Chapter 1
The wind blew past my heated cheeks as the door behind me flew open, I turned to the dark silhouette behind me, he gave me a small smile brushing his hair back before sitting next to me our shoulders close enough for the heat to radiate off them.
“Why are you outside?” He asked his deep voice sending shivers down my spine, familiar eyes taking in my face.
I bit my lip a lie resting at the tip of my tongue, “It got too hot...” I said before looking up at him and smiling, our eyes meeting, Sylas’ gaze immediately began scanning mine, his curiosity attempting to breech past my most sacred thoughts, before his gaze shifted to light humour,“I’m going to believe you Sabrina.” He chucked, “I can’t believe I’m going away.” He said solemnly. That statement burnt me to the core, reminding me that the reason why the entire kingdom was so vibrant, tonight was in celebration of Sylas going off to train somewhere in the mountains with ancient scholars.
The Alpha’s first-born son, future leader of our kingdom and my best friend, the uncomfortable feeling in my chest tightened, I was fourteen years old and he was sixteen, puberty had graced him with a light darkness over his upper lip and graced me with uncomfortable bumpy skin.
“Neither can I.” I replied, my fingers gripping onto the fabric of my skirt, the material felt less smooth than the royal garments that adorned his skin, my gave broke away from his fixating on the setting sun, silence bit at the air for a moment, I had always known that this day was coming, that the person I had leaned on so greatly would be forced to take on his responsibility.
In truth nothing I had was ever mine, I was a low born she wolf with no parents working as a maid in taverns.
That was until one day three years ago on my way to work in the early morning I met a boy, he was hiding behind a tree possibly hiding from someone, that boy had been Sylas, he’d gone past the fences of his palace and landed where the scum lived.
I still remember that day, his eyes were full of fresh curiosity, his face absent of any blemishes, impeccably clean for any man, what I had not known was that I was gazing upon the beauty of a royal.
A pure alpha bloodline.
From there I helped him get home and I return I received a job at the palace, I earned more, had cleaner clothing and was often just playing with his highness.
We would play any game he wished; he would give me delicious deserts, the tailor made me nicer garments and now I wore middle class garments, simple, with no frills but still structured with decent corsets.
Sylas did not understand it but am very grateful for having met him that day,
“I’m going to miss you.” He said, I turned my gaze to him, his light eyes already on me, a boyish grin set across his face, his soft hand reaching for my more calloused one, “You are my best friend Sabrina, never think you are anything less.” He said softly, I felt my cheeks heat up.
A small smile forming on my face, I looked down at our hands, I didn’t talk much, I was brought up as a servant so speaking was not necessary unless spoken to, “You are my best friend, Sylas.” I whispered back my gaze meeting his again, “I love you.” He said softly, our gazes remained on one another longer than intended, it almost looked like his face was drawing closer to mine.
It was.
I could feel his breath against my lips, my eyes instinctively fluttered shut in anticipation, my heart picked up pace, this was something I had only ever seen happen at ceremonies where couples got wed.
The priest would say they were man and wife and the two would lean into each other and they would kiss.
Our lips grazed each other before his warm ones pressed against my cold ones, the moment they could the door flew open, “Master Sylas, we’re cutting the cake!” Someone yelled, I pushed Sylas away from me, standing immediately.
“You should go and cut the cake, I’m sure they’re looking for me to serve the cake.” I rushed out before turning on my heel and walking away, briefly curtseying to the guard who had come in looking for Sylas, he gave me a puzzled look before moving forward.
I was thrown back into the maze like palace, making a speedy escape into the servants passages, the area was rushed, everyone grabbing trays of drinks, I looked a bit out of place in my navy corseted gown and hair pulled but into an intricate bun, the only thing that sort of made me fit in was the apron, I grabbed a tray my mind focused on serving rather than the fact that I had committed a marital act with my best friend.
Were Sylas and I joined by the goddess?
Were we mates now?
The thoughts raced through my mind steadily as I made my way back into the grand hall, I’m the centre stood the Alpha and his Luna, the both of them smiling joyfully as Sylas cut through the cake.
To their left were leaders of several districts, my eyes washed over their daughters dressed in intricately embroidered gowns, hair done with special jewelled clips and skin absent of any blemishes.
They should be the ones who Sylas had kissed.
I continued serving through the night until guests began to leave.
It was then that I was assigned to clean, I moved around along with other maids clearing tables, putting dishes away and makes putting the furniture away, my last task being to mop down the stairway, I was knelt at the foot of the stairs, now dressed in my black maid dress and the pocketed apron.
I finished wiping off the last step squeezing the water into the bucket and sitting on the floor, throwing my hair back, I closed my eyes breathing out.
When I opened them above me with a soft smile was Sylas, he was dressed in his evening clothing, hands in his packets he stepped in front of me kneeling to my level and smiling wider, "It’s our last night together, for maybe four or five years, don’t you want to go up to the roof together?” I raised an eyebrow at him, “What are we going to do up there?” I asked, “We’re going to share stories, talk and wait till the sun rises with my dad’s liquor.” He said mischievously making me smile up at him.
I told myself to ignore my problems just for this moment and just say goodbye to my best friend, I took his hand and he smiled wider almost like a little child, the smile was so brilliant that it blinded my sense of responsibility. I knew Maryn would be upset to find an incomplete task, but saying no to Sylas was a fight on its own.
“Let’s go.” He said leading me up the stairs and down several corridors, by the time we got to the tiny door that led to the roof my feet were sore, he helped me through first before climbing out himself.
The night was cool, the air was crisp and the sky was free of any clouds, he handed me a copper cup filled with dark wine and I smiled at it, he sat impossibility close with his own cup and we talked until I woke up by myself.
