FULL NOVELXO Chapter Chapter Five
"Um. It's me, your highness. Your maid. I'm to bathe you and help you get dressed."
Mama. Katara opened her eyes slowly realising where she was. She had barely slept and when sleep did overpower her body, it barely lasted long. She sat up in the bed, overpowered by the scent of pine and snow, as she let out a deep breath. "Come in." She called out, pulling the fluffy blanket up to her shoulders so her naked body was hidden.
The maid was beautiful. That was the first thought that crossed her mind. She had dark brown hair that was twisted into a neatly made bun and her Hazel eyes shined as she smiled at Katara who returned the smile. The maid held folded clothes in her hands. "Gowns are what princesses usually wear but we do not have your size and height right now. The Prince has said you would be comfortable in this." She started talking. "Your gowns should be ready tonight though."
"I am not a princess." Katara told her. "What is your name?"
"Cassia." She answered, bowing slightly.
"Hello Cassia, if you don't mind, may I give you some tips?" Katara questioned and instantly Cassia nodded her head. "1, don't bow to me, ever please. 2, don't call me a princess or your highness or whatever else. 3, my name is Katara so please call me that. 4, I would prefer to be your friend."
Cassia smiled softly, nodding her head and closing the door behind her. "Well, Katara, I'm sure you can bathe yourself so I will fix the bed for you while you do exactly that. I will be the maid that assistants you."
Katara stared at her ears that were not pointed. "Are you a wolf?" She tried to pick up Cassia's smell but she couldn't scent anything. "A vampire?"
Cassia chuckled. "A Demi-Fae."She answered, but Katara looked at her with confusion in her eyes. "We are like humans but just live longer than them."
"Am I a Demi- Fae?" Katara questioned as she pushed the blanket away from her body and climbed out of the bed.
Cassia gasped, instantly spinning around, and covering her eyes. "Katara!"
"Oh." She looked down at her body. "Are the Fae really that worried about seeing a naked body? The wolves do not care unless they are mated." She shrugged her shoulders, looking at the black pants on the ground that Cassia had dropped and the extremely large tunic. She sniffed the air. Erix. But there was also a scent of Arran coming from the tunic.
Males and their stupidity.
"No, it's just you could be someone's mate, and if they can even scent me on you, I could be dead within an instant." She covered her eyes with her hands.
"So covering your eyes will somehow block your scent on me? What if I got really close to you?" Katara moved towards Cassia until she stood behind the slightly shorter female. "What if I-" she wrapped her hands around Cassia and hugged her tightly making Cassia let out a shriek before laughing.
"You're on your way of getting me killed by the Prince."
Katara let her go, chuckling as she bent down and lifted her clothes. Cassia had still not removed her hands from her eyes, as if really believing that she would get killed.
"The Prince is not my mate." Katara told her, shrugging her shoulders to herself before walking towards the washroom. "If starts to piss around the ground, I'll tell him to put his cock away. He-and anyone else- does not have any right to piss around me to mark their territory."
"You are- Erix was right. You speak like the wolves." Cassia blurted out.
"And is that a bad thing?" She asked carefully, aware of Cassia's calm breathing.
"No, it's just strange to hear someone speak so freely in this castle. We are bound by grace and elegance, that it is strange to hear someone even say the word cock."
"You just said it." Katara pointed out, making Cassia chuckle before she closed the bathroom door to herself.
She plugged in the drain blocker and let the water out of the faucet and into the massive black tub. Cassia talked from outside the door. "You will meet with the other princesses today, to have breakfast with the Prince. He may announce you to the others as his future wife or he may just allow them to assume you are another princess."
Katara flushed the toilet after using it. "Why are the other princesses here?"
"Prince Arran wanted a wife, so he sent Erix out to every kingdom, to every land to take their princess and bring her with him to Wisteria."
"And they are all Fae?" She questioned as she pulled the leather strap from her hair, letting it fall down.
"Yes. Eridaya is the only land that does not hold any Fae, except for you which was a little strange for us all when we heard a Fae from Eridaya had come. The other kingdoms are ruled by the Fae except for Eridaya who have vowed to remain out of reach from other kingdoms."
"It's a really beautiful place." Katara said, as she showered into the hot water. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she laid down into the water, twisting the faucet with her foot so the water stopped pouring out of it. She could swim in here. "Eridaya is a lot warmer than this land." Katara said to her.
