PART I
TEN YEARS AGO
“What’sMom’scrashedcar doinginthegarage,Daddy?”
“Haveyoubeensnoopingaroundagain?Iswear…”
“WhereisMom?WhereisValentina?Wheredidtheygo?Iwanttoseethem.Wehadplans.”
“Your mother is dead, you pathetic baby. She’s fucking gone. How would I know where your nastylittlefriendis?Her familyprobablymadeadeal withthedevil...”
“Imissher.”
“Stopcrying.You’readisaster.Iwishyou’dbeenbornaboy.Your whoreofamother istoblame for all ofthis.”
“Sir, you’re upsettingthe poor girl. She justlosther mother. Ithinkit’d be wise to take her away now…”
“You don’t tell me how to treat my daughter. Get the fuck out of my office, and don’t ever come back.”
“Iwanttoseethem…Mom.Vale.Weweresupposedtogoto ” “Youdon’tgettomiss them!Ishouldhave never evenallowedyoutobefriendthatfamilyofdirty rats!Andas for your mother…Ifonlyshe were alive.She’dpayfor all her sins.Limbbylimb,she’d suffer…”
“Don’tyoucall her adirtyrat!Youmustbejoking.Mompromisedtotakeusshopping…” “Mandy, listento me. Your momis gone, and so is Valentina. Youwill never see thatdumb child or her imbecile familyagain. Theyare gone. Get that inyour little head and live withit. Go to your hole of a roomin the servants’quarter. I’ve had your things removed fromthe mansion. I can’t deal withyour whining. I’mgoingto let youstarve for several days so you’ll have somethingreal to sob about.Ihavetogetbacktowork.”
MEN HAD RULED MY LIFE AS FAR BACK AS I COULD REMEMBER.
Istood while two mensatinfrontofme, discussingbusiness and avoidingmypresence. Manuel, ayoungmanattheageoftwenty-eightwithmessy,dirty-blondhair andafiveo’clockshadow gracing his jaw, appeared immature inhis long-sleeved pinkbutton-up witha navytextured tie. Bought from anonline fast-fashionretailer, the shirtwas cheap, and the tie had beengifted to Manuel byhis boss. His fake leather shoes were coupled with gray slacks and a black belt. I knew the details of his clothesbecauseIcleanedthemeveryday.
“Has Aramagreedtotheterms oftheSaudis?”themanbehindthedeskasked.Itwas aminimalist white deskwitha laptop that wasn’t evenonthe market yet. Acustom-designed phone byone of his SiliconValleybuddies and a notepad for ideas thatnotevenhis trusted techbuddies were allowed to stalkgracedthetable.Manuel swallowed.“No,hehasn’t.Therefore,wecan’tmoveforwardwiththe purchase of the fleets. The aircrafts will keep scanning the area, and Aram can’t do a single thing aboutit.”
“Idon’t know what else to offer the Katantians,” Manuel revealed, exhaling. He rubbed the back ofhisneck.
The man behind the desk wasn’t impressed. Behind him, the skyscrapers of Chicago intimidated me.Thewindowswerewideandendless,buttheydidn’topen.IncontrasttoManuel,thatmanbehind thedeskwasawalkingmoneybomb.
Everythingthattouchedhis skincostmore thanwhatManuel made ina year.His suitwas custommade, and his shoes were real leather, imported from Italy. His hair was immaculate, and his face wasshavedcleandailybyalive-inbarber.
Whenthe manbehind the deskrefused to talk, Manuel added, “Their minister offoreignaffairs is blockinganydiplomatic approachofthe issue. Theywantthe oil justas bad as the restofthe region. Only our money can help Katantia get there first, but we have conflicting interests, Spencer. I don’t know ”
“You don’t know a lot,” Spencer spat at the man sitting across fromhim. “You don’t call me by myfirstname.Ever.I’mstartingtodoubtthatyou’reworthajobatmycompany.Timeandtimeagain, you’ve proven how worthless and embarrassing it is to work with you. In the five years that you’ve worked withus, Igave youone task, and youfailed. Idon’tcare aboutKatantianfleets or the Saudis. Thelossofthatmoneymeansnothingtome.Butitmeanseverythingtoyouandthewhoreofafiancée youhave.”
Times like these, I yearned for my mother. She had never been the most affectionate parent, but she had been better than my father. Elegant, beautiful, and cunning, my mother had been everything I
lacked.
“Sir, I apologize. I will stay at the office until I’ve found a solution…” Manuel begged and pleaded.
Spencer had none of it. He raised his hand, silencing the room. “You’ll go home now. I’m not goingtofireyouyet.I’mputtingyouonatrial basisagain.”
“But,sir ”
“Shutthefuckup.”
Itooka step back, althoughthe raised voice wasn’taimed atme. Spencer noticed. He glanced my way,andIfoughttokeepthejittersofmylimbstomyself.
Addressing me, Spencer said, “Make sure you don’t fuck half the population of Katantia while you’re there. I have a reputation to uphold. Don’t get too close to the Cross family. They’re lowlife poison, and theywill eat youup givena chance. I’mpayingfor your trip, so I expect youto behave. Uponyour return,you’ll reportbacktomeaboutyour experience.”
“WhyareyouokaywithmetravelingtoKatantiatoinviteValentinatomywedding?”Iblurtedout thequestionbeforeIcouldstopmyself.Adrenalineshotthroughmyveins.
Spencer’s chuckle was unexpected. “I’m not okay with it, silly whore. Has Manuel fucked the basic humancomprehensionoutofyour brain? Iwouldn’tbe surprised. Your journeyto Katantia has apurpose.IdoubtValentina’shusbandwill allow her toflytotheUSfor your wedding.”
“Sir,whatpurposeareyouhintingat?Mandyisuntrained.She’snotevenincollege.She’s ”
“Dumb, I know,” Spencer interrupted Manuel, completing his statement. I didn’t even flinch at their words. “Butshe’s beenunder your claws for too long, so your dumbness has rubbed offonher. It’stimethatshewentouttodiscover what’sbeyondChicago.”
Stinging pain from the top of my spine to the soles of my feet kept me alert. Spencer Rawlins didn’t even try to appear friendly. Everything from his ashy hair to the white teeth and the milliondollar watch on his wrist was a distraction. His gray eyes housed the devil. In my dreams, his eyes werewhiteandhaunting.
