144

“My lady, please forgive me.”


I took another selfie, (the shit is amazing), uninterested in Mila’s apology.

She had been apologizing since morning. Well, it’s still morning, but I haven't answered her. Why can’t she take the hint and just let me be?

The other concubines had left for the cathedral and now it just remained the servants, my entourage and I. I was a bit surprised that ‘Lady Igrith’ didn’t ask her guards to bound me up and drag me to the cathedral. But then again, I suppose she doesn’t want to get on Ruarc’s bad side.

Speaking of entourage, where the fuck is Mujin?

I have a lot of questions to ask him, but I haven’t seen him since. Mila might know where he’s hiding since she served him breakfast, but I didn’t want to talk to her. Talking to her means I have forgiven her, and I didn’t want to think I have. Sighing, I face my handmaiden and friend, calling her out, “Mila?”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Apologize one more time, and I’ll rip out your tongue, regardless of our shaky friendship. Is that clear?”

She seemed pleased that I was talking to her. “Yes, my lady.”

“Good. Now where is Mujin?”

“Here,” he said, appearing in the doorway of my room.

“Where have you been?”, I ask, eyeing him. He was wearing a casual suit, his shirt unbuttoned at his throat. I don’t know much about uniform and dress codes, but I know that his outfit is nothing close to guard material. “Why aren’t you all armoured up?”

“What is this, an interrogation?”

“Call it what you like. I simply want to know where you were and what you have been up to.”

“Nothing much, unless you consider filling the earth with more abominations something big, then yeah.”

“I swear, all you ever do is fuck.”

“Well, man has to live for something doesn’t he? And I decided to live for the good parts,” he defended, wringing his hands. “Why were you looking for me?”

“Just wanted you to tell me the time.”

He shot me a look. “You made me abandon a honey dripping pussy just so I could tell you the time? What the fuck Crinka?”

Mila turned to him. “It’s Lady Crinka to you.”

He cast her a sideways glance. “Now I see why you don’t have much friends. You’re so uptight. I wonder if you’re like that there as well.”

She blushed furiously and scurried out of the room. I laugh quietly.

“You can always check Mujin,” I murmur.

He glanced at me. “Nah. She’s not my type. I like the slim ones better.”

“Of course you do.”

“I mean it. It’s much easier to bend them over.”

I throw my head back, laughing. I needed this. This quick moment of happiness before Igrith returns with her fine airs and little sense.

“But you can always check Mujin.”

He eyed me. “Are you insisting I fuck your maid?”

“I never said such. I just said you could always check.”

“Well, I don’t want to.”

“Have it your way then. Now, accompany me to the dining room. I want to be the first to get there."

….

The dining room here reminded me of the first castle, but unlike the other, the walls here weren’t made of ice.

“I still think you should have changed before coming here,” Mujin mumbled.

“Why? What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“Igrith would freak if she saw you wearing that, especially when the Crown Prince would be joining you guys for breakfast.”

I face Mujin. “The Crown Prince? He’s coming here?”

He pulled back the curtains and peeped outside. “He’s already here.”

I cursed. “Fucking hell.”

He faced me. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just…”

“What?”

Fine, Crinka. Come out with it. “I’m not wearing any underwear.”

Mujin blinked. “Well, that’s new. Your boobs must be really huge because I didn’t even notice.”

I glared at him. “Fuck you Mujin.”

He laughed. “So tell me baby girl, how does being commando have anything to do with the Crown Prince coming here?”

“Well for starters, I am wearing a tank top and if you look really hard, you can see my nipples.”

He eyed me. “Can I try? You know, just to be sure.”

I roll my eyes. “The thing is, I’m a pregnant woman whose hormones are a bit imbalanced. I’m not wearing underwear and we share a bond. I’m just scared that my nipples would greet him if he is to walk in here.”

“So you like him then?”

“I’m his mate Mujin. I’m expected to like him.”

“So you don’t like him?”

“Does anyone?”

