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Chapter 13

My chambers were more like a series of very large rooms connected through tall, open, wooden archways. Long windows lined in stone sat against the back wall and peaked through the other room- although, they were all covered in snow and ice.

I could only stare at the rooms in awe. Even the house I shared with Mae and Leikos back in the village was smaller than these chambers. I stood just inside the door, my eyes gazing out at the little seating area that held a large fireplace and a few cushioned chairs sitting casually around the small table in the middle of the room.

I tried not to let my mouth hang open like a fool as I dragged my heavy trunk into the room and closed the door slowly behind me. Someone, a servant probably, had already started a fire for me, and I welcomed the much-needed warmth.

I dragged my luggage under the small archway that led to the spacious bed chamber with an even larger bed lying in the middle. I let out a tired sigh at the sight of the inviting blankets and pillows. Finally, a good night's rest. My body automatically headed for the bed, ready for the sleep it so desperately craved- until my eyes landed on the smaller room on the far side.

It was a marble laded wash-room with steam rising from the already full bear-clawed tub. I turned slowly where I stood. Everything was so- pristine, so white. So elegant. I felt like an unworthy Underling just from looking at the glistening marble. I shook my head and tried to stifle a yawn, the King wouldn't have put me here if he didn't want me to be. I was allowed to enjoy the room- enjoy the warm bath water calling my name.

There was a plush, white towel folded neatly on the marble counter top beside the tub, along with a thick, long-sleeved, dark blue dress that looked more than comfortable. I paused and chewed softly on my bottom lip. I had my own clothes, obviously they were for the Lower Kingdom, but still. Was the dress a gift? Or an obvious sign the King didn't approve of my other clothing?

I shook my head of those ridiculous thoughts before hurriedly untying the thick cloak from around my shoulders, and shucking off the green tunic and black cotton pants. "Ah..." I moaned loudly as my stiff, cold, body sank into the relieving warmth of the bath. "So good..." I mumbled into the quiet air surrounding me.

Quiet air- silent air.

Was it always going to be this eerie?

I spent longer than necessary in the water, but the soaps resting on the ledge beside me were too inviting, and felt like silk against my sore, dirty skin. I didn't climb out of the tub until the water had turned cold and brown from the dirt I had scrubbed from my skin and hair.

The soft towel felt like heaven against my damp, pink, skin as I dried the water from my body. The air was still chilly, despite the heat from the fireplace filling my chambers, and I quickly reached for the thick blue dress. If it was a gift, refusing to wear it would be beyond rude. And if it wasn't- well, I would have to deal with my wardrobe some other time. The dress's fabric was soft, and snug against my skin, and instantly forced the cold from my aching limbs.

I blinked up into the large mirror over the marble washbasin, and frowned. I looked- sad. Tired and upset. I was sad that Terif was blaming himself for what happened, upset that he felt like he deserved to be punished, and sad that the King barely even glanced my way. Like I was nothing. Honestly, I was nothing. Just a peasant girl with no true family and a strange energy that tried to kill her.

The thought had barely flitted through my mind when a loud knock sounded on the main door. I jumped at the unexpected sound and tried not to frown before hurriedly running the towel through my wet hair. It was getting late, beyond late really, and I doubted I would be seeing Terif again for a while. Nerves suddenly raced through my body. Was it the King? Did he come to talk like I had so desperately wanted before?

I stopped just behind the entrance door, my heart pounding in my chest as butterflies raced through my stomach. I let out a ragged breath. I could do this. So what if it was the King? We've have conversations before. Nothing to worry about. I brushed my damp hair over my shoulder before reaching slowly for the handle and easing the door open.

One of the large wolf-bornes who had been in the room with the King on our arrival was staring down at me, his dark brown eyes flickering as they scanned over my face. My own gaze widened in surprised. Definitely not who I was expecting.

"Uh, um... C-Can I help you?" I asked in surprise as, what I can only assume was another General, leaned casually against the door-frame in front of me. His brown eyes flashed until they seemed to glow like Terif's had before his lips pulled up a fraction at the corners.

"The King has invited you to dine with him. I will bring you there, if you would like."

My heart stuttered at his words, and I was quickly nodding my acceptance before I even realized it. I was surprised at the soft chuckle that passed the wolfs lips, at the amusement lighting his eyes.

He already seemed so different than the General I had grown accustomed to. He seemed friendly. His hair was the color of wet sand, and his dark eyes glowed in the dim light of the castle as he gave me a small bow.

"I am the King's Beta and Second in Command. But you may call me Aeyron, my lady."

Second in Command- Whoa. First Terif, and now him? I figured the King would have them doing something far more important than escorting me everywhere, especially with how high up in rank they were.

I quickly gave him a little curtsy and small smile as he stepped away from the door and gestured into the hall, his lips pulling into a small grin of their own. "I'm Emrie." I murmured politely and tried to keep my gaze lowered respectfully as I stepped into the hallway. Aeyron closed the door softly behind me.

