(CORRINE)
"And where do you think you're going?"
I face him again, blinking slowly. "My room?"
"I'm still sitting here," he points out.
Confused, I look at him. "Do you need something from me?"
His jaw tightens, and he crosses his arms over his chest. Is it just me, or does his face look slightly red?
"I don't always need something from you. Another designer is waiting outside. This time, I'm going to make sure you get appropriate dresses, even if I have to supervise everything myself."
That throws me off. "I can do it myself."
"I don't remember asking you."
This is a man who doesn't like being told no, and I'm starting to notice that his behavior is unpredictable, as well. Yet, his harsh words seem more familiar than anything else.
I glance toward Bella, who is still standing stiffly near the couch. This whole situation is far too uncomfortable for me, but do I have a choice?
There's a knock on the door, and Sigrid enters. "Should I bring in Melody?"
Locke nods his head, and Sigrid opens the door wider, allowing a young girl to walk through. She looks to be in her late teens.
"Your Majesty."
She seems far too young to be a designer, but as soon as she gets to work, I realize she's incredibly talented.
She opens the bag that she's carrying, retrieves a large book, and brings it to me. "These are all my latest creations. Please tell me which ones you like. The swatches for the fabrics are next to each dress. If you want something different, I can have more fabrics brought to the castle, and you can choose."
I want to get this over with as soon as possible. I sit at the table and flip through the designs, my trained eye picking up on the ones that appear simple yet elegant. I point out a few, and that is when Locke gets to his feet and approaches me. His large body looms over mine, his familiar scent tickling my nose and rousing my wolf. "Let me see."
I go still, wishing my heart didn't beat so fast at his proximity, but he doesn't seem to notice as he hovers over my shoulder.
Finally, he nods. "These are acceptable."
I feel a surge of unbidden irritation. I may not be an actual princess, but I told him that I was raised alongside Ravenna. I was taught how to dress and how to behave. Did he really think I would choose something that wasn't worthy of a queen?
He must have seen the flash of anger on my face because he gives me a long look. "Do you have something to say to me?"
I've always managed to keep my emotions in check, no matter how Ravenna treated me. But at the end of the day, I was still a person, and nobody can bear to be humiliated to such an extent. I knew, though, that if I ever let her see how I truly felt, she would use it against me. So, I kept my mouth shut and my head low. No matter what she said or did to me, I never let her see my feelings.
However, the more time Locke spends around me, the harder I find it to maintain that same façade.
Is it because he's my fated mate? Or is it because my soul feels so weary now? But I have to try. I have to keep protecting myself, the only way I know how.
I turn my gaze away from him. "No."
"Do you have these dresses ready?" He looks at the designer, who nods. "I created samples, which I brought along. Miss Sigrid, if you will?"
Sigrid opens the door of the sitting room, and several maids I have never met begin to bring in the dresses.
Melody picks out the ones I chose from the book. "You can try them on, Your Majesty. They will be a close fit for you."
I glance nervously at Sigrid, who gives me a small nod. "Let me assist you."
We retreat to my bedchamber. She remains silent as she helps me into the first dress. When she zips me up, she meets my gaze in the mirror, her voice grateful. "Thank you."
I glance at her, confused. "For what?"
"The king was angry. I know those girls crossed the line, but they're young and foolish, easily led astray by others. I wanted to thank you for your kindness in sparing them. You didn't have to do it, Your Majesty. After what they did, nobody else would've forgiven them."
"I didn't forgive them," I remind her. "They will still be punished. I just didn't want them and their families to die."
"And they will remember that," Sigrid says quietly. "They understand the gravity of what they did, as does everybody else in the castle. Today, the entire staff has seen that you are not to be slighted, that King Locke will protect you. And they will remember that you let those girls off with an easy punishment and stood up for them in front of him."
I feel uncomfortable. "I didn't do it so they would feel grateful toward me."
A smile blooms on the older woman's lips, and she says nothing further. I see her glance over her shoulder momentarily, and then she turns her attention back to me. "Green is really your color. If you have a favorite, though, I can ask the designer to make a dress in that color."
I stare at my image, remembering. "Princess Ravenna liked the color purple."
Sigrid's expression changes. "I'm not asking about the Princess, Miss Corrine. I want to know what you like."
I meet her gaze in the mirror. "I'm supposed to like what the princess likes."
I see the strain in her eyes, and I expect her to give up the topic, but she presses. "There must be some color that you have a preference for."
I feel a strange emptiness inside me, and my voice becomes quiet. "I don't know what I like. Nobody's ever asked me before."
Sigrid sighs, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Then maybe you should try to figure that out."
When I turn around to go show Melody the dress, I see Locke leaning against the doorframe. Startled, I immediately step backward, right into my maid. "When did you come in?"
He doesn't answer my question. "Let's go," he says shortly.
I look at Sigrid, who doesn't meet my gaze. Did she know that he had entered the room? Why not warn me so I wouldn't go running my mouth?
The designer fusses over me, and Locke is the one to choose the color schemes of the dresses I like.
Before he decides, though, he makes me try on every dress.
My feet are beginning to hurt, and I'm tired from changing dresses every twenty minutes. Aside from the ones I already chose, he has Melody bring out more dresses, and I have to try them on as well.
