Chapter 42
SABRINA’S POV
“He refused!!” My voice rang out through the hollow marble halls.
Caldan nodded, in the grim way doctors used when they were about to deliver bad news. “Unfortunately, he did.”
I dropped the cleaning brush in my hand and ran my fingers through my hair. I found tangled and that made me even
angrier
What the actual fuck is the King’s problem? No really, what does he want from me?!
“This is how can this be?” I asked. I bit my lower lip hard and sighed.
Okay, I know he hated me, but this much? Come on! Even I don’t hate Blair this much!
“The king is jealous. Caldan said.
I turned to him, and I’m sure my face spelled out “what the fuck?”
“Whatever reason does he have to be jealous?” I asked. I hadn’t meant to sound so snappy, but I was just so out of it. “He hates me. Caldan. It’s plain for the world to see. He’s doing this punish me. He thinks I’m….urgh! I came believe he still thinks I’m like fucking Zayn
I felt like clawing my eyes out, dipping them in acid, and putting them back in my eye sockets.
Truth be told, I wasn’t exactly jumping at the idea of being bought out by Caldan. Even if he does let me go, like a bird one released from a cage, I would always feel this tether holding me back. A sense of belonging to him, for the fact that he took out his money to buy my freedom. No matter what he says that I’ll be my own person, it doesn’t work like that.
I hated that feeling, so I wasn’t ecstatic about at
But still, a tiny part of me wanted that freedom. The freedom from being a slave. To have my freedom back without red eyes policing me.
And now, those hopes have been shattered. I felt hot tears sting my eyes but I pushed them down.
left behind
He may be a king, but he’s not worthy of my tears. I’ve shed far too many tears in this place to have any le
I bit my lower lip till I tasted blood. And I pulled at the tangles in my hair till strands of my hair came out of my fingers.
“I’m deeply sorry for this, Rina Caldan said, his lulling voice pulled me out of my dark thoughts.
“It’s not your fault.” I said, my throat aching due to the suppressed tears. “You did the best you could
So that’s at
I really am stuck in this place huh?
With no way out Resigned to spend my days as a slave till I drop dead!
Wow. What a wonderful fate.
I’ve always asked myself what I did to the moon goddess in my past life to deserve such a string of bad luck in this current life of mine. Did I desecrate a temple Did I tarnish her name? Whatever did I do?!
Why does she hate me so damn much!!
The buds of hate for the king has blossomed into a whole fucking garden.
“Rina Caldan called. He touched my arm gently. “Hey, are you okay?”
I looked at him. The king is his brother, and yet that meant nothing to mean when he pleaded for my freedom. Will my pleas mean anything to him?
I doubt it.
Chapter 12
“Tin fine” I said and forced a smile on my face. “Thank you, Caldan. I really appreciate this”
“There’s no need to thank me, it didn’t go through”
“Sull,” I sighed. I bent down and picked up the brush. “I should get back to work now. I’ll see you later?”
He nodded.
The next day, I believed that perhaps everything will get better.
I was wrong.
“What?” I blinked. Xena threw more flower petals at me and did a graceful spin.
“I’m getting married!” She sang, her voice full of excitement.
My jaw dropped. My brain ceased to work for a few seconds. What did I just hear? She’s getting married?
“Sabrina?” She called, her brow tight with worry. She grabbed my arms and shook my lightly. “Are you okay?”
“Yes! I’m okay.” I forced a laugh. “Yes, I’m perfect. C–congrats! You’re getting married, that’s wonderful! really wonderful!” She shook her head and laughed. Td believe you if you put more enthusiasm into it.”
“I am enthusiastic! When…how did this happen?”
She told me of how she met her soon to be husband, who also happened to be her fated mate. A love match, a union already blessed by the moon goddess.
I listened, doing my very best to actually listen to her and show my happiness. I was happy, I was really happy for her. Xena was kind hearted and sweet, and she always wore a smile. She had become a close friend of mine in a matter of days, and thanks to her I was starting to enjoy being a part of the harem.
happy she’s getting married, and to her fated mate as well.
But her stories strike a deep cord inside my heart.
These girls…they’re allowed to go out. To meet people, to marry, to fall in love. They’re free to leave whenever they want to. They’re free to call in love and I’m not?
I wonder how many of them they king has called and asked if they were in love. I doubt that he does that to them.
Does he see these girls as more human than I am?
Why is mine different?
He treats them better. They’re all tributes, like me. I’m sure one or two of them has a bad story too. Why Why?
“You’re going to come right?” Xena asked, holding my hand. I snapped out of my daze and faced her.
