Chapter 4 Bath

• *Isla*
• Quickly, I get out of the tub, drying off as best I can. At least my hair is dry. I am frantic, and clearly, I am not thinking straight. I wrap the towel around myself, thanking the Moon Goddess that it’s so huge that it will wrap all the way around me and then some, and then walk out to see who he is.
• I stick my head out first, and he is just standing there, his hands on his hips, near my bed. It’s the same man who’d walked into my room with Beta Seth. Oh, Goddess. Is he here to hurt me? To take advantage of me?
• “Who are you?” I ask in a pitifully small voice. A guard, perhaps? He’s not dressed like one. Someone who works for the Alpha King, then? A ghost of a smile touches the corner of his mouth before flickering away, but amusement dances behind his eyes.
• He is gorgeous. My breath catches in my throat, and I stand there, wide-eyed, glad he’s not looking directly at me while I fight to get control of my racing heart. In an instant, I feel the truth pulsate through my veins.
• This is no ordinary man. This is the King. He’s tall, at least six foot four, with dark brown hair and eyes that glow like emeralds. His broad shoulders are ripped beneath the white button-down shirt he’s wearing, and he looks to be nothing but lean muscle.
• Visions of what lies beneath his clothing come to mind, but I can’t let them linger because I am aware that I am still naked. His eyes land on me then, and they widen slightly as if he’s just realized he’s interrupting my bath. I clutch my towel to my chest.
• “I’m sorry, your Highness,” I say. “Poppy is getting me something acceptable to wear. I don’t–I don’t have any clothes suitable–”
• “Good,” he says, cutting me off. He looks me up and down, but he doesn’t let his eyes dawdle on the part of me that’s covered with the towel like some men would do.
• “Do you have a robe, by chance? Or has your maid neglected to give you one?”
• “I do.” He nods. “Good. Go put it on.” My cheeks flame with a heated blush so intense I feel it creeping over my neck and chest. I rush back into the bathroom and see where Poppy has placed it. I drop the towel and put the robe on, tying it tightly and running back out through the partially ajar door.
• When I’m back in the bedroom, I still don’t know what to say to him, and he seems to be a man of few words. He hasn’t moved and sits like a statue, watching me with those emerald eyes that I feel see right into my soul.
• “I wanted to see if you were all right,” he finally says, his voice a low rumble that makes my body tingle.
• “Oh, yes. I’m well, thank you,” I reply, bobbing my head.
• “I guess Alpha Beth told you a few things that needed to be done?” he asks. I blink, furrowing my brow at the strange thoughts and sensations rippling through my body. This is the king.
• “Yes, Your Highness. He did” I reply to his question. “Well, I should go. I just wanted to check on you. If you need anything, I’m sure Poppy will get it for you.” “Yes, Your Highness,” I say. “Thank you.” I manage to smile at him, but I am not very confident, not that I doubt Poppy.
• He takes a step backward, toward the door, but before he can turn to go, the door comes flying open, and Poppy bursts through.
• “I’m back!” she announces. “And boy have I got some beautiful outfits for you! You're never going to—Oh! Your Majesty!” Immediately she drops the dresses on a chair by the door and bows low to the ground. He shakes his head and turns to walk out.
• “You can get up, Poppy,” he says as she lifts her head.
• “You know my name?” Poppy asks.
• “Yes, of course, I know your name, Poppy. Everyone knows your name.” He opens the door to walk out.
• Blushing with pride, she says, “Thank you, Alpha King Maddox.”I sink to the edge of the bed, my mind reeling.
• “I’m his breeder, aren’t I? I’m the breeder for the Alpha King.” My eyes water as my life as I knew it flashes before my eyes. Poppy makes a little sound in her throat, refusing to meet my eyes for a moment before she gives a quick, tight nod.
• “Best not to dwell on it,” she says tightly, swallowing hard.
• “Let’s start by getting dressed.” I open my mouth to reply but choke on whatever words were lingering on my tongue.
• “But you know you're very lucky” Poppy begins as she brings out some clothes, and as she does so, she talks about King Maddox.
• “He’s so handsome. He has women from all over the kingdom throwing themselves at him all of the time, of course. And he doesn’t like it. You know, he’s sworn never to take another Luna.”
• “Yes, that’s what I’ve heard,” I say.
• “Luna Rebecca was the love of his life, his true mate. He loved her so much. Some people say they’ve never seen anyone so much in love with their mate. He’s even said that if the Moon Goddess gives him another mate, he will reject her.
• That’s what I’ve heard anyway. It’s not like I converse much with him.” I don’t have much to say about that. He did say he knew who she was, after all. I only smile at her and keep eating, trying to remember to chew and not scarf it down.
• “But… he is lonely and sad, I think, and he’s too young for all that. I hope, one day, he meets a beautiful young woman who will make him forget all of his sadness.” She smiles at me with a twinkle in her eye, and I think she’s trying to imply something.
• “Well, I hope he finds someone. He seems like a nice man.” I reply in a low voice. She chuckles.
• “Yes, I hope you do.” I look up at her, not understanding what she means. The way she said that implies that I may have had an ulterior motive in what I said, and I most certainly do not.
• “What do you mean?”
• “I mean… it’s only natural that someone in your position would want him to find… someone to make him happy. I think you should put this on when you’re done.” She smiles and sets out a pajama set for me on the bed.
• I have no idea what time it is, but if the king is eating dinner, maybe it is time to get ready for bed. I think those dinners usually start late.I finish eating and take another sip of my water before I ask,
• “What do you mean, someone in my position? I’m his breeder.” I get up and walk over to the bed where she has laid the pajamas. The pajamas are very nice–soft, and silken. I run my fingers over them absently. Poppy walks to the door and opens the door as she says.
• “You know, someone in your position. Someone like you will obviously grow attached to him. I know I would.” She makes a face at me, wide-eyed, and smiles before she goes out. I am lost and wait for her to come back in. “Attached to him?” I ask as she reenters the room. “Why on earth would I become attached to someone using my body to give them a child? A child that’s mine, but I’d have no… no right to keep?” My eyes burn with tears.
• “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I shouldn’t have said–It’s just–I don’t know much about breeders. I just know you’ll be with him, often, and… and cherished, especially when–when you—” Her eyes gloss over as she makes a weak motion toward my belly.
• “Did you not agree to this?” “I thought I’d been sold as a servant,” I choke out, the words cracking and shattering between us. Poppy looks struck and lowers her gaze for a moment before saying,
• “He’s not a horrible man, Miss Isla. He won’t mistreat you.” she adds, before leaving. I turn from the pajamas and sit down on my bed, scooting back until I’m resting against the pillows. I take a deep breath, and say, resigned, “What happens now?”