Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King

Chapter 112: 0112

Kaelen POV

It was nearly twenty minutes past eight when Kalu and Nala finally made their way downstairs to the main dining hall.

By then, the kitchen staff had already finished setting the table, arranging an impressive spread of roasted game, heavily spiced root vegetables, and fragrant variations of rice. The rich, savory aroma filled every corner of the room, making it impossible to ignore.

I sat at the head of the long dining table, dressed in a tailored charcoal gray button down shirt with a crisp collar. Darius occupied the seat immediately to my right, his posture as rigid as ever, wearing nothing more than a fitted cream T shirt.

"Hmm... what is that wonderful aroma?" Kalu asked as he walked into the room.

Even for a private dinner, his presence carried an unmistakable royal authority.

He wore a collarless, asymmetrical wrap vest crafted from heavy midnight black silk that fell sharply past his hips. A broad sash woven with matte gold thread was wrapped tightly around his waist, accentuating the clean lines of the garment before flowing into wide leg obsidian trousers that rested perfectly over polished leather shoes.

Walking beside him, Nala wore a flowing black silk gown that draped elegantly over her figure, the hem nearly sweeping the floor with every step. The bodice featured a dramatic geometric plunge that dipped almost to her navel, revealing the soft curve of her cleavage. Fine antique gold embroidery traced the edges of the neckline, catching the warm glow of the light whenever she moved.

"You two seem to match quite a lot," I commented, my gaze drifting to the identical gold thread woven into the hem of Kalu’s vest. "Was that intentional, or...?"

At that, Kalu let out a quiet chuckle.

"Nae, shai’ren. Azhan vara sen." (Nae, look at this. This King has a terrible sense of humor.) he said in their native tongue, his lips curving into a teasing smile, speaking words I couldn’t understand.

Hearing that, Nala let out an amused snicker before her golden eyes found mine.

"It is only a twin coincidence," she replied with a smile as she finally released her brother’s arm. "It has followed us since we were children."

Slowly, her gaze drifted toward Darius.

"Your Beta remains a quiet man," she observed as she stepped closer to his side of the table. Her eyes followed him like a serpent stalking its prey. "Not once has he offered us a word since our arrival."

"He’s just shy," I replied.

But the truth was, I knew he had only become quieter than usual because Ella had once again been in my bed.

The thought of her alone made my heart clench painfully.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how distant and cold she had been just a few hours ago in her room. Why had she suddenly snapped at me like that? Had I said or done something wrong? Or was she truly just exhausted?

A quiet, frustrated sigh slipped past my lips as I forced myself to push those thoughts aside and return my attention to the table.

By then, Nala was lightly tapping two fingers against Darius’s shoulder, studying him with the unmistakable look of someone deliberately trying to provoke a reaction. Darius remained completely expressionless, his eyes fixed straight ahead as though she wasn’t even there.

"You are much too handsome to hide behind silence," she whispered, her gaze slowly trailing down to the sliver of bare skin exposed where his shirt collar had loosened. The corner of her lips curled into a teasing smile. "Perhaps I should help you out of it."

Darius finally turned his eyes toward her. His stare was cold and unreadable, though his voice remained respectful.

"I’m not interested," he said flatly.

But Nala’s smile never wavered.

"That is how they all begin," she murmured. "Though I have always preferred my men obedient... I believe I could persuade you otherwise, given enough time."

As she spoke, her fingers slid upward, gently pinching the tip of his ear in a mockingly playful gesture.

"Nae, vasha e’tor." (Nae, don’t bother.) Kalu cut in as he casually took the seat to my left. "Vara en sa’mor keth gravan. Ven eshara; ven shava." (That man’s heart is as heavy as a gravestone. There’s nothing there worth chasing.)

The moment those words left his mouth, Nala’s smile finally faded.

With a long, bored sigh, she withdrew her hand from Darius before turning away and taking the seat beside her brother.

"Why have you called us to your table so soon after our arrival?" Kalu asked, leaning back in his chair as he casually adjusted the collar of his vest. "It tells me there is something pressing on your mind."

"We should eat first," I replied evenly, gesturing toward the lavish spread before us. "The food is getting cold."

Kalu let out a low, dark chuckle and slowly shook his head.

"My appetite disappears quickly whenever the air tastes of unfinished business," he said. "So let us hear it first. The food can wait."

At his words, I exchanged a brief, weighted look with Darius. He caught my eye immediately and gave the slightest nod before turning his attention back to the prince.

"We’d like to ask for a favor," Darius said, his voice calm, flat, and straight to the point.

"Ah..." Kalu breathed, a knowing smirk spreading across his face as he glanced at his sister. "Vara azhan sen vora na’esh. Azhan vorak esha ven tora; shava neth." (I knew it was too good to be true. This greedy King would never treat us to a feast without wanting something in return.)

Nala let out a soft snicker, resting her chin on her hand as amusement flickered through her golden eyes.

Kalu turned back to me, the playful edge in his expression disappearing as his demeanor shifted into something far more businesslike.

"You already know, Alpha King," he said, the playfulness leaving his voice. "A favor asked of me is never freely given."

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the polished mahogany table while locking his golden eyes onto mine with predatory intensity.

"So tell me... what do you bring to the table?"

I didn’t so much as blink.

I had expected this.

"Exclusive, discreet access to the sacred Moon Grove on the northern edge of my territory for the next two weeks," I answered. "Your harvesters may gather whatever nocturnal herbs or rare soil minerals they need without interference from my pack patrols."

Kalu’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he silently calculated the worth of what I had just offered.

A slow grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Double it," he said. "One full month of unrestricted access. And my harvesters will have permission to source from the underground cavern streams beneath the grove."

My jaw tightened.

Access to the cavern streams was pushing far beyond what I had intended to offer.

But this wasn’t for me.

It was for Ella.

"Fine," I said through gritted teeth, forcing my voice to remain steady. "One month. You’ll have access to the cavern streams as well."

Kalu’s grin stretched wider, clearly pleased with how effortlessly he had expanded his harvesting rights.

Leaning back in his chair, he laced his fingers together over his chest.

"Good," he said, satisfaction settling comfortably into his voice. "Now... tell me what this favor truly is."