She could hear Cassia fixing the blankets and fluffing out the pillows as she answered her. "I was in the room when Erix talked to the Prince. I was cleaning out the fire place but I heard him speak and say that it was a lot warmer than he expected and he looked stupid-" Cassia giggled to herself. "He looked stupid wearing a coat while others barely wore any clothings."
"That was kind of funny." Katara answered her, dipping her head back so her hair was soaked in the water. "I wish to go back." She sighed softly.
"I know it must be strange here for you."
Cassia had no idea. Katara felt completely out of place.
Cassia cursed, making Katara sit up instantly. "Cassia?" She called out about climbing out of the bathtub as her heart started racing.
"Iron. I nearly stepped on it." She answered back, making Katara let out a sigh of relief, before lowering herself back into the tub. "I'll clean it up right away."
"I learnt last night that Iron can hurt us." Katara said, slowly rising up and looking at the vials of white liquid. She pulled the lids off, smelling it. Coconut, pine, and some sort of dark spice.
"Iron is very dangerous. It usually breaks every Fae within minutes of being locked in the iron rooms." She shuddered.
Katara poured the white liquid into her hands, before rubbing it and letting the foam form in her hands before washing her hair with it. She stayed silent, massaging her scalp before washing the soap off her hair and her body. After she bathed, Katara dried her body with one of the long towels and dressed herself in one of Prince Arran's tunics that fell to her knees but was not extremely wide on her. Erix was bigger than him, a body of Godlike carved muscles.
She pushed him out of her mind, brushing her teeth with the spare brush before walking out of the room. Cassia was sitting on the bed, waiting for her. She smiled and held out a belt. "I'm assuming this would help?"
Katara thanked her, holding the black belt she wore yesterday and fastening it around her body. Her hair was damp behind her shoulders, and the slight curls fell down her back. There were no cosmetics to apply in this room since it was a male's room and she knew Erix definitely wore no cosmetics. There was not even a vanity table in the room. Bare face would do.
Letting out a deep sigh, she turned to face Cassia who stared at her. "I guess we're going for breakfast." There was not even a clock in the room.
Cassia stood up, dusting the black dress she wore and nodded her head. She was smaller than Katara, her body petite and not as gifted as Katara was. Katara had a curvy figure, something she had tried to work on but had given up when her mothers food had tasted too good. She knew how to use her body to her advantage as well though.
Together they walked out of the door, Cassia talking about the princesses who were beautiful and kind and how other maids were assigned to them. It was going to be her first time seeing the princesses who had been hurdled up by Erix.
Katara tried to listen and pay attention but she stared out the window, still following Cassia through doors and halls. The sun was shining and what had seemed like mountains of snow last night were actual mountains covered in snow. She saw markets with her far away sight, she saw beautiful females walking with swords in their hands, tight armour fitted on their bodies. Males walked behind them, following the females out of the castle grounds and towards the houses, as far as Katara could see.
"They say Princess Delphine is favoured to be the Queen. She is beautiful and the kindest soul anyone in Wisteria has ever met." Cassia gushed as Katara followed her.
"Princess Delphine?"
"She's from another kingdom, called Amaris." Cassia told her as they stopped in front of the double doors at the end of the hall, with guards on each end. They pushed open the door and Cassia smiled at her, urging her to go forward.
Katara walked in the dining room, instantly her gaze landing on the four princesses sitting at the dining table. They greeted her with a warm smile but Katara immediately knew who Princess Delphine was. She was indeed beautiful. Delphine smiled at Katara politely, with those blue curious eyes. Her hair was silver, not white as if she was old but silver, like a silver fox, and the dark blue gown she wore made her look magnificent.
Katara knew she looked different compared to the other girls in a long tunic and a belt to cinch in her waist. She hadn't worn the pants that were sent to her, not able to be clothed too much and had opted to be bare under the tunic since there were no undergarments for her. She had no idea how long she had to play princess for someone to allow her to explore the Kingdom so she could run.
It did not matter how she looked as the Prince immediately stood up, walking towards her. Erix stood behind the prince's chair, his hands behind his back but he did not stare at her. She was fine with it as Prince Arran lifted her hand, and kissed it softly. "You look marvellous."
"She smells your guard, Prince." One of the princess said, but let out a yelp like a dog and instantly turned to glare at Delphine who sent sorry eyes to Katara.
