Chapter 46
XANDER’S POV
My breath stumbled to a stop in my chest the moment Sabrina stepped into the dining hall.
From a far I could see her, the slight furrow of apprehension and confusion on her brow, the way she bit her lip–something I noticed she always did when she was thinking she spotted me, but form that distance she couldn’t see me dearly. Only 1 could. She walked closer, her footfalls echoing lightly through the hall. Her hair rumbled down her shoulders like river of molten gold. She got closer, when she saw me her eyes widened and she gasped in shock.
Join me,” I said, waving towards the table.
“Your majesty,” She greeted with a bow. She took a seat eight chairs away. I frowned at that, but I wasn’t about to address it
On cue servants began pouring into the dining hall serving dishes. Sabrina shifted in her seat as she was served, she smiled at the servant but made no move to touch her food.
“Well,” I said and she turned to me. “Eat.”
“I’m not hungry, your majesty.” She said.
That is a lie. Even I can tell that just by looking at her. She’s eaten nothing since lunch, and must be starving. Her eyes held mine, sparkling like the finest cuts of sapphire. Brimming with contempt.
“Eat.”
She folded her hand in her lap, her back straight as a rod. “I’m not hungry.” She said again, adamant on maintaining that lie.
Anger sparked inside my chest. I invite her to dine with me and she gives me this attitude? Being difficult for what exactly? I’ve always know this woman was stubborn. But this stubborn?
She’s a brat at this point. An insufferable brat.
“You won’t eat?”
“I’m not hungry.” She said again.
“Go to your room. Since you’re not hungry.”
She rose to her feet without a seconds hesitation and walked out, her steps hasty, the gown bunched up in her hands.
Dear heavens!
She’s that serious about this?! I watched her leave, and it briefly crossed my mind to call her back and force her to eat against
all odds.
I didn’t.
She left the windows open
Sabrina curled up in bed, hugging two pillows to her chest as she slept peacefully. Her room door made no sound as I walked in, a cold draft from the windows blew off the candles she had lit. She shuddered, but didn’t wake up.
It’s freezing in here. And she’s not even sleeping under the blankets.
I walked closer to her bed side, inclining my head to the side so I could see her face. When she’s asleep, she looks so peaceful Worry and hatred gone from her face, it makes me realize how young she is.
For a moment I stilled
I didn’t know her age.
to me as tributes
If she was mated to that bastard, she should be of age right? Or is he so rotten that he not only sends minors to
5:06 PM c d
Chapter 46
but also mates minors?!
Anger boiled in my chest And my fists clenched.
Sabrina moaned and turned, her face to the ceilings. The loud growling of her stomach pierced the air and she groaned, her brows squeezed tight.
Stubborn woman. She refused to eat and now she’s starving.
She can’t be a minor. That won’t be right. But If she’s a minor, then I’ll rip that bastards head off.
I crouched down and gently brushed strand of hair out of her eyes. She shoved her head away and her eyes fluttered. Her stomach growled again.
That’s her punishment for refusing to eat. Maybe tomorrow she’ll accept my gracious offer of dinner when I extend it to her again.
I rose to my feet and walked over to the windows. I drew them shut, the room was still freezing and would take a while to
warm up.
I looked at Sabrina one more time. And then I decided to cover her so she doesn’t freeze to death.
Again.
“Your majesty, they have arrived.”
I looked up at Nifra, and one look alone told me all I needed to know. “Send them in.” I said.
She nodded curtly and walked out
Next, a man and a woman walked in. Sabrina’s parents. The moment I looked at them, the compulsion was set in place. They wont remember this meeting.
“Your majesty,” The both greeted, but I wasn’t interested in their greeting.
“Are you
aware of Zayn Crue?” I asked.
“Y–yes,your Majesty. He was mated to our daughter,”
“Your daughter?”
“Sabrina,” The woman replied. Both of them kept their eyes on the ground, trembling from fright. I didn’t mind their trembling, what mattered was that I got the answers out of them.
It wasn’t like they could lie anyway.
“And are you both aware that Zayn has been sending minors over as tributes?”
“Your majesty! We’re deeply sorry! The man sank down to his knees, his head pressed into the ground. The woman followed.
suit, already sobbing pitifully. “He doesn’t…he doesn’t listen to anyone! He does what he wants!”
“So you were aware?” I asked, my voice calm as an untouched lake while inside anger raged wild. “Answer me!”
“Yes! Yes we knew! We did? The man began to sob too. “We’re deeply sorry, please have mercy on us!”
I stared at the both of them and bile rose in my throat.
I don’t see a smidge of Sabrina in these people. Are they even her real parents?
“And did Sabrina know of this?”
“N–no your majesty! She doesn’t know!”
That sentence alone shattered something inside
She didn’t know.
Chapter 16
Sabrina didn’t know of the despicable things Zayn did.
“And you kept her in the dark?!”
“It was for the best, your majesty. It was best that she didn’t know at all.”
Disgusting.
The both of them.
As disgusting as Zayn.
How are these people Sabrina’s parents? As cowardly and as evil as they are.
Sabrina was innocent. She has always been innocent. Her mate and her family lied to her and kept her in the dark about what they did.
And for these last months, I’ve punished her for it.
“Get out. And be lucky your heads are still on your necks.”
They scrambled to their feet, bowing and gushing thanks.
Disgusting.
Once they left, Nifra walked in. She looked at me and I nodded grimly.
Her face fell, her shoulder slumping and her eyes went misty.
“Dear heavens.” She gasped.
“Nothing changes.” I said, getting to my feet. “Sabrina is still a stubborn brat who doesn’t follow instructions. She will continue to be my slave.”
Not because of Zayn. Not because of those heinous crimes. But simply because I said so. She will remain here, in the palace, until I say otherwise.
Nifre
“Send for Caldan.” I said to Nifra. “I’ve got a surprise planned for him.”
“Poor child.” Nifra shook her head sadly.
Oh yes, poor child.
She left and returned with Caldan a few minutes later. I didn’t miss how angry my brother looked. Well, that’s his business.
“The Darkfall and Mist packs prove difficult of late. Sources from the scouts report a coup of some sort is being planned. I said, before he even had the chance to greet me, “You’re to go over there and rectify matters. And do not return until it is completed.”
He opened his mouth, about to protest.
“Do I need to tell you that it’s an order and you don’t get a say in it?”
He shook his head. “No, your majesty. You need not do such a thing”
“Get on with it then.”
He bowed and walked out.
Good
That should keep him busy for the next two months, if he’s fast enough in conflict resolution.
Now perhaps Sabrina will focus on her duties with no one to distraction her. And that silly crush she has on Caldan will be gone by the time he’s back.
My mind flashed back to seeing them kissing that night in the hospital room. The defiance in her eyes as she stared right at
me
Chaver as
Tim in love with Calda
So she sovx
She doesn’t need avene else she has hir
He define for her. She defos me for him. I
Fucking bel
She defies for him. Both of them, together. Sharing warmth and entangled with each other.
ust hunking about it drives me mats And not to mention how pent up Ive been the past weeks.
I’ve been seriously reconsidering releasing Blair solely because I needed to fuck really badly,
