Present Ti.
Apex Hotel – Moon Whisper Territory. Room 4B
Selene POV
I ca alive slowly to loud noise and the overpowering stench of sweat and cheap alcohol. My wolf, Bea stirred within to show she was fine even though she was weak. Sighing, I tried to rember where I was.
Yeah, I was standing in front of Room 4B talking to a man who had followed from the elevator to that floor and had been tying his shoelace right in front of the door. I was going to et with the emissaries from the West as Kurtis has requested and try to figure out which one of them was King Tanner – Princess Jade’s father.
I was going to play the role of a distraught wife who was here to plead with him to take back his daughter and not let her marry Noah. Sohow, I had ended up being captured and here I was. My eyes were covered by a blindfold and I could feel the smoothness of the duct tape on my lips stretching the skin around it so much that I knew for sure that I would be getting a blister after this ordeal.
My wrist was tied tightly behind my back. I didn’t know where I was, I couldn’t tell if the bag that contained all the things Kurtis had given was safe. Have they discovered that I was sent as I spy? I strained my ears again, trying to understand the conversation that was going on. Still, they were talking about going out later tomorrow to get won and soone was talking about how the receptionist at the hotel had stared at him flirtingly. So, he was contemplating if he should go and talk to her.
Suddenly, the room fell silent and for a mont, panic coursed through my body and I readied myself for the worst but what followed was a peal of laughter and then jabbering. It seed the n were gambling. From everything I gathered so far with my senses – it seed I was in an enclosed room with about seven to ten n but the problem was I didn’t know if I was with the right people or not.
Without a doubt, the King wasn’t there because if he was, they would not be making this racket of noise as they were. I willed myself to remain calm and focused as I concentrated on the scents floating in the room. I picked up stale beer, roasting at, body odour, cards and gunpowder.
My body stiffened at the last scent but I brushed it aside. What was important now was getting them to notice that I was awake. Taking a deep breath, I tried to make any noise that I could with the duct tape on my mouth, trashing around. After what felt like an eternity, rough hands suddenly gripped my face and yanked off the blindfold.
I blinked against the harsh lights in the room... as my eyes slowly adjusted to it. Looking around, I took stock of my surroundings. Just like I had predicted, the room was filled with half a dozen n staring at with smirks on their lips. From the expensive military clothes, they had on, I knew they were soldiers.
Their eyes ran the length of my body leeringly and so of them went as far as making crude gestures to and catcalls in my direction. Slowly, I could feel the fear I had turn into anger as I stared at all of them with hatred. Mustering all the authority I could in that state, I made muffled sounds of displeasure against the gag. The n exchanged sinister grins before one of them sauntered to .
"What was that?" he asked laughing "You were such an easy prey that it didn’t take us more than five seconds to put you to sleep. If the King wants to send soone to us, why didn’t he send such a weakling? We feel insulted.
My eyes widened in disdain as I made more muffled noise but it only got worse. The man that had walked up to , grabbed my face in his hand, tilting it to himself.
"Easy there, girl, we got plans to keep you nice and occupied," he said. The rest of the n cackled with laughter as they threw themselves on each other. Just as quickly as the laughter started, it ended abruptly. The n lowered their gazes and their heads respectfully and I felt the aura in the room change.
Still trying to understand what was going on, a voice bood from behind .
"What’s going on here?"
Imdiately, all the n scrambled to the ground, their gazes downwards. One of the n that seed like their leader was already trembling.
"Y-Your majesty... we discovered that she was sent from the pack house and...".
"What did you say?" The voice yelled in incredulity and almost imdiately rushed to . Our gazes t and I froze... in front of was a middle-aged man with grey hair and piercing amber eyes. Recognition shot into his eyes imdiately and he turned to the n.
"Who did this?" he barked, his face turning red with anger "How dare you capture her? Do you have any idea who is that you have with a rope around her hands and her mouth covered? Untie her this instant!"