It's strange to see him so focused on me. He studies me with a critical eye, and when my stomach begins to rumble, he finally says, "That's enough. Sigrid set out lunch for us. You have the selections, Melody. My mate wants her dresses by this weekend."
I do?
Melody nods, and the maids gather the dresses. "Don't you need my measurements?" I ask hesitantly.
She gives me a sharp smile, tapping the side of her head. "I don't use measuring tapes, ma'am. My eyes do the work. I'll try to get your dresses to you before the end of the week."
Once she's gone, I try to return to my bedchamber, but Locke stops me once again. "Where are you going?"
"To my room," I snap before I can stop myself. He raises a brow at my tone, and I instantly regret it, but the damage has already been done. Trying to keep my voice lower and calmer, I add, "I'm tired. I would like to rest."
"You can rest after lunch," he says in that domineering tone of his that I'm beginning to hate.
This has to be some new method of his to torture me. Can't he see that I don't want to spend time with him and his lover? Speaking of whom, Bella looks like she's about to burst from being ignored.
"I always have lunch in my room." I make a second attempt to escape, but he wraps his hand around my wrist and begins leading me out of the sitting room.
Bewildered, I stare toward Bella, who avoids my gaze.
Am I missing something here? Why is he acting this way? What is he trying to do? Is he trying to use me to make her jealous?
I can't make any sense of this man's actions. Till yesterday, he didn't care whether I lived or died in a corner of this castle, and now all of a sudden, he's interfering in my affairs, choosing my dresses and everything. I can't believe that the man who brought me here and treated me so callously could possibly care if I'm being mistreated by his people, by his lover, or even if I'm starving to death.
I've never once set foot in the dining room since my arrival here two weeks ago. Like every other room in this castle, it is extremely dreary. Platters of food are being set out as we arrive, and Locke forces me into a chair.
"Sit."
On the table, I see a roasted leg of lamb, braised duck, a variety of potatoes, and several other dishes that I'm sure I can't eat.
Meals in the Northern Kingdom are heavier than what I was accustomed to in the East. Although I only ever got to have the leftovers, if anything at all, I know the food was incredibly light compared to what the Northern wolves eat. But my stomach doesn't respond well to such heavy foods. The healer has put me on a specific diet to try to reverse the damage to my insides. It's a futile effort, in my opinion, but he's determined to see it through.
Locke fills his plate, and when he sees that I'm not touching anything, he looks displeased.
"What? You don't like the food here?"
Sigrid chooses to show up with another tray for me at that moment. "The queen cannot eat our heavy fare yet, Your Majesty. Healer Pat has put her on a special diet. She is supposed to have broth and lighter meals."
Locke glances at the bowl she puts in front of me, and he scowls. "Are you trying to starve her?"
Sigrid bristles. "You can ask the healer. I'm just following his orders."
"Don't be ridiculous. You just need to eat something. You'll be fine."
My maid opens her mouth to argue, but I shake my head at her. I don't want her to get in trouble because of me.
I reach out and take a piece of the roasted lamb. Not yet satisfied, he watches me as I slowly start to consume the meat.
After a few bites, I feel a wave of nausea. However, he's watching me too closely; I have to keep eating. Sigrid looks tense, and I see her try to intervene again. But it's too late. My stomach begins to burn, and I wrap my arms around it. Sigrid moves forward, her eyes widening as she recognizes the symptoms.
Locke frowns. "What's she—"
I don't get to hear how his question ends because Sigrid shoves an empty bowl in front of me just as I begin throwing up blood. I clutch at her, the agony eating me alive.
Alarmed, Locke jumps to my side, rubbing my back. "What's wrong with her?!"
"I told you, she can't eat! Not yet. She needs time! Find Healer Pat!" Sigrid shouts as I hold on to her for dear life.
It feels like someone is sharpening their knife on my insides.
There was a time when I would vomit like this after being forced to eat by Ravenna, and she would just watch me and laugh.
Ravenna knew how painful it was for me to throw up the blood and food. It amused her, and when she was tired of it, she would make me clean it up.
Did Locke do this to me on purpose? Is my mate enjoying this?
I choke out a strangled sob as I throw up blood once again. "S–Sigri—" I gasp, tears streaming down my face. My fingers are gripping her dress. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone with him. Make it stop! Please, make it stop!"
Her lips press together, her eyes flashing with a harsh emotion. Her voice is gentle, though. "I've got you, Miss Corrine. I'm right here. I've got you. You'll be fine."
My vision is growing dim.
She tips a glass of water to my mouth. "Drink. It will help."
I slump against something. From the rumbling vibration, I realize it's Locke's chest. I smell like vomit and blood. He's going to push me away in an instant, I'm sure. However, he scoops me into his arms and barks, "Tell the healer to come to my room. I'm taking her there."
I feel myself fade in and out of consciousness. As he carries me away, I wonder, what's happening now?
Why is he treating me this way? What is he planning this time?
My vision is blurry as I stare at his face.
Why is his expression so fierce? Why does he look so angry? Why is he so upset?
Darkness finally wraps me in her cold embrace, and I sink into it willingly.
Anything to get away from this pain.