“Sir, Idon’tthinkKatantia is the rightplace for Mandy. She’s innocent. Perhaps a visitto London wouldbemoreappropriate,seethemuseumsandbuysomesouvenirs,”Manuel suggested.
Hedidn’tlookatmeinmyfather’spresence.He’dsufferedamildconcussiontheonetimehehad done so;Father’s goons had made sure ithurt. Manuel still had the marks onthe backofhis head. He hidthemwithhishair,though.
“Mandy’s not innocent. You took her innocence.” Spencer pushed back his chair, and I remembered the dayManuel tookmyinnocence. It had beenonone of mybirthdays. Sixteen? No. It was either seventeen or eighteen. Spencer tapped his fingers on the minimalist desk. Then he rose fromhis seat.“Don’tmake me regretthis.I’mgivingyouanadventure.Enjoyitwhile itlasts because onceyoureturn,you’regoingtomarryanembarrassment.You’ll havetokisstheluxuriesyougrew up withgoodbye.”
Luxuries,hesaid.Iinhaled.
Spencer dismissedManuel andmefromhisoffice.
Manuel was acting strange ever since we left my father’s office. He kissed me too much in an attempt to convince me to stay. His hand traveled between my legs, where he touched me inappropriatelyover the fabric ofmyjeans. His touchfeltforeignas ifwe hadn’tbeendatingfor five years.
Todayhis lingeringfingers frightened me. He never overwhelmed me, butrightnow, Idesired for himtostop.Butitwasn’teasytellingsomeoneyousupposedlylovedtostop,wasit?
Somethingdidn’tfeel righttome.
The traffic was hell, and the Uber was going to charge us too much for this trip. We couldn’t afford it. Perhaps Manuel would ask my father to pay for it. I didn’t want that, but Manuel didn’t listentome.
While Manuel touched me, I envisioned his tiny apartment in my head. The bedroom and the kitchenwereoneroom.Asmall hallwayledtoabathroomwithabarelyfunctioningshower.Ididour washing in the laundromat down the street. Would Manuel manage while I was gone? Ever since I movedinwithhim,I’ddoneall thehousework.
Ithadbeena challenge atfirsttogetusedtothe size difference ofeverything.I’dgrownupinone ofChicago’smostprominentestates.Ididn’thavespace,butIhadManuel.
“Did I pack my tampons?” I asked nobody in particular. Manuel wouldn’t know. He didn’t even touchthembyaccident.
“Are you sure you have to go?” Manuel asked, ignoring my question as always. Bored with my lackofreactiontohissneakytouch,heremovedhishand.
Manuel didn’t outright protect me frommy father. He had once claimed he would, but he never did.Manuel wasasscaredofSpencer Rawlinsashisownoffspring.
I nodded, turning toward him. My hands reached for his. “You heard what my father said. Plus, sinceValentinawon’tcometome,I’ll gotoher.Ineedtoseeifthere’sachancefor our friendship.”
“Youhaven’tseenor heard fromher intenyears. Whygo diggingfor her now?” Manuel inquired withanannoyed undertone. “You’re goingto the other end ofthe world. Itdoesn’tgetanyworse than Katantia.Trustme.Iknow.I’vebeendealingwiththosefuckersfor monthsnow.”
Icould see the worryinhis emerald eyes, butitwas justthat. He didn’tunderstand whyIneeded to clear things up withValentina. “Valentina’s a partofmychildhood. Once upona time, she was my bestfriend.IfI’mgoingtogetmarried,Iwanther tobethereasaguest.Ineedit.”
Myfiancésighed,runningahandthroughhisdirty-blondhair.For thehundredthtime,hereminded me, “I’msimply worried. Spencer has never permitted you to travel anywhere. I doubt you’d know how to handle these people. Katantia’s not for the faint of heart. Innocent girls like you get eaten up over there.”
“There are good things about Katantia, okay?” I lied. I had to. I couldn’t reveal to him how terrified I was of going there. “They say it is a beautiful place. My father is financing my stay there because we can’treallyafford their visa systemor their currency.” Keep lying to yourself, I laughed inwardly, see where it takes you. Spencer called it an adventure; all I saw was a ticket to hell and back.“Nobody’sgoingtotouchme.I’mstill Spencer Rawlins’daughter.”
“The thoughtofanyone touchingyouagainstyour will disgusts me.” Manuel was a hypocrite, but thatwasn’tanythingnew. He touched me whenItold himIfelttoo exhausted or whenIwasn’tinthe mood for anything sexual. He blamed me for my lack of sexual appetite, claiming that there was somethingessentiallywrongwithmyyoungbodyifIwasn’thornyall thetime.
Icouldn’tgoremindinghimofthat,now,couldI?
I nodded. Trying to sound calm, I said, “I get your worries, but we’ll be in contact every day.
Threemonths.Canwesurvivefor threemonths?”
Manuel didn’treply.Isuspectedhisanswer,butIwasn’tbackingdown.
OUR GOODBYE HAPPENED IN A HAZE.
A swift peck on the lips, a touch of my lower back, and a promise to call me every other day because of the time difference were all it took. I left himwithout any hassle because his mood had worsened the closer we got to the airport. Once we reached it, he all but shamed me for having a friendwholivedelsewhere.
IfeltcoldandemptyasIstrolledthroughtheairportwithmyluggage.
Since Ihadn’tbeenthere inyears, its size impressed me. Ihad never leftChicago for as longas I couldremember myself.
Ifollowed the directions to the gate, where Iwas goingto be picked up. Abus ride later, Istood infrontofthe jetwithmyluggage inhand. Myjaw almostdropped atthe sightofit. Ihadn’tseenone up close in years. The wind was cruel, and I started shaking. A stewardess approached me, descending the stairs gracefully. She was the first Katantian I’d ever laid eyes on, and, thus far, she seemedaverage.
“CanIseeyour papers,please?”thestewardessaskedpolitely. Ihandedher thefolder,andshetookher timereadingeachpage.
“Not everyone is granted entrance to our country,” she stated, her eyes still scanning the pages. “The factthatyou’re allowed inwithoutanowner is a surprise to me. Youmust’ve paid a lotfor this tohappen.”
“Mr. Rawlins gets things done,” I responded, mimicking one of my father’s employees. It could’vebeenanyone.All ofhisemployeesthoughthewasGod.
