To Love A King

14

I had once dreamed of golden flowers.
I had dreamed of bright sunny days
but the world is cruel
the gods unjust
and my dreams wilted and died
my dreams turned to dust  

+++

I had met her right when the cold air died and was replaced by the new, brighter season.

I had been walking through the forest, looking for anything, anything at all to eat.

When I first saw her, I truly thought that I had found a god. She glowed, beautiful, like the sun and stars.

My heart skipped a beat. I tried saying something, anything but it died in my throat, sounding more like a strangled cry.

She had turned to me and smiled. A smile that made my bones ache and mind calm.

I determined then, that she was indeed a god. For only a god could bring me to my knees like she did.

+++

My mother used to say to me that girls like us died early. That our mouths got us in more trouble than we're worth. That our burning anger would be our downfall.

Not less then a year later she was brutally murdered, so her words must hold some truth. I never knew my mother to be a liar anyways.

When I woke up this morning, the wolf king was gone. The bed was still warm from where he had just left.

Relief that I don't have to face him this early washes over me. I'm starting to realize kings are exhausting to deal with. 

The sun filters through the slightly open curtains of the huge window. A break in the cloudy winter weather. A sign that - hopefully - winter will be ending soon. 

Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons. 

+++

After stretching and walking around the room without actually doing anything, I determine that I need to get out of this damn place.

Closing my hand around the gold handle, I take a deep, steadying breath as I push open. 

It's not locked! I'm so amazed I could scream! 

But it makes me suspicious that the violent 'god' would leave me alone for more than a seco-

My thoughts are cut off as a run into a rock solid body.

A wolf guard.

My response is instantaneous. 

Turning to run, one thing races through my head. If there's one thing less trustworthy than a wolf king, it's a wolf guard.

I can hear them shouting, begging, for me to stop behind me, my bare feet make no sound as they hit the marble. Over and over and over.

They're gaining on me, I turn a sharp corner. I pray to any gods that are listening, give me speed give me speed give me speed.

"My queen! Please sto-," 

They're yells come to a halting finish right as I smash face first into a wolf king.

Defeat. Ugly as always. 

I slump forward into him, already knowing I'm done for. My mother's words ringing in my head...girls like us.

His arm lifts up pressing me even closer to his body. I'm so close I can feel his growl in my chest.

"I leave you two to guard her and less than 20 minutes later you've already failed?" His voice is so calm. So dangerously calm. I can't even turn my heads to see their reactions, the wolf king's grip is unrelenting. 

I hear some stuttering and apologizing but my king is not satisfied. Everything is quite for a second. 

"You know what the punishment for failure is. Of protecting your queen." Still so calm. But he holds back none of his anger physically. His power is coming off of him in waves and I wouldn't be surprised to turn around and find the guards on their knees. 

Again, I find myself unconsciously wanting more. More of his power. His status. The things I could do as queen, I think wickedly. But I'd need sway over him, and I'm not even close to sure about how this mate thing works. Or what it even is to be exact.

I'm still not sure why I'm here. And the feeling of vulnerability has me clenching my fists my sides. Being vulnerable like this is the perfect way to get yourself killed. 

I need to figure out exactly why I'm here, why I'm the queen of all a sudden. I need to figure out what they have planned for me and I need to figure it out now. 

So, with not much thought going into my actions, now driven by the all-consuming feeling of needing to understand, I ask the wolf king.

"Why am I here?" I try to make my question as neutral as possible, as I'm not sure how my vulnerability would affect him. He could be an absolute sadist for all I know.

That's the problem! The problem is that I know nothing. And that's frustrating.

I pull away from him, and this time he lets me. 

He studies my face, not saying a word. The guards are now a background thought. Though I'm almost positive they've been dragged away for some gods-awful reason.

I look away from him. I can't stand staring into his eyes. It makes my skin crawl, and not in a bad way. It's like he can see right through me. See every bit of the broken girl I am.

Manipulating a king is harder than it sounds. Trust me.

He is quick to pull my head back to him. His rough hand grabbing my chin, forcing my eyes to his.

Those eyes, those unsettling eyes. 

"You're my mate little fox. We've been over this."

"No." I hiss out. "No, we haven't. We haven't been over anything wolf king. I'm not playing whatever sick twisted game you've got going."

I have to calm myself down. I can not lose whatever fragile trust he may have with me. I must be the master of this. Of me.  

The wolves have taught me very few things, but one of which being, life will not be fair, but you must learn to live with what you're given.

And if you don't, you won't be living much longer. 

+++

He never answered my question. Not a surprise. 

But he did drag me back to the kitchen in his wing. Again, he only makes one plate. It looks like leftovers. I think?

The wolf kings games are cruel in the most disgustingly sweet ways. 

This time when he lifts his fork up to my mouth, I take a bite. 

I must earn his trust. I must earn his trust. I must earn his trust.

I swallow, it tastes like ash on my tongue. 

He doesn't talk much. This wolf king of mine. I realize I may have to find my answers elsewhere. At whatever the cost.

I must be the master of this game if I want any chance of winning. 

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WHATS UP BACK WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER

btw just a heads up, things will finally be speeding up next chapter! i just wanted some more wolf king - fox interactions! to celebrate 40k READS HOLY SHI T

also more info on lillian's past lover....strange...definitely more of that story going on later. 

ALSO ALSO more info about the daughters of the forest coming next chapter! lillian may be finally getting some answers!

as always, please don't forget to vote and please if you've got any comments about this chapter, please please please feel free to leave em below!

completely unedited btw lmao