CHAPTER FOURTY–ONEHERAToday was a special day for me, as I had gone shopping for new dresses that I'd been eagerly waiting to wear for King Zahir. As I made my way to my bedroom, the excitement within me rose to new heights. I couldn't wait to try them on and see which ones would look absolutely stunning on me!However, as I got closer to my room, a thought suddenly came to me. King Zahir hadn't requested to meet me in a while, and it was bothering me. My heart sank at the possibility that he may have lost interest in me, but I shook my head, trying to push away such negative thoughts.I entered my chambers , determined to focus solely on my new dresses. I picked up one of the gowns and held it in my hands, trying to imagine how it would look on me. To my frustration, though, the image of Serafina kept popping up in my mind. It always came with the wonder of it Zahir's sudden lack of attention towards me had anything to do with her.As I lost myself in my thoughts, my grip on the dr

SERAFINA I stirred from my slumber, my eyes still adjusting to the darkness shrouding the small, dingy room I was in. Thankfully, I was allowed to sleep in today while the other slaves went to work on the fields.I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched my limbs, my heart already racing with anxious anticipation of the daunting training that awaited me that day.As I stood up from the corner of the room where I had spent the night, the cool concrete floor beneath my feet sent shivers up my spine. The blank walls surrounding me seemed to stifle any semblance of hope or optimism, as if they were mocking me for the uncertainty and peril that lay ahead.Peering around the dimly lit room, I noted the absence of windows and the sole source of light: a small crack in the wall through which the morning sun was slowly seeping. It was as if that was the only tether to the outside world, the only hint of daylight in the otherwise gloomy space.This day would be different, I knew. This woul

SERAFINAAfter hours of grinding ink with Dahlia, my hands were sore and my muscles were fatigued. Dawn was fast approaching, and I slumped down on a nearby stool, longing for some rest.Dahlia marched over to her small kitchen, ringing a small bell. The sound resonated through the room like a soothing melody. She then started to prepare some tea, boiling water in a small pot over a gas stove.As the sound and aroma of brewing tea filled the room, I could smell the scent of freshly-baked bread. Its tantalizing aroma wafted in the air, making my stomach growl with hunger. Dahlia smiled, hearing my stomach's rumble."I know you're famished, dear," she said, opening her oven. "I made some breakfast for us to share, so we can satiate your hunger."I was hungry and grateful when Dahlia brought over a plate of the warm bread and cheese. It was comforting to know that the cheese was mold-free, unlike the pale and smelly ones I was used to consuming in our slave quarters. As I ate the warm b

HERAKing Zahir's words had been haunting my thoughts for more than two weeks now. I found myself constantly pondering over his admonitions, replaying his words in my mind, and trying to decipher their underlying message. There was no way he knew, I kept telling myself each time my thoughts went to how he’d looked at me as he talked like he was in pain. Like he was disappointed. However, despite how tempted I was to reach out to him, I couldn't bring myself to reply to Lord Timothee. My guilt for trying to betray King Zahir weighed heavily on me. I didn't want to disappoint him any further, especially since he had already been let down by so many individuals before.I was determined to prove my loyalty to the king and couldn't afford to let him down. Knowing that King Zahir had placed his trust in me made me feel honored and humbled. It was a privilege that I cherished, and I knew it came with great responsibility. I couldn't bear the thought of betraying his trust, and I needed to

CHAPTER FOURTY–EIGHTZAHIRThe sudden shock of waking up past six am left me reeling, my brain struggling to comprehend how I had managed to sleep in so late. For years, my past memories had kept me up well into the early hours of the morning, but now, my established routine had seemingly been disrupted. The anger that swirled within me bubbled up to the surface.I attempted to calm myself with a deep breath, but my senses immediately jolted me awake once more. There was an unfamiliar, strange scent in the air - it was a lot like Serafina's scent. My Lycan, always on high alert, growled in response, sensing the presence of danger. Had she been in my room? The mere thought alone was enough to send fury coursing through my veins.Throwing back the blankets and pushing myself out of bed, I felt my anger escalating quickly. The thought of Serafina invading my personal space without invitation was an insult to my very being. Every instinct within me screamed to react, to lash out and defen