I wiped my palms on my skirt as I stepped out into the hallway, still trying to calm my heartbeat. The palace walls felt colder now, like they were leaning in, watching me. Every step I took echoed louder than I wanted it to. I just wanted to pass through unnoticed.
Belinda stood near the main staircase, her hand wrapped tightly around Rowan’s arm like she was afraid he’d vanish. Her fingers curled possessively against his bicep, her head tilted sweetly toward him, but her eyes, when they met mine, were anything but sweet.
Rowan didn’t look at me. His face was blank, but his jaw was tight.
"Oh, good," Belinda said, her voice loud and sugary as syrup. "There you are, Lisa."
I walked closer, careful not to meet Rowan’s eyes. "Yes?"
She smiled, too wide. "I need you to clean the guest room on the second floor. The one with the green curtains. I’ll be going out for a bit with Rowan, but I’ll be sleeping here tonight."
She said it so casually, like it was normal, like I needed to know where she’d be sleeping. But I understood the message behind her words. It wasn’t about the room. It was about him. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
She stood there with her arm locked in Rowan’s, her smile smug and eyes full of challenge. Her voice was sweet, but laced with venom as she gave the order: clean the guest room, her room for the night.
I understood what she was doing. She wanted me to picture it. To imagine her curled up beside him in a warm, soft bed, laughing and whispering into the night. While I would be curled up on a thin, cold mattress in the servant quarters, trying to silence my tears with the scratchy pillow they gave me.
She wanted to see if I would flinch.
I wanted to scream. To ask her why she hated me so much. To remind her that I never asked for any of this. That I never wanted to be the mate of the triplets. That I didn’t want any part of this twisted, cruel palace life.
But I didn’t have the strength.
I could feel the heat in my eyes, the sting of unshed tears, but I didn’t let them fall. I kept my head down. I clutched the cleaning cloth tighter in my hand, like that small act could keep me grounded.
"I’ll take care of it," I said softly, barely above a whisper.
Her smile widened, satisfied. She leaned her head against Rowan’s shoulder, brushing her fingers down his chest, like marking territory.
"Good girl," she whispered mockingly.
I nodded once more, turned around, and walked away without another word.
I wouldn’t give her the reaction she wanted.
I stepped into the guest room Belinda mentioned. The one with the green curtains. The air inside was still, a little musty, like it hadn’t been used in a while. I set down the small bucket and cloth I carried, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work.
I dusted the windowsill first, trying not to let my mind wander, to Belinda’s smile, to Rowan’s silence, to everything that still stung inside me. I just wanted to finish and leave.
I had just bent over to reach under the bed when I felt it.
Two strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
For a second, my body refused to move, my breath caught in my throat.
Then instinct took over.
I gasped, panicked, and tried to push the person away, but they were too strong. My heart pounded in my chest, wild and loud. I turned my head slightly, and that was when I saw him.
He was holding me firmly against him, his face way too close to mine. He smelled like spice and something darker, dangerous.
"Kael!" I said, struggling against his grip. "Let me go!"
But he didn’t loosen his hold. He leaned closer, his breath brushing the side of my neck. "You always smell like fresh bread now," he said slowly, like it was something amusing.
I pushed again, harder this time. "Stop! Please."
He finally let go, just a bit, but not enough for me to feel safe.
"You shouldn’t touch me like that," I said, my voice trembling.
He smirked. "Why? Isn’t this what you want? You’re our mate, remember?"
"I didn’t ask for this," I whispered, wiping my eyes quickly before they saw.
Kael just chuckled and took a step back, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Neither did we."
"Kael..." I said, my voice tense.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped forward, closing the space between us. I took a step back. Then another.
But the room wasn’t big, and soon, I found the wall behind me.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my hands pressed against his chest as he stood in front of me.
"I want to feel you," he said, voice low.
Before I could reply, he leaned forward.
I turned my face quickly. "Don’t," I said firmly.
But his lips still brushed the side of my cheek, and I pushed him harder this time.
"Stop it!" My voice cracked.
For a second, the air was heavy with silence. My hands were still between us, holding him away.
He stepped closer again, his breath brushing against my skin.
"Kael, stop," I said, louder this time, planting my palms against his chest.
His eyes were darker now, conflicted, but something else too. Something I didn’t like. His hands moved too quickly, grabbing my wrists and pinning them gently but firmly against the wall.
Panic exploded in my chest.
"No," I said sharply, twisting, trying to break free.
He leaned in, trying to kiss me. My heart pounded. I jerked my head to the side and brought my knee up, not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to make him loosen his grip.
I shoved him back with all the strength I had, slipping out from under his arm and stumbling across the room.
"Don’t touch me!" I shouted, breathless, voice shaking.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I cried.
He didn’t answer. Just stood there. Watching.
I didn’t wait to hear anything else. I ran.
Out the door, down the hall, my feet barely touched the floor as I fled. I didn’t stop until I found a quiet corner near the servants’ wing, clutching my chest, trying to breathe.
Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them away. I wasn’t going to fall apart.