Chapter 38: Chapter 38

REYNA

I could feel my face ashen with fear. I knew I could never go through with having sex with another man.

My body and mind could never imagine anyone touching and stroking me in a sexual way. In fact, thinking of anyone touching me in that way repulsed me.

Though I hadn’t felt that burning in a while, it was because I hadn’t touched any man again. I had only reacted that way to John’s touching me.

I felt like the result would still be the same if it were anyone else besides Cas. I was only Casvan’s; my body and soul knew this and would always be his.

He was the only man I wanted touching me.

The girls, however, looked at the men with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. I watched with dread as each of the girls found a man—who were all only too eager to bed the girls.

Knowing soon I would be expected to choose one too, my stomach knotted on itself. The girls didn’t even wait until they were secluded in a private place with their partners for the night before they started kissing the men eagerly.

I didn’t fault them. I knew what it was like to have a man all to yourself, though mine couldn’t exactly be called a man.

If I didn’t have my beast and have a skin reaction to other men, I might have probably been as eager as them. Eager to explore a man and experience what he could offer, not because we were training or practicing, just a man and a woman giving each other pleasure.

But I’d already experienced it with Casvan and knew I still had so much to learn from him.

The girls, together with their chosen bedmates, walked deeper inside, probably to find a place they could be alone. My stomach clenched when Sabrina arched her brow at me questioningly.

I smiled nervously at her and took a couple of steps deeper into the chamber. There were a few handsome men who were unoccupied; they openly stared at me with hungry eyes.

I suspected if it weren’t for the rules, they would have been all over me. But the rules stated that the girls had to choose a man of their liking, and the men were not allowed to approach the women until then.

Like a beacon of light, my eyes fell on John. I walked nervously to him. He was seated with other men.

I knew if anyone could understand my struggle, it would be him. We were, after all, in the same situation.

He was in love with Sabrina and I belonged to Casvan. I only needed to convince him to help me get out of here so I could do what I’d planned to do.

“Hello, John,” I greeted seductively, tilting my head to the side and giving him my hand to take.

“Hello, princess,” John said, taking my offered hand, and I had to bite down my yelp at the sudden burning sensation.

John was looking at something behind me when I went to look. He started leading me deeper inside, into the more darkened private rooms provided for those who wanted their privacy.

I glanced back at the last second and saw Sabrina staring at us with a sad expression, but she was gone from my view as John pulled me along.

The room John dragged me into was small and cozy, with a small bed, white coverings, and a low table with drinks and fruits on it. I didn’t know what to think of this place.

It was clear the night was planned to be special for us…or should I say the girls. Seeing as how they’d even provided drinks and fruits, which were all rare foods and only high-level officials got this luxury.

Meaning the queen and the council, and by default, me.

I didn’t want to think about the room and what went on in here, or that I was expected to lose my virginity tonight. What I really cared about was how I was going to get out of here without repercussions for disobeying my mother.

And how I was going to carry on with my plan.

When I was done checking out the room, my eyes finally went to John, who had taken off his shirt, baring his chest. He was smiling at me, though I could tell he looked nervous and not at all excited about having sex with me.

That gave me hope, because it meant it wouldn’t be hard to convince him to help me.

“Listen, John, we really don’t have to do this, if you don’t want to. I know I’m not who you want,” I started, testing him.

He was instantly at my side, his hands around my waist.

“No, Princess. I want you. You’re beautiful, any man would be honored to be here with you.”

I pushed his hands away from my waist and took a few steps back from him. Could I have misunderstood him? Shouldn’t he be glad I was giving him a way out of having sex with me?

Was he playing with Sabrina’s feelings? I shook my head.

No!

That couldn’t be right. I was sure they both loved each other. Maybe it was me.

Maybe he thought I might be offended if he decided to be honest about his feelings with me because I was the princess. Either that, or he didn’t want me to be suspicious of his relationship with Sabrina.

Considering what happened to people who fell in love, it was understandable that he was cautious and didn’t want to be found out.

“I like you, John, and I like Sabrina. So I’m going to be honest with you, I know you’re in love with her,” I said calmly.

John’s face went completely pale; he probably thought I was going to threaten to tell Cassandra about them.

“You’re wrong, Princess, it’s not what you think. We’re not in love. Rina and I are just friends,” he said.

I quickly grabbed his hands. Ignoring the instant bolt of pain for once.

