Sarina's P.O.V.

So. Many. Damn. Stairs!

If I ever find the person that built this house I'll kill 'em in cold blood, there is no excuse why there should be this many floors with this many stairs.

Don't they know I'm not a shifter! I don't have the energy they have and yet it feels like we've been walking up 10 flights of stairs. I have little to no stamina, especially after all the years of brutal torture I've had to endure!

"Our offer still stands, if you want one of us to carry you we will," Garreth says.

"No thank you," I huff back.

"Ok, if you say so," Enderson mumbles.

After what felt like an enternity of walking around this massive castle, we came to what Enderson called their 'own private kitchen'. Which I didn't quite understand, because earlier we had passed by a massive kitchen with tons of servants milling around, making food.

I didn't understand until Garreth explained it was so they could make their own food whenever they pleased and they didn't have to bother any staff about it.

Apparently they both had the habit of waking up in the middle of the night craving a big meal, not just a midnight snack. Well at least it's good to know they can cook, I guess.

When I saw the kitchen it was definitely not what I was expecting, it had soft tones, and lots of sunlight coming through the windows. It reminded me of the kitchen my mother used to spend her days in. She had her own little bakery, it was underneath our apartment, I used to look down from my bedroom window and just people watch for hours on end. I wasn't really allowed out much... they tried to hide me away, but the shifters know everything and you can't hide for ever.

So much for that plan

I continued to look around the kitchen, it was cute, and very cozy. I could see myself baking for hours in here. Willingly of course, their was no way I would ever become their servant, and at this point I don't know what I'd do if I was forced.

I wander around the room a little, being in a kitchen feels almost second nature to me, but in here it feels different.

When I was younger I remember baking with my mother, and I loved it. Just me and her up in our apartment, when my dad would come home he'd always see us covered in flour, because somewhere along the way we'd start throwing flour at each other.

When I was taken they learned that I had learned to bake at a young age, and soon enough I was being forced to bake and cook for shifters no less, it took all the fun out of it. And made me more desirable to my masters, one less thing they had to teach me I suppose.

"Like it?" Garreth asked bringing me out of my memories and into the present.

"Yeah it's really cute." I responded offhandedly, honestly this is the most relaxed I've been in awhile.

"Good we're glad you like it, Ok now what would you like to eat?" Enderson asked from behind me startling me slightly.

I had to think for a moment, I knew of the food I had cooked for the shifters but I couldn't think of something that I actually wanted to eat. That question alone had the ability to to send me down a spiral of all my own most unpleasant memories. All the things I was robbed of just because I was born without the ability to shift.

It's been so long since someone's even asked what I wanted. The fact that they had asked me made little butterflies erupt in my stomach, and a slight blush began to cover my face.

I turn to face them, they both look at me with expected eyes, "I don't know" I simply state wanting to no longer dwell on this subject anymore.

"Oh, well I'm sure we can whip something up for ya," Garreth says mischief gleaming in his eyes.

"Yeah just a light snack". Enderson replies catching on to whatever Garreth was hinting at. I however didn't quite know what was going on so I just kinda stared at them for a moment hoping they would tell me rather than just hinting at whatever their up to before they bounded into motion.

Wanting to stay out of their way I made my way over to the island and say on one of the stools, my feet instantly thanking me. I quietly observed the chaos that was ensuring around me, and it was odd to watch someone else cook for a change but a welcomed change now doubt.

Garreth was cooking all sorts of meat, and seafood while Enderson was working on a big bowl of fruits and vegetables off to the side. Even with how big and burly they were they were quite graceful as they moved around the kitchen, even managing to dodge each other.

It took me a second to grasp how much food they were actually making, I really hope they were planning on eating with me cause I can't eat this much!

"Uh guys?" I hesitantly ask wanting to talk about what happened earlier, because it still hadn't left my mind and I really didn't want to thing about it any longer.

They both turn to look at me in almost perfect unison, and my eyes slightly widen at the action creepy.

"So I'm not sure how to say this, but umm, we're you going to actually mate with Duchess Victoria?" I blurt out ripping the band-aid off in one quick motion.