“Who’s Mr. Rawlins?” the stewardess asked, and Iheld backa chuckle. She handed me backthe folder withthedocuments.“Weonlyanswer toAramWraithandtheroyal houseofKatantia.Take-off isintwentyminutes.”
The stewardess allowed me to climb the stairs to the jet first. Withjitteryfingers, I held onso I didn’t trip and fall. Once Ireached the top, a sweet scent ofstrawberries hit mynostrils. Iinhaled it withoutacomplaint.
Isteppedinside,myeyes takinginthe luxurywe’dbe travelingwith.Icouldn’tremember the last timeI’dbeeninsuchanenvironment.Ithadbeenaroundthetimemymother died.
As my eyes wandered, I saw her. At first, I didn’t recognize her curvy body and beautiful face. Thenshestartedwalkingtowardme,andIfeltspeechless.
So many memories hit my mind one by one. I had been wrong. The stewardess was an average woman,butthewomanapproachingmewasanythingbut.
“Mandy?Doyouremember me?”
Isnappedoutofit.“Yes.Yes,Ido.Wherehaveyoubeen,Valentina?”
WESTON
THE KING HAD HIS HANDS UNDERNEATH THE LONG TABLE. IT WAS DECORATED WITH DELICACIES THAT our chefs had cooked for us. He wasn’t embarrassed bythe palace staff that stood at eachcorner of his private palace dining room. Stiffly, the palace staff stood there with the Katantian emblems blazingontheir chests.Theyobservedthesceneunfoldinginfrontofthem.
Thepalacewasquietthisearlyinthemorning.Weweretheonlyoneskeepingthestaffbusyinthe king’sprivatefloor'sdiningquarters.
Whenever we had breakfast as a royal family, King Aram Wraith sat at the top. He was accompanied byKamila and his make-believe object Felicita Cross oneachside. Thankfully, family breakfasts were a rare occasion. The king’s packed schedule didn’t allow family time. Dining with theCrossclanwasn’tontopofmyprioritieslist.
Mrs. Cross was incapable of silencing herself. Kamila stayed quiet as the king fingered our sister-in-law’smother.Mrs.Crossmoanedherselftoanorgasm.
If the king hadn’t claimed Felicita Cross, I would have probably fucked her, too. Not because I necessarilywanted to, butbecause as WraithRoyals, we were supposed to fuckwomento show our power over them.
And Travis Cross, her husband, was the one man we as a family liked to dangle our power in frontof.
Aris, the Cross’daughter, and I ate our breakfast like it was a regular morning, the only change being that we were served in the palace instead of our shared house. The palace had high ceilings, Greekcolumns,andtheemblemcarvedintoalmosteverywall.Our housewassimpler thanthat.
I knew the king called upon Kamila and Felicita before he started his day. I couldn’t care less aboutFelicita, butKamila worried me. She brushed offwhatthe kingdid to her, but Icouldn’tlie to myself.
I could see it in the king’s eyes that he expected Aris and me to follow his lead. Grab a woman andownher,makeher anobject.Mybrother liveduptotheexpectations.Ididnot.
Aris had a girl slash object to finger in public. Valentina Cross. He owned his wife, and he proudlydisplayedit.Ihadmyfuninprivate.Thesepublicshowingsdidn’tdomuchfor me.
“When are you going to pick up the girl fromChicago, Valentina?” the king asked my brother’s youngwife.Valentinathrivedinthepresenceofroyals.Her titswerealmostleakingfromher top.She didn’t wear a bra, so I noticed her hard nipples even if I tried not to. And I did. Living with my brother andhiswife,I’dseenbothofthemincompromisingpositionsplentyoftimes. Valentinagulpeddownasipofcoffee.“I’mflyingover thereinanhour.”
My family had never grown to fully trust the Cross family ever since they moved here ten years
ago. The kingstill keptthemclose, more thanhis friends. “You’ll show me justhow grateful youare thatI’mallowingthatgirl tocomeandseeyou.”
Valentina noddedeagerly,her eyes swayingtowardanunimpressedAris.Myolder brother poked hishamlikeithadgrowngreen.
Father’s words were a king’s command. “Bringher over here once youland. I want to meet her. Her father saysshe’squiteanuninterestinggirl,butI’mcuriousenoughtoseefor myself.”
Valentina was ever the obedient object in the presence of the king, sucking it up to him. “I will gladlydoso ”
Kamila recklessly interrupted Valentina, “We all know what you do gladly. Mr. Cross and my brotherswill pickthemupattheairportlater today.”
I couldn’t see beneath the table, but the king’s hungry hand grabbed Kamila’s thigh faster than a lightningbolt.“ArisandWestonarerighthere.Theytalkfor themselves.”
Kamila nodded, devoid of anyemotion. I could onlyimagine the king’s filthyclaws digginginto Kamila’s skin. The kinghurther, butshe looked stern. She never letanybodysee her weakside. Her eyes were glossy, and Iwondered what she was onthis earlyinthe day. It pained me to see her like this.ThisroutineofseeingKamilahurtexhaustedme.
Breakfasteventuallyfinished,andweall returnedtoour routines.
Father planned on fucking his older object before heading to his office to work with the said object’s husband. He was a pettyman, and he didn’t let anyone forget it. The one thingmissingfrom this charade was the kingmarryingFelicita and makingher his official object. But that would be too honorableonhispart.
Kamila, Aris, I, and Valentina exited the palace and hurried backto our homes across the street. ArisandValentinaleftfor their quarters.Kamilaproceededtoher house.
Iretired to mybedroom, the dullestroomofall. Justa bed and mywardrobe. Whatwas myplan for the day? Right. I was on a countdown to find an object. It would look good to have one for the seventiethanniversaryofKatantia. The pictures we’d take would lastforever. The kingwanted me to keep meetingwomenofthe upper classes ofKatantia until one ofthemimpressed me enoughto make her permanentlymine.
They were too plain, like my room. I wanted something challenging. Valentina thought I didn’t care,butIwasfullyinvestedinthegirl calledMandywhowascomingall thiswaytoseeher.
Valentina’s childhood friend had a deathwish. Iwas absolutelysure ofit. Ilooked atone picture of that girl and immediately recognized the object in her. Sure, she was supposed to leave in three months, but human laws were void in Katantia. Why was she coming over? Her father was surely behind it. She musthave beenpressured to come here because she didn’tappear experienced, life or sex-wise.
