Adria finished up with her chores and by the time she was done, she was utterly tired, hungry and frustrated. She had never done anything like this in her entire life.
She was used to the occasional cleaning but had never gone all out to get a job done like this. If this wasn’t full blown out bullying then she didn’t know what else to call it.
She was thankful that Aria had escaped this marriage otherwise, it would’ve been Aria In her place doing these chores and dealing with a crackhead woman who called herself the Lycan King’s mistress.
Although, Aria was a woman who could stand up for herself at the slightest provocation, Adria on the other hand found it difficult doing so because she wasn’t her twin.
She wasn’t used to acting all bad and rugged just like her. That was why they were as different as night and day. That was exactly why they never mixed.
Walking back to her chamber, she changed out of her clothes and decided to have her bath for the second time that day.
She was all sweaty and itchy and she could feel her entire body getting sore from all the hard work that the beast of a man had imposed on her.
Her only wish at this point was that the goddess pays him back with everything that he had done to her. Not only has he made her loose her breakfast but he had also insulted her in front of everyone. She simply would not have it.
Adria stepped out of the shower and changed into her new clothes. She spotted her meal on her table and immediately sat down to eat. It had already gone cold but still, it didn’t stop her from eating.
She had barely tasted a sip of water all day and her body bruised in all the wrong places so she couldn’t make or wait for another dish to be prepared even if she wanted to.
Just as she was about to dish out more for herself, the door to her room creaked open and she saw a glimpse of Calla’s hair poking from the side.
"My Lady, you’re back!" She squealed happily when she caught a peek of her through the little space that she had created for herself.
"Of course I am." Adria answered incredulously. "You didn’t expect me to stay out working forever or did you?"
"Of course not." She replied sharply. "I was worried all day that it’d be so hard on you. I’m really sorry for not helping much. If it weren’t for the Lycan King’s order then I would’ve—"
Adria held her shoulders in comfort "You don’t have to apologize Calla. I completely understand the situation myself and I don’t blame you either."
"And I heard that you also got into a fight with the King’s mistress? Oh this day just keeps getting worse!" She smacked her hands on her head and sighed dramatically.
"And how did you find out about that?"
"Gossip travels faster around here My Lady. If it really happened then of course people will talk about it and it’s not giving a very good image." Calla blurted out.
"I don’t care about that Calla. I have never cared about anything like this and I won’t start now."
"People are commending your bravery in standing up to Anya." Calla broke down the news to her smilingly.
"They’re saying that this is the very first time that Anya is scared that she might lose her position. Everyone believes that you were the one meant to put her in her place."
Adria chuckled and concentrated on her meal. "As if. I have no desire to do that."
"You’re already doing it without realizing." Came Calla’s reply. "When the Lycan king had married Lady Natalia, she was very quiet and took everything that came her way in strides. She never stood up to anyone and just settled down on her own until she got sick."
Adria suddenly became interested. She got sick? Wasn’t she killed? There was something intriguing about Natalia that she just couldn’t quite put her finger on.
If Natalia was as good as they say then why or how did she die? Or did the Lycan King kill her himself and framed it as suicide because she had refused to provide him an heir?
Would that be her fate too?
The Valtheris household is like an open book to other packs.
Virtually everyone had heard a story or two about them whether true or not but nothing was said on Natalia’s death so she doesn’t have the details and everyone seemed to be hoarding it from her.
"How did the Lady Natalia die?" She asked again but as usual, Calla only brushed it aside like it meant nothing.
"Only the Lycan King is capable of telling you that story if he wants to. I’m really sorry that I cannot help you with that."
Adria nodded in understanding. "And Anya? How did she end up here? And who is she to the Lycan King anyway?" She asked another question.
Though she didn’t like her, she couldn’t help but be curious about how she was so close to Cullen. Everyone here seems to cower in fear at the mere sight of him but she was the only one who doesn’t. She even went as far as claiming him to be hers.
"I don’t know the details but Anya was a slave abandoned by her pack to die. Cullen saved her and somehow she feels as if she owes him her life as a debt of gratitude."
"And as for her relationship with the Lycan King..." She trailed off "She’s his mistress as you already know but she’s also his sex slave. She satisfies him when it comes down to sexual pleasures."
"So Natalia didn’t—"
Calla shook her head "The Lycan King usually never visited her chamber unless for other reasons. Rumour has it that he never intended to get married to her In the first place and that’s why he keeps Anya around."
Adria hunged her head in disbelief. He not only killed his wife but he was also a full blown psychopath? ironic!
Everyone was right about him. He was a beast and that’s why he always acted the way he did. And to think that she had tried to convince Aria into getting married to him.
The rumours she heard were indeed true. He was a cold-hearted monster just as they described him.
"And what about—" She wanted to ask another question when she heard a firm knock on her bedroom door. She immediately signalled Calla to get it and few minutes later, a maid walked in.
"Good day, My Lady." She bowed her head in greetings. "The Lycan king had asked me to send for you. He wants you in his chamber, now!" She proceeded to add when she remained unmoved by her statement.
"And why if I may ask?"
"I don’t know. He didn’t say."
Adria looked from Calla to the maid and back to Calla again.
"I’ll be there shortly." She said and the maid walked out of her chamber, gently closing the door shut.
"Why would he send for me?" She panicked, asking no one In particular.
"Do you think that maybe he wants to spend the night with me?" Her eyes widened in sheer horror.
No! He had promised that he wouldn’t touch her but what if he breaks that promise to torture her as a punishment?
It can’t be. He didn’t like her that much to consumate their marriage last night and she also didn’t like him that much to agree to it in the first place to.
She could barely tolerate the sight of him so why on earth would he send for her? Is there something that she was missing out or maybe it’s all just in her head?
"I don’t think it’s wise to keep the King waiting, My Lady." Calla advised her. "If he had Indeed sent for you then you have to be there otherwise he will get upset and whenever he gets upset, it never ends well."
"But why on earth is he asking for me? I did the job as he had requested didn’t I?" Adria became restless, her bravado slowly creeping out the window.
"You’ll find out when you get there. Let’s go." Calla led the way outside her room. They took another path that led through the hallway and straight to the Cullen’s room.
When they arrived, Calla excused herself to wait outside till she gets back and Adria hesitantly knocked on his door.
"Come in." His deep voice echoed and she found herself being compelled into doing what he had just said. It felt as if he had cast some sort of enchantment on her.
Adria walked into his chambers to find him busy working on his papers. From where she stood, she could his hands working tirelessly on the paper in front of him.
His hauty chin completely focused and his strand of hair fell freely down his shoulders. She could see the outline of his jaw and she found herself getting mesmerized.
No! She mentally slapped herself.
She wasn’t supposed to feel this way. She literally loathed this man and she won’t let his hot and sexy body features get to her.
"Are you done staring?" He asked, startling her and jolting her back to reality.
"You sent for me." It was more of a statement than a question. She watched him abandon the pen with which he worked with as he faced her.
"Yes I did." His swift reply, and then, "I want you to clean up my room now!"