They lower their heads and slightly turn away from me, thinking I'm not going to get an answer I start to apologize thinking I've overstepped my boundaries.

"We've just waited so long for you", Garreth says interrupting my babbling.

"Sarina, we're leaders, and because of that we need heirs to carry on our legacy when we're gone", Enderson explains.

"We delayed it as long as we could, but there was all this pressure-" Garreth tries to explain before Enderson cuts him off and jumping in," not that that's any excuse, we merely had to do because we didn't have you yet".

I ponder for a moment, and now that I think about it even when I was younger that had already been waiting years. So it made sense that even by now they would be desperate, I mean I'm almost 20 that wait must've felt endless.

I was upset for some reason when I first found out that they were actually going to mate with someone else, and even physical pain in my chest bloomed at the thought. But they were desperate, and I had a sinking feeling that the Duchess is going to be a problem in the future. Someone like her, who had gotten anything she had ever wanted in her life wouldn't take something like this laying down.

"Oh alright then", I mumble.

"Can we please discuss something else?" Enderson asks clearly not liking this particular topic probably just as much as I did.

"Yeah, like when are we going to introduce you to the public?" Garreth asks, staring at me with a look of pure excitement, I unfortunately practically start shaking from fear at the prospect of being introduced to the public. I mean I had only been introduced to three higher level shifters and they didn't like me too much, how would the rest of the Kingdom react?

I fumble for an answer, but luckily I'm saved by the bell, literally.

A ding from the oven signals the food is done,"Well I'd love to talk more but dinner's ready" I rush out trying and successfully changing the subject.

Garreth and Enderson give me a suspicious look for a moment before going to grab the food. They pile it on plates, they both each have a mountain of food on their plates, where as I have a cute little hill. Which is still more than enough food for me.

I thought we were just going to eat in here until they both picked up their plates and walked out of the room.

I grabbed my plate and I quickly followed after them, not wanting to get left behind.

We walk through a hallway and through a door and come to a cute little dining room, with three chairs sitting around a circular table.

They set their plates down, and I follow suit. We all take a seat, and they immediately dig into their piles of food. Looking like they haven't eaten in days when I knew that couldn't possibly be true, I just knew shifters metabolism was a lot faster so they had to eat more and quiet often.

An awkward silence flows over the table at least for me. The food was good though and maybe that's why no one was talking, I haven't had a good meal in literal decades.

I practically moan at all the flavors and before long I've finished my plate."Oh I guess I was hungrier than I thought" I mutter to myself.

"Well we're glad we could feed you", Garreth says, as I notice their plates are completely cleaned off.

Damn that's one hell of an appetite.

With my belly full a yawn comes over me, as I stretch, a chuckle is heard from beside me. "Guess we better show you your room,", Enderson groans apparently not liking the idea of me having my own room.

"Please tell me there's no more stairs", I mumble.

"No, it's just down this hallway, your room is right next to ours", Garreth explains.

After a short walk, we arrive to a somewhat big white door. Looks like something you'd pass through to get to a whole new world.

"Well this is your room, for now", Enderson says before opening the big white doors to revel a room out of my wildest dreams. This was nothing like the other room I was stuck in earlier and I was grateful, I knew there was no chance that the Duchess couldn't find me here.

"What do you think?" Garreth asks while scratching the back of his head, which I've noticed he does when he's nervous.

"It's stunning!" I says breathlessly.

I turn around and I'm greeted by a pair of lips, sparks jolt through my body and my eyes close of their own accord.

The lips vanish for a second before being replaced by another pair, the sparks coming back at full force.

Once again the lips vanish, and I finally open my eyes, and I'm greeted by a grinning Enderson and Garreth.

"Well see you in the morning!" I hurriedly rush out before slamming the door in their faces.

I press my back to the door and cover my face as a furious blush covers my face. Oh my...

Wait. What am I doing? They just stole my first and second kiss from me without my consent, and yet I can't seem to stop blushing for some reason. Enough of this, tomorrow morning I'm gonna give those two a piece of my mind!