Amia's POV
"All done," I whispered to myself proudly.
Even without cleaning equipment, I had spent hours dusting the clothes in the wardrobe and shaking out the old bed sheets. I wiped every surface I could reach with pieces of cloth I tore from garments that were already too worn to be useful. I even knelt on the cold floor to check every corner of the room, brushing away dust and cobwebs as best as I could.
It wasn't perfect. Far from it.
But compared to how abandoned the room had looked when I first arrived, it now felt a little more alive.
A little more like somewhere a person could breathe.
By the time I was done, it was already evening, and exhaustion weighed heavily on my body. My back ached from bending and scrubbing, and my fingers were sore from wringing out the cloth again and again.
But despite the fatigue, I felt calmer.
The bath I had taken afterward helped even more.
The cold water had eased the tightness in my muscles, washing away the dust and sweat from hours of cleaning. For a short moment while I sat there, letting the water run down my shoulders, I almost forgot where I was.
The clothes I chose to wear afterward were old and clearly worn out, but they were warm and clean enough. The fabric felt soft against my skin, and that was more than enough for me.
I moved slowly toward the bed and climbed onto it before lying down with a heavy sigh.
The mattress dipped under my weight, the quiet creak of the frame echoing faintly in the still room.
"Another night, another day," I whispered softly.
I raised my hand in the air and stared at my fingers thoughtfully as the dim light from outside filtered through the window.
How was Cassidy doing?
The thought came suddenly and painfully.
Was she crying because she missed me?
Was she calling my name?
Or worse…
Were they starving her now that I was gone?
My chest ached painfully.
I groaned softly and turned to the side, blinking back the tears that were beginning to gather in my eyes.
My mate…
The word felt strange in my mind.
He had been cold on our first night. Distant and ruthless.
Asking him… begging him… to let my sister stay with me was probably nothing more than a foolish dream.
Still, the thought refused to leave my mind.
Perhaps I needed to find a way to beg the general for help.
But then…
Wouldn't that put me in trouble?
I turned again, facing the other side of the bed as my thoughts spiraled.
Perhaps I first needed to learn more about the ranks within the nest from Serai. Only then would I understand who held power and who I could safely approach.
Only then would I know how to survive here.
I sighed heavily and closed my eyes.
Serai was obviously not coming back tonight.
Her returning would be a miracle after how she had left earlier, looking frightened as if something terrible had chased her away.
But then…
Who was Lady Rachel?
Did the lord have a close family member?
A sister? A lover?
A queen before me?
My chest felt strangely tight at the thought.
I sighed again and tried to relax as I began to doze off.
I was waking up to the sound of doors being pushed open roughly.
The loud noise echoed through the room.
I blinked a few times before slowly sitting upright and rubbing my eyes.
I had no idea when I had fallen asleep.
The room was dark, and the night air was colder than before.
A faint chill ran across my skin.
Then my eyes moved toward the doorway.
Instantly, my heart began pounding violently against my chest.
Standing there was a tall figure.
My throat went dry.
My mate.
Even though the room was dim, I could see him clearly thanks to my wolf's sharp sight—an ability we shared.
The lord stood silently in the doorway.
His long serpent tail curled behind him, moving slowly across the floor like a living shadow. His face was still covered with a dark cloth mask that hid most of his features, leaving only his piercing eyes visible.
He wore a golden robe made of fine silk that draped loosely over his powerful body.
The garment was clearly crafted for royalty.
The fabric shimmered faintly whenever he moved, and the robe hung open at the chest, revealing firm muscles and smooth skin that seemed almost to glow in the darkness. The sleeves were wide and elegant, embroidered with ancient patterns In crimson thread that marked his noble bloodline.
A golden belt rested low on his waist, barely holding the robe closed, allowing the powerful shape of his body to remain on display.
His long silver-white hair fell perfectly to his shoulders, smooth and straight like flowing moonlight.
For a moment, I simply stared.
