23. Maggie

Chapter 23

Maggie

O olah's voice came out sharp as a whip. “Dress. The king will speak with you shortly.”

My heart pounded as I hurried to pull on a simple gown, my fingers fumbling with the ties and my shoes. “What are they going to do to Davon?” I asked, terrified of the answer.

Oolah's lips thinned. “Hurry. While you may wait for him, the king does not like to be kept waiting himself.”

Once I’d finished, she grabbed my arm in a tight grip and marched me out of the room. Guards surrounded us, their expressions daring me to try to run.

We swept through the palace, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone floors. Too soon, we reached one of the sitting areas on the first level. A guard opened the door, and Oolah thrust me inside, the door slamming shut behind me. I turned to find the king glaring at me, his eyes cold and hard.

“You dare to disobey me?” His voice was a low growl, filled with anger and jealousy. “You're mine, pet. You belong to me. And you dare to share yourself with another?”

I wanted to snarl back, to tell him I hated him, that I'd never be his pet. But I couldn't. Not if I wanted to keep Davon safe. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to speak calmly. “What did you do with Davon? Is he alright?”

The king waved a dismissive hand. “Forget about him. He's no longer your concern. You need to focus on pleasing me, on making up for this transgression.”

I bit back a retort, choosing my words carefully. “I'm sorry, my king. I . . . I was confused. I won't disobey you again.” The words tasted like ashes in my mouth, but I had to say them. For Davon.

The king studied me, his expression softening slightly. “Good. For now, you're a treasure, pet. A precious gem that I wish to keep safe to admire as I please. But you must obey. You must think only of pleasing me.”

I nodded, lowering my gaze. “Yes, my king.”

He crossed the room to stand near me. Cupping my chin, he tilted my head up in an almost gentle manner, making my gaze meet his. “You're forgiven, pet. But do not disappoint me again.” There was no mistaking the warning in his voice.

“I won't,” I whispered, even as my heart screamed in rebellion. I had to be smart. I had to play his game until I could find a way to free Davon and escape this place.

The king smiled, his thumb stroking my cheek. “ Good. Now, dance for me, pet. Show me your love and devotion.”

I forced a smile, stepping back and beginning to sway, my movements slow and practiced. It wasn't about seduction; it was about survival. I had to keep the king happy, keep him distracted. It was the only way to make sure Davon and I lived through this.

As I danced, I thought of Davon, of his touch, his smile, his love. I thought of the future we were supposed to have together. And I knew, no matter what, I would find him. I’d fight for our love, and I would win.

My heart turned into a stone as I swayed and twirled for the king. His eyes never left me, his gaze intense and possessive. Warning blazed in their depths. I was his, and he wouldn't tolerate any further infractions on my part. I danced for hours, my body moving on autopilot, my mind a million miles away. All I could think about was Davon. Where was he? Was he hurt? I needed to know he was alright. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the king waved his hand, signaling me to stop. I stood in place, panting, my body drenched in sweat, waiting for his next command.

“You may return to your room, pet,” he said, his voice cold. “But remember this, if I catch you with anyone else again, I'll kill you. There will be no more chances.”

The truth shone in his eyes. He meant every word.

“What about Davon?”

“Your behavior will have a direct impact on his life.”

Then he still lived. I wanted to sag in relief, but instead, I dipped my head. “Yes, my king. I will behave. ”

Oolah entered the sitting area, and she dragged me back to my room. She shoved me inside, the door locking behind me with a harsh click. I was trapped once more and very much alone.

They brought me food, but I could barely eat. I felt sick, my stomach churning with worry and fear. I washed in the bathroom, the cool water doing little to soothe my frayed nerves. When I dropped onto the bed, exhaustion pulled me under.

I woke with a start, a scream lodged in my throat. I'd dreamed that Davon was dead, that the king had killed him and dumped his body in front of me. I looked around, my heart pounding, but found no one here but me.

Scrambling off the bed, I rushed to the door, banging on it with my fists. “Please,” I cried out. “Tell me if Davon is alright. Please, someone answer me.”

No one came. No one answered. I remained in the silence, worry gnawing through me further with each passing second.

Hours later, the door opened. Oolah stepped in, her expression stern. “Prepare yourself. You will dance for the king and his guests tonight.”

I wanted to scream, to fight, to demand answers. But I knew better. I’d given in after the nightmare, but I had to play along and be smart. With a nod, I strode to the gown hanging on a peg on the wall that had been cleaned and returned to me yesterday. Was it only yesterday that I was with Davon? It felt like a lifetime ago. I dressed quickly, my fingers trembling as I made sure I was covered. As I slipped on my shoes, I took a deep breath to steady myself.

Oolah led me through the palace to a large room filled with seats. A stage with a pole stood in the front. The king sat in the center of the theater, his guests flanking him on either side. Their eyes turned to me as I entered, their gazes hungry and eager.

“Dance, pet,” the king said in a jovial voice, a smug smile on his face. “Show my special guests your devotion to your king.”

Davon and I were supposed to escape tonight while the king was distracted. The thought of how much had changed since we formed that plan made my chest ache.

After I'd made my way to the platform, the music started, a light, airy melody. I began to move, my body swaying to the beat. But my heart wasn't in it. All I could think about was Davon.

As I spun and swayed, the king spoke to his guests, his voice loud enough for me to hear. “She's quite the prize, isn't she?” he said, laughing. “And the male, he’s quite devoted to her. I took him from her and locked him in the basement with my other special guest.”

The other males chuckled; their eyes gleaming.

My heart turned to ice in my chest. Davon was in the basement? I had to find a way to get to him, to free him.

It was time I came up with a plan.