Chapter 11

• The gentle rustle of her dress against her knees sent shivers down her spine, a discomfort she couldn't ignore.
• Althea had never anticipated being the first lady summoned by the king. She had hoped for a moment's respite on their arrival, but the circumstances that led to her selection left no room for such expectations.
• The grand hallway stretched ahead, culminating in a towering, resplendent golden door. Every inch of this castle oozed opulence, making her feel profoundly out of place.
• Within these walls, they provided her with exquisite gowns, sumptuous meals, and shelter, but a sense of u remained elusive.
• She passed by a gallery of regal portraits adorning the hallway, resolutely ignoring their painted gazes. It felt as though the eyes of past kings were trailing her every step.
• Summoning her courage, the maid took a deep breath and pushed open the imposing door. In a hushed tone, she announced, "Your Majesty, Lady Althea," her voice quivering with reverence.
• The maid bowed gracefully, allowing Althea to step into the lavishly appointed chamber.
• Althea's eyes scanned the grand table laden with a cornucopia of dishes, her bewilderment evident.
• Sensing her hesitation, the maid gently tapped Althea's shoulder and whispered, "You are to curtsy," mindful that the Lycan king's sharp ears were attuned to every detail.
• Althea, although far from a curtseying expert, summoned her resolve, even as her legs wobbled beneath her.
• With a graceful effort, she performed a hesitant curtsey and stammered, "Your Majesty," her words a fragile balance between reverence and her own unease.
• "Zia, you may leave," The Lycan king's deep, resonant voice filled the room, sending a shiver down Althea's spine.
• Zia nodded respectfully and withdrew, closing the door behind her. The sound of it sealing shut amplified Althea's unease to an almost unbearable level.
• "Little hero, you may join me for dinner," he beckoned in a tone that both commanded and invited.
• Summoning every ounce of courage, Althea finally dared to lift her gaze to meet his. His countenance was as emotionless as stone, but beneath that chiseled facade lay a haunting handsomeness. A pointed nose and lips that seemed almost unnaturally soft framed his face.
• His eyes, as dark as midnight, resembled an impenetrable pool of shadow. Yet, the most conspicuous feature was a prominent scar that marred his otherwise flawless visage, a glaring flaw amidst perfection.
• His hair, impeccably styled, was slicked back with a few rebellious strands teasing his forehead. It only added to the air of regal authority that surrounded him.
• With great reluctance, Althea took her place at the table, choosing the seat closest to him.
• She secretly wished for other chairs, further from his imposing presence, but her options were limited.
• As she settled in, the Lycan king cast a faint, enigmatic smirk her way and uttered, "Little hero, are you scared of me?" His words, though seemingly casual, held a deeper layer of meaning that hung heavy in the air.
• He chuckled, a low, almost predatory sound that sent a chill down Althea's spine. "Oh really?" he inquired, his head tilting slightly to the side, his eyes locking onto hers.
• Despite her trembling hands, Althea summoned her resolve. "No, I'm not scared," she replied, her voice tinged with defiance.
• But as the Lycan king's eyes flickered, something changed in the room.
• Without warning, a colossal Lycan materialized beside Althea, its growl reverberating through the chamber.
• Althea's heart leaped in her chest, and she pushed her chair back in her haste to get away, landing unceremoniously on the floor, her butt aching from the impact.
• The Lycan king burst into laughter at her startled reaction, his amusement evident.
• Althea huffed in annoyance, dusting off her dress as she regained her composure.
• "Is this some funny to you?" she asked, her irritation evident in her tone.
• The king's laughter subsided, and he leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto hers. "Of course," he replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I knew it would be fun the moment I chose you among the brides."
• Althea couldn't help but ask, her annoyance growing, "Did you choose me just to be bullied?"
• The king chuckled again, shaking his head. "Not bullied, my little hero. For my amusement, yes. You have such a sharp tongue," he admitted with an infuriating grin, his words only serving to stoke Althea's ire further. He leaned forward and said, "You could be a clown. It would be a suitable job for you"
• Althea blood was literally boiling at this moment and it was hard to keep her composure.
• "Sit down," the Lycan king ordered, his tone a blend of authority and exasperation. "Let us eat."
• Althea shot him a defiant glare but complied, reluctantly returning to her seat.
