Chapter 46 XANDERâS POV My breath stumbled to a stop in my chest the moment Sabrina stepped into the dining hall.
From a far I could see her, the slight furrow of apprehension and confusion on her brow, the way she bit her lipâsomething I noticed she always did when she was thinking she spotted me, but form that distance she couldnât see me dearly. Only 1 could.
She walked closer, her footfalls echoing lightly through the hall. Her hair rumbled down her shoulders like river of molten gold.
She got closer, when she saw me her eyes widened and she gasped in shock.
Join me,â I said, waving towards the table.
âYour majesty,â She greeted with a bow. She took a seat eight chairs away. I frowned at that, but I wasnât about to address it On cue servants began pouring into the dining hall serving dishes. Sabrina shifted in her seat as she was served, she smiled at the servant but made no move to touch her food.
âWell,â I said and she turned to me. âEat.â
âIâm not hungry, your majesty.â She said.
That is a lie. Even I can tell that just by looking at her. Sheâs eaten nothing since lunch, and must be starving. Her eyes held mine, sparkling like the finest cuts of sapphire. Brimming with contempt.
âEat.â
She folded her hand in her lap, her back straight as a rod. âIâm not hungry.â She said again, adamant on maintaining that lie.
Anger sparked inside my chest. I invite her to dine with me and she gives me this attitude? Being difficult for what exactly? Iâve always know this woman was stubborn. But this stubborn?
Sheâs a brat at this point. An insufferable brat.
âYou wonât eat?â
âIâm not hungry.â She said again.
âGo to your room. Since youâre not hungry.â
She rose to her feet without a seconds hesitation and walked out, her steps hasty, the gown bunched up in her hands.
Dear heavens!
Sheâs that serious about this?! I watched her leave, and it briefly crossed my mind to call her back and force her to eat against all odds.
I didnât.
She left the windows open Sabrina curled up in bed, hugging two pillows to her chest as she slept peacefully. Her room door made no sound as I walked in, a cold draft from the windows blew off the candles she had lit. She shuddered, but didnât wake up.
Itâs freezing in here. And sheâs not even sleeping under the blankets.
I walked closer to her bed side, inclining my head to the side so I could see her face. When sheâs asleep, she looks so peaceful Worry and hatred gone from her face, it makes me realize how young she is.
For a moment I stilled I didnât know her age.
to me as tributes If she was mated to that bastard, she should be of age right? Or is he so rotten that he not only sends minors to 5:06 PM c d Chapter 46 but also mates minors?!
Anger boiled in my chest And my fists clenched.
Sabrina moaned and turned, her face to the ceilings. The loud growling of her stomach pierced the air and she groaned, her brows squeezed tight.
Stubborn woman. She refused to eat and now sheâs starving.
She canât be a minor. That wonât be right. But If sheâs a minor, then Iâll rip that bastards head off.
I crouched down and gently brushed strand of hair out of her eyes. She shoved her head away and her eyes fluttered. Her stomach growled again.
Thatâs her punishment for refusing to eat. Maybe tomorrow sheâll accept my gracious offer of dinner when I extend it to her again.
I rose to my feet and walked over to the windows. I drew them shut, the room was still freezing and would take a while to warm up.
I looked at Sabrina one more time. And then I decided to cover her so she doesnât freeze to death.
Again.
âYour majesty, they have arrived.â
I looked up at Nifra, and one look alone told me all I needed to know. âSend them in.â I said.
She nodded curtly and walked out Next, a man and a woman walked in. Sabrinaâs parents. The moment I looked at them, the compulsion was set in place. They wont remember this meeting.
âYour majesty,â The both greeted, but I wasnât interested in their greeting.
âAre you aware of Zayn Crue?â I asked.
âYâyes,your Majesty. He was mated to our daughter,â
âYour daughter?â
âSabrina,â The woman replied. Both of them kept their eyes on the ground, trembling from fright. I didnât mind their trembling, what mattered was that I got the answers out of them.
It wasnât like they could lie anyway.
âAnd are you both aware that Zayn has been sending minors over as tributes?â
âYour majesty! Weâre deeply sorry! The man sank down to his knees, his head pressed into the ground. The woman followed.
suit, already sobbing pitifully. âHe doesnât...he doesnât listen to anyone! He does what he wants!â
âSo you were aware?â I asked, my voice calm as an untouched lake while inside anger raged wild. âAnswer me!â
âYes! Yes we knew! We did? The man began to sob too. âWeâre deeply sorry, please have mercy on us!â
I stared at the both of them and bile rose in my throat.
I donât see a smidge of Sabrina in these people. Are they even her real parents?
âAnd did Sabrina know of this?â
âNâno your majesty! She doesnât know!â
That sentence alone shattered something inside She didnât know.
Chapter 16 Sabrina didnât know of the despicable things Zayn did.
âAnd you kept her in the dark?!â
âIt was for the best, your majesty. It was best that she didnât know at all.â
Disgusting.
The both of them.
As disgusting as Zayn.
How are these people Sabrinaâs parents? As cowardly and as evil as they are.
Sabrina was innocent. She has always been innocent. Her mate and her family lied to her and kept her in the dark about what they did.
And for these last months, Iâve punished her for it.
âGet out. And be lucky your heads are still on your necks.â
They scrambled to their feet, bowing and gushing thanks.
Disgusting.
Once they left, Nifra walked in. She looked at me and I nodded grimly.
Her face fell, her shoulder slumping and her eyes went misty.
âDear heavens.â She gasped.
âNothing changes.â I said, getting to my feet. âSabrina is still a stubborn brat who doesnât follow instructions. She will continue to be my slave.â
Not because of Zayn. Not because of those heinous crimes. But simply because I said so. She will remain here, in the palace, until I say otherwise.
Nifre âSend for Caldan.â I said to Nifra. âIâve got a surprise planned for him.â
âPoor child.â Nifra shook her head sadly.
Oh yes, poor child.
She left and returned with Caldan a few minutes later. I didnât miss how angry my brother looked. Well, thatâs his business.
âThe Darkfall and Mist packs prove difficult of late. Sources from the scouts report a coup of some sort is being planned. I said, before he even had the chance to greet me, âYouâre to go over there and rectify matters. And do not return until it is completed.â
He opened his mouth, about to protest.
âDo I need to tell you that itâs an order and you donât get a say in it?â
He shook his head. âNo, your majesty. You need not do such a thingâ
âGet on with it then.â
He bowed and walked out.
Good That should keep him busy for the next two months, if heâs fast enough in conflict resolution.
Now perhaps Sabrina will focus on her duties with no one to distraction her. And that silly crush she has on Caldan will be gone by the time heâs back.
My mind flashed back to seeing them kissing that night in the hospital room. The defiance in her eyes as she stared right at me Chaver as Tim in love with Calda So she sovx She doesnât need avene else she has hir He define for her. She defos me for him. I Fucking bel She defies for him. Both of them, together. Sharing warmth and entangled with each other.
ust hunking about it drives me mats And not to mention how pent up Ive been the past weeks.
Iâve been seriously reconsidering releasing Blair solely because I needed to fuck really badly,