Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King

Chapter 116: 0116

Lorelei POV

Feeling completely full and more than ready to escape the suffocating atmosphere in the dining hall, I decided it was best to head straight back to the safety of my bedroom.

I turned toward the exit and had barely taken a few quiet steps away from the table when a slender, ice cold hand suddenly wrapped around my wrist, bringing me to an abrupt stop.

"And where is it you think you are going?" Nala purred right beside my ear.

She had appeared so suddenly and invaded my personal space so completely that I instinctively stumbled back, my heart shooting straight into my throat.

How?

Hadn’t she been sitting all the way across the table just a second ago? How the hell had she moved that fast without making a single sound?

"M... my room," I stammered, my eyes widening as I tried to pull my wrist free, but it didn’t budge.

Her grip felt like silk wrapped around steel.

Nala tilted her head, her long white braids cascading gracefully over her shoulder.

"Why?" she asked, drawing out the word as a beautiful, predatory smile curved across her lips. "The night is still much too young... Ella."

She slowly rolled my name off her tongue before her smile widened.

"Besides... I believe you and I have a few things to speak of."

Without giving me even a second to protest or look back at Kaelen and Darius for help, she turned on her heel and effortlessly pulled me along behind her.

****

"Where are we going?" I couldn’t help but ask as she led me farther and farther away from the main dining hall, through a series of corridors I had never been down before. My voice echoed softly against the stone walls.

"Why?" she asked, tilting her head back to look at me. "Has fear found you?"

As the words left her lips, the dark pupils in her golden eyes suddenly narrowed into sharp, vertical slits before returning to normal just as quickly.

My heart lurched violently, and I swore to the Moon Goddess that goosebumps erupted all over my skin.

Yeah, I was really starting to get scared now.

She must have sensed the sudden spike in my heartbeat because a low chuckle slipped from her lips.

"How foolish do you think I am?" she asked smoothly. "Even if I wished you harm, this is still the Alpha King’s territory. I know where my hand must end. Your guard need not follow after us like a lost little pup."

The moment those words left her mouth, her gaze shifted over my shoulder.

Instinctively, I turned to follow her line of sight and found Isaac casually walking a few paces behind us, doing his absolute best to blend in with the estate guards patrolling the corridors.

He had done such a good job that I had completely forgotten he was even back there, yet she had picked him out instantly.

Just how sharp were a royal witch’s senses?

Just how frightening were a royal witch’s senses?

"Though I do not believe his protection shall be needed," she added. "For a little while, you shall be within my walls."

Seeing my brows draw together in confusion, a playful smirk spread across her face.

"Do not trouble your thoughts. I am only taking you to the guest suite your king prepared for me."

Ah.

Her room.

A wave of awkwardness immediately washed over me.

Why on earth was she dragging me to her private room when this was literally our first real conversation?

Still, I didn’t protest.

It wasn’t as though I had much of a choice anyway.

Her grip on my wrist hadn’t loosened even once.

Instead, she smoothly shifted her hold, slipping her arm through mine and pressing herself against my side as we continued walking.

I might not have known Princess Nala for very long, but after only five minutes, I could confidently say she was the incredibly clingy type.

****

Choose for me," Nala commanded as she threw open the doors to her massive walk in wardrobe.

She turned around a second later, holding up two breathtakingly expensive dresses.

"Which calls to your eyes?" she asked. "This one... or this one?"

I simply stood there, staring at her as though she had completely lost her mind.

Was this seriously why she had dragged me away from the dining hall?

To be her personal fashion consultant?

The dress in her right hand was a liquid gold mesh slip dress that looked as though it had been woven from sunlight itself. It featured a completely open back and a daring thigh high slit that climbed almost to her hip.

The dress in her left hand was a body hugging emerald mesh gown with long sheer sleeves. Almost the entire dress was transparent except for the carefully placed velvet embroidered panels that covered just enough to preserve a hint of modesty.

Both dresses were undeniably sexy.

And very, very bold.

When I remained frozen in stunned silence, Nala let out a long, theatrical sigh before lowering both hangers.

"Since my brother and I shall remain beneath your king’s roof for some days, I thought it only fitting to wear a little of your people’s fashion," she explained, gesturing toward the vanity and the rows of clothing hanging neatly throughout the wardrobe, all of which were a complete contrast to the outfit she was currently wearing.

"Though... making sense of it has not been a kind task," she continued with an amused smile. "Now stop looking at me as though I mean to eat you and tell me what your eyes truly see."

Unfortunately for her, I didn’t have the slightest bit of fashion sense.

"This one," I answered at random, pointing to the emerald tinted dress in her left hand just so I could give her an answer.

Nala lifted the hanger a little higher and studied the sheer mesh and velvet embroidery for several long seconds before slowly shaking her head.

Then she looked back at me, her golden eyes narrowing.

"You lie."

I scoffed internally.

If she’d already decided which one she preferred, then why even ask me?

Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to say that out loud.

More than anything, I just wanted this bizarre interaction to end so I could finally retreat to my bedroom. My body was still sore from my time with Kaelen, and standing for this long was beginning to make every muscle ache.

So I quickly pointed to the other dress instead.

"Then this one," I said, trying to sound more confident.

"Why do you hide your truth?" she asked calmly.

This time, genuine irritation flickered through my chest.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but before I could utter a single word, her playful demeanor disappeared completely.

The carefree, superficial princess vanished in an instant.

She gently set both dresses on a nearby armchair before taking one slow, deliberate step toward me.

Then another.

Her golden eyes locked onto mine with a terrifying intensity that made it impossible to look away.

"Tell me... who stands before me, truly?"