Icouldchangethat.
Mandy’s looks weren’t that of a typical woman in my country. Her curves extended further than hell, and they made me want to showcase the devil everyone expected from Aram’s son. Girls in Katantia were usuallyslim, not because we didn’t have food to feed them. It was highlysatisfactory to feed your object. All the sexthat was beinghad made themnaturallylose weight. Plus, we didn’t believeinprocessedfoods.
Iwouldn’tallow this foreigngirl to infiltrate us. Ifshe’d beensentto mess withmyfamilyor my country,I’dmanipulateher.I’dmakeher pay.
Rushedknocksonmydoor wokemeupfrommydaydream.“Weston?Areyouinthere?”
“Yes, come in,” I told Kamila, not havingexpected her to come see me. She rarelycame over to
our house. She liked her solitude onthe other end ofthe street. Iwatched her walkinto myroomlike sheownedit.Kamilaworeher redhair incurls today.Her almostblackeyes hidunderneaththatdark blue shiny eyeshadow. She had applied her dark lipstick and sprinkles of tiny stars on her cheeks perfectly. Any other person would look ridiculous with a painted face like this at 9:00 a.m. in the morning, butKamila appeared like the princess thatshe was. She wore a blackdress thatended midthighwithher arms covered inlace sleeves. Her heels made her legs lookendless. The kingwasn’t around, and she thrived inhis absence. She knew I would never dare to sayno to her. Kamila meant theworldtome.Shemadeastoprightinfrontofmybed.“WhatcanIhelpyouwith?”
Kamila caught the irony in my voice and allowed herself to grin for a moment. “Look, I have somethingtotell you.”
“Hurryup.Mydayis packedwithmeetings.ThenIhave topickupValentina’s friend.Igotshitto do.”
Kamila nodded. She probablywanted to take mycar for a spin. The Wraithcoupe was one ofthe mostluxurious vehicles onKatantia, and Iwas its proud owner. All ofa sudden, she fell to the floor, takingmebysurprise.Sheknelt,avoidingmygaze.Shehadathingfor drama.
Kamila took a sincere tone. “You and I, we know the laws of this land. Unlike Aris, we don’t enjoythemasmuch.”
AriswasmoreofaKatantiaposter childthanIwas.
“Youneed to help me. I’ve had enough,” Kamila revealed. I was startingto get the picture, but I hopedIwas wrong.“Iwantto become your object.Ifyoumarryme,we have more ofa chance toget the throne and initiate some changes around here. I don’t want to be queen, but if it means that Aram will begone,I’ll doit.”
“Object, as in fucking and bossing you around? Do you know what you’re asking of me?” I was stunned. Kamila had hita low. She didn’tmeananyofthe things she was saying. Ineeded to help her outofwhatever deependshe’dstumbledin.
Eager as always, Kamila shook her head. “Are you out of your mind? Of course you’re not fuckingme.I’dnever askthatofyou.Ifyoutakemeasyour wifeand ”
“And what? You’re being hurt. I hate to see that. You never let anyone degrade you. Why don’t you stand up for yourself?” I asked her stupidly. Every time the king touched her, she seemed repulsed. Mrs. Cross was indeed a whore for the king, but Kamila wasn’t of that kind. At least, that waswhatIkepttellingmyself.
For adecade.
Finally, she looked up atme. “Ididn’ttake youto be thatstupid, Weston. He’d never listento me. Onlyanother mancanmakehimtakehishandsanddickaway.”
Kamila was a proud woman. I begged her to let me help, but she declined, claimingthat she had everything under control. The king had a strange appetite. When Kamila worked in the palace, she came outexhausted. Nobodyknew the exactdetails, butwe all could envisionwhatwenton. For her tocometome,shemusthavebeenather wit’send.
Lettingall ofher concernssinkin,Idecidedwhatwasbestfor thefamilyandKatantia.
“I’min,”Itoldher.“Idon’tpromisetobemonogamous.”
Withasmile,shereplied,“I’mcountingonyounotbeingmonogamous.”
“Youreallywanttodothis?”Thisengagementwouldchangeeverything.For thebetter?
“Ibegofyou.Marrymeandthensome.”Thewordsflew outofher mouthlikeitwasaroutinefor her.Her darkeyesglistenedinrevenge.“Let’spissthefuckoutofsomepeople.” Finally.
SINCE VALENTINA WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE DAY, ARIS ACCOMPANIED ME TO VARIOUS MEETINGS. WE talked to law firms, milk producers, and condom companies. A typical day for us royals, making businessandpromotingour brandfor further investments.
Theyall knew exactlywhowewere.Arishadanobject,butIwasstill looking.Sotheyservedus theideasingood-lookingportions.
Sometimes I asked myself where all these women came from. Sure, Katantia was huge, but we didn’thavethosenumbersofwomen.
Everybossor father hopedthatIwouldtakealookattheir daughter anddecidetoownher. Whatreallyhappened,though,wasanentirelydifferentstory.
Aris fetched himself a short blonde while I invited a curvy brunette to spend a couple of hours withme.
HisrelationshipwithValentinawascomplicated.AsawifeandobjectonKatantia,hedidn’towe her commitment. He fucked around to prove a point to the rest of us. He didn’t want us to know that Valentina was his and his only. As the son of the king, he feared that people would try to harmher. What he didn’t comprehend was that nobodygave a fuckabout Valentina. She was the least exciting objectIhadever seen.Her entirefamilywasirrelevant.
TherewasnotimetoleavethecityofKatantia.Therefore,ArisandImadeuseofour royal name. We reserved a suite on top of the most luxurious hotel downtown. It was one of the highest skyscrapers. Its expensive suites had views of the stunningpalace onthe seaside and the impressive mountaininthemiddleofthecountry.
At the fancy reception, where two starry-eyed ladies gawked at my brother and me, Aris demanded,“Bringussomechampagne.Bequick.”
Aris and Ididn’tneed to be accompanied to our hotel room. The staffknew we had beenhere too often. The darkhallways were drenched inlilac. Everysurface was clean. The stafftookcare ofthe hotel’slookseveryfivehours,fromwhatIknew.
Weenteredour usual suitewiththeswipeofthecardwe’dbeenhandedatthereception.
