The king took two steady steps towards Danika. Before Baski could comprehend what his next actions would be, the king raised his hand.
Baski didn't think. She had no time to think.
“No, please! Not the collar! She's pregnant! Not the collar. She's pregnant!” Baski screamed instinctively.
But it was too late.
It was too late the minute they opened the storeroom door and stepped into this place.
It was too late, for he did it before she could get the words out. The king put his finger on the red button of the collar on Danika's neck...and pressed it. Twice. At the same time.
The shock from the collar that went through Danika's body was unspeakable. The pain was so excruciating she couldn't scream. Her legs turned to water, and she fell, convulsing repeatedly. Soft pitiful whimpers left her mouth.
The king snapped his head towards Baski, eyes so chilly they looked like they were made of blue frost, pinned hers. “What did you just say to me?”
Baski closed her eyes helplessly. The king wasn't supposed to find out this way. Heavens, this is so much of a disaster!
“Baski.” His voice sounded low and deadly; it sent a chill down her spine. “I will not ask this again.”
“She is p-pregnant,” she pushed out, forcing herself to open her eyes and peer at him. “Danika is c-carrying your child, my king.”
He flinched as if she had just slapped him. A tense silence followed. Then he lowered his head, closed his eyes, and hunched his shoulders.
The sight broke Baski's heart. He looked absolutely defeated, like a man who had just lost all hope. Like the world has come to an end.
He did not believe.
Only the sound of Danika's pained whimpers filled the air.
Baski searched frantically for a way to make him understand. She reached for him. “I-I know wh-what the healers s-said, and I know what we just s-saw here, but you have to believe me. Danika is carrying your child!”
More silence. More dread filled her system.
Vetta wanted to snort and indicate that Danika was a whore—obviously—and there was no way her pregnancy could belong to the king. But she kept her mouth shut. She was afraid to push him. Not in this condition.
Vetta has never seen the king like this before. Even in slavery, under the reign of King Cone and the thorns of torture, he was never so defeated. So hurt. For the first time, guilt sizzled inside her. She caused this.
Stop, Vetta! Are you mad!? She cautioned herself for feeling bad and closed her mind against the guilt. She was fighting for a man that belonged to her the only way she knew how. There was no need to feel guilty, because she was winning.
Baski bravely took the king’s arm into her hands and squeezed slightly. “I know it's hard to believe about her pregnancy, but it happened—”
He raised his head at last, cutting her off with the gesture. Calmly, he pulled his hand from hers.
“Guards.” He never raised his voice. Never looked at Danika once.
“Your Majesty!” three guards behind him answered at the same time, stepping forward.
Dread filled Baski. Whatever it was he had to say made her so scared. New tears filled her eyes. “Please, Lucien. Please...”
He didn’t spare her a glance. “Take the slave to the dungeon. I, King Lucien, sentence slave Danika to death. She will be hanged on the morning of the fourth day from today at the square.”
Baski began crying earnestly.
He didn’t miss a beat as he continued. “Until that day, she will remain in the dungeon with no food and water.” That said, he turned and walked out of the storeroom.
“Oh, heavens!!” Baski cried out in misery, raising both trembling hands to cover her mouth.
Vetta felt victorious down to her shoes. The feeling was much better than an intense orgasm. But she gritted her teeth. Vetta had expected the king to use his sword on Danika immediately as he used on Karandy. Why postpone it, dammit!?
So she has to wait for four days to see Danika dead? Shit. Well, she can wait. Her eyes found Danika still jerking at the floor from being collar-shocked. A smile flickered her lips. With no food and water? The poor woman wouldn’t last two days.
She knew her plan was a master plan. She knows his temper, having been with the king for years. She knew he had always kept his temper on a tight leash because it was explosive. She knew that he would kill Karandy instantly. She’d expected him to do the same to Danika too.
But then again, she never counted on him being...hurt. Anger, yes. Not hurt. Vetta’s smile slipped. The king didn’t look only hurt, he looked shattered.
He loved her.
The realization caused her chest to hurt badly. He had fallen deeply in love with Danika—even without knowing.
It didn’t matter. Vetta only had to make him love her too.
Holding that thought, she turned and followed the king out. With Danika out of the way, she felt so much better.
She can have her Lucien all to herself again.
This day could not get any better at all!
The guards came closer to take Danika, but Baski rushed forward. “Please, wait! Wait!”
They hesitated, afraid of going against the king’s words. Dargak turned towards her and opened his mouth.
She beat him to it. “Please, let me get to her first. She is in a bad condition. It will only take a few moments.”
Dargak still hesitated. Then he nodded and stepped back. The two other guards did the same thing their leader did.
Baski walked towards Danika and knelt beside her. She began patting Danika’s back as softly as possible. “It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay, Danika.”
“Hurts! Everywhere hurts!” she whimpered, her eyes drawing to a close. Tears slipped from them, down her cheeks and down to the ground.
“I know, I know. You will be fine. Take deep breaths. It will pass. Just try.” Baski instructed, still patting her back. Her eyes automatically went to Danika’s lower body, and more tears slipped from her eyes.
She wasn’t surprised that Danika was bleeding. It didn’t surprise her that Danika was losing her baby at all. The collar shock did the best abortion, including killing the mother.
There was nothing she, Baski, could do about it. There was no way she could help. Not this time.
“I h-hurt everywhere,” Danika cried miserably, clutching her lower abdomen tightly as her body jerked again.