Chapter 253
~ NYSSA
My first instinct was to refuse. I was not a dog that he could summon.
However, as I opened my mouth to speak, Irina squeezed my arm tightly— a warning.
I swallowed back my retort and forced a smile on my face. “Of course p>
Irina helped me into a pair of black ballet flats that were suspiciously my size. How the King had found clothes that fit me perfectly was a cause for concern, but unfortunately, I had more important things to worry about.
I followed the guard quietly, silently mapping the path he took out of the palace. It was different from all the other paths I had taken and I quickly realized that finding my way out would prove more confusing than I initially thought.
The King waited for me at a door. He’d thrown a cloak over his shoulders and wore thick fur lined boots and gloves. He eyed me carefully, his lips tilting upwards as he gestured for me to walk with him.
As I stepped out, the first thing I registered was the chill. My steps faltered for only a moment but the King did not stop once.
“You’ll need to walk faster than that if you want to catch up,” he drawled, each step taking him further from me.
With gritted teeth, I forced myself to keep up with his pace.
Someone had carved steps into the side of the mountain, revealing a steep path that took us higher into the sky. My legs shook with each step and each breath grew more difficult, but I refused to complain as I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shield my body from the cold.
“Do you know why I chose the mountain for my base” he asked, voice low but audible over the roaring wind. “It is because it provides an excellent vantage point. No one can sneap into my palace without my knowledge p>
I made the mistake of glancing down and my knees nearly gave out.
I cursed low, arms gripping the side of the mountain as if it would save me from the treacherous drop below.
The trees seemed so small from this point, and I could barely make out movement below, but I suppose that had more to do with my wolf having not returned.
“We are almost there,” the king drawled. “You best keep moving p>
It took everything in my to finish the last of the walk and when we finally made our way onto level ground, my knees gave out beneath me and I skittered as far away from the edge as I possibly could as my teeth chattered.
It was much colder up here.
“You could have warned me about the cold,” I hissed at the King. “I would have worn gloves or something p>
“I did not want you to wear anything,” he responded without missing a beat. “I specifically asked that you be dressed like this p>
“Why p>
He shrugged. “Because I can p>
He shot me a smug smile and I had never felt such a murderous rage swell up in me before. He stood next to the edge, it would have taken nothing to just shove him off the edge.
“Do it,” he whispered, not bothering to glance over at me. “The fall is high enough that I might die.” He paused for a long moment. “But you better pray that I do because if I don’t, it will not be one of my girls I kill, it will be someone from your pack. I am sure Aria will be easy to find. After all, I found her once to compel her p>
White hot rage swished inside of me, but I remained stoic, fisting my hands at my side as I stared at him with daggers in my eyes.
After a long minute of not speaking, he turned to me. “Good choice. You’re learning p>
“What is your end goal with this?” I asked finally. “You didn’t just take me from my mate for nothing p>
“No, I didn’t p>
“if you’re going to give me to one of your men then do it. If you’re going to kill me p>
“You must think of me as some wasteful fool. Neither of those options serve me in the long run. If anything, you are more useful to me with your mate than you are here p>
“Then why am I here?” I exclaimed, unable to stop myself from screaming. “Why take me from my family p>
He made his way over to me. Each step he took had my heart pounding in my chest, but I kept my chin up and my eyes fixed on him. He stopped in front of me and crouched low, dark eyes staring into my soul.
“You have to be broken in,” he whispered ominously. “What use are you to me there if you aren’t p>
“What does that mean p>
He stood to his feet. “You’ll learn soon enough once you feel something for me other than rage p>
“That will never happen p>
“Are you sure about that?” he asked, head cocked to the side. “You may have one thing p>
My brows furrowed in confusion. “What p>
“One wish. Anything you require. You may see it as my way of apologizing for how I treated you in the dining room earlier if you must p>
“I want to go home p>
His expression darkened. “The offer expires in exactly one minute. I suggest you choose your next words wisely p>
I wanted to let the damn offer expire because there was truly nothing I needed except my mate. “I want to speak to Rowan p>
He laughed coldly. “Not a fucking chance p>
“Why give me an offer if you won’t do what I want p>
“Thirty seconds,” he warned.
Just as I was about to tell him I didn’t want anything, a face flashed behind my eyes—auburn hair and a sad smile. My insides trembled as I eyed the king carefully. I wasn’t sure if he would oblige my request, but there was no harm asking.
“I want to see the children in the nursery,” I said firmly.
He looked taken aback by the request. “Why p>
I shrugged. “Does it matter? Tomorrow, I want to go there with my maid—Irina. I like her. We will spend the entire day there p>
He was silent for a long minute before nodding. “As you wish. Now, we must return to the palace p>