“Are youreallyplanningonmarryingKamila?” Aris asked after makingsure thatour guests were too busy gazing outside of the tall windows. They gasped and giggled, pointing at the beauty of the palace fromup here. “That sounds like the stupidest idea you’ve ever come up with, little bro. Did youhityour headwithabookor something?”
I would’ve rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t give him the satisfaction. The girls had moved on to their phones,takingsnapshotsofthemselvesinthesuite.
Myolder brother didn’tlookatme. He observed the womenas theyfooled around infrontofthe windows. “The kingowns Kamila. Youknow that. Marryingher means yougo against his will. You mustknow thatsinceyou’retheclever one.”
“She’s way over eighteen. He doesn’t own her in that sense. Kamila eventually would have married. Ilove Kamila,” Iexplained, disgusted athow Ihad to portraythe relationship withKamila. Arisdidn’tneedtoknow theexactdetailsofour arrangement.
“Where is this even coming from? Have you fucked her? Are you sure you want to own her? Technically, we already own her if the king dies,” Aris argued. He wasn’t as close to Kamila as I was, so he took this lightly. “It’s ridiculous. There’s so much pussy out there, brother. Kamila? For real?”
Now thegirlsputtheir phonesaside.Theywerecheckingouteachother’shair.
I shook my head. Aris was my brother. I respected him, but he had gone behind our backs by marrying Valentina, too. “I hope you can understand that I’mnot going to discuss any details of our relationship.Thekingwouldn’tappreciatethat.”
Iwasfull ofshit,butAriswastoodistractedtopayattention.
“Whenareyougoingtotell hismajestythatyou’retakingawayhismostprizedpossession?” “Soon.”
BeforeIcouldelaborate,our roomservicearrived,bringingall thegoods.
Aris wouldn’ttalkto them, so Iexplained, “We’re goingto tie youup. There will be no touching. Anydisobedience will resultinpunishment. We’re goingto use the condoms youpromote. Let’s hope they’re as good as yousaytheyare. If the condoms don’t work, youget to give up the rights to your livesfor thenextninemonths.”
I didn’t get hard at the thought of impregnating these women. I wasn’t naturally drawn to having kids. Whenever there were innocent engagements withkids intheir schools, Aris and Valentina took careofit.Icouldn’tstandnoisiness.Ipreferredpeaceandquiet.
Thenagain,notthatthekidsthatwouldresultfromarandomone-nightstandhadanyrighttogrow upinthepalace.Thosetypesofkidsendedupinthepalace’sadoptionsystem.
Arisfinallyjoinedmeonthesectional sofa.Itwasthegirls’turntoundressnow.
Piece bypiece, theytookofftheir clothes.Theywere feelingthemselves, swayingtoaninaudible soundwithshuteyesandpartedlips.Thiswastheir moment.Theyputonashow for theroyal princes of Katantia. This was the purest form of Katantia. I was fucking bored while my brother nodded along,amusedbythesceneinfrontofhim.
The short blonde and my brunette even made out with each other to impress us. I barely paid attentiontowhatthewomenlookedlike.Tattoos?Piercings?Scars?Thatwasn’tanyofmybusiness.
Any woman we met on our shores wanted a piece of us, a chance to reside in the palace. Little did theyknow that neither Aris nor I would ever consider owningthem. Aris was happyinhis open marriage. I simply wasn’t interested in settling down. The only thing they were getting today were twoerections,willingtofucktheir holes.
Once the brunette positioned herself in front of me, I forgot about my brother and his girl. She lowered herself to her knees before me. Witha smirk, she sought out mysemi-erect cock. I snatched her wrist before she could wrap her eager fingers around me. “Did I say you could touch me with your hands?”
Promptly, the girl removed her hand. I didn’t have to do much; my name bore a weight that suffocated my people. Her cheeks blushed to a crimson. She didn’t want to upset me. Nobody did. The punishment for suchactions was severe. Punishment sexhouses turned eventhe nymphomaniacs intotraumatizedabstinentnuns.
Iunzipped mypants. Watchingthe woman, Istroked myself. There was a routine evenifthe girls were interchangeable. It was getting boring, but this was my life. I had been born into Katantian royalty.Ifuckedwhoever Ipleased.
Thebrunetteinfrontofmestudiedmyhandonmycock,lickingher lipgreedily.
“Put it in your mouth,” I challenged her. She obeyed, shifting forward. Her knees touched my shoes. I felt a moment of repulsion. I had to get a grip. Once she started sucking, I was momentarily distracted.
The womensuckedour cocks until we almostfilled their mouths withcome.Bothgirls eventually attempted to undress us. Aris didn’t mind nudity, but I preferred to keep my pants on. It made the
affair lessintimate.
The girls putthe condoms onus. Theystarted bouncingonour dicks. Their moans were loud, but theysoundedmuffledinmyears.Iwasn’tpayingattention.
Aris fucked anythingthatwalked ontwo feetwitha pussy, butIfound itdistractingwhenIfucked girls withfake tits or ass implants.Itriedtoignore itlike Iignoredeverythingelse,buttouchingtheir skinforced me to face their implants. The brunette had fake tits and buttimplants. Itwasn’tmything. It made me think about the possibility of thembeing coerced into getting their bodies done by their parentsor owners.AramhadtrieditoftenenoughwithKamila.
We were allowed to have different tastes. As the brunette rode me, I absently examined the woman’sbodybyteasingandsqueezinganythingIcouldgetmyhandson.
When it was time to bust, I pictured fucking the new girl’s ass. Girls from overseas had a particular reactiontous.Naturally,itdidthejob.
Thestifledmoansgraduallydecreasedasshestartedspasmingaroundmycock.
Once everybodyhad anorgasmor two, itwas time to packup. Aris and Itooka shower one after theother.Wedressedupasquicklyaswecould.
Bythe time we were atthe door andreadytoleave,the girls still hadn’tdressedup.Theytriedto teaseusintoanother round.
Butwewerealreadygone.
IT TOOK ME A MOMENT UNTIL I FREAKED THE HELL OUT AT THE SIGHT OF VALENTINA, STANDING THERE in the jet. “Is it really you? It is. I can’t believe this. Why... I thought they wouldn’t tell you. Where have youbeeninthe pasttenyears, Valentina? Youvanished!Itwas like younever evenexisted!You leftrightafter mymother died.Ineededyou.Youweren’tthere…”
The staff had to calmly instruct us to relax and take our seats. The seats were plush and comfortable, but the seat belt stifled me. I hadn’t expected to see Valentina right away. Foolishly, I hadanticipatedawelcomeonKatantia.PerhapsImeantasmuchtoher asshedidtome,after all?