His voice bood vibrating through the room. The n scampered to and in a flash, the rope tying my hands was cut off and the duct tape on my lips was removed. I rubbed at my wrist as I stared at the chaos in the room, slightly grateful that the grey-haired man recognized .
He stretched his hand to but I ignored it and rose to my feet without his help.
"Your majesty, I’m so sorry about everything," the man said with pain in his voice. "I stepped out so seconds ago for so fresh air and I didn’t expect they would do this to you. I sincerely apologize".
"You don’t expect they would do this to ?" I scoffed "Who gave them orders then? Or you want to tell that they catch random people and get their hands and feet tied up?" I paused as I rembered that man that had followed from the elevator to this floor. But as my eyes ran through the n, I couldn’t find him.
Although, I didn’t see his face properly, I could still rember his profile and he wasn’t there.
"There must have been a mixup sowhere, Luna," The man said contritely "I would get to the root of this issue and make sure they’re punished. If I had been inford of your arrival, I could have made adequate preparation to receive you. Please accept my sincerest apologies again,".
The n were all trembling and for a mont, I wanted to know why they were afraid but I decided to mind my business. It was undignified for to keep ntioning the entire misunderstanding so I brushed past the man and started for the door. I hadn’t gotten to the door when I felt urgent footsteps behind .
"Please don’t leave like this," he pleaded "Can you at least share a cup of tea so I can be reassured that you’re not angry at us,".
"I don’t have ti for this," I said coldly "Your reception to a guest is the worse ever, besides, I ca e to et King Tanner but as he isn’t here, I’d rather be on my way,".
"You ca to et King Tanner?" the man’s brows arched with surprise "Why? Or did your husband send you?"
"As if," I hissed straightening my dress "My husband is not aware that I ca here. As I ntioned earlier, there’s an urgent matter that I need to discuss with the King but since he isn’t available, I may have to try again later. Goodnight mister," I turned to leave but he drew back.
"I’m sorry," he said raising his hands in surrender when I glared at him for touching "It’s just that King Tanner is not available right now. But I am his representative,". Then with the precision of royalty and respect, he ca towards and bowed.
"My na is Conrad and I am the King’s brother. Unfortunately, King Tanner was not disposed to co on this journey but I was sent in his place and you can trust to deliver whatsoever ssage you have to seek his audience,".
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at him hoping he wasn’t seeing my fear or confusion. Kurtis had sent to Tanner and not his brother Conrad. I had not the slightest things to do. I didn’t know if I could continue with the smiley man in front of . Even though he was smiling, there was sothing unsettling about him.
"W-Well," I shrugged "It’s of no consequence, it’ll be until next ti. I wish to see the king and not you. Thank you for your ti and patience," I said and made to pass but he blocked my path.
"Don’t walk out on , Luna," he had a smile on his lips but his eyes were cold "What is it that you wanted to tell my brother. Tell and I will relate it to him," he said quietly.
I was getting uncomfortable with his closeness and the chill in his eyes. I hated that I was trapped at the mont and what was so painful was the way he knew that his presence made nervous.
"And I said it is ant only for the ears of the King. It’s not everything that a representative should be told,".
Before the words left my mouth, he grabbed my neck and pinned to the door fra, his eyes narrowed with annoyance.
"How dare you talk to in that regard?" He growled "Didn’t I just tell you that I am representing the King?"
He was choking , blocking my airway. I thrashed in his grasp, my eyes watering with tears, with the ounce of strength I had, I managed "Release at once, you uncultured lout! When Noah finds out about this, there will be hell to pay,"
"Noah?" the man’s expression changed to amusent as he held even tighter and grinned wickedly "Noah cannot do anything. Even right now, if I ask him to make a choice between saving you or our friendship, I know he’ll choose . Now, let’s hear what you wanted to tell Tanner,".
With a look of icy disdain, I spat out...." I don’t speak to representatives... I want to speak to the King imdiately. If you cannot get to him then stay the fuck away from !"
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