Ophelia

3. My Punishment = Marriage?

Chapter 3

The King and I remained standing with our eyes locked. I really just stood there as my whole world gravitated toward the one man I hated most in Skopria.

What a twist of fate.

I stepped back, breathing heavily at the pleasurable feeling that danced through my body at his self satisfied smirk.

"Tell me little one, how did you manage to take down the worm?" He had a deep voice, that vibrated the very core of my soul with a slight accent I couldn't place.

I battled to reply to him, but when I did it was most cringe worthy. I didn't want to please this man more than I wanted to teach the young adults of the Jungle advanced maths. It was a mission on it's own.

"You ordered a recording of it so you should know." It sounded snarky, as I had meant it in my head. My inner tigress purred at my prim tone.

The King's smile wavered, so did my will to live at this point. It was against my nature as a citizen of the Jungle to be on the side of the Sky people. But I knew some of the manner in which one spoke to the Royals and what I had just done was not even on the list.

"As you can see mate, I have been preoccupied with other things." He pointed towards the frame of the throne. The man in front of me spoke as if it was a nuisance to even have to explain himself or his reasons.

He probably never even had to in his life. Everything was handed to him on a silver platter.

Something about the King put me off though, he didn't present himself like a blonde haired, blue eyed Knight in shining armour. He was the exact picture of every rumour I heard about him. Tough, stubborn and most definitely not the hero of this story.

"I want to go home." I replied, sort of like a child would except I didn't cross my arms and stomp my foot like one would.

"You are home Evangeline." The King said with a voice like honey, despite its deep characteristics.

So he knew my name but I didn't know his, minor setback. I would eventually figure it out on my mission to hightail it back home.

I could have fun on the way though before I did.

"This is not the Jungle, Cad." I snapped at him.

I used that name, specifically for the intent of insulting him so bad he wouldn't even want me around. I would have to be banned from the Sky City and forced home under parole. It was a win for me, honestly.

The courtroom bristled at my disrespect towards the King, so did Kal who clenched his jaw and turned his head towards the King swiftly waiting for the patriarch's execution order. Their eyes met eyes in silent conversation.

"I won't take you home. You will learn to live in the Sky City, be it by force or naturally, I do not care. You're mine now until I say you are not. Are we clear?" The King asked me with a menacing tone.

"Well I don't care what you are to me, the King of Skopria or my mate. I have responsibilities back home. You will take me home or I will find a way back myself." I practically ordered the King.

We glared at each other for a while before Kal cleared his throat.

"My liege if I may suggest a compromise?" Kal suggested from behind me.

"I was not raised to compromise, it is my way or nothing." He sneered at Kal.

"Maybe this once you could reconsider... Having a woman is a different ballgame to politics Your Majesty. You cannot use the same tactics with a mate." The redhead explained. I wondered vaguely if Kal had found his mate yet.