The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 31

"That's not what I meant... and I declined your offer of hospitality, just so you know!" I say in anger.

King Fenris and the men stop laughing.

"Yet, you are here," he smiles.

"Against my will," I say.

The King gives me a look of confusion.

I raise my arms to show the chains.

"I would love to hop down from this horse, but I cannot, seeing as I am in chains!" I yell.

The king approaches me and inspects my shackled wrists with obvious painful burns.

"Sir Hugo!" King Fenris yells.

Sir Hugo approaches King Fenris and bows.

"Yes, my King." he says.

"What is the meaning of the shackles and chains?" he yells at Sir Hugo. Sir Hugo looks up in confusion.

"I told you to offer her temporary lodgings on my behalf so she would be safe until the war is over! Not kidnap and chain her up!" He yells.

"But my King..." Sir Hugo tries to talk.

I gasp as Sir Hugo is struck across his face by King Fenris' armoured hand. Blood dribbles from Sir Hugo's nose.

"Now get out of my sight before I have you lashed again!" King Fenris yells. Sir Hugo looks angry. He wipes the blood from his nose and flicks it onto the ground.

"Yes, my King," he says and walks away into one of the tents.

"Princess, I'm so sorry for whatever Sir Hugo has put you through. He was meant to offer you safety at my lodgings, only if you accepted," he says sincerely.

"So, I'm not being held captive here?" I ask.

"Of course not." He says. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Commander James! General Zander! Help the Princess down from the horse immediately," he instructs.

The men approach and disconnect the cuffs from the horse's reigns and around my wrists and hold me around my waist as I get down from the horse.

Commander James is looking at me and holding my waist longer than is necessary. I glare at him.

"I'm so sorry, Princess. I don't mean to stare. It's just that you're more beautiful than I imagined."

King Fenris kneels, takes my hands and gently places a kiss.

"Commander James is right. You are more beautiful than anyone could imagine," King Fenris says. I blush.

"I'll escort you to the castle and tend to those wounds. I'm sure you're hungry and tired?" He says.

"I am and very thirsty too," I add.

"It is," he says.

"I won't be staying long," I say.

King Fenris briefly squints at me before quickly repositioning his body on the seat. He smiles and nods.

"You're free to leave whenever you wish." He says. I return the smile, happy and content I'm not going to be held here against my will.

King Fenris helps me out of the carriage. I loop my arm through his, and he escorts me up the stairs and into the castle.

Two footmen, a little shorter than I, stand by two twelve-foot-tall, white-glossed, open doors, holding their long gold handles, on ceremony.

"Your Grace," they say, bowing, and we walk inside the castle before stopping in front of a middle-aged woman in a long-sleeved, black dress and a keyring full of keys pinned to her dress pocket.

"Mrs Fields, this is Maia. Maia, this is Mrs Fields, my Head Housekeeper. Please escort Maia to her room, the room next to mine. Get the staff to tend to her wrists, and tell the cook to make whatever she wants for dinner. I will be accompanying her then," King Fenris says.

"Yes, my Lord," she says, curtsying and taking my hand.

"Maia, I have some urgent matters I need to tend to. I'll join you for dinner, and we can discuss the war and so forth," he says kindly.

"Yes, I'd like that. Thank you," I say.

Mrs Fields leads me up the grand staircase, along a lengthy passage, and into a stunning bedroom, with a Queen-sized four-poster bed and a balcony. I run outside through two open doors and admire the views.

"The view is breath-taking," I tell Mrs Fields, and she chuckles.

"It is indeed. We're very blessed with excellent views here," she says.