"Yes, I am aware."

I felt that embarrassed heat rise to my cheeks at his soft chuckle, and avoided his gaze as I began to quickly braid my damp hair. Of course he would know who I was. How embarrassing.

I brushed the braid behind my back and bit my lip to anxiously as I followed his large back down the hall. Aeyron seemed nice enough, but he was such a stark difference from Terif already. I had a sickening feeling I would actually miss the General's rude bipolar attitude. I hoped the King hadn't done something terrible to him.

"You seem worried."

My eyes widened and snapped to the large wolf-borne at my side as his dark eyes stared down at me in something close to a warm concern. Well, that was something I definitely wasn't used to. Terif was hardly the one to ever start a conversation before, and the King and I usually just stared at each other.

"N-No, I'm just nervous. I guess..." I answered softly as he led me down a flight of marble stairs and into that beautiful statue hallway from before. Aeyron gave me a warm smile.

"Don't be. The King acts like he denies it, but I know he has been anxious for your arrival. He is happy you are here."

I couldn't stop the bright flicker of hope that ignited in my chest at his words. The King of the North was happy that I was here, in his castle, with him. A ridiculously happy smile crossed my face. Maybe we would get to spend time together after all.

I followed the King's Second in Command a little further down the hall before he stopped in front of a large oak door and knocked softly against the hard wood. "Enter." Eirik's voice reached my ears almost immediately, and my chest clenched around my rapidly beating heart. I would never get used to how my body reacted to that beautiful sound.

Aeyron shot me one last smile before opening the door and ushering me inside the dimly lit room. My eyes widened in awe. The chamber was definitely designed for dining, and held a long, dark wooden table with more than a handful of chairs sitting on either side. The King sat at the far end, a plate already in front of him, as well as one in front of the chair at his side. His head lifted at out entrance, and my breath caught in my throat when that lightning gaze locked on mine.

"Thank you, Aeyron. You may leave."

"North." The General nodded and gave me another small bow and smile before turning to leave the room once again- the door closing heavily behind him. I bit my lip nervously. It's felt like years since I've seen him in person, when it's barely been more than one moon. My stomach was a fluttering mess.

"I am sorry for acting so short earlier." The King started softly, his blue eyes staring shivering holes into mine as he stood slowly from his chair. "I did not mean to upset you."

A small smile pulled at my lips at the concern shining through his dark gaze. "It's alright." I murmured softly as he leaned casually against the table.

I wasn't sure how to feel, to tell the truth. I was upset he was going to let Terif beg to be punished, and I was upset he dismissed me so brusquely. But I understood why he was upset about the whole attack, especially since my skull had apparently been broken. But that still didn't put Terif at fault, he didn't deserve to be punished.

It was silent between us for a few, long seconds as a thin layer of tension filled the air. Neither of us moved from that intense lock-gaze we always seemed to share. The King was the first to break the quiet. "Come, little Emrie. You must be hungry." His deep voice was soft as he turned and pulled the chair beside his out for me. My cheeks burned brightly as I gave him a small nod before walking over to the large table.

"Thank you." I murmured as he pushed the chair in for me before sitting down himself- a small smile pulling at his full lips.

I forced my eyes to glance down at the food in front of us instead of staring up at him as desperately as I wanted to. The rumors of his beauty did not do him justice, he was by far the most handsome man I had ever met. And he seemed so far out of reach.

I let my mind wander to the table in front of us. There was an assortment of different foods, all sitting on platters around our plates- just begging to be eaten. My stomach growled at the sight and the King chuckled.

"Eat." That one word had me complying almost instantly and I was reaching up to pull various foods onto my plate without any further urging. Beside a few pieces of bread, Terif and I hadn't eaten at all that day- or the day before. I was beyond hungry.

The food was delicious, the fruits were perfectly sweet, the meats and vegetables nicely seasoned, and the dim light from the fire place only seemed to make it look ten times better. We both ate in silence for a few long minutes, despite the desperate urge I had to stare up at him and never glance away.

"Was your time enjoyable in the Lower Kingdom?" He asked once the hungry monster in my stomach had subsided and I sat back in my seat with the water glass clutched firmly in my hand. I gave him a small smile, but refused to glance up at his bright blue eyes. I couldn't risk getting lost in them.

"What little I did there, yes. I enjoyed it." Besides two days of wandering the market with Mae, I hadn't done anything in the Lower Kingdom. Most of the week I had been stuck in my room because of my ankle, and then carted back to the North after- after I had almost died. Terif had saved me, and not he was in trouble for something he couldn't control.

My smile slowly disappeared and the King let out a soft sigh. "Do not worry about the General, little Emrie. I will not do anything to him."

