and a maid in the middle of what seems to be a steamy sex session, and quickly scamper off. It seems these walls hold many secrets that no one knows. I found no exit through my search, and I felt hopelessness seep in. I may be stuck inside these walls until a guard comes to search for those sneaking around after curfew and possibly face my death. Then I see it, a door at the end of the hall I just turned into. I send a silent prayer to whatever deity is out there and run towards the door, smiling happily with relief when I realize it leads to the outside and a fresh breeze sweeps past me. The necklace doesn’t react, and I assume I am still on the palace grounds. I walk away from the door and realize there is a hill behind me and a meadow of wildflowers before me. The scent is calming, and the stale air of the hidden passageway is washed away. I bask in the sunlight and make my way to the middle of the field, the tall grass and flowers coming to my waist. Deciding to hide away in this oasis, I find a relatively clear spot and sit down, listening to the wind and birds while thinking about what I heard with Ali. The King wants to marry off Alekai to Lady Linnate, but Alekai doesn’t want to marry her. This prompted him to buy me instead. What if he chooses to make me his queen, and being a pet is only temporary?

I stay in the meadow for a while, the bells chiming every hour to announce the time, while I think about the possibility that Alekai isn’t a bad guy after all, but instead just a man trying to get out of a situation he doesn’t want. Unfortunately for me, I was a piece on his chess board. The bell chimes once again, signalling the noon hour and my stomach growls, reminding me that I only had breakfast and was starving. Now would be an excellent time to head back to the palace, make my way back to Ali, and maybe talk about my thoughts. With that in mind, I stand and make my way towards the hidden door I escape from, frowning when I realize it is locked. I groan in frustration, deciding to walk around the meadow until I find another part of the Palace, collecting flowers along the way until I have a large bouquet and the walls of the Palace comes into view. Of course. There are only windows and no doors, and I frown, walking along the wall. At some point, I will find a door and be able to make my way to the kitchen.

Continuing my walk, I look at my surroundings so that I can find my way back to the wildflower meadows and be able to relax in the fresh air. I spot a patio and a person sitting in a recliner; I realize it is Alekai, a book in his hand and a frown on his face. I can tell he is in a bad mood from here, but this is the only entrance to the Palace I have seen. With careful strides, I walk up the stone steps to the patio and carefully walk around him.

“Stop.” I freeze, turning to face him as Alekai puts the book down on a table beside the lounge chair.

“Yes?” I ask, a little impatient as my stomach grumbles in protest of food.

“Come here.” He demands, his frown still evident on his face.

“I’m not a dog.”

“But you are my pet.”

“I am a human being who you made a promise to.” I retort defiantly, placing the bouquet on the patio table and crossing my arms over my chest. I can hear his patience wearing thin as he lets out an exasperated sigh and stares at me, his eyes holding an emotion I cannot place.

"Come here, please." Alekai pleads and I relent, seeing him so emotional and looking like a lost child. I make my way towards him, ready to stop by his side until his hand reaches for my wrist, and I am pulled into his lap. His head is buried in the crook of my neck, his lips pressed against the sensitive skin while he takes deep breaths.

"I really needed you earlier, Songbird. Where were you?" He says quietly, his voice cracking with emotion. My heart flutters, and I lean into him, feeling his hold on me tighten.

"I was helping Ali out, and when we went to deliver some treats, I got lost in the hidden passageway and found myself in a wildflower meadow,” I answer, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging Alekai back. I can feel the tension in his body slowly melt while the two of us stay in the chair, him taking deep breaths and me basking in the warmth of his hug. It is quiet and peaceful, and the moment makes me forget about my hunger as we just exist in this moment.

“So this is the slut everyone is talking about.” A shrill voice calls out, breaking the peaceful moment between Alekai and me and causing him to stiffen, his grip becoming tighter as his head leaves the crook of my neck. I look to the cause of the disturbance and see a lady in fine clothes glaring at me. I glare back, instantly knowing who the interloper is.

“Who said you can enter my private study, Lady Linnate?”