Chapter 13

***Serafina's POV***

The ceremony finally ended. The crown was passed on to me. I am the new Queen of the Kingdom but I can't seem to find the happiness that I thought I would feel once I married King Calixto.

"I am proud of you Serafina or should I say Queen Serafina?" my father jokingly asked with a huge smile plastered on his face.

He looks delighted and the way his eyes shimmer from happiness tells me that I fulfilled his greatest dream.

"You don't have to address me formally Dad. I am still your daughter no matter what happens,"

He shook his head disagreeing with what I said.

"No Queen Serafina. You must keep in mind that you are already a Queen and you should be respected by everyone...even by your parents. Remember that you hold so much power in your hands so don't let anyone disrespect you do you understand? Let them know who is in power do you understand?"

I bit my lower lip as I slowly nod my head. How can I do that Dad when I can't win over a mere servant?

How can I use the power that you said I possess when I know I felt so powerless when it comes to Cressida?

"You should go. King Calixto must be waiting for you,"

I took a deep breath and politely nodded before looking at my mother who was silent while watching me the whole time.

I smiled at her to remove the worry written on her face.

I pulled her into a tight hug and whispered in her ear. "Take care of yourself, Mom. Don't worry about me I will be fine here. I can handle myself,"

I heard her taking a deep breath that was filled with unuttered heaviness.

When I broke off the hug and met her gaze I felt a pinch on my heart seeing her in pain. Her mouth may fail to utter her pain but her eyes show it.

I know if she has the power to go against my father she will save me from this situation but we have no choice. When it comes to Dad we are both powerless and all we can do is follow his orders.

"I will write often and I will try to visit you whenever I get the chance," she said making my father laugh.

"Come on Elizabeth, your daughter is not a kid anymore. She can handle herself besides I don't think she still has time to spend with you. She will be busy fulfilling her duty as a Queen and her sole priority should be bearing King Calixto's heir so let's not bother her okay?"

Sadness filled my mother's eyes that my father failed to notice or maybe he did, it's just that he doesn't care enough. He doesn't care if the words he said hurt my mother.

I held my mother's hand and gently squeezed it as I gave her an assuring smile.

"You can visit anytime you want Mom. I will always make time for you,"

I saw tears forming in the corner of her eyes and even though she was smiling at me it failed to hide the pain that she was carrying.

"We must leave Elizabeth we still have a long way to go. We can't let our territory's guard down for too long. Enemies are everywhere we need to secure our territory at all times,"

I can see it in my mother's face that she does not want to leave yet but she was left with no choice when Dad turned his back and started walking towards the carriage.

"Just write me if something happens Serafina,"

I nodded and pulled her for a quick hug.

"I will Mom. You should get going, Dad is already waiting for you,"

Mom smiled at me one last time before she started walking towards the carriage.

I watched her as she stepped inside and before they left I saw her wiping the tears from her eyes as she waved her hand.

"Queen Serafina, King Calixto is already waiting for you,"

I turned my head on Odessa who seemed to be waiting for me.

I nodded my head and followed her as she stepped inside the palace. We took the path leading to King Calixto's bedroom.

My heart is beating abnormally and I feel like my chest would explode any moment. I could feel my hands getting cold and my knees started shaking but I continued following Odessa.

After a few minutes of walking, we stopped in front of a huge wooden door.

I was standing behind Odessa while playing with my fingers trying to distract myself.

When Odessa knocked on the door I immediately fixed my posture and acted like I was not scared at all.

I took a deep breath trying to remove the heaviness in my chest but nothing happened I still feel scared.

When the door swung open revealing King Calixto still wearing his bloody suit I immediately bowed my head ashamed and scared to look at his blazing red eyes.

"I will leave you here Queen Serafina. Just call me if you need anything,"

When I heard Odessa's retreating footsteps fear enveloped my entire system and I felt like I would collapse any moment.

"You'll just stand there?" King Calixto asked his tone as cold as ice making me shiver in fear.

Even though looking at his eyes felt like death to me I still gathered all my courage to lift my head and meet his gaze.

I swallowed the lump on my throat and took a step forward entering his room.

This was the first time I set foot inside his room. It is huge but feels so small for some reason and I feel like I am being suffocated.

Paintings are hanging on the wall and in the center is a huge bed.

"Do you want me to strip you or you will do it yourself?" he coldly asked.

With shaking hands, I reached for the strap of the gown I was wearing and let it slide down on my shoulder until it fell on the floor revealing my bareness.

I wanted to cover my body when he scanned me from head to toe but I stopped the urge to do it afraid that it would make him mad.

When he started walking towards me the fear that I was feeling intensified and the moment he closed the gap between us and held my waist caressing it gently I couldn't help but close my eyes and moaned his name.

"King Calixto," I bit my lower lip when his hand slid down to my sensitive part and the moment he caressed it I lost the last bit of my sanity.

I snaked my arms on his nape and pulled his head closer to mine but before our lips could even touch a sarcastic laugh escaped his lips.

"You think I will claim you, Serafina?"

When he asked me that question I felt like cold water was poured on me making me freeze in place and pulling me back from reality.

The moment I opened my eyes and met his gaze I felt like a thousand needles were pierced through my heart.

"I won't let a woman like you bear my heir," he firmly uttered looking at me directly in the eyes.

"Then why did you marry me? Why did you mark me?" I asked while on the verge of crying.

His hand that was touching my sensitive part was now holding my chin. He lifted my face and pulled it even closer to him.

"To make you suffer. To make you pay for what you did to my mate. I will make you a useless Queen, Serafina,"