Eliora did not return to the kitchens the previous day. She couldn't, not after what happened.
So when the sun rose the next morning and she stood before the head servant, she didn't even try to defend herself.
The older woman's eyes narrowed as she watched Eliora. "You didn't report back yesterday."
She bowed her head and apologised. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"No, it won't. Because you'll be scrubbing the yards until midday, and if I find any part undone, you'll scrub the servant halls too." the woman said, crossing her hands.
Eliora nodded. She expected this much so she said nothing in response. Her chest still felt tight from yesterday's encounter with the king and from the mark burning on her collarbone.
"Go," the woman snapped.
Eliora hurried away with a bucket in hand. A punishment was better than questions that could force her to admit what had happened with the King.
At the Council Hall
Zarek sat at the head of the round obsidian table with a cold face, while his council spoke on about border patrols.
He was trying to focus, trying to ignore the strange sensation in his chest which had refused to leave since yesterday. Then he felt a very sharp pain that wasn't his own. His eyes flashed red.
Aldric noticed first. "Your Majesty?"
Zarek clenched his jaw. The sensation struck again. It felt like something was calling out to his soul.
His soulmate. Something was wrong.
Then the mark on his chest flared beneath his tunic, glowing through the fabric.
A collective gasp echoed through the hall.
Councilwoman Haleen rose from her seat with her eyes wide open. "Your Majesty, was that… the seal?"
Zarek did not answer.
Councilman Erik's brows pulled together. He asked ever so boldly, "You met her already?"
Zarek had never lied. He never needed to.
"Yes."
The room exploded. "Who is she?"
"What lineage?"
"Is she from the northern tribes?"
"Which noble family?"
"Is she a wolf beast? A lioness?"
Zarek lifted his hand and the room fell silent.
"You will know when I decide it is time."
His tone was final, but that only made their curiosity worsen.
The murmurs soon continued, then Aldric stepped forward and clapped once.
"That is enough. Council dismissed."
One by one, the council members filed out.
When the door closed, Zarek turned to his commander. "Aldric, find out what is wrong with her."
It took him a moment to respond. "You can feel her discomfort?" he asked, astonished. "But… beasts normally do not sense their mates emotions unless the bond is deep. And this quickly?"
Zarek shot him a cold look, making Aldric clear his throat .
"Yes, my king." He bowed deeply. "I'll look into it immediately."
He practically ran from the room, leaving Zarek alone with the feeling of his soulmate hurting.
.
.
Eliora scrubbed the chilly yard floor with shaky hands, the cold bit through her gloves until her fingers hurt. Her breath puffed visibly in the air.
She was too engrossed in what she was doing that she didn't hear footsteps approach, until a huge shadow fell over her.
"Human," a deep voice rumbled. "Why are you doing that?"
Eliora looked up slowly to see a tall beast soldier staring down at her. She quickly bowed her head again. "I...I'm serving punishment, sir."
The beast frowned. "Punishment? For what?"
"I didn't return to my duty yesterday," she answered.
The beast stared a moment longer, then nodded stiffly and walked off without a word.
Eliora exhaled shakily. Hopefully that was the end of it.
It wasn't.
In the War Chamber, the soldier stood before Aldric, bowing deeply. "Commander, the human girl is being punished, scrubbing the floor."
"Punished? By whom?" Aldric repeated.
"The head servant, sir." The soldier replied.
He cursed under his breath. He didn't waste another second and headed straight for the throne room.
Zarek was reviewing documents when Aldric entered. His gaze lifted. "Well?" he demanded.
Aldric bowed briefly. "Your Majesty, your bonded is being punished. Scrubbing the yard."
Zarek's eyes flashed red so quickly the flame torches went off in response.
"Punished?" he growled. "For what?"
Aldric cleared his throat. "She didn't return to duty yesterday."
Zarek rose to his feet, his beast restless and very much irritated. "Change her living arrangements."
Aldric's widened a little, but he controlled himself. "To what, Your Majesty?"
"A private room. Warm, furnished and guarded."
Aldric straightened, nodding vigorously. "Yes, my king."
"Another thing." Zarek's voice dropped lower. "Her duties will be limited. She serves me only."
Aldric knew better than to hide his surprise this time. "You want her restricted to royal service alone?"
Zarek gave him a stern look. "Did I stutter?"
Aldric swallowed. "As you command."
Zarek sat again, controlling crackling his power. "Go," he murmured.
Aldric bowed deeply and turned.
"Wait."
He stopped as he was about to take another step. "Your Majesty?"
Zarek's jaw ticked, a sign Aldric had come to recognize as deep anger. "Ensure the head maid does not spend another hour in my palace."
Aldric's brows lifted, then he bowed his head in understanding. "As you command, my King. I will see to it immediately."
"Do not make a spectacle of it, but she leaves. Today." Zarek added.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Aldric didn't bother walking to the servants' wing, he summoned them with his aura as the commander. He was one of the most powerful beasts in the realm.
Within minutes, the human head maid and the palace butler, a dignified beast who had served the royal bloodline for centuries entered Aldric's office.
The maid bowed stiffly, keeping her eyes down, the butler followed.
"You sent for us, Commander?" she asked, trying to mask her nerves.
Aldric stood behind his desk, tapping the desk with his fingers. "Yes. You are relieved of your duties, efffective immediately."
The woman's mouth fell open, even the butler stiffened.
"Commander? Me?" The head maid whispered.
"Yes, you." Aldric confirmed.
"I have served this palace for decades, my lord. How… how is this possible? For what reason?" She demanded.
Aldric let the silence thicken before answering, "You messed with someone you were not permitted to mess with."
A line appeared on Maya's forehead. "Who? I...Commander, I don't..."
"That is all you need to know." His tone held no room for questioning. "Gather your things. A guard will escort you out in twenty minutes."
The woman swallowed and bowed shakily before retreating.
Once the door shut, Aldric turned to the butler. The beast did not raise his eyes. "Your command, sir?"
"Miss Eliora Harley," Aldric began, folding his arms behind his back, "She is to be moved to a proper room. Good space. Good bedding. Warmth."
The butler nodded.
"She is to serve only the King. No other duties or errands outside His Majesty's wing."
The beast nodded again, deeper this time. The order was strange but unquestionable.
"See that it is done immediately." Aldric said as he watched the man.
"Yes, Commander."
The butler left without another word. He had served three kings and countless eras, and even he could sense the shift in the air, the unmistakable protection surrounding this human servant.
A protection only one person in the realm could enforce.
The King.