Chapter 4

Leah

“Really?” The surprised question slips from my lips unprompted. That was just a little too easy. “There are two dozen prettier girls from better stock-”

“Why are you arguing?” he interrupts.

“I’m sorry. I just…I don’t understand why you want me.”

“You are honest, brave, strong, healthy, fertile…and-” he cocks his head this way and that, his expression completely unreadable -“okay looking. That’s all I need.”

He’s brutally straightforward too.

“Do you have any questions for me?” he asks.

I do have a few. “The- the child…I know it’s none of my business, but…who will raise it?”

“Valerie, my consort. She wants a child, but she’s infertile.”

Most she-wolves are. You’d think in a world where only thirteen percent of she-wolves are fertile we’d be treated with more care, but that isn’t the case.

“So…you- you got me for your mate?”

“Consort. I don’t have a mate.”

“Why not?” I ask before I can stop myself.

“None of your business. I’ll pay you half up front and half when you deliver a healthy baby. Agreed?”

“My…no,” I say, and lower my eyes. I’m about to make a demand of a king, and that’s about as brazen as anyone can get. “I want my brothers to live here, and I…after I deliver the baby, I want you to make my brothers permanent members of your pack. That is my price.”

“That’s all you want?” The king’s voice is tinged with an edge of surprise, but his face is still stony and unreadable.

“Yes king. They are Alpha boys. They’ll be good warriors,” I hurriedly add. “They are little, but when they’re grown-”

King Lothaire holds his hand in the air, silencing me. “No.”

Dammit. I knew I should have waited before I made my demands.

“You aren’t asking enough,” he says in a dry voice. “Your brothers are welcome here. Upon delivery of my heir, I’ll pay you enough to start over somewhere else.”

I ball my cheeks and a loud puff of air explodes from my lips. “That is very generous of you.”

He nods. “You’ll stay here in the castle under my care,” he goes on. “I’ll provide you with everything you need.”

“Thank you, Sire.”

He waves his hand impatiently and picks up the phone on his desk. He presses a button and holds the receiver to his ear. I hear Lucinda’s tinny voice on the other side, “Send in the next one?” she asks.

“No. Send the others away. Prepare a room for Miss Davenport.”

He puts the phone down and gives me an appraising look. “You need clothes, and a haircut.”

I do indeed. “I- well… I don’t want to cost you…I don’t want to be an extra burden, I mean-”

“Shut up,” he interrupts gruffly. “You are providing me with an invaluable service. It’s the least I can do.”

“Okay,” I agree. “Thu- Thank you?”

“Uh-huh. Where are your brothers?”

“At the gate with one of your guards.”

“I’ll send someone to fetch them and take them to the boys’ hostels.”

“May I visit with them while I’m here?”

“Of course. You are my employee, not my prisoner.”

“Thank you.”

He ignores my expression of gratitude. “You are to have no contact with me or my consort. Lucinda will see to your needs.”

“Yes, King.”

“When does your heat cycle start?”

I blush a little at this intimate question. “Three weeks…give or take.”

For the first time, the king shows a little emotion. His lips twitch and his eyes darken, but his voice is still cold and even when he speaks. “Good. Take care of yourself. No drinking, no smoking-”

“I don’t smoke.”

“No interrupting me when I’m talking,” he says in the same tone of voice. “Do not make the mistake of thinking you’re my equal just because you are my breeder. Are we clear?”

I’m suddenly and starkly reminded who the man in front of me is. My stomach shoots up into my throat and a shiver of fear runs down my spine. “I’m sorry, your majesty.”

“You understand that I don’t need or want a breeder. You are only here to fulfil my consort’s wishes, but I’ll have no problem sending you away and finding another.”

“Yes, King,” I mumble. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologising for everything,” he says in a stern voice that makes me go weak in the knees. “You may go. Lucinda will show you to your room. You will see the doctor this afternoon. My Beta, Gabriel will fetch you when it’s time.”

I get up to leave, but I have to ask. “King. My brothers?”

“After your appointment, I’ll send them to your quarters so you can explain matters to them however you see fit.”

I open my mouth to thank him once again, but he holds his hand up. “Please stop thanking me for everything. It’s annoying.”

I bow to him and leave his office to meet the disapproving secretary outside in the waiting room.