"What have you done to her, my King?!" Harbin scolds.
His voice is loud and laced with annoyance at his King. It is also his admonishment that woke me up. Ah! I still don't want to open my eyes and face all this pain.
"She falls unconscious while we are amid our pleasure," Theo answers. A hint of guilt in his voice.
"You know she is pregnant! Pregnancy is physically and emotionally rough for she-wolves! And instead of her, you should be f*ucking your harem women!"
I flinch at Harbin's words. I guess he goes vulgar when frustrated? He's always calm and collected when dealing with me.
"Making love with her won't make her more pregnant than she currently is."
"You idiot! If you haven't noticed, she is breaking! I told you to treat her better! Not to f*uck her every chance you get! Besides, you know that you are still having a problem with her being pregnant! Her child will be your firstborn!"
"Harbin, stop. Your annoying voice is ringing in my ears. Besides, it's consensual. We both like it."
"How certain are you she likes it?! I am teaching her things! How certain are you that she's not just playing politics with you?!"
"She's not like that. Besides, I would know. She definitely enjoyed it."
"What if that is just because of magic?! I thought you want her heart?! Not just the mate bond with her!"
Theo groans.
"I told you to treat her better. I told you she's special. She will soon escape your hold if you don't, with or without the mate bond! And don't glare at me like that! You know that I am correct!"
I tightly shut my eyes. I hope I can also cover my ears. Harbin's voice is irritating, although Theo's voice, despite being angry, is still music to my ears. Ugh! I hate this mate bond!
"I know she's special. That's why I am trying to keep her."
"And this is your way of keeping her? She's not your f*ucking whore!"
"Not my whore, but she is mine!"
Without a choice, I open my eyes. Too much for planning to sleep through it all. They should not discuss this in my room. I sit up and realize that I am in the King's room. I remember. The King carried me here because I am very ready to be naked in front of everyone. Now, I feel like I blackmailed him.
"Until now, you still don't know how to treat a woman! Ask for some guidance from Klevon! Then maybe you will improve!"
I check myself. I am in a dress. The King might have dried and dressed me up.
"What?! You like Klevon for her?"
I shift my attention to them. Theo and Harbin are glaring at each other. Harbin's voice is in a high pitch, while Theo is trying to keep his cool, despite the frustrations I can sense from him.
"He is a werewolf mage hunter. She is a werewolf. They can be star-crossed lovers. If you are blind to it, Klevon has feelings for her! And they are becoming close. She is even taking magic lessons from him!"
"I know-what?! What magic lessons?" Theo asks.
Ugh, Harbin, why are you divulging that to him? It's supposed to be a secret! Theo shifts his attention to me. There is a look of betrayal on his face.
"Are you taking magic lessons from Klevon?" he repeats.
I nod. "I am learning a lot from him."
He glares at me and says, "From now on, all your lessons will be suspended."
"Just my magic lessons with Klevon, right?" I ask.
"No. Everything," he says. "You will stay in the King's room and will be guarded all day and all night."
"She's not your prisoner, my King. Besides, she needs a handmaid more than a bodyguard," Harbin says. This time, his tone is calmer. Probably because I am already aware and he can't show his insubordination to the King, in fear that I'll mimic him.
"Also, I don't want you being close to anyone except me," Theo continues, ignoring Harbin's comments.
"How about the women?"
"If it's women, then it's fine."
"Is it also fine if I get intimate with them?" I ask. I am frustrated, even so, I keep my voice down.
Theo groans again, as if sensing my annoyance. Right, I forgot that I marked him, so it's easy for him to sense my emotions. "Fine. You can still have your lessons. But I will assign a guard to follow you everywhere."
"I hope it's Klevon," Harbin interjects.
Theo turns sharply to him. "I am indebted to you, but sometimes you cross the line, Harbin."
Harbin just shrugs his shoulders. Still, he bows his head and retreats from the room. When he's gone, Theo shifts his attention to me.
"From now on, you will stay in my room," he commands.
"A whore should not stay in a King's room."
"Why are we back to this again, Kaiya? I thought we already patched up things between us?"
How? Through disconcerting pleasures? Still, I did not respond. So, he leans toward me and kisses my forehead. It is a sweet, gentle kiss. It's as if he really loves me. I try to keep the tears from falling. Who am I fooling? Myself?
"I will need to leave, but I want to find you here tonight." He looks longingly at me. He gently touches my chin before he whispers, "I love you, Kaiya."
But those are words that I don't believe anymore. Instead of responding to that, I say, "Good luck on your duties, my King."
There is an exasperated groan from him. Still, he lets me go and leaves the room.

