Ariana's PoV:
I clench the paper in my hand standing outside the King's office. The guards on either side of the door give me a wary look before one of them grits out, "Are you ever going to knock on the door, or are you going to stay here standing till he comes out?"
I looked at him, considering all my options. Waiting outside for him didn't seem like a bad idea. It would mean that I wouldn't have to be stuck in a small room with him, which would be for the best.
"Can I wait outside?" I ask, my voice small, already knowing the answer.
" You have got to be kidding me..." the other guard mutters before knocking on the door.
I glare at him when we hear, "Come in."
I am about to dash away when one of the guards grabs a hold of my elbow, so I can't leave. While the other guard pushes the door to the office open, pushing me inside. I turned to leave, but they shut the door, forcing me to turn and face the King.
I look at him, giving him a weak smile as I glance around his office, which is more opulent than my father's.
He leans back in his chair as his dark foreboding eyes meet mine, making my breadth hitch. The heat in the room seems to increase as I notice his arms bulging. His posture is relaxed, and his hair falls into his eyes, all of which do strange things to my insides. There's something about this man in front of me, he's not my mate, but I can't help but feel strange things whenever he glances at me.
I force my eyes to look away, telling myself that he wasn't mine. He was my sister's mate. I had no right to look at him the way I was.
"What do you want?" His voice is dripping with venom, a complete contrast to his relaxed posture.
I bite the insides of my cheeks before letting out a slow exhale and quickly doing a small curtsy." Your majesty, I have a request to make," I say, astonished by the confidence in my voice. He looks at me questioningly, making me continue, "I need you to sign this."
I say while putting the paper on his desk and hurriedly moving back to where I was standing. My voice trembles as I continue, there is a sudden shift in power within the room, the King letting out his aura." I was hoping you would sign the form so that I could leave your service and serve one of your other properties instead."
"What makes you think that I would ever let you leave?" He says, his voice somewhere between deadly calm and angry.
I swallow hard, thinking over my response while wiping my sweaty palms against my dress," Well, Your Majesty, I have caused no one any harm since I have come to serve you, and I have if I say so myself completed all my duties in the palace to the best of my ability. Considering all that, I believe that I should be granted leave." I try to sound confident, but my words almost come out as a whisper, making me curse myself internally. For some strange reason, every word that had come out of my mouth had seemed like a helpless plea instead of a well-formulated argument.
"Hmm..." The king leans back in his seat, his eyes twinkling with something I can't read, "if you want me to sign this, you'll have to do something for me."
His words almost have me jumping out of my skin with a strange excitement and nervousness, what's the worst thing he could ever ask of me?
"Yes, what is it?" I ask, my voice no longer shaky.
" You need to make a formal apology to my mate," his words are sharp, and the temperature in the room seems to drop.
What?
He's either mad or ignorant if he thinks I would ever do that. Who in their right mind would?
If it wasn't for my sister and him I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place, and why would I ask the one person who went against me for forgiveness? When I have done nothing wrong?
I try glaring at him, but the power that surges out of him almost has me stumbling back, my mind becoming chaotic. He smirks at me as he sees through to my internal struggle. It takes me a moment to get my bearings right.
"Well, I'll give you what you want, but in return I want one more thing with the signature," I say, feeling pleased by the steadiness of my voice even though I didn't feel it.
He lets out a husky chuckle that does traitorous things to my stomach," Do you realize that you're in no place to bargain with me."
" I do," I say, but being a wolf meant I also knew how important this apology was for the King and his mate. I am almost astonished that he hasn't ripped out my throat yet for disrespecting his mate like that. Father would have done it if I or anybody else had disrespected our mother like that," but I also know that this apology is important and without it, the Queen-to-be's reputation will remain tarnished for the remainder of your reign."
I say each word with as much conviction as I can muster, for a split second I see realization flicker through the King's eyes which has me curious to know what's going through his head.
" Fine, but be careful about what you wish for," the King, says hesitantly knowing that I had won this argument.
" I want answers," I say with a harsh swallow," I want answers to why you did what you did." The King narrows his eyes at me, making me wonder if he would walk out on his side of the bargain.
"You can ask me one question... only one." The King says, his voice showcasing his authority in the situation. I nod in agreement when he starts speaking again, " You will be apologizing to my mate in front of the entire court tomorrow."
His voice is firm, making no room to argue. I almost regret agreeing to this, an apology in front of the entire court would mean that I have to Kiss Andria's feet in front of the entire court to show my complete submission to her.
I shudder internally with disgust at the idea, but with no other choice, I reluctantly nod in agreement.
"So, what is it that you want to ask?" The King, says as he begins to do his paperwork again.
"I want you to tell me why you did what you did?" My question has the King looking at me in confusion, forcing me to rephrase my question, "Why did you lie and tell me that I was your mate?"
Saying the question out loud almost made me feel vulnerable and raw. It was that one question that had kept me awake late at night, wondering about all the reasons why they would lie to me the way they did.
The king looks at me, his chin slightly tilted as confusion flares in his eyes, and he opens his mouth to speak," I have told you no lie."
His words almost felt like glass cutting through paper, how stupid did he think I was? Did he think I would believe such a stupid response?
I'm almost burning with rage by the time I have something to say to him, but words get caught in my throat when I see him get up from his chair," Know that I have answered your stupid question, I'll be taking my leave I have other much more important matters to attend to."
My mind shuts down, not believing what he had just said. Before I know it I am forcing myself in front of him, "NO, you don't just get to leave without even answering me properly, and I won't be apologizing if that is the only answer you have for me."
He narrows his eyes at me, not liking my tone, before taking one large step towards me. His eyes are smouldering with hatred, his forehead creased as he takes another step towards me, forcing me to step back.
His large hand goes around my throat, his eyes pitch black as he sneers against my lips, "I dare you to repeat yourself."
My eyes begin to tear up as he increases the pressure on my neck, my eyes widening when I notice black smoke oozing out of his hands. His eyes were no longer black but looked like reflections of the moon. If I wasn't so terrified, I would have thought he looked beautiful. I try fighting against his hold till he lifts me off the ground. I feel my life flash before my eyes when I hear a door knock, and everything goes black.
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