Chapter 4
His entire demeanor screamed, Im the damn master of everything here, the absolute ruler.
I immediately lowered my head, trembling.
It didnt matter that I lacked an inner she-wolf the power radiating from that man felt like it could suffocate you, crush your soul, and he wasnt even standing that close to me.
He was a Lycan, the superior species of werewolves, the ultimate evolution, and I was almost certain this was the most powerful of them allAldric Thorne, the Lycan King.
Sasha, take out the trash and make sure my next personal maid isnt a scheming whore, or shell lose more than her head, his deep, cold, and intimidating voice echoed, followed by the sound of footsteps retreating.
This is a disaster.
Thats the fifth one in two months.
I dont know what goes through these girls heads.
I warned them, the housekeeper muttered as she approached, pulling a small vial from the dead womans hand.
Another one who tried to drug the King with an aphrodisiac.
Idiot.
Ill call a servant to take her away.
And your first task begins nowclean up this mess.
And so, scrubbing fresh blood off the floor, my work in the Lycan Kings castle began.
The first lesson I learned: never, ever try to mess with that dangerous man, or youll end up headless.
Unfortunately, I soon found myself on the razors edge again.
***** Sasha introduced me to the staff, a group of she-wolves and wolves working in the castle, attending to the Guardians.
They all stared at me as if they were looking at a monster.
I didnt careI just wanted to keep existing and stay invisible.
The Guardiansthats what they called the five Lycans who lived in this ancient, dark castle.
They enforced the laws of our world, or at least those affecting werewolves, maintaining balance with other supernatural creatures.
They delivered justice, protection, and punishmentoften in the most brutal, merciless ways.
Especially the Lycan King.
At least, thats what I had always heard.
I was forbidden from climbing the stairs or wandering beyond the service quarters.
And honestly, I didnt plan to try.
I focused on working and healing with the medicine the housekeeper gave me.
The food here was good too.
Except for the first day, I had gone three days without seeing any of the other Guardians.
Until this morning.
***** Hey, I heard the housekeeper saying she still hasnt found a suitable candidate for the Kings maid.
Maybe shell give us a chance.
I was scrubbing the floor on my knees, listening to the whispers echoing through the castles massive kitchen.
My head stayed down, and my long black bangs nearly covered my eyes, helping to conceal the disfigurement on my face.
My hands kept moving the cloth over the tiles, but ignoring the gossip was impossible.
Suddenly, the room went silent.
Heels echoed from the hallway, and tension filled the air it was the housekeeper.
Stop what youre doing.
of you in a line, she ordered,
cleanerall lined up like prisoners, standing
her inspection, passing each trembling
her shadow passed in front of me, I thought
She didnt.
name again?
I replied
pressed beneath my chin, forcing me to raise
met her intimidating
Good.
try a different strategy
a sense
my eye, I noticed
glares filled with
Nothing good.
That much was certain.
Listen carefully, Valeria.
she dropped the bombshell casually, as if it were
to cook, iron, organize a mans things, his clothes,
I dont think Im the
Its not optional, she cut
it,
a
a maid for the
no choice but
harsh woman had saved
I still didnt know whyespecially now that she was sending me straight into
everything Im
King wakes up at… He doesnt like… Prefers it this way… And
her… And you must taste
through the kitchen, the laundry area, practically the entire service zone, listing the Kings
followed, my brain nearly short-circuiting from the
all this down later!
deliver his
I told you, she said, placing a silver tray
remember, head
Stay invisible.
nothing but a
trust you havent forgotten the
believe me,
me swallow hard as I
marching straight to the gallows as I climbed the forbidden stairs, moving through the dim candlelit corridors leading to the Guardian leaders
this wingan enormous wooden door with intricate carvingsand
at this
Go straight inside.
So I did.
I twisted the heavy
den of the
the dim lighting, and I
I heard itand smelled
scent of lust
I glanced toward
moans seeped through,
than one womans
something hitting
the bedI didnt know,
important rule:
Dont speak.
Dont look.
Dont listen.
every detail of his preferences, circling the
you? a dominant voice behind me made
fists tightened, and I turned, staring down at
Majesty, my name
new maid, I managed
stood firm as he placed a finger beneath my chin, forcing me to
expected disgust at
saw fierce, intimidating gray eyes studying meso captivating they resembled lethal
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