*************************
As Theo had promised, two guards arrive for me. But not only that, he also sent a new handmaid who will help me with dressing, eating, and generally taking care of myself. Her name is Meeghan Pierce, a plain-looking woman in her early thirties. Her straight black hair is always tied at the back, which makes her appear neat. She's one of the slaves that Theo has freed and received the Pierce's last name. It's like how I received Theo's last name.
However, that's all I know about her. I am civil with her, but I will not be as naïve as before. Befriending her is out of the question. I will not have a repeat of what happened with Aditya. Once is enough. Besides, she doesn't seem too keen to befriend me either. She performs her duties efficiently with little talking. She's a silent worker, except when she is trying to get me out of the bed.
"Miss Kaiya. You need to meet with Harbin for your education."
It's her usual tirades. And like what I've always done before, I cover my eyes with the blanket.
"You will be late if you don't get up now."
I keep silent and close my eyes. I want to stay in the comforts of my bed… Or rather, in Theo's bed. He forces me to stay here even if my room is just beside his. And even if he's not always here. He says he wants me to get accustomed to his presence, to his room, to everything around him. Because once he's done with his duties with his harem, he will be beside me forever. Another lie. He's just saying it to make me hope for something that I know will never happen.
Suddenly, Meeghan pulls the cover off me. I squeal and automatically sit up, which makes me dizzy. Ugh, I am no longer sick but I feel like my body is getting weaker and weaker. Is this what Harbin is talking about? About she-wolves having difficulty during pregnancy?
"Miss Kaiya, please. If you get late with Harbin's lesson, I will be the one in trouble."
I groan my frustrations. Despite our lack of communication, she knows that it's hard for me whenever she says that I will be the cause of her troubles. I wonder who told her?
"How about physical training with Brandon?" I ask.
"You know you can't do that. Aside from the King's orders, your body currently cannot handle additional stress."
"Brandon is a good teacher. He won't force me."
"He also agreed not to let you train."
Ugh! Brandon, you traitor!
Annoyed, I stand up from the bed. "How about magic lessons with Klevon?" I ask. I know I am also not allowed, but somehow, I feel the inkling to annoy her.
"Captain Klevon is out of the Kingdom for the moment."
Klevon is a captain? "He still had not returned?"
"From what I heard, he returned early this morning, but is dispatched once again by the King."
So it IS Theo. He still doesn't want Klevon here, so he sends him to missions without rest. I'm sure he can't do that all the time. Sooner or later, being a captain, Klevon will need to stay in the palace for a rest.
"Please don't be interested in another man, Miss Kaiya. King Theo won't like it."
What kind of lover would like it, anyway? Besides, I am not interested in Klevon.
I stand up in front of her, and she helps me with the dress. Lately, I've been doing nothing but general lessons with Harbin in the morning, and etiquette and music lessons in the afternoon.
Once done, Meeghan and I left the room, only to be greeted by two guards. One stayed outside the empty room, while the other follows us as we go about our day. Thankfully, he's at a safe, but not awkward distance. At least this guard has the decency to give us space.
I am about to open the door of the library when suddenly I feel the weight of magic. It is so heavy that it pulls me down. I kneel and look at Meeghan. She is crouching down on the floor. Her whole body lying on the floor. This amount of magic is too much for the non-users.
Then I shift my attention to the guard. He is walking towards us, encumbered, but he can still move fast.
Instead of going towards his protection, I get up, raise my skirt and run in the opposite direction from him. I run towards where I feel the magic is emanating from. I can sense Brandon's magic in it. And two other magic users. Although, one of them is very negligible. The user might have ceased to use his magic.
I run. My breathing becomes painful, and suddenly, excruciating pain starts in my stomach. I stop and fall over. It's too painful! I grab my stomach and press on it. Yet, my mind is on the heavy magic around us.
"It's the witch," I hear someone whisper. "Should we help her?"
"Help her when we can't even move properly?"
"Besides, the attack is because of her unlucky curse, right?"
"Most probably, the reason for the King's luck to go south," another servant answers.
They are all crouching and kneeling on the floor, unable to do anything but talk with each other. But for me, they are all just murmurs and whispers. As if the pain deems them unworthy and thus, they are just illusions. Sweat forms on my forehead. And it's become harder to breathe.
When another pain wracks me, I grunt while hoping that my baby is still fine.
Then, I feel someone lifting me and a voice that's saying, "Seriously, how unlucky am I to leave one of my weapons behind? Then returning here, sensing this attack, and then seeing you crouching on the floor. You are spreading your curse, my dear Kaiya."
It's Klevon!