THE MAIDEN AND THE BEAST KING

rough wood surface, avoidin

obably only twenty minutes but feels like hours, demanding I tell him everything about the King and I's relationship. Un

he cut on my face? Judging by the nature of his questions, I'm assu

gry with me for ruining his dinner that I wouldn't be surprised if he

d you out of the room?" The Seco

e. "Nothing. He was upset that I was helping in the kitch

yes at me, clearly not b

l?" He pro

gives his temples a quick rub. I want to ask why he

e finally says, ge

ir I'm sitting in and rushing out of the room. The Second's office is on the top

vant's quarters and go to bed, a larger part of me seek

it I'm standing in front of his door. His guards watch me with curious eyes, no

pped open directly after the first knock, and I'm met with the Ki

pologise for t

as the King abruptl

roughly, eyeing t

round him is still present, but has lessened considerably over time. Despite the

in the room, watching as he goes into the kitchen and gets down two glasses from the cupboard. He po

ebrows furrowed in question. "H

nishment for doing so is often severe. He hums to himself at my response before bending down to put the bottle away

th something light then.

head about it. One glass isn't going to kill me. I've seen some Beasts drink

antly take the glass from his outstretched hand and stare at the liq

ou to drink. I won't be offended if you don't w

ow I'll regret it in the future if I don't take the opportunity. Unhurriedly,

't particularly enjoy the flavour, but don't hate it by any means either.

oday. I shouldn't have yelled at y

to the King. Is he apologising to m

silence as he takes a large gulp of his drink,

ow how to

——

ours

sided as the King takes my knight. "I needed that one

ly shocked by my word choice. "Then yo

out as the King sets

to follow his lead and grab my glass, only to find that it's empty again. K

g me. I quite l

My mind is a bit hazy and I keep catching myself saying things out of turn. I know

in my hand, and I give

at I'm shouting. "I fear that I'm getting a bit tipsy."

me thoughtfully. He places a hand on his c

y says, leaning in until his face is

——

urs

s in pain as I try my

t hurts!

me, another pillow in his

me." He responds, cocking his

name is Heloix?" I snort out, tr

t, causing me to fall backward. The movement causes the wine gla

ling to grab the cup and set it on the tabl

indifference. "Leave it. It

. Is he

some stain remover on it now." I say, tripping over my feet

o that I'll grab you som

——

urs

cely." Heloix remarks,

are clumsy and uncoordinated as I prod my neck, and I brief

s going to s

torso is turned to face me, bringing his face only inches away fr

the effects of the alcohol. He mentioned earlier that his drink was quite

le running along his skin, capturing my attention.

shes mine away. Grabbing the corner of the

es it in, and I already know

'll proba

at just saying my emotion i

, but you have to promise not to tel

rying to rack my brain

laughs, shaking hi

g up to let him do some secretive thing that I can't tell anybody about.

your

emembering the sting of the dis

rough squinted eyes as his face turns red. Is he em

like it's spinning. A finger is put under my chin in an attempt to tilt my head backward, and I i

e got to stop fighting." He grumb

feel the bandage be completely removed, the cool air hitt

happen. I can feel him breathing on my neck as he looks at my wound,

s something wet and warm touche

mly in place. The feeling returns, and I quickly realise that the

rom my jawbone to my collarbone, meanwhile I tr

re immediately pools in my lower belly. His grip on my neck tightens as his ton

sending shockwaves to my core. I audibly gasp in

gently glide over my skin before settling in the crook of my neck and lightly biting the

." Heloix mumbles, pulling

-u

y curses, his hands sudd

y follows, never straying more than an inch from mine. As he settle

as our hips meet, and his han

ue slipping between my lips. I let him take the lead, not having a lo

m. He quickly takes advantage of the additional space and grinds his hips roughly against mine. The

body. His muscles are hard in my hands, and all I can think of at t

to the wind and bringing my right hand down to his wa

e skin harshly, teeth scraping over the skin afterwards. Gaining confidence, I press my hand firmly against his body, dragging it upwards to his

