Chapter 20: Sena - Fated to the Night King

There were plenty of well-wishers that stopped to offer their congratulations to both me and the King. He stayed beside me throughout, though he didn't say much to me. His presence was strangely reassuring and frightening at the same time. My reaction to his bite earlier had me confused and drained of energy.

Gus swept by, a plate of food in her hand for me, and introduced me to the man she'd spoken of during our conversations before. Soren was a large man, tall and heavy with muscle, his hair was dark brown with a silver streak through it from root to tip. He smiled politely, bowed over my hand when we were introduced, then left to follow Gus as she moved between groups.

As the celebration grew more raucous, the King's hand settled in the small of my back.

"We should go," he said, and that low voice vibrated into me, stirring up the memory of how it had felt with his lips against my skin. He was my enemy, someone I knew I should hate, even fear, but I couldn't muster up the energy to do so. Beside him, I felt protected, watched over. Almost cared for.

He led me out of the cavernous room into the corridor, and we left the noise of his court behind. Nothing was said, but he didn't let me go, either. Almost as if he thought I'd slip away if he did.

I tried to make out landmarks, things I could use to remember the trail as we wound through the maze of the castle, but the light was dim and it made details hard for me to see. All too soon, he pushed open a heavy wooden door and gestured for me to step inside.

Lamps were already lit, burning softly, and a large bed sat in the center of the room. It was covered in what looked to be sumptuous linens, and I could almost imagine the silky way they would feel against my skin. Far different than anything I'd ever known.

The door shut tight behind me and I tensed, sensing danger just before his hand closed around my arm and he swung me around. My wrists were locked tight against each other in an instant, and he snarled down into my ear. The vibration of it sent shivers racing over my skin and my stomach fluttered.

Until he said, "So, is the plan for you to stake me in my sleep, Sena? Or do you have another way you hope to kill me?"

I went cold, held against his wall of a chest, unable to break free. I hated feeling powerless, but I also knew I was no match for his strength. Not as I was.

"I have no plan to kill you." My voice was steady, and I was proud of that at least.

His breath brushed over the line of my neck as he bent down, and now I was trembling, my body coming to life in a way I didn't truly understand. Want, need, desire were all things I hadn't truly experienced before.

At least not like this.

"You lied when you made the vow earlier. I'm sure Gil warned you, exactly as I told him to do. You promised you wouldn't endanger this court, yet your blood showed the truth."

My heart was pounding, racing, and I didn't know if he'd kill me right there or torture me for failing his test.

"I was sent here, but not to kill you. Not even to harm anyone."

He went rigid behind me, before speaking with severe precision. "So. You. Are. A. Spy."

"Not by choice." He didn't say anything, simply waited, so I continued. "My Alpha had me beaten, dumped on your land with the idea I'd be taken in. He thought I could learn something important for my people. That's all."

"You allowed him to beat you?" He released me, his hands turning me to face him. "You agreed to this?"

I laughed, and it was a manic sound, echoing off the stone walls. I was still scared, but now I felt the stirring of anger within me, adding fuel to the fire that was starting in my belly. "As if Thalon would ever allow for disagreement. As if any in his pack, Stricken or Whole, truly has a choice in how they live."

"You could fight him. Rise up and challenge his rule." He said it like it was a simple thing.

"I couldn't speak for days after arriving here. All because he told me to be silent. He used his power over me to bear the beating I suffered through, to submit to his will and be silent throughout. I felt every punch, every kick, every single thing they did to me," here my voice hitched, and I swallowed against the lump in my throat as the memories threatened to overwhelm me, "I couldn't even scream. So you tell me, how easy would it be to challenge someone who can command your obedience with a simple word."

The Night King glared at me, and I braced myself for a slap, expecting retaliation for me daring to argue with him. I was surprised when he was the one who looked away first.

Seconds stretched, and I didn't know what to do. Running wasn't an option, and expecting help wasn't either.

Finally, the King spoke again. "Take off your dress and get on the bed."

I blanched, frozen in place. From one moment of hell to the next. Is this what the Goddess truly required of me.

He turned, moving to the wardrobe on the far side of the room, opening the door and pulling something off the top shelf. As he came back to me, I recognized what he held. Silken rope, gleaming in the light.

"You will sleep in your shift." He began uncoiling the length of rope, looking up at me when he had it looped the way he wanted.

I tipped up my chin, defiance and fear bubbling beneath my skin. "I will not be your victim, too." Perhaps I hadn't been sent here to kill him, not specifically, but I wouldn't allow myself to suffer the same abuse I'd already endured in my life. I would fight back; with every ounce of strength I had. I crossed my arms beneath my chest and there was no mistaking the way his gaze dropped to it.

"Dawn is near. I need to rest and you, my dear, will not be left alone to walk the halls of my castle without my protection or supervision. Now, take your dress off and get on the bed."

He repeated the order and left me standing there, unsure and slightly shaken. I heard the key turn, the lock sliding home, and then he was back.

"Do you need assistance, Sena, or can you manage to do as I have asked?"

He watched me as I slid the dress off my shoulders, his eyes tracking the movement as it slipped down to puddle at my feet. He knelt down, taking hold of the gown, and I steadied myself with my hands on his shoulders as I stepped free of the fabric. He shook out any wrinkles and then hung it in the wardrobe.

"Clothes will be brought for you tomorrow. I've already ordered them." He tipped his head in the direction of the bed and added, "Now, will you get on the bed, or do I need to put you there?"

There was no sense in continuing this fight and somehow, I trusted that he didn't intend to hurt me. Not tonight, at least. I did as he asked and lay down, resting my head on the thick pillow.

"Comfortable?" he asked, leaning over me as he wrapped my wrists together with sure fingers, testing to make sure the binding wasn't too tight, before moving on to secure the rope to the post of the bed. He tested the knots he'd made, then removed his own clothes in the shadows. When he appeared again, he wore a pair of soft pants that molded to his strong thighs. I felt the bed dip under his weight and then he was laying beside me, pulling the coverings up until we were both buried under warmth.

I lay there, barely breathing, unsure what he would do next.

"Sleep, Sena," he finally said, giving me space even as we shared a bed. "Night will come again soon, and there will be plenty more to discuss then."

"You know my name, but I still don't know what I'm supposed to call you."

He sighed. "My name is Alkan, but often people will use the honorific 'My King' out of respect when talking with me. Either is fine."

We were quiet, minutes passing, before he said, "Sleep well, Sena."

I couldn't respond immediately, still expecting him to take advantage of the fact that I was restrained, unable to prevent him from doing whatever he might want to do. When nothing happened, I found my voice once more.

"Sleep well, Alkan."