Like Aditya had said, I am having issues with my concentration. As I browse through the different books, my mind keeps on shifting back to Theo and his other women.
Despite that scene, Theo had never tried to reach out to me and apologize. It's as if he stopped seeing me as interesting. Worse, Aditya never returned to my room as my handmaiden, or assistant, or whatever, as long as I don't think of her as my friend.
Now, I am back in the library, with Harbin in front of me and the multiple books I need to finish on the shelf behind me. I take a deep breath and hit my forehead on the open book.
"What's the problem this time?" Harbin asks. As time moves on, he's getting more and more attuned to my emotions.
"Aditya. She hasn't returned," I say.
"From what I've heard, Miss Aditya did something that displeases the King. So you won't have a handmaid on your side for quite a while before he finds another."
I groan and lean my head on my arms. It's my fault though. I am the one who asks her for Theo's location. I just didn't foresee that I will find him amidst his harem. Worse, I didn't even expect him to invite me to join it.
"Say, Harbin," I start, trying to take his attention. "Do you think that the lady and the handmaiden can never be friends?"
"I personally think that the lady should have the handmaiden as her friend. But it's not advantageous for the handmaiden. Being a friend to his lady will just make their relationship strange. She's there to serve, and friendship is not a one-way serving, right?"
I nod, even if I don't like his answer.
"If you plan to befriend Miss Aditya, you should know that she is called the King's bitch in Djambek kingdom. She might be projecting a mirror of herself on you."
"So, I am a bitch ha…" I whisper as I stare at nothing in particular. "So why is she here then?"
"The Djambek King gets bored with her after a while."
"How about Theo then? How long before he tires of me?" I ask.
"I'm sure it will not be soon."
"Ugh," I groan in frustration. "Is your 'soon' in months, years, or decades?"
Harbin places his book on the table and takes a deep breath. "King Theo is completely enamored with you right now. But you are also correct in thinking that a day will come when he no longer craves for you. Besides, he is a human. Most of us don't feel the loyalty that you werewolves have."
I flinch at his honesty. If that is the case, I wonder how much more painful this can get? Loving someone this hard who doesn't love you back?
"But you don't have to worry about it. If he tires of you, go your own way."
"You forget that I am a slave werewolf. I have nowhere to go."
"He says it himself. He freed you already. And besides, if you study well right now, I don't think you will have a problem surviving in the future, with a King beside you or none."
Suspicious, I stare at him. "Is this your strategy to make me focus on my lessons?"
He returns his attention to the books and says, "I hope it is working then."


*****************
Clutching my books on my chest, I stare at the building where Theo and his harem are. Imagining all the things they are doing inside. My chest hurts and yet, I still cannot find the courage to walk away. How many days has it been? Almost two weeks that he didn't visit me, not even once. Thankfully, Harbin's lessons occupy my mind, but from time to time, I can't help but crave for him, especially at night, when I know where he is and what he is doing with other women.
"Longing for your King?" a voice asks.
I whirl around to see Klevon on my right. I clench my jaws and finally leave the area. I don't want to admit it, but Klevon has become a constant disruptor of my thoughts. When I am about to hear Theo's scream of pleasure in my mind, as he f*ucks other women, Klevon appears like this and annoys me–which I unusually welcome.
"You are late with your training with Brandon, so I am here to fetch you," he informs.
"That's not your job," I say.
He shrugs his shoulders and whispers, "So, what are you thinking while looking at the building where his harem stays?"
I glare at him but he just laughs. Annoyed and frustrated, I raise my voice, "What do you want?!"
He looks surprised at my outburst, and then he smirks. "Finally! Some werewolf emotion! You are angry at him, aren't you?"
I look away. He leans close to me and watches my face. "What?!" I ask again.
In a quick move, he kisses my cheek and pulls back before my claws scratch his face. I growl and he snickers. In disgust, I attack him, making sure that I won't shift into my wolf form. Using the wooden sword that Brandon loans me, I slash at him. Multiple times, but it seems like he is only playing with me.
I use my magic, fire, and try to use it against him, but being a mage himself, it is useless. F*uck! I am so angry now, that I attack him with so much hatred that I really want to injure him. I steal the knife hanging on his waist and try to slash him with it. He is still faster though, even if I have been training with Brandon for two weeks.
Heaving and still upset, I make another dash toward him. He is laughing at my attempts, and I so want to cut his tongue off so he will groan in pain instead.
Thinking less and less about my attacks, I rush to him and slip on a protruding rock. Waiting for the pain of hitting my face on a rock, I close my eyes, but it didn't happen.
I open my eyes to see Klevon, supporting my weight. Disgust runs all over my body, especially at the way he holds my waist. I pull back and stumble away from him, hitting my butt on the ground.
I glare at him while he widens his smile. "This is the first time I get such a negative reaction from a woman. You should be blushing like crazy now. Or are you the shy type?"
"I hate you."
He shivers. "Oh damn, the anger in your voice. I love it."
I cringe.
"And that disgust. It's such a novel experience."
"Are you a f*ucking masochist?!"
Klevon laughs and then in a softer tone he says, "Since you allowed me to enjoy your emotions, I'm going to tell you something good."
"Nothing good comes out of your mouth!"
His eyes crinkle in amusement, but he continues, "King Theo needs an heir, but it should not come from you. That is, if he wants his blissful days with you to continue."
It's not a piece of good news. So when he offers his arms to me, I gnarl at him. He withdraws his hand. "Ah well, you should go to Brandon now, else, your training will be especially hard today," he says. Then, his eyes travel all over my body. He sneers. "You look like a mess. Fix yourself before showing yourself to him. He likes cleanliness even in battle."
When I see him leave, that's the only time I get up. Making my way toward Brandon, I feel drained. I should have not let Klevon rile me up like that. Training with Brandon is already hard. I can't let all these emotions get the better of me.