"I would hope so I did since I slept in his bed, bathed with his soap, and used his towels. Thank you for that, Erix." Katara smiled at him over the Prince's shoulder. He did not even look at her. Fine.
She faced the Prince again. "I must eat, I am starving." She smiled before pulling her hand away from him and walking to the seat opposite Princess Delphine. "It's lovely to meet you." She said to all of the females before pulling out her chair as a stunned Prince walked towards his own chair.
Katara sat down as Delphine smiled at her. "You are as beautiful as the rumours say." She said, making Katara smile a little as she reached for the stack of bread. She picked up four bread slices and placed them on her plate.
"I probably won't be as beautiful as you females who are eating so delicately, as if you are afraid to harm the bread." Katara chuckled, picking up the eggs and putting them on her plate as well. A princess snickered but Katara did not care.
"So.." the Prince said, watching as she filled her plate up with food that would be enough for the whole day. "I don't know what to say." He spoke honestly as Katara lifted up her knife and fork to cut the scrambled eggs up.
"So I shall speak then." Katara said, not an ounce of shame flowing through her body. "My body is used to a big breakfast so I can train later on, and work the food into the correct parts of my body."She explained before stuffing some bread and egg into her mouth.
Delphine giggled. "I have never seen a female eat like you."
"Maybe if you come to Eridaya one day, the wolves would show-" Katara stopped talking.
There were less than 200 wolves left who lived in Eridaya now. Wolves who chose to stay in the kingdom and not out in the forest. She sighed. She needed to remember why she was here, why she wasn't locked in some sort of dungeon and why she was throwing this princess act.
"I would love to visit Eridaya one day." Delphine smiled at her across the table. "I shall speak with my father, king of Amaris and ask him to send an invite to Eridaya. If they would allow me to stay there."
Katara smiled. "They would allow you. Of course you would have your guards but Nik would be following you around on the orders of the Queen."
"The vampire Queen and the Wolf King, right?" The Prince questioned, trying to involve himself into the conversation.
Katara nodded her head, swallowing her food. "Their love story is written in our history as one of the greatest love stories ever. The Queen was dying one day and the Wolf King had made her a cure with his own blood, saving her and the whole kingdom, stopping the wars"
"A cure of his own blood?" Prince Arran raised his eyebrow. "That would surely be disgusting."
Katara rolled her eyes. "Maybe to your kind, but to mine, that is romantic." A small smile tugged on her face, thinking of the time the boys ran around school and waited to give girls their blood to see if a connection would form. "She is a vampire, he is a wolf. She needs blood to survive on and when no blood had been a cure, he gave his own to her, as a last promise, for the secret love they shared to never be forgotten but it had clicked the mate bond between them."
"You are our kind." Prince Arran said, before lifting the bread into his hand.
Katara rolled her eyes again, before picking up a bread slice and holding it out to Erix who stood behind the prince's chair. The room froze. "Here, you must be hungry with the body you have." She pushed the bread out further to him. "Take it. In our kingdom, no guard or maid is left standing while everyone eats."
Prince Arran took the bread out of her hands as Erix's eyes darkened, those golden eyes reminded her of last night. Maybe she had dreamed his lips on her neck, his teeth on her pulsing vein.
"Maybe in your kingdom it means absolutely nothing but in-"
Delphine cut in before Arran could shout at her. She reached over the table, pressing her warm hand on Katara' hand who looked completely confused. "Usually," her voice was soft, "an unmated female does not offer food to an unmated male. It can spark something dangerous in the male. Your intentions were not wrong, Katara, but being a Fae is different from being a wolf and a vampire."
Katara nodded as Delphine pulled her hand away. "And maybe, Arran, you should speak with a calmer tone." Her voice instantly tightened at the Prince who glared at her but she did not look up at him. The other princesses were silent as if this was normal between them. "You don't have to claim every female by taking their food."
"Are you just jealous that I never took the food you offered me?"
Delphine looked up at him. "I would never offer you food again. Ever." Her voice was a vow, as if those words would be written in stone and the prince snarled under his breath. Delphine turned to look at Katara. "You spoke of training. Did you do that often?" Her voice was once again gentle as she elegantly cut the bread into pieces and the egg.
Katara knew she would instantly like this princess. She started talking about how she would fight and train every morning after breakfast until lunch came and after lunch, she would usually spend time with the pack, or sometimes shopping in the mall.