The stewardess offeredme water.Idownedit,graduallygettingittogether.Valentina hadordered a bottle ofvodka.Itstoodproudlyonthe table,almostfrozen.There were twoglasses onits side,but onlyonewasfilled.
Take-offhadcomeandgone.
The dark-haired youngwomansatonthe opposite side ofme. Her bodyhad matured. Icould see that she wasn’t eleven years old anymore. The clothing on her skin was stylish, caressing her every curve with a sensitive and high-priced touch. She showed way more skin than I was comfortable with,butshediditwithgrace.Shewasskinnier andtaller thanshehadbeenbackintheday. Her dimeyesteasedsecretsassheasked,“Haveyoucalmeddownnow?”
Growing up, I had never dreamed of coming into contact with my best friend ever again. Her beinghere infront of me was a dreamcome true. Myfather taught me not to miss her, but I couldn’t stopthinkingabouther andwhereher familyhaddisappeared.
Her soft voice was covered in honey, deep but sensual. “I was baffled when I first heard about youcomingto Katantia. Dad told us. He started workingfor the Kingof Katantia backwhenwe left Chicago.Hestill worksthere.”
Valentina spoke fondlyofher dad. Iwas glad thattheir relationship hadn’taltered like mine with myfather had.
“What happened to you guys there? There are cruel rumors.” Not that I knew much of Katantia; peoplewhocameandwentkepttheir mouthsshut.
Valentina crossed her legs, sitting back on her seat. While I still wore my seat belt, she had clicked hers off. “Iwas homeschooled until Ifinished highschool around sixteen. ThenIwas sentoff to one of the suburban areas of Katantia to gain some experience...” Experience? What was she talking about? “They were two men. The mother had died. Daily, I was… Well, I have to tell you I loved it. I learned so much from them. When I returned, I was old enough to find an owner. Aris basically watched me grow up, you know. The first night we spent together, he said he’d always wanted to make me his. He doesn’t treat me well, but I don’t treat him any better. We have a very
creative sexlife, but that’s to be expected at home. He’s the prince. Ihave endless possibilities now thatI’mhis.Heknowsit.Icanallow myselfdisobedience.”
Ididn’tknow her anymore. This was mybestfriend. Iwanted thatback. Iscratched the inside of my wrists, seeking a distraction. She picked up her glass of vodka, taking a hefty sip. She went on, “Momworks for the king, butindifferentways thanmydad. She’s his plaything. He won’tmake her his object. I’mglad for that because then that’d mean I’mmarried to my stepbrother. I already have oneweirdobrother.Idon’tneedtwo.”
Ihated the calmwayshe talked abouther mother beinganother man’s plaything, butitwasn’tmy placetoconsoleher.Thiswastheir reality.“WhataboutRyan?”
I waited for her to stop sounding this brainwashed, but I had a feeling my wait would be futile. Valentina responded, “I don’t really know what’s happening to Ryan. He barely speaks to me. He’s alwaysabsent.He’smoresecludedthanhewasbefore.”
Atonepointinour life,Ryanhadbeenthebigbrother weloved.HetookValentinaandmeoutfor icecream.Movies.Hewasfuntobearound,andhelovedhislittlesister.Whathadchanged?
“I’msorry,”Icommented.
“Idon’tneed youto feel sorryfor me,” Valentina spat, her maskfalling. Uncrossingher legs, she leaned forward. What the fuck was going on with me? I couldn’t stop staring at the exposed skin of her tits. “Icame here because mydad would be heartbrokenifIhadn’t. Myparents would’ve picked youup themselves, buttheyhaven’tleftKatantia inyears. Ontop ofall ofthat, Ihad to make a shady deal withAramso Icould take the jetinstead offlyingwiththe peasants and their collared bitches.” Aknot formed in my stomach. Her eyes gleamed in loathing. “The king wants to uphold his perfect businessrelationshipwithyour father,sohe’spullingall thestringstomakeyour visitperfect.”
The confusion was dominant in my brain. Each word sliced up a memory of Vin my past. “My father has a lotofbusiness involvements withKatantia.Idon’tknow anythingaboutthem,though.I’m onlyheretovisit.”
“Of course, you don’t. It’s not your place. You’re a girl. You breathe to get fucked in all three holes. That’s all you are to them.” She downed her glass of vodka as I took a deep breath. It had appeared curious to me that she ordered alcohol, but now I got it. I eyed the bottle of vodka on the table.Fuckedinthreeholes?Whatthehell?WasItravelingtoKatantiaor tothe’50s?
“Don’t look at me like that.” Inspecting her sharp and long nails, she put down her glass. “On Katantia, we’re all fair game unless we have anowner or you’re Kamila. She’s the onlywomanwho cangetawaywithanything.Onlythekingdecideswhofucksthatbitch.”
This wasn’tthe Valentina Iknew, the innocentgirl who drankapple juice and ate cupcakes bythe pool withme whenIgrew tootiredofswimmingalongside her.Iwas startingtowonder whythe hell I’d done this trip to myself. This friendship was a thingof the past. We hadn’t evenhad our periods when she left Chicago, so I couldn’t have known what type of woman she’d grow up to be, what she’d looklike. Knowingthatshe had beenbrainwashed inKatantia didn’thelp the bitter thoughts in myhead.
We’d been talking for what felt like ages. I was exhausted from all of the information already. Leaning forward, I poured myself a vodka. I had expected a warmer welcome from Valentina, but, thenagain,shewasn’ttheonlyreasonIwashere.Myfather hatedher guts.Hehadabigger plan. SodidI.
Gulpingdownthe alcohol, itburned mythroat. Iwasn’tused to drinking. Maybe itwas too soon, butIalreadyfeltmyheadspin.
“Youshouldbegrateful,”sheblurtedout.
“Are youevenlisteningto yourself? Grateful for what? ThatIgetto have sexagainstmywill for thenextthreemonthswhileIhaveafiancébackhome?Dotheyevenuseprotection?”
Valentina’seyesboredintome.Her voicewasdrippinginannoyance.“Katantiansdon’tplaywith protection. That’s what you dipshits do out there, catching all these diseases! We may not do safe words,buthealthisapriority!Anyonewholivesinthepalacegetstestedeveryother week.”