She’s glowing. Practically glowing. I want to partake in her glow, I really want to
I want to go.
I really want to. Attend a wedding, Celebrate it. A wedding of joy this time, and not the abomination that happened back home.
“Lean’t I said,
Her face fell. “Oh,
“L.. I’m the King’s slave,” I said, offering an explanation so it wouldn’t look like I just didn’t want to come. She’s my friend, and 1 owe her that much. “Tis not allowed to leave.”
Now I really feel like crying. When Nena hugged me and told me that she’ll miss me, and she wanted me to be one of her
5:05 PM ₫ ₫
Chapter 42
I hugged her back, biting my inner cheek.
I won’t cry.
I won’t cry.
I won’t cry.
Sadness settled in my belly mike a heavy rock. When Xena pulled away from the embrace, I couldn’t meet her eyes,
“I’m really happy for you, Xena. I am.” I said, and I meant it. “I wish you the very best in your new home. May the goddess bless your marriage.”
“Sabrina…
“I have to go now. Lest I go late. I bowed and turned to leave. Then I remembered that she was my junior and I shouldnt have bowed to her. But it has become so ingrained in me. Side effects of serving the King.
“TI see you at dinner!” She called out.
I waved in acknowledgment and hurried off to do my duties for the day.
The tears came harder, and I felt like I would breakdown in the middle of the hall.
I jabbed my nails into my arm, the sharp burst of pain pushing the tears back.
I won’t cry. Not for any reason again
I went about my duties. But the more I worked, the slower I became.
I couldn’t muster the energy to do anything with vigor. I felt exhausted, drained, even though it was very early in the day.
Xena is getting married. All the other girls can marry, whenever they like.
I scrubbed the wall, and I knew that it was taking me thrice the time I spent on one single tile.
Love.
A love match. That was what we dreamed out, I dreamed about it too. Finding your fated mate was one thing, but loving them. was another thing. And I wanted both.
But I didn’t have it. I don’t think Zayn ever loved me. Did I love him? I don’t know. I doubt I do. Not after what he did anyway. my heart is sealed off to him.
And now there’s Caldan.
Do I love Caldan? If lady Nifra hadn’t interrupted, what answer would I have given the king? Would I have said yes? Or no?
I don’t know.
Or perhaps deep down, I’m too scared to admit the truth to myself. Too scared that if I ponder too much on it. I’ll create a reality that will come back and bite me in the ass.
Soon, it was lunch time and all I had done was the library. I was about heading to the harem dining hall for lunch when 1 bumped into Caldan.
Seeing him brightened my spirits and I found myself smiling. My heart did a skip, and the question came back
Do I love him?
I won’t answer that. Not even in my head.
“Hey,” He pulled me into a hug. Shocked, I returned the gesture. He pulled back, brilliant blue eyes searching my face. “What’s the matter? You look down.”
“It’s been a hectic day.” I said. “You had something to do around here?”
“I came for you. He handed a small basket over to me. “I had the chef made something for you.
Chapter 42
17
I gasped. “But you didn’t have to.”
He took my hands and shoved the basket into my arms. “I did anyway. You’re fond of skipping food.”
It’s not like I do it intentionally. Work just gets so fucking crazy. Thank you,” I said, the aroma of food hit me hard and made me realize how hungry I was
“Rina, I’m not convinced you’re okay.”
“But why. I’m just as I’ve always been” I mumbled, my face in the basket. Is that chicken? Nice.
“No. It’s not….you know what, when you’re done with work come out with me. A walk, anything, to make you feel better.”
I raised my head from the basket and looked at him. “Oh,”
I haven’t even done half my tasks for the day. And it’s halfway already. I doubt I’ll be done in time.
“Sure.” I smiled. “I’ll come out with you.”
“Come out with him where?”
I shuddered and nearly dropped the basket. I sighed and
my
shoulders.
Just the source of my woes.
I spun around and came to face the King.
“Well?” He asked, looking at me.
“Out.” I said.
“Out where?”
“Dunno.” I shrugged.
I hate him.
So fucking much. But he hates me too so the feeling is completely mutual.
“Your majesty,” Caldan said.
“I wasn’t talking to you. The king snapped at him. His eyes didn’t move from me. He looked down at the basket in my arms and I clutched it tighter like I feared he would take it away from me. He’s angry. I can feel it. It’s in those red eyes. “You didn’t clean the library properly. Do it over.”
“Okay.” I replied.
His eye twitched.
“And do not dare leave the palace.”
He commanded.
But I already threw his words over my head.
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