• She couldn't help but voice her next request. "Can you please have your Lycan leave?"
• He hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but when Althea added a soft, pleading "please," he relented. With a simple wave of his hand, the imposing Lycan by her side vanished into thin air.
• "Now," he said, shifting his focus back to the dinner table. "Choose what you'd like to eat."
• Althea, her appetite vanishing amid the tension, replied coldly, "I've lost my appetite."
• He smirked, his dark eyes never leaving her. "You really do have a sharp tongue," he remarked, his tone dripping with challenge. "Let's see if you have a sharp instinct"
• In an almost casual gesture, he threw a knife in her direction.
• Althea's instincts kicked in, and she jerked her head to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the knife that whizzed past her face.
• The king shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Indeed, you are sharp. I like that."
• Fear crept over Althea as she slammed her hand on the table. "Enough!" she pleaded, her voice trembling.
• He regarded her with an unreadable expression. "Just eat, Althea," he said, his voice softening slightly. As he sliced into his potatoes.
• Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to give in to them.
• With trembling hands, she cut into a steak and forced herself to eat, her every bite filled with the weight of her newfound predicament.
• "The others they haven't eaten as well, maybe they could join us?"Althea asked as the air was too uncomfortable for her to even place anything in her mouth.
• "Others?" He asked his hand freezing mid air as he gave her a quick look.
• Althea nodded, "The other brides"
• "Do you see any other chairs here?" the Lycan king said with an eyebrow raised.
• Althea shook her head.
• "Now you know it's just you and I eating," he stated, his tone carrying a warning. "So, keep your thoughts to yourself."
• Althea grimaced, her earlier defiance fading as she shoved another bite of steak into her mouth, each morsel feeling like torture.
• Just when the situation seemed unbearable, a burst of commotion interrupted their awkward meal. A lively man entered the room, exclaiming, "Darian, my friend!"
• The king's demeanor softened, and he greeted the newcomer warmly.
• "Valentine. It's been a while."
• Valentine glanced at Althea and remarked, "I didn't know you had a friend here."
• Valentine smiled and extended a hand toward Althea. "Hello, my name is Valentine. What's yours?"
• Before Althea could reply, the Lycan king interjected, "You may leave, Althea."
• Relief washed over her, and she nodded, feeling grateful for the unexpected intervention. She could kiss Valentine for his save right now.
• She practically fled the room, her heart pounding with a mixture of emotions.
• Back in her shared room with Ariana and Fiona, Althea felt their curious gazes follow her every move as she removed the dress in frustration.
• She muttered silent curses aimed at the king under her breath.
• Once she had donned something more comfortable, she retreated to her bed, hoping for some respite.
• Ariana, however, had other plans and approached Althea, her striking violet eyes radiating jealousy.
• "We heard you went to dinner with the king," Ariana remarked, a hint of accusation in her tone.
• Althea ignored her, cocooning herself in her blanket.
• But Ariana wasn't so easily deterred. She scoffed and continued, "Who do you think you are? We know you don't want to be here, but so do the rest of us. We have to work together, whether you like it or not."
• Althea remained silent, hoping to put an end to the conversation, but eventually, she couldn't hold back any longer.
• "Please, just leave me alone," she implored.
• Ariana's response was cold and unsympathetic. "This is not going to get you anywhere."
• Ariana's persistence grated on Althea's nerves.
• She couldn't understand why Ariana was so fixated on her actions. Althea wished Ariana would just go away and leave her in peace.
• But Ariana persisted, revealing that she had overheard gossip among the maids in the hallway. "You caused quite a mess," she declared, her tone sharp with disapproval.
• Althea clenched her jaw, her patience wearing thin. However, Ariana had more to say, and it was news that piqued Althea's curiosity.
• "There's an event for us tomorrow," Ariana divulged, her voice lowered. "And only one of us gets to be queen. I don't want to end up a vegetable. This is a competition, and you better get your act together."
• Althea turned to Ariana, her interest finally piqued. "What event?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
• Ariana couldn't resist a smirk. "Oh, now you want to talk to me," she retorted with a touch of bitterness. "Guess what? I'm not telling your suck-up arse." With that, she turned and left Althea alone, leaving her with more questions than answers.