Isolde.
Isolde released her lip from between her teeth when the beta hauled her back into her chambers. She turned heated eyes, blazing with hatred at the beta.
The man in his usual black leather breeches and robe stared back at her. His gaze held her in place. It was as if they were in a staring contest.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare at me?" Isolde finally shot out. It still annoyed her that this man here stopped her from killing the lord.
"Two things could get you killed in Abbator before your time," Alfos spoke, his voice dense. The wood beneath him cracked as he took a step closer to her.
"The lord and your attempts to kill him." Alfos listed. Isolde felt the reeling of fear inside her. She knew she'd die here in Abbator from the moment the lord chose her as his breeder. But she'd not go down without taking him down with her.
"The lord is a very precise man, he loves respect, but when one decides to go against him, he shows them the consequences of being stubborn..." Alfos was behind her now, whispering into her ear. "Have you seen what it's like to disobey the lord?"
She shook her head, and Alfos pulled back. Something sang in her veins at his closeness, but Isolde bottled it up.
"You wouldn't want to know the fate that meets people like you, breeder..."
"Call me Isolde," She barked, a fierce glint in her eyes.
Alfos nearly grinned. "Survival tip number one: never raise a sword against the lord. And number two, never under any circumstances touch him."
Isolde looked up at the beta upon hearing his last words. Never touch him? What kind of instruction was that?
"Is he some kind of a god that never appreciates contact?" She blurted, scoffing.
However, the beta maintained a long look. "Whatever you wish to call it. Until it's time your services are needed, do not lay hands on him."
After that, the beta headed for the door while Isolde stood in the middle of the room, contemplating. As Alfos turned the doorknob, Isolde blurted out.
"That male from earlier, who is he?"
Her question threw Alfos off guard, he gave her a look from over his shoulder. Why did she ask that? Isolde tapped her feet and bit her inner lip.
That was such an embarrassing question she'd asked, but she had her reasons. That male looked so familiar. The moment she saw him, her nerves spiked, and white noise filled her head.
"Edrand?" Alfos cocked his head and asked. He rolled his eyes, showing his dissatisfaction with the male. "Survival tip number three, avoid the male, Edrand. Don't ever cross paths with him."
Alfos lastly said and slammed the door shut, leaving Isolde in the deafening silence of her room. She turned toward the bed and settled down, her heart jackknifing as she thought about Edrand.
He looked so familiar. Where had she seen that face before?
By the creator, the thought of the male alone scared Isolde. Like the beta had instructed, she needed to stay away from that male.
But was that going to be possible when his bedroom was two doors down from hers?
"Ahhh," Isolde grumbled, raising her hands to her temple to silence the growing noise.
She could hear it. The fearful cries. The clash of steel and thunderous beats of hooves. What was that noise? And why did she begin to hear it upon the return of that male?
__
"My lady?" Isolde mumbled incoherently under her breath at the sound of Carldo's voice. Her lashes fluttered as she blinked her eyes open. And there he was, standing by her bedside.
"Carldo?" Isolde sighed heavily and propped up. She was thankful the male had woken her from her restless sleep.
"Bright morning to you, my lady." He bowed, unable to meet Isolde's eyes. He still hadn't forgotten about what happened yesterday, and knowing she'd almost risked his life, Isolde apologized.
"I'm sorry, Carldo. I didn't mean to put you in danger."
Carldo flushed, shrugging. "A lady never apologizes. She does as she wishes." He uttered.
"Is that a yes to my apologies or a no to my apologies?" She asked him.
With wrinkled brows, he looked at her and shrugged. "A yes...I guess?"
That had Isolde smiling a bit before Carldo announced.
"The lord asked to see you, my lady. He awaits in the high court."
Awaits me? Why?
To Carldo, she nodded and jerked up from the bed. Isolde went into the bathroom and submerged herself in the water Carldo had prepared for her.
She came out after a while and swiftly dressed up. For someone who was used to wearing bindings over her chest and a subligaria on her lower parts all the years she spent In Kalingrad, Isolde fitted into the royal attire quite well. The whole thing surprised her.
Where had she learned all that? She shook her head at the thought.
She hobbled to the dresser and released her hair from the hairpin binding it together.
The hairpin, she remembered her father giving her that just so she'd be able to hide who she was, a lycan.
Her father had told her she got the hairpin from a shaman, and it was meant to protect her.
To others, this pointed golden object was just a hairpin, but to Isolde, it was a talisman given to her to prevent her from shifting into her lycan form.
Since she obtained the object, Isolde had never shifted. Never communicated with her lycan. She wondered what it must be like talking with her lycan.
"Are you done, my lady?"
She startled at the sound of Carldo's voice and dropped the hairpin on the dresser. She grabbed the comb and let out.
"Not yet, a minute please."
She stared back at her reflection as she ran the comb through her hair. Her round blue eyes shimmering, matching the clothing she wore.
She plunged the hairpin back into the side of her hair while leaving the hem to flow down her back in a cascade.
"Done." She released, turning to Carldo.
The young male led her out of the room. Their steps were steady as they navigated the halls that led to the high court.
Carldo paused before the double oak door flanked by sentinels on either side, and said. "Go, my lady, the lord awaits."
She cast a dreadful look around before the sentinels pushed the door open.
Darkness met Isolde upon stepping into the courtroom. The windows were shut, and not a flicker of light shone in the sconces and candelabra.
Her nerve came alive. Her heart hammering and roiling.
What's going on?
Wide, fearful eyes scanned around, searching, and jerky hands groped around aimlessly in the air.
"Who is there?" She spat, wondering if Carldo had led her to her death. She twitched her nose at the smell of the putrid odor floating into her nose.
Suddenly, the air shifted from being cool to heated, informing her about another presence.
In time, the presence loomed behind her before she could run. Its hand tugged her hair tightly without mercy.
"Looking for me, mouthy?" The harsh growl sent shivers down her spine as the cool feeling of steel met her back.
She couldn't feel his skin. All she felt was steel on hers. Even his face was covered.
Isolde shrieked as the male tugged her down to her knees and circled around her. She looked up in the dark, and glowing, iridescent eyes met hers.
"Why have you brought me here?" She panted, barely holding it in.
"Oh, for a little treat," He hummed lackadaisically, but Isolde had witnessed firsthand the cruelty of the male. Hence, she dreaded what this was about.
"Let go!" She barked when he fiercely grabbed her chin and spoke through the helmet.
"I just want to show you what happens to those who raise an arm against me, little bird." He worded and pushed her face away as he quickly stood. Isolde's neck nearly cracked at the forcefulness of it.
She heard his feet clacking over the wooden floor until the snap of the window pane echoed and bright lights bounced into the room greedily.
Isolde shrieked and covered her face with her hand, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the sudden, harsh brightness.
When it did, she slowly looked up to the front of the courtroom. However, Isolde regretted ever looking up because of the horror that gritted her eyes, and instantly, a scream tore from the depths of her mouth.
"No!"
TBC.