Chapter 94: Chapter 94: ELOWEN WINESTRONG

VALORIA WILDEROSE

I spend what feels like an eternity banging on the doors and pulling and throwing lightweight furniture to break the lock, but it’s like the ordinary wooden door is actually crafted from reinforced steel.

I would have called for help with my phone, except Alice swiped it off me like a thieving fox the moment she got close enough and while I was distracted.

She planned everything perfectly to a T, and I was foolish enough to fall for her trap.

Azrael was just warning me yesterday not to stand out and to blend into the background.

I’m sure not showing up at all—and Alice pointing it out—would be a far cry from what he meant.

I give up on screaming and knocking, sliding down to the floor with my back resting against the door and hugging my knees, completely resigned to my fate.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Let’s say this lady is as crazy as Azrael made her out to be. I’d be locked up in a dungeon or kicked out and sent off to some faraway land if she doesn’t kill me for disrespecting her on a whim.

Either way I’d still die… by her hands or by Azrael’s, or by the ticking timer waiting to take my life if I don’t screw my head on right and focus on finding this dagger and killing him.

How much time is even left now? Seventy days?

How does one kill a man when the only way to go through with it is to constantly convince yourself he’s born from pure evil?

What is wrong with you, Valoria? Stop being sentimental!

I groan, pulling at my hair, hoping the pain will be distracting enough now that I’m alone with my thoughts.

Just before I can sink deeper into depression, there’s banging on the other end of the door.

“Lady Valoria?!”

I rush to my feet with excitement at the sound of Yue’s voice, never being so grateful to hear it before.

“Yue! It’s me! I’m in here!” I yell even louder on the off chance the door is soundproof.

She fiddles with the door handle for a few seconds until the door bursts open and she rushes in. I let out a sigh of relief at being set free.

“You have to hurry.” She doesn’t bother with pleasantries after finally finding me. Instead she starts pushing me through the door. “Her Majesty is already at the gate, driving in, and you’re not dressed.”

There’s panic in her voice, more than usual—enough for the seriousness of all of this to finally sink in.

If she’s already here, then there’s no point in running all the way back to my room to change into another outfit.

Forget about dressing to impress.

I run out the door before Yue can have her way in dragging me back, ignoring her frantic calls towards me.

Along the way, my comfy indoor bunny slippers become more of a hindrance than help to me, so I let them slide off my feet, sprinting barefoot.

I make it to the front entrance in under two minutes, where the line of women are gathered.

I’m panting and dripping perspiration as the convoy of guards and maids approach the waiting women with their heads already bowing forward.

I duck between the concubines quickly, hiding in the back and blending in with them all in record time, with a mental back pat for not letting Alice put me in as much trouble as she was hoping to.

Sadly, my triumphant moment is short-lived.

“You, in the back wearing jeans and barefoot.” A voice calls out into the crowd.

I freeze.

I don’t need to look around like everyone does to know that out of everyone wearing stylish dresses, I’m the only one in plain jeans and a baggy shirt with bare dirty feet.

All eyes shift towards me, realizing it too.

Their piercing gazes force me to reveal myself. I step forward while the crowd parts ways for me until I’m fully out in the open, looking disgraceful.

My head remains low, hesitant to look up.

The thudding of feet echoes amidst the chilling quietness around us, drawing closer and closer towards me until a pair of heeled combat boots are within my line of sight.

A powerful, overwhelming aura rolls off her—one that has my instincts instantly on high alert.

I don’t need to be told who the person standing in front of me is.

A finger suddenly digs underneath my chin, forcing me to look at her, seeing her face for the first time.

Dressed in an all-black leather overall that clings to her body, she’s tall and gorgeous.

Taller with her heeled shoes, to the point that her body tilts lower to look at me. Lean and muscled, attesting to the fact that she’s been in more than a few physical fights.

But her muscles don’t take anything from her feminine curves.

She’s the epitome of a powerful woman with platinum blonde hair in a tight neat ponytail and obsidian eyes.

One glance at her build and the powerful presence dripping off her, I can tell she’s a Lycan—a strong one, bearing close similarities with Azrael.

“Your face isn’t familiar,” she comments, assessing my features with a strong accent and a mature voice, tilting my head sideways before she lets go. “You’re late.”

I was hoping she wouldn’t notice.

“I-I was—” a stutter comes out in an attempt to speak while shaking in my pants, but she’s the least bit interested in a response.

“And filthy. What is your name?”

Her eyes wash over me from head to toe, picking me apart piece by piece until I’m bare.

I clear my throat, summoning courage to speak clearly, answering like a soldier in the middle of a drill.

“Valoria Wilderose.”

“Valoria.” She repeats my name, tasting the sound on her tongue and rolling the R a bit too passionately. “You must be one of the king’s newest whores in his ever-growing harem.”

I flinch at her particular choice of words even though they hold no malice, no displeasure. She states it like a fact—plain and casual.

We’re all the king’s whores, and she’s his actual wife. The Luna.

“You’re pretty but too skinny.”

Her assessment finally comes to a halt, and she finally looks at me like a person, not a random piece of fabric at a marketplace.

“Although my journey has been a hassle, it’s still my job to familiarize myself with every one of his whims. I’ll be expecting you in my room within the hour,” she states plainly before walking right past me, the entourage of maids at her disposal following closely behind.

Everyone bows until she’s inside.

That encounter was far from what I was expecting.

I anticipated a woman scorned, filled with hatred and envy for having to share her husband.

A furiously jealous wife looking for every opportunity to spit venom at anyone daring to listen.

Azrael described her as a “crazy lady,” but she seems calm and civil. She acts like the world is at her feet but she couldn’t be bothered with it.

Powerful, composed, and completely indifferent.

It’s admirable.

“Valoria.” Calliope calls me from a distance once the crowd of women begins to scatter one by one.

Elodie and Yara follow closely behind, adorned and gorgeous too. My smile widens once I set my eyes on them, relieved by a familiar face.

“Hey, guys.”

“What happened? Why were you late?” Calliope starts off with a worrisome frown.

I laugh nervously, embarrassed by the details.

“It’s a long story, but the summary is—Alice.”

“That bitch,” Elodie seethes at the sound of her name, and rightfully so.

“Listen to me, Valoria. You need to be careful around Elowen.” Yara grabs both my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.

Her face is serious and terrified, like a conspiracy theorist. I flinch away.

“Why?”

“This is not the time to be asking questions. I need you to nod and promise me you’ll have all your guards up when you’re with her.”

Now she’s freaking me out.

Yara is typically aloof with a resting bitch face that keeps most people at bay. Still, she’s unaffected by many things, but now she’s acting spooked.

I want to play it off with a joke, but the terror in her eyes dissuades me.

“O-okay,” I nod instead.

Her hands drop from my shoulder and she walks in without another word. The three of us watch her leave with brisk steps.

“Yara and Elowen have pretty bad beef between them. It’s to be expected considering she’s just right under her in level of authority,” Calliope gives a vague explanation.

“That, and the fact that she’s the only one that’s bravely stood up to her in the past—and Azrael is the only reason she’s still alive, as much as she hates to admit it.” Elodie gives me only a slight preview of the details.

I remain speechless and even more confused.

Just how bad could Elowen be?

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