Then reality struck me.
I had been staring at him for far too long.
Panicking, I quickly slipped off the bed and bowed deeply.
He and I were mates.
But that didn't mean we were equals.
He was royalty.
And I refused to do anything that might anger him.
If he reported something negative about me to my father, the consequences would fall on Cassidy.
That was the last thing I wanted.
So even if I wasn't happy… even if my heart was filled with fear… I would still do everything in my power to act properly in front of him.
When I slowly looked up again, I froze.
A look of awe filled my eyes.
He had raised both of his hands slightly.
Beautiful red rays of magic surrounded him instantly.
The glowing light spiraled through the air like dancing flames, spreading throughout the room and lighting it in a soft crimson glow.
The magic moved gracefully around his body before fading into the walls like mist.
Then he lowered his hands.
I held my breath as I watched his transformation.
His long serpent tail slowly shifted.
Scales shimmered and dissolved like liquid as bone and muscle reshaped themselves.
Within seconds, the powerful tail became two strong human legs.
My breath caught in my throat.
But that wasn't what shocked me most.
My eyes dropped lower.
He was completely naked.
Heat rushed to my face as my gaze betrayed me.
My eyes lingered far longer than they should have.
The sight of his body… the way he was built… the size of him…
It made my throat tighten as a shiver ran down my spine.
Memories from last night flashed painfully through my mind.
The roughness and the pain.
Yet despite that, my body reacted in a way that made me feel ashamed.
Warmth spread through me.
My nipples hardened painfully beneath the thin fabric of my clothes.
Without saying a word, he began walking toward me.
Each step was slow and controlled.
My throat tightened nervously.
When he reached me, he grabbed my wrist firmly.
Before I could react, he dragged me toward the bed.
My body stumbled forward as he pushed me down gently onto the mattress, causing me to bounce slightly.
Before he could climb onto the bed, my hands lifted instinctively in protest.
I didn't want to experience the same terrible pain again.
Last night, I had felt worthless.
Used.
Left unconscious like I meant nothing.
There was no love between us.
But at the very least… I had hoped he would be gentle.
"My lord…," I began softly.
But I stopped instantly.
A low sigh escaped him.
It was quiet.
But filled with clear irritation.
My heart sank.
Was he annoyed with me?
That thought made my wolf growl angrily inside my chest.
Then suddenly—
He turned around.
And began walking toward the door.
My eyes widened in panic.
I sat upright instantly.
"Please, my lord, you can't leave; we have to produce an heir," I forced the words out quickly.
His leaving was impossible.
What if someone had been planted nearby by my father to spy on us?
If news reached him that the lord was ignoring me…
Cassidy would suffer.
"I promise I won't say a word if that's irritating to you. So please… let's go through with tonight," I said quietly.
A painful lump formed in my throat.
He stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned back toward me.
Then he began walking toward the bed again.
When he climbed onto the mattress, his hand grabbed mine.
Before I could react, he flipped me onto my stomach.
My breath caught sharply.
I bit my lower lip and shut my eyes tightly.
Then I felt it.
The sound of fabric tearing.
His hand had ripped through my clothes without effort.
Cold air touched my bare skin as his weight settled over me.
Tears filled my eyes as my fingers clenched the bedsheets tightly.
Fear wrapped around my chest like chains.
I was terrified.
But I couldn't resist.
Even as my heart pounded wildly, my body reacted strangely to his closeness.
His skin was warm against mine.
Each rough movement sent unfamiliar tingles racing through my body.
It was confusing.
Overwhelming.
Yet the fear remained stronger.
My stomach twisted painfully.
The memory of last night returned again.
My breathing became uneven.
Heavy.
With every harsh movement he made, my vision blurred more and more.
Darkness slowly crept into the edges of my sight.
My fingers loosened their grip on the sheets.
The last thing I felt was the pounding of my own heart.
And then—
Darkness swallowed my world once again.