suddenly being overridden

et him off me, and he immediately ret

assures me, not realising that

bile rising qui

up, tripping over my leg in the process. He tumbles over the

p my throat, but I'm not fast enough. Vomit erupts out of me all over Hel

something about grabbing a bowl, but the words sou

ess has other ideas as I slump to

skull as I push my face further into the pillow. The cushion is soft under me and smells faintly

r. Much to my surprise my hand instead lands on more mattress. My bed is a twin, and by no

not recognizing the space. Thankfully I am alone, but that doesn't do anything to soothe my anxieties. Did a Beast take me to his b

ts and black shirt covering my body. The clothing is huge on me, no doubt belonging to a man. T

ting things at him that I am sure to be punished for, but then every

in looks eerily similar to those of the guards, just large enough to hold a queen bed

trying to find any tenderness or signs of rape. There's nothing

toe through the room as I head to the exit, ready to make my escape. The floor is cold under my bare feet, and I quickly spot my

not in the Beasts' corridor. Unfortunately, tho

ing that it's still early and I'm not late for work. Despite being lost I begin

return to the servant's chambers and change while the humans are still out. Alternatively I can rush dow

. I'm on the top floor? I spin back around to look down the corridor I just came from, realising that it

and head inside his room. The large lump underneath the covers of his bed is the f

slams shut behind me. There's no way that I'll be able to open the door without wakin

he space seems perfectly normal though, and in fact looks even cleaner than when I arrive

s over before peeking op

some water?" He

ave for the glasses we drank from last night and a large metal bowl on the

motion making my skull pound, before carrying the water over

er his forehead. Large bags are apparent under his eyes and his skin is quite pa

er." He murmurs, looking

that I was not wearing my own items. I'm confused

usion as the smirk on his f

emember l

y head. "

your dress so I gave you something of mine to change into. I wa

hess. I'd also like to apologise for the things that I do remember,

I answer instead,

u get changed. I don't

that I must have really offended him last night. I hesitantly

se me

loi

ead, confus

sits up slightly. He runs his hand through his hair, pushing

Heloix when

ds, surprised that he would give me pe

last night. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way that I did while we were

y. He eventually just rolls his eyes as he lays back down and turns away

et my dress and leave. It's in the dryer like he said, and I q

t often that I get to see myself, and I'm shocked at how unkept I appear. My hair is a tangled, greasy mess- long strands

it once was, expecting to feel some pain or discomfort, and am shocked that the skin fee

lean in closer to get a good look but can't quite figure out what they are. The c

in a couple of days I'll ask one of the older servants about it. Most here are under the age of forty as the

heat up as I remove them, unable to wrap my head around the fact that he was kind enough t

ng on myself, causing a large smile spread across my face. I can't rem

ring them into the shower with us to give the underarms and crot

empty, the King is nowhere to be seen. I glance around to see if he's lurking in the shadows somewh

toss them in a pair of pants, catch my eye, and I reach in to grab them. My

elf, bringing them in cl

them back into the basket in horror. Did I get sick on the King last nig

e shutting his closet door. Glancing around the room, I look around o

re. I'm sure the King is feeling ashamed to have spent any sort of quality time with me. E

ty, save for a couple of guards stationed along the walls. I don't doubt that word has already spread about th

ons. It's what I would have thought if I was him. A part of me wants to go and find Joh

after his interrogation yesterday, I decided to just head do

rs, quiet sneers falling from their lips as I p

King's little whore."

other me any further. Thankfully he doesn't, but another guard leaves

eks ago when I was called to the guard's quarters. He doesn't immedi

it true?

nfused by h

iet so as not to draw the atten

re the Kin

hink this. I quickly look around to make s

He may not have found his mate yet, but there is no doubt that when he does she will

ore sighing and stepping aside to let me pass. I waste no time scurry past h

inner, but didn't expect that I would be confronted by them so

arms ripping at my belongings and throwing them into my sa

doing?" I as

ce me, eyes looking me

he says snarkily, rolling her eyes

rious that she thinks that she can just throw away all

de. Gwen leans back against my bed, watching me with squinted eyes as I begin unpack

n to the guards why you're

you talk

air back. She's clearly enjoying making me upset, and it take

bring it to your new room. Apparently being