“The Icelanders. All of us.”

“What about you? Do you like him?”

He siled. “I like Raja better. The lycan knows what he wants. Honestly, I think you should relax. Igrith’s probably showing him her new additions to the palace, so you’ve still got time to change.”

I smile. “Do you think he’d return the greeting?”

Mujin chuckled. “I think it would upset Igrith if he did.”

My smile widens. “Then I’m not changing.”

Just then, the door opened and Igrith walked in, Ruarc by her side. Accompanying the, were the rest of the concubines all dressed in silk dresses. Ruarc glances at me, shaking his head.

I grin, turning to Igrith. “Well, you guys are late. Food like this shouldn’t be wasted, so stop gaping at my awesomeness and sit.”

Someone snorted. A fucking brunette. “Awesomeness? Get over yourself darling. You can never be awesome, especially with those rags.”

Ruarc clenched his jaw.

I turn to the brunette. “Now look here Britney…”

She scoffed, interrupting me. “It’s Courtney.”

“Britney, Courtney, I don’t care. Now, listen to me. I don’t and will never need your approval. Secondly, these clothes? They might be rags, but they are more comfortable unlike that sit you’re wearing. I see the way you keep tugging at it. I would have said take it off but, I’d like to save my eyes.”

Mujin snorted. She glared at me. I glared back. No one talks to my face and get away with it. “You little…”

“Enough Courtney,” Igrith said, her voice cold as ice as she turned to Ruarc. “My prince, we’re ready when you are.”

I walked over to the head of the table, pulled out the chair and sat down.

Igrith glared at me. “The seat is for the prince. Get up.”

I ignore her, drumming my fingers against the table. It was made of glass and not ice.

“Don’t worry. Let her sit,” Ruarc said, looking at me. “I’ll sit opposite her.”

Igrith was baffled. “Then where will I sit? In case you’ve forgotten, I am the head of the royal wombs! The seat at the head belongs to me!”

Ruarc pursed his lips, eyes never leaving my head Igrith, but please just for today, let her sit there.”

I roll my eyes again. Can’t believe he’s actually pleading.

Igrith resigned. “You know I could just sit on your lap,” she said, smiling at him.

Can she be any more shameless? Well, it’s about time I intervened.

“My, my Igrith. I didn’t know giving the prince a hard on during breakfast was part of the plan,” I say, looking at them.

She glared at me. “It’s Lady Igrith to you wench.”

Ruarc turned to her. “What did you just say?”

She shrugged. “Wench. She’s a wench.”

Ruarc held her face. “She is not a wench. Call her names again and I’ll rip your tongue out,” he snarled, releasing her, before turning to the rest of the concubines.

“Kayleigh and Lydia, stay by my sides,” he said, then took his seat, the ladies following suit. Igrith huffed, but said the grace when she was asked. And then, we started eating.

“My prince, may I ask you a question?”

I sigh. Is she always this chatty?

Ruarc’s eyes briefed hers. “Only one.”

“Why is she here, and is it true that she has your mother’s approval to disobey the law?”

His eyes narrowed. “That’s two questions Igrith.”

“My apologies. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Ruarc sipped at his glass, then set it down. “Crinka is here because my mother commanded it. I expect that you will make her comfortable. As for her approval to disobey the laid down rules, well, I cannot say for certain.”

I scoff. Is he being serious right now? “Lest I forget prince, you were the one who said I could do as I please.”

“I did not. Those were the words you wanted to hear but I never said them. The rule binds everyone in their kingdom Crinka and it’s treason to disobey. It’s bad enough that you’re a wolf and that you’re here so please show some respect.”

I didn’t feel like eating anymore. How could he say that to me? I wasn’t disobeying the rules. I was only ignoring them. Why couldn’t he see that?

I push my chair back as loudly as I can before standing up. “Thank you so much for reminding me that even if I’m Sia’s concubine and your mate, I will always be the unwanted she-wolf.”

And with that I stormed out of the room, Mujin closely behind me.