I was surprised he knew what I was thinking, and even more so at the sudden heavy weight that lifted from my chest. My smile returned as I raised my glass to my lips. "How did... How did he save me?" I murmured against my cup before taking a small sip. His eyes flickered up to mine before glancing back across the room, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

"There are some things that are too complicated to explain in one conversation. I will tell you, in time."

Despite the electric warmth that surged through me at his voice, it only made me frown. Terif never told me anything, and now the King wouldn't either- how perfect. There was a moment of silence before he let out a soft sigh and leaned a little towards me. My heart fluttered at the action.

"And what about when we were on the ship? How were you there?" I knew I had a fool's heart to even hope he would answer my questions, he's made it more than obvious he plans on keeping his secrets to himself. His bright eyes flickered and he leaned heavily back in his seat.

"That is one of the things I cannot tell you, yet."

I only frowned and kept my eyes cast away from him. I felt as clouded and kept in the dark as the shifters on the base of the mountain. Then again, that was all I was to them- to him. An Underling.

"I know what happened was not Terif's fault. But, you have to understand." He started softly, his blue eyes glowing in the dim lighting of the room as he leaned forward again- my questions no longer leering in tension above our heads. "You cannot die. I could not handle it if you died."

My heart seemed to skip at his words, my breath sitting heavily in my chest as I gazed over at his soul-shattering eyes. What was he saying?

"I know we do not know each other," He spoke low, his voice deep as it shook through every part of me. "And I know that I wanted to keep you away, but you can't possibly imagine what I felt when you- when you... 'bumped your head'." His blue eyes flashed dangerously at his words and his jaw clenched in anger before he broke our intense gaze and glanced away.

"I want to keep you close. To ensure that nothing like that will ever happen again. And that's what I plan to do."

My chest was thumping wildly at his words, at the meaning behind them. He wanted to keep me close- close to him. It might not be the exact 'I want you in my life as my mate' admittance that I would have liked, but it was a close second. I was just happy he wanted me near him. I couldn't keep the smile from my lips.

"But-"

And just like that, all the hope bubbling inside my chest evaporated, and my smile slowly fell. I should have realized there would be a catch. There always seemed to be one with him.

"I still do not want anyone to know about you. It is too risky, especially now that you are staying in the castle. There are people who don't belong here, people I have to keep my eye on."

His words made me frown, and the saddened look in his eyes didn't help anything either. He was a king, The King of the North. If he was worried about someone, he would eradicate them. I didn't understand why he would let them roam his kingdom freely.

"I just want you to understand this in case we don't see each other for a long while."

A long while.

"And I don't believe you should wander the castle without one of my General's with you. It would raise too many question from too many unwanted lips if they saw an Underling wandering freely around my home."

An Underling. There it was again, that word. I never missed how distasteful it sounded when it left Terif's lips- or the King's. That was all I was to them, to him. And that's what I probably always would be.

"I understand." I whispered softly as the sound of crackling fire wood and flames floated around us.

I was too afraid to speak any louder, too afraid that he would be able to sense the hurt ringing through me. I shouldn't have been feeling that way. I should have been thankful just for staying in his castle. I was never supposed to have him anyways.

"Little Emrie," His deep voice started softly, his eyes still sad as his hand reached up and brushed gently over my cheek. Warmth spread through me at his touch, but I couldn't bring myself to look up at him- to look into those bright eyes. "Don't look so sad. This is for the best. To keep you safe." His voice had turned into a soft, gentle, murmur, and his blue eyes tried to look reassuring as I forced a smile on my lips.

"I know." I didn't, but I would say anything to make him change the subject. The longer I thought about it, the sadder it made me. His dark eyes stared unhappily over at me for a moment before he blinked and let out a soft sigh.

"It is getting late." He spoke low as his warm hand fell from my cheek and he pulled away. "You must be exhausted. I will have Aeyron lead you back to your chambers." I couldn't stop the small frown from pulling on my lips as he stood slowly to his feet before easing my chair back for me.

Our conversation always ended just barely after it began, and he seemed to always want to leave in a hurry. His words before weighed heavily on my heart. He spoke as if he truly did care about me, and yet he never seemed to want to be around me for too long- to have to deal with me for too long.

I blinked when the door to the dining hall suddenly opened and a smiling Aeyron entered. "Are you ready, my lady?" He didn't bother addressing the King, which I found rather odd, but I didn't comment as I nodded and walked towards his outstretched arm. I gave his beaming smile a small one of my own.

"Before I forget Emrie, I would like to introduce you to the rest of my General's tomorrow." His voice didn't hold room for argument, but the questioning look in his blue eyes let me know he was ultimately leaving the decision up to me. I could only nod at him before turning back to Aeyron, whose large smile was slowly fading.

"Sleep well." Eirik called softly after us, the haunting tone in his voice pulling at my heart strings.

"You too." I murmured back at him before allowing Aeyron to casually slip his arm through mine and lead me away.

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