Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King

Lorelei POV

"And the higher ranks usually treat people like us as if we’re less than human," Isaac added, his voice quieter but filled with a sincerity that made me listen. "If you become Queen, you’d actually care about the people. You know what it’s like to be treated that way."

My face immediately heated under their relentless praise.

"You guys flatter me way too much," I muttered, looking away in an attempt to hide my burning cheeks.

"We’re just being honest, Miss," Paul said with a light chuckle. "Although, I’d be lying if I said Isaac and I don’t feel the pressure now too. We’re not just guarding the Alpha King’s woman anymore."

He exchanged a quick glance with Isaac before looking back at me.

"We’re protecting the future Queen of the entire empire."

I cringed slightly at the title, the weight of it settling heavily on my shoulders. It was one thing to hear Kaelen whisper it in the privacy of his bedroom, but hearing someone else say it so casually made everything feel terrifyingly real. I had a feeling it was going to take me a long time to get used to that title.

"Well, we’ll see how it goes," I replied gently, keeping my tone grounded because the last thing I wanted was to sound like I had already gotten carried away with the idea. "For now, I’m just happy to be back."

"What do you have planned for today, Miss?" Isaac asked, smoothly shifting the conversation.

The reminder immediately brought a wave of sadness over me. "I heard Princess Nala and Prince Kalu are leaving today."

Just saying it aloud made my chest tighten. Nala had become a genuine friend to me, a rare source of comfort in this overwhelming place, and once she walked through those estate gates, the small circle of people I actually trusted in this territory would become even smaller.

"I want to say a proper goodbye to her before she leaves," I murmured, and with that, Paul and Isaac led me through the winding hallways and down the grand staircase toward the courtyard.

The cool morning air hit my face the moment we stepped outside, and I immediately spotted Nala’s guards loading heavy luggage into the back of their armored vehicles.

The second Nala noticed me standing at the top of the steps, her face lit up with a bright, genuine smile, causing me to hurry down toward her despite the ache between my thighs.

"Looks like I got here just in time," I said, giving her a small smile. "Why are you leaving so early?"

Nala chuckled softly, smoothing down the fine silk of her traveling dress. "The road to N’zari takes nearly a week, and I have no desire to spend another day upon it than is needed. The earlier we leave, the sooner we shall arrive."

I shifted awkwardly on my feet, biting down on my lower lip before finally asking the question that had been bothering me.

"Aren’t you... going to ask me why I’m back?"

Nala simply shrugged, waving her hand as if I had just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. "Ask you why?" A mischievous smile slowly spread across her lips. "I knew you two would find your way back to one another. You are both much too stubborn to remain apart for long."

My cheeks immediately burned, and I couldn’t help letting out an awkward little laugh.

"Shai’ren, the hour has come. How long shall you make us wait?"

Prince Kalu suddenly interrupted us, and I glanced over Nala’s shoulder to find him standing beside the passenger door with an unusually blank expression. He wasn’t scowling or even looking annoyed. He just looked... completely emotionless.

It was strange.

For someone who seemed to live for teasing people and wearing that irritatingly arrogant smirk, seeing him this serious made me stare for a second longer than I probably should have.

"Pay him no mind," Nala said, throwing her brother an annoyed look before turning back to me. "His spirit has been carrying a dark cloud these past few days. It visits him from time to time. It shall leave when it grows tired of him."

I nodded, deciding not to question it further before glancing around the courtyard again.

"Is Kaelen not coming out to see you off?" I asked. I still didn’t know much about royal etiquette, but surely the host was supposed to personally see important guests off.

Those words made Nala immediately burst into laughter.

"See us off?" she repeated, placing a hand against her chest. "That man has already done so."

I blinked.

"He came into my quarters before dawn," she continued, shaking her head. "He disturbed my sleep simply to bid us farewell. If he had remained another moment, I would have thrown a pillow at his head."

A small laugh escaped me too, and for a moment, the sadness in my chest eased.

But then Nala’s laughter slowly faded, and the sudden change in her expression caught my attention. She reached for both of my hands, holding them tightly, her warm hands against my cold ones as she leaned closer.

"Lorelei,"

The way she said my name made my smile disappear.

"Be careful."

I frowned at that as I asked, "With what?"

Making sure her voice was low enough that only I could hear, she whispered, "Your enemies do not dwell far from you. They are closer than your eyes have shown you."

My heart immediately gave a strange little jolt as her golden eyes held mine.

Her words sent a cold shiver straight down my spine, and I suddenly felt every muscle in my body tense.

What did she mean?

Before I could ask, hurried footsteps approached from behind as one of her guards stopped several feet away and immediately lowered himself into a deep bow.

"Vara’esh, Shai’ren. Evara na’keth." (Princess, the hour has come. The convoy is ready.)

With that, Nala let out a frustrated sigh and gave my cold hands one final, reassuring squeeze before slowly letting go. "Goodbye again, Lorelei."

She turned and climbed into the back of the sleek black vehicle, but I remained rooted to the spot, her warning still replaying in my head.

Your enemies do not dwell far from you.

Her words repeated themselves inside my head.

By the time I finally snapped out of the fear that had tightened around my chest, it was already too late to ask what she meant. The heavy door had already clicked shut, leaving me with nothing but more questions.

I stood there beside Isaac and Paul, watching silently as the convoy slowly made its way across the cobblestone courtyard. One vehicle after another passed through the massive iron gates before disappearing down the road, taking Nala and Kalu with them.

Only when the last vehicle was completely out of sight did I finally let out a heavy sigh and turn toward the estate.

I had barely taken a few steps when I suddenly stopped after spotting Darius walking straight toward me.

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