Her accusation diminished my confidence. I couldn’t open my mouth. Manuel flickered in my memories.Suddenly,Ifeltmypromiseringgetheavyaroundmyfinger.Holdingupmyhand,Iviewed thegift.
“It’s illegal to wear jewelry unless you have a husband,” she told me, her eyes gleaming with satisfactionasshescannedtheringonmyfinger.“Itseemscheap.Wheredidyougetitfrom?Acandy store?”
Before Icould reactto her heinous comment, the stewardess finallybroughtanother vodka bottle. Valentina ordered the food without asking me what I wanted. I gulped down more alcohol as we waitedfor thefoodinsilence.ValentinaandIwerestaringateachother inmenacingsilence.
When the food came, its heavenly smell was a welcome distraction. I didn’t remember having ever eaten food this pretty on a plane before. The stewardess served us. It looked like food, not garbage.Icouldtell theingredientswerefreshbylookingattheir texture.
I had a salad, a chicken breast fillet in a champignon sauce, rice, and my dessert. By the time I finished,Ifeltcompletelyfull.IhadsuccessfullyavoidedValentinafor halfanhour.
After the stewardess came into take awaythe emptydishes, Valentina scoffed atme. “Dad would be so happyif everythingwent backto the wayit was. Nothing’s as it was, though. Your mom’s not aroundtobuyus tinyChanel bags andletus playcatchinaDior store.You’renotmyfriendanymore. You’re the enemy. For all I know, you’re coming to snatch away my husband. Don’t even think of fuckingmyman. Stay the fuckaway fromhim. We do a lot of fuckery, but youwon’t be part of that. He’snotfuckingyou.Endofstory.”
Iwasn’tinterestedinher husband.Ihadafiancé.
“Dad and Mominsisted. Theysaid thatit’d be so muchfunto have a girlfriend againsince all the girls onKatantia hate me because ofmyhusband.” She crossed her legs. “Thatwon’tbe happening. I don’tbefriendgirls.Idon’tfraternizewithloserswhocan’tevendressliketheir name.”
She was right. Ididn’tlooklike a Rawlins daughter. Idid thatonpurpose. Itwas apparentto me thatmyfather hadn’tsentme here for anygood. Iunderstood thatnow. He had intended to mess with myhead.
Andsofar,itwasworkingbrilliantly.
INITIALLY, I HAD PLANNED TO SLEEP, BUT MY EYES WEREN’T SHUTTING IN VALENTINA’S PRESENCE. Inertly, I was terrified that she’d poison me in my sleep. She didn’t seem to like me much. I had a notepad inmybag. One that Ididn’t touch. Isat there, staringat Valentina as she stared at me. There was hunger in her eyes. I couldn’t decipher what that meant. “You’ve definitely gained weight. I remember Spencer wantingall hiswomentobeasskinnyashell.How hashenotdisownedyouyet?”
That was a question I often asked myself. Valentina’s scrunched up face showed her disregard whenIdidn’trespondverbally.“Didyoubreakyour nose?Itlooksfunny.”
Uncomfortableatthechildhoodmemoryofmybrokennose,Iurgedher,“Stop.”
“Stopwhat?”
“Whatever you’redoing.Itwon’twork.”
Cheekily,shereplied,“Youdon’tevenknow whatI’mdoing.” Irolledmyeyes.
Valentina sneered. “Those thickthighs and your wide hips will onlygetyouintrouble. Don’tyou work out back in Chicago? Or have they banned your ugly face fromentry? You still seemafraid of needles.That’swhyyouhaven’thadliposuction,right?”
“What have I done to you?” I asked. Some percentage of my brain felt flattered that Valentina remembered my fear of needles. The other part… “I’mcoming all the way to meet you in Katantia, andyoutreatmelikethis.”
“I don’t owe youshit,” Valentina responded. “You’re burstinginto our lives, causingall sorts of havoc like you’re special. You’re not. You’re just a forgotten daughter. My dad informs us of what you’reupto,engagedtoabrokenobodywhoworksfor your dad.”
My fiancé had done many things like starve me for a couple of days, eating out while I was at home with a growling stomach and endless headaches. He’d pay for everything once we were married.Buthewasn’tabrokenobodyanymore.Fuck.Valentinawasgettingtome.
“It’s so sweet that youwant me there whenyoumarryhim. I’ll have to askAris if we cancome, but, spoiler alert, we won’t waste our time. He’s the Prince of Katantia.” She rose fromthe seat on the opposite side ofme. “I’mexhausted frombeinginyour presence. I’mgoingto bed. Don’tdisturb me.Can’tbelieveIflew all thewaytoChicagoandbackfor…you.”
Crossing my arms, I observed as Valentina disappeared behind the curtains. One of the flight attendants suggested Iwatcha movie or two. Theyhanded me a tabletthatdidn’thave manyfunctions other than a library of Katantian live shows, which I had no clue about, and a bunch of Hollywood movies. Ipicked one, lettingitroll. The wireless headphones they’d givenme numbed outthe noises oftheplane.
Hours later, Iwas yawningatthe screen. The muscles inmyhands were achingfromthe tablet. I put it away and slipped off the headphones. They had turned down the lights in the plane. I glanced throughthe window next to me. Once the clouds cleared a bit, Isaw the blue oceanthat was darkas night. A shore lay ahead, sparkling in the night. From up here, Katantia seemed harmless, average even. The water surrounded the land. Near the coast, there were beach houses. Not every mile was populated.
Acoupleofmiles intoKatantia,thewoods beganonaprominentmountain.Behindit,thereal city appeared. My eyes hurt from all the lights. I counted six skyscrapers. The rest of the high-rise buildings weren’tas tall. This side ofKatantia was denselypopulated. The border and the enormous bridge that connected Katantia to the mainland appeared to be well-guarded, with tanks and highlevel fences.TheplanetookaU-turn.Finally,themodestairportenteredmyvision.
Inthe distance fromthe populated cityand the airport, I saw some sort of town. The palace was thefocal point.Itlookedlikeabroader versionoftheBuckinghamPalace.
