~Welcome to chapter seven~

The growls were from the wolves that entered the ballroom, I caught a glimpse of them before I slid my gaze in fear to the ground. Prince Ranesh however, forced me to look back at him by squeezing my jaw a little bit harshly.

"You will be my pet!", he declared, his eyes roaming hungrily at exposed breasts.

It made my stomach turn.

I breathed out in relief when he let go of me and walked away, and I continued staring at the ground.

The growls made me scared to lift my eyes from the ground again, but my curiosity took over and I ended up looking around.

The wolves were huge. Completely covered in fur of different shades, and shiny eyes that narrowed to slits. I had never even seen a wolf talk more of a werewolf so I was fascinated by the sight of them filling the ballroom.

I watched as some of them began to change, skin replacing fur, till large naked humans stood in their place, showing off their naked bodies with no shame.

I was aware that the werewolves were half man, half wolf, and they can switch from one body to another, but I had never seen a werewolf change before. It was truly a sight. The way their bones shifted, and morphed, how the fur disappeared. Everything was spectacular.

"Lower your gaze dear, the dance is about to start and the alpha king is searching the room for a female fairy to dance with. You would be sorry if you meet his gaze", Mistress Elena instructed, as she glided with grace back to where she initially stood which was beside me.

I swallowed to lubricate my throat, and with my heart pounding hard in my chest, I muttered. "Yes mistress".

"Good girl", she praised.

If only she knew I had already met his gaze. I was relieved the alpha king didn't see the need to waste his time on a mere curious human. I couldn't afford getting a punishment from the alpha of alphas.

"Must he dance with a fairy Mistress?" .

"Yes dear. It gives the people the illusion that the stronger beings are one regardless of species".

"Oh".

***

Whatever was happening in the ballroom, seemed to have no end.

The vampires and the vampire king had yet to arrive, there was the first dance, which entertained a soft tone that had my eyes growing heavy.

The second dance gave me a slight headache from the beats, and then there was some entertainment for the two kings which included some female fairies dancing for the kings. Mistress Elena had done her best to explain what was going on so I wouldn't be tempted to raise my gaze.

I knew the fairies entertaining the kings was just for modesty. Later on, they along with their council members would be entertained by naked, bleeding humans, while drinking their expensive liquor from priceless goblets.

It was so sad.

After the creator knows how long, the ball came to an end. The vampires didn't come, and even though I wondered why, I was very happy to be heading back to Ryauche.

I stood quietly behind Mistress Elena as she conversed with some high-rank fairies, laughing and drinking from her wine glass as she listened to what the tall lean fairy among the pair she was conversing with was saying.

Sometime before the ball ended, Mistress Elena had ordered the guards to take the female humans away.

Tears had brimmed in my eyes as they were dragged away, but I knew better than to soil my makeup.
I kept my tears at bay, and even though I wanted to ask where they were being taken to, I didn't dare.

"Dearest", Mistress Elena beckoned.

"Yes mistress", I answered, moving forward and bowing with my eyes to the ground.

"She's a beauty", one of the two women Mistresse Elena was conversing with said. "Are you sure you don't want to sell her Elena? She can fetch you a lot of money".

My heart pounded hard in my chest, as a laugh exuded from Mistress Elena.
Her long nails teased my scalp gently as she told the other woman. "She's too precious to be sold".

"You haven't found the pet's rightful buyer Elena. We know you too well to be fooled by you", the other woman said, and they all laughed.

Mistress Elena laughed too and offered no additional comment. She kept stroking my hair, her way of reassuring me that nothing of that sort was going to happen.

It didn't work.

"Dearest go to the carriage and get me my box quickly. My presence is needed by the king and council", she commanded, and I bowed lower in response to her demands.

"Elena do you know why the vampires weren't in attendance?", I heard one of the women ask Mistress Elena right before I made my way out of the ballroom.

A gust of wind sent a chill down my spine, as I walked to Mistress Elena's carriage. I shivered, and rubbed my hands on my arms, a futile effort to create warmth.

Mistress Elena's guards didn't question me, or bother me as I climbed into the carriage. The warmth of the carriage was welcoming and soothing, and I rested my forehead on my lap and wrapped my arms around myself.

My tense muscles began to relax, and for the first time since I was informed about the ball, I felt at ease, and I remained that way.

...For a long time.

Suddenly, an image of the alpha king's naked torso marred with scars flashed in my head. Remembering his golden eyes had me shivering all over, and reminded me of why I had come to the carriage in the first place.

A gasp left my lips.

How could I be so stupid as to forget Mistress Elena's box? I grabbed the crimson-colored box and hurried out of the carriage.

The biting cold was insignificant as I headed quickly toward the entrance of the ballroom.

The king's guards stopped me, and their large bodies and menacing glares made me cower. But before I could explain who I was with, and why I was entering the ballroom, Prince Ranesh seemed to appear out of nowhere, and say, "Let her in!".

The guards moved aside immediately, to let me cross, and after three seconds of wanting to run back to the carriage, I walked in and curtsied in front of the prince to say thank you.

"Thank ...".

"Follow me", he cut me off, and my heart skipped a beat.

Before I could protest, his long legs had already carried him halfway across the ballroom.

My eyes widened because;
First, Mistress Elena and the women she had been talking to were nowhere in sight when I scanned the ballroom. In fact, I could only see a total of five high-rank fairies chatting away in a corner. Their expensive gowns and jewelry were an easy giveaway.

The rest were maids cleaning the floors, and tables.

"Have you forgotten how to walk pet", Prince Ranesh's voice rang in my ears.

Somehow he had walked back to where I stood frozen, and clutching Mistress Elena's box tightly.

I swallowed and shook my head. "No, your royal highness".

"Then why aren't you walking?", he whispered, gliding closer and pinching one of my nipples painfully.

I winced and took several steps backward. "Mistress Elena told me to get this box for her, I must find her now and give it to her my prince". I informed him.

How dare he touch me in the open like that?

I wasn't his pet.
I belonged to a fairy of high rank.
Had he lost his mind?

He chuckled. "I'll take you to her. Follow me".

He turned around and walked away.

What I would give to be in Ryauch right now.

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