Chapter 5:
Makenna’s POV
What madness! Bryan had truly lost his mind. I watched him swagger off, his presence lingering like a suffocating fog of dread.
Even though he was far away now, the weight of that life-or-death moment clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake. I had come so close to death. The grim specter still hovered around me, wrapping its cold tendrils around my heart. I gasped for air, trying desperately to steady myself by leaning against the wall.
But my legs, betraying the depth of my fear, buckled beneath me. I lost my footing and pitched forward.
Before I knew what was happening, I stumbled right into Dominic.
Dominic instinctively caught me, his hands cold. I could see the look in his eyes. He held me upright, his grip on my waist firm but icy. I shivered under his touch.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” I stammered, panic seizing my voice.
A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before he pushed me away, almost reflexively. I stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling again.
Clinging to the wall for support, I finally grasped the reality of the situation. I was utterly naked. My arms flew up to cover my chest, my face burning with helplessness and confusion.
“I deeply apologize, Your Highness…” My voice trembled with fear.
The thought that my earlier blunder might have angered Dominic made my blood run cold. I feared what punishment might come next.
But to my astonishment, Dominic didn’t so much as glance at me. Instead, with a thoughtful expression, he raised the hand that had held my waist and sniffed it. His eyes flicked back to me, curious and probing.
For a moment, I thought I was imagining things. But the way Dominic looked at me sent a chill down my spine. There was something in his gaze that felt perilous—almost hungry.
My cheeks flushed, and I quickly dropped my gaze, too frightened to meet his eyes.
Every journey starts at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․c𝗈𝗆
At last, Hayley arrived. She greeted Dominic with a nervous bow and said, “Your Highness, shall we proceed to the hall to select your sex slave?”
“Unnecessary,” Dominic cut her off. He cast a brief glance at me before adding, “Since Bryan seems to have taken a liking to her, let her stay.”
With that, he turned and left, as if nothing had happened at all.
Hayley, ever dutiful, bowed deeply as he departed, and then hurried me back to the hall.
Once inside, Hayley began selecting a few young, attractive women to serve as the princes’ sex slaves. Those not chosen seemed torn between relief and disappointment. I overheard their whispered conversations.
“Prince Bryan is so good-looking. Being his sex slave might not be so bad.”
“Yeah, it may be a good thing to be chosen.”
I let out a bitter chuckle. They had no idea just how terrifying Bryan truly was.
The memory of what I’d just been through sent another shiver through me. Anxiety gnawed at me, my thoughts consumed by what might lie ahead.
“Enough. Quiet down, all of you!” Hayley snapped, silencing their chatter. She signaled the soldiers to escort the unchosen women out, and then turned to us—the ones who had been selected. “Tomorrow, the king wants to meet you. Get dressed and go to your rooms to rest!”
A sigh of relief escaped me. Finally, this endless day was drawing to a close. But just as I reached for my clothes, a sharp, haughty voice cut through the air.
“Hold it! No one is leaving.”
Everyone froze. My heart jumped into my throat.
A tall, striking woman strode into the hall, her high heels clicking ominously against the floor. She sauntered toward us with a haughty air, her eyes sweeping over us like we were mere objects, and she found each one of us lacking.
Her gaze made my skin crawl. I frowned and quickly lowered my head.
Hayley approached her with cautious deference. “Miss Kristina Harrison, what brings you here?”
Kristina scoffed, her gaze narrowing as it flitted between us. “I heard Bryan picked someone out—Which one?” At her words, every eye in the room turned to me.
My heart skipped a beat. Before I could think of defending myself, Kristina stood before me, her eyes cold as ice.
“So you’re the one Bryan chose.”