The cabin attendants asked us to put our seat belts on. A little later, a yawning and refreshed Valentina reappeared, taking her seat on the opposite side of me. The plane was slowly nearing the ground. We landed without any turbulence. I thanked the flight attendants for their hospitality while Valentina giggled behind me. We exited the plane. Ithoughtthe air would be thicker here, butIdidn’t feel anydifferent. There was more humidityhere, eveninthe night. Ifeltitinthe pearls ofsweatthat formedonmyforehead.
A van was waiting for us. The older driver and Valentina greeted each other like old friends,
somethingI’dwishedfor buthadn’tbeengranted.
Before we left the van, the manrevealed, “Luggage will be delivered to the palace. Find Prince Aris.”
There was nobody else in the luggage hall when we reached it. This airport was much smaller thanChicago’sairport,butitwascleaner andmoremodern.
Once we were outofthe luggage hall, we walked outinto the public, where people were waiting for us. There I recognized Valentina’s brother Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Cross. They had changed. They mirroredacaricatureofwhattheyhadoncebeen.
Prince Aris and Weston were proudly standing there, their clothes aesthetically pleasing, clean, andironed.
The contrast betweenRyanand the royal sons was visible. He looked pale incomparisonto the brothers. Aris was the tallest and the one withthe lighter darkhair out of the brothers, almost dirtyblond.Weston’s hair was ravenblack,almostthe same shade as mine.Aris’s grayeyes foundmybest friend’s. They didn’t wander off. Valentina rushed to Aris, her heels filling the empty arrivals hall withnoise.Shegaveher husbandalongkiss.Infrontofeverybody,Arisgropedher,slappingher ass. Oncethesetwotouched,therestoftheworldseizedtomatter for them.
Weston’s blue eyes revealed that he wasn’t interested in whatever was happening. He seemed pissed off at the prospect of having to be here. His gaze found mine as I inspected his body. Embarrassmentwashedover me.
VALENTINA HAD THIS SMUG LOOK ON HER FACE WHEN SHE APPEARED NEXT TO HER FORMER BEST friend. Iplaced emphasis onthe former because these two didn’tseemintune witheachother atall. Valentina didn’t make good friends with women these days or ever. I wasn’t surprised that Mandy hadn’tchangedthat.
In contrast to my brother’s radiant wife, her little friend seemed disheveled and overwhelmed. Her chocolate eyes absorbed eachdetail ofthe airportlike she had never seenone before inher life. Theinnocenceinher eyesmademydickhard.Innocencewasn’taconceptKatantiansbelievedin.
The Cross familygreeted the girl like a familymember theyhadn’t seenina while. Lots of love andfriendlykisseswerethrownaround.Thegirl wassurprisedatthewelcomeshehadreceived.She showed a lack of confidence this early in her stay without even having been disrobed yet. I almost rolledmyeyes,butshewasn’tworththereaction.
I noticed that Ryan checked the girl’s tits and ass out, which I hadn’t done yet. Mandy didn’t realize that she was being watched. Oblivious to her secret admirer, she shrank in place next to Valentina.
When it came to the royal introduction, I could have sworn Mandy was about to pass out. Her fingers trembled when we shook hands. My brother and I behaved respectfully. The Wraith royals were awaitingorders onhow totreatthis foreigner;further handlingwouldbe decidedlater whenthe kingsaw her for thefirsttime.
“These are the nice people ofthe family,” Valentina explained to her friend. Itdidn’tease Mandy. Itonlyearned Va playful smackonthe ass fromAris for disrespectinghis familypublicly. Valentina leanedbackuntohim,rubbingherselfall over whatIcouldonlyguess was another erectiononAris’s part.
“Mandyis goingto make her ownassumptions while she’s here,” Valentina’s weakbrother said. Ryan knew perfectly well that on this island, women rarely had their own opinions. Mandy, a foreigner,wasn’tgoingtobeanydifferent.
Mr. Cross spoke to end the awkward silence after Ryan’s comment. “We’re going to take you to thepalacenow.Thekingdesirestomeetyou.”
Mandynoddednervously.Ianticipatedthis meeting.This new girl seemedlikeaneasytarget.She was frozen like a deer in the headlights, not moving forward. Did she even process what was happening?
I observed the girl’s body as she walked right next to Valentina. These girls would soon be fighting for our attention. Mandy had assets that would come in handy in Katantia. Men here appreciated real flesh. Mandy didn’t appreciate the gifts she’d been handed from her maker. She
didn’tcarryherselflike Valentina did, withpride and seduction. Mandy’s posture was weak, and her head hung low. I mean, women were objects here. They didn’t have any rights whatsoever, but they carriedthemselveswithmorepoisethanthisforeigner.
Itdidn’ttakelonguntil wereachedthecars.
THE CROSS FAMILY DIVIDED ITSELF. MRS. CROSS SLASH OBJECT QUEEN SLASH KING’S WHORE WENT TO the palace’s hair salon. Valentina’s father hurried away to handle the king’s business. Ryan disappeared.Hewasn’tmissedatall.
OnlyValentinaaccompaniedtheRawlinsgirl totheking’squarterswithus.
Mandy looked small when she entered my king’s office in the palace on the fifth floor. The look onher face resembleda puppybeingpresenteda new master.She’dseenthe guards andthe staffwith the Katantianemblems ontheir uniforms we had encountered inthe hallways. Theyhadn’t eased the tensionbubblinginsideofher.
Itthrilledme.Italsoupsetmefor somepeculiar reason.
The kingsatup fromhis desk, approachingus. Valentina automaticallylowered her gaze. Itwas a traditional procedureinthepresenceofthekingthatwomenfollowedinKatantia.
Mandy kept her eyes high, for the first time in her stay, taking in the entirety of the king. It intriguedme.Itcausedareactionfromtheking.
Instead offorcingher to bow infrontofhim, the kingshookher hand. He offered her a seatathis desk. Of course, he lustfully eyed the assets that would make any local woman jealous. The king curiouslytilted his head to the side whenhe noticed thatMandywasn’tshyingawayfromglancingat himwithinquisitiveeyes.
“Whyare youlookingatme like that, mysweetgirl?” he asked ina softtone Ihadn’theard from himinyears.ThelasttimeI’dheardit,Kamilawasstill ateenager.
“Nothing…” Mandy stuttered. She blinked, looking away. “You remind me of someone I used to know.”
“How wasyour flight,Ms.Rawlins?”Theking’stonewasfriendly. Ihadexpectedhimtotreatthis girl withcoldness like he