Playing The Alphas

Chapter 58: The Villa

SAMANTHA

With Leslie punished, my thoughts began to scatter. They ran in a thousand different directions, none of them good. Tension formed in my chest. A heavy knot that made it hard to breathe.

To my surprise, Lionel merely cast a thoughtful glance toward me. His anger seemed to have cooled. His face relaxed. Then he smiled.

It was not a kind smile. It was the smile of a man who had just made a decision. Or the smile of a man who was very proud that something incredible had happened. It seemed he had been waiting for this day.

"Since my sons have an interest in you," he said, "I will not punish you. Instead, I will reward you."

Reward me?

Really?

I gawked, my mouth falling open. My eyes went wide. I wondered if fortune was really smiling at me. After everything that had happened—the fight, the accusations, Leslie’s banishment—could something good actually come from this?

"Yes," King Lionel mused. His voice was calm. Almost pleasant. "There is a villa. A penthouse in District A of the castle. It will now be yours. It is conveniently close to the princes’ residence, and it allows you to serve them at any time."

My heart stopped.

Did I hear well?

This was no reward. This was a punishment in disguise. Putting me close to my tormentors? The closer I was to these three gremlins, the harder my life would be. Jayce would have easier access to me. Finnian would watch me from the shadows. Darlington would... I did not know what Darlington would do. But none of it would be good.

Yet, I had to hide my disappointment with gratitude. Even though I wanted to weep, I forced myself to be thankful. I forced my lips to curve upward. I forced my voice to sound pleasant.

"Thank you, Your Highness," I said. "I feel very much honoured."

"You are welcome." King Lionel’s gaze shifted to his sons. He looked at Jayce, at Finnian, then at Darlington. Then he began to smile. His grin moved from ear to ear. It was the smile of a man who was enjoying himself.

"You will visit and stay in one of the princes’ rooms tonight," he said. "Then with time, you will rotate their rooms to please them."

Serving a prince?

Tonight?

My stomach dropped. My hands went cold. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.

I wanted to protest. I wanted to refuse. I wanted to run.

But King Lionel’s stare made my heart race. His golden eyes were fixed on me. Waiting. Expecting.

I swallowed my objections. I closed my mouth. I waited.

As a mere servant, a slave, a woman with no power and no voice, I had no right to refuse. No right to argue. No right to anything.

I inhaled deeply. I made myself accept whatever came next.

Then I turned toward the three princes.

My heart was pounding. My palms were sweating. My throat was dry.

I wondered who I should choose. Not that I had a choice. I was just a pawn in a chess game filled with royalty. The king would decide. But still, I wondered.

At that moment, I hoped it would not be Jayce. If it were Jayce, I knew I would not make it back to my villa after serving him. He would devour me, destroy me and discard me.

Jayce’s eyes lit up at my words. His lips parted. He stepped forward.

"Father..." he began.

Before he could continue, Darlington stepped forward. His movement was quick. Graceful. He addressed King Lionel with respect. His head bowed slightly. His voice was soft.

"Father," Darlington said, "may I request that this woman be assigned to me tonight?"

Jayce’s head snapped toward his brother. His eyes narrowed. His jaw tightened. Irritation grew in his voice.

"I also have an interest in this lady," Jayce said. His tone was sharp. Demanding.

Finnian, who had been silent until recently, finally spoke. His voice was cold. Measured. But there was something underneath it. Something hungry.

"I also find this woman intriguing," he said. "I want her too."

All these people had an interest in me?

I stared at them. Stunned that royal princes could fight over me? What of their assigned wife, Molly?

If she heard this, she could plot to bathe my face in acid.

My mouth hung open and my eyes moved from Jayce to Finnian to Darlington and back again.

Surely, they were only making these claims to provoke one another. To compete. To win. I had become an unwilling pawn in their game. A piece on a board. A prize to be claimed.

I meant nothing to them. My comfort meant nothing. My safety meant nothing. My desires meant nothing.

Inside, I prayed the king showed me mercy. I prayed he would choose the least cruel option. I prayed I would survive the night.

King Lionel looked at his sons. He considered them. His eyes moved across their faces.

After some consideration, he spoke. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"Darlington made the request first," he said. "That is only fair. You will serve him tonight."

My knees nearly buckled.

Darlington.

Not Jayce.

Thank the Goddess.

Darlington’s face softened. He nodded at his father. Then he looked at me. His golden eyes were warm. Gentle.

"I will take care of her," he said.

Jayce’s face darkened. His hands curled into fists. But he said nothing. He simply turned and walked toward the door. His boots clicked against the stone floor.

Finnian lingered for a moment. His silver eyes studied me. Then he followed his brother.

The room was emptying. The other women were being led away by Daisy. The guards were returning to their posts.

I stood alone in the middle of the destroyed training room.

Darlington walked toward me. He stopped a few feet away.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

I did not know how to answer. Was I ready? Ready for what? To serve him? To be alone with him? To spend the night in his chambers?

No. I was not ready.

But I had no choice.

I nodded and Darlington extended his hand.

I stared at it, then I placed my hand in his.

His fingers closed around mine.