"I can show you, beautiful females, Wisteria today, if you would like." Prince Arran added. Katara faced him, pushing her plate back a little. She had finished her breakfast.
"Really?"
He grinned at her. "Of course, darling. I would love to show you the markets, maybe you princesses could help Princess Katara find something…..suitable for a castle."
She wanted to tell him that it was his tunic she was wearing but maybe the overpowering scent of Erix was too strong.
"I would like that very much." Katara patted the side of her mouth with the napkin before pushing herself up onto her feet. She looked at the other princesses who had finished their food way ahead of her. They wiped their mouths prettily, before standing up elegantly. "We are ready to go."
The Prince chuckled, before pushing himself up. "We must get some coats for you." He clicked his hands, and instantly flying through the air, six coats appeared. Each one landed in the princesses hands and one landed in the Prince's hand. Katara gaped at the magic.
"What is your magic?" She asked with wide eyes, feeling her own stirring inside of her.
"Wind. I can control it, bring stuff to me." He shrugged his shoulders.
Katara turned to look at Delphine and the three other princesses. "Do you have magic?"
"Ice." Delphine answered her.
Princess Willa answered her. "Teleportation."
The other two silent princesses didn't answer her. They looked to be twins or sisters, Katara didn't know and neither did she ask as she turned to face Erix. He stood up a little straighter, waiting for her question but Arran answered it for him. "Erix doesn't have magic. Not a lot of Fae do. It mostly runs in Royals only, except a few Fae here and there could be given magic."
Erix simply stared at her, his gaze fixated on her neck, on every breath she seemed to take. He was going to get her into trouble, she knew it. Katara looked away from and towards the Prince. "Walk us to the world you so highly talk about."
Delphine giggled with Willa and the twin silent princesses. She walked towards Katara, wrapping her arms around hers and walking with her towards the doors. "Katara, I think I'm going to really like you. You should come to Amaris one day."
Katara smiled to herself.
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They were like hawks watching her walk through the streets of Wisteria. Every soul stared at the princesses, including herself and a part of was thankful she did not wear a gown. The black fur coat was wrapped tightly around her body which was surprisingly not needed as the flames inside of her curled up every inch of her skin, warming her.
"What about this one?" Delphine held out the black gown. "Black will look wonderful with your red hair."
The Prince and Erix had finally walked away after a torturous trip to the markets. Delphine had wanted to walk through every stall and there were hundreds of them. The Prince had given the task of making her suitable for a royal life to the princesses.
This kingdom was so much more different than Eridaya. The Vampire Queen did not care if a naked female or male walked through the castle doors, she would still sit them down and give them a lovely dinner to eat. Or maybe it was the fact that everyone in Eridaya simply did not care about what others wore because they had seen many of them naked. Wolves preferred to be naked and wasting coins on clothes was stupidity when they spent most of their time in animal form.
They had bought her gowns after gowns, all of them being sent to the castle. Only one stall had measured her up and then the measurements would be sent to every gown or dress she had picked, for the alterations to be made. When Delphine had walked past the stall that held undergarments and nightgown, Katara had dragged her back, saying this was her stall, this was what she would definitely spend the prince's coin on.
She had bought everything the male had owned in her size. She bought cotton nightgowns, lace long ones and then the daredevil that she was, she had held the shortest night gown the male had against her body. It was pure black, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination, as the sight of her inner thighs would be on show if she so much as stood on her tiptoes.
Delphine had gaped at her. You wouldn't dare.
Katara had bought it, because nightgowns were the most clothing she had at home. They had bought shoes for her, but she had drifted off into boredom when they had walked to the accessory stall. Earrings, necklaces, tiaras, everything was bought.
Until Katara had looked around, realising Erix and the prince no longer followed them. Katara glanced back at the four princesses huddled up around the stall, looking at the earrings they wanted to buy. She walked away from them, ignoring the looks a few males and females gave her. She could scent the salted water in the sky, knowing the ocean was close.
An ocean separated us.
Katara came to a staggering stop after waking out of the market. There it was. Exactly what she needed. Boats. Five wooden boats were pushed into the sand just on her right hand side, with a few males and females climbing into them. If she turned left, she would be greeted with more houses.
In the middle of the night, when everyone was extremely busy or doing something, she would need to leave the castle. She needed to leave this whole land. Katara looked up at the sky to pray to the Gods that the hunters did not attack again.
Katara turned around, walking back to the new life she had stepped into.
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