“Really, it’s okay, John, you can be honest with me. I know the truth. I’ve seen you two together several times, so there’s no need for you to lie to me. I’m also in love with someone, so I know how you’re feeling.”

He stared at me in shock. I nodded.

“I just need you to help me get out of here without anyone finding out. Now that you know my secret, I hope we can help each other out,” I pleaded.

My confession seemed to have gotten through to him, because he suddenly looked relieved and his smile no longer looked forced.

“Your secret is safe with me, Princess, but getting out of here is going to be a bit difficult. You girls are expected to spend the night here exploring your sexuality. If you try to leave, people will notice, especially since you are the princess,” he said.

My heart plummeted. I wanted to get out of here so I could execute my plans—help find the keys to Casvan’s chains and free him.

I couldn’t do that if I was trapped in here all night.

“No, there must be a way. I have to get out of here by any means. Help me, please, John,” I begged.

John scratched his head, contemplating. Then he sighed.

“Wait here, Princess, let me see what I can do.” He spun around to leave the room.

“John!” I quickly stopped him before he could leave.

“Sabrina can’t know about this. Trust me. If you tell her, you’ll be endangering her life. I know you wouldn’t want that.”

I knew he understood what I said was the truth, because he nodded and was out of the room.

Part of me felt bad for involving John in my plans. If it ever came to light that he helped me, I didn’t even want to think of what would happen to both of us—especially him.

But I was running out of time and had to get the key tonight, and he was the only one I could ask for help.

The celebration would provide the perfect distraction and keep my mother from going to her room.

This was the best chance I could ever get to search my mother’s rooms.

As I waited for John to come back, my eyes surveyed the small room, thinking of ideas.

Just then, John strode inside with Lisa behind him. My brows scrunched with confusion.

“Why is she here?” I asked, glaring at John accusingly.

“I wanted to talk to you,” Lisa quickly interjected.

“Well, what is it?” I fidgeted nervously.

“I don’t know what is going on with you, Reyna. And I honestly don’t want to know. But you need to be extremely careful. I heard something, and I’m scared for you,” she said, her face serious.

I frowned. I glanced at John, then back at Lisa.

“Why? What did you hear?”

“I can’t say, but whatever it is you are up to, stop it before it’s too late,” the redhead warned.

Lisa and I might not have been as close as we were before, but I still cared about her. My heartbeat tripled, my stomach knotted. I stared at Lisa with dread.

Could Lisa have found out about my relationship with Casvan? Did she know or suspect I was his mate?

Who else knew about us? Did my mother know?

No!

It didn’t really matter who knew, because I had to save my beast, whom I suspected I was falling in love with.

I wouldn’t allow Cassandra to slaughter him like she did his friend. I would never survive that.

Besides, I didn’t believe Cassandra knew—if she did, Cas would already be dead.

In the little time I’d come to know him, I realized my life had been sad and lonely.

But ever since he came, it was like a part of me that had been missing had suddenly found its way back to me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lisa. Even if I do and you know what it is, I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk about it to anyone,” I pleaded.

Lisa sighed, resigned. She knew that when I’d set my mind to do something, I always did it.

I crossed over and hugged her. Lisa instantly tensed for a while before she finally relaxed just a bit.

But she didn’t try to hug me back.

“Thank you, my friend, for worrying about me. I thought I’d lost you forever. I’m glad to know the softhearted girl I know is still in there.”

We smiled at each other awkwardly .

“Now, John, what did you find out?” I asked John, who had been pretending he wasn’t listening in on our conversation.

“Princess…”

“Please just call me Reyna, as I have told you several times,” I cut in.

“Okay, as I see it, the only way out is through the front door we all came in. We just have to disguise you. Your dress has to go, and then we distract the gatekeeper,” John said, looking at us nervously.

I looked at my blood-red rose dress, thinking.

If I took off the dress, what would I change into?

“Okay, I can take off my clothes and…and wrap one of the bedsheets over my body. Quick, Lisa, help me out.” I turned around, giving my back to Lisa.

“I really don’t want to do this. If you are caught and you utter my name, I will kill you, Reyna,” Lisa threatened, working her gloved fingers through the tiny hooks of the dress from behind.

The corset was the most difficult part to remove.

None of us were concerned that a man was there about to see me naked. John had seen us all naked before. Even Lisa.

We were halfway through the hooks when a loud scream pierced the loud bass music and moans that filled the whole place.

My heart stuttered in my chest, and I was already running out of the room before I knew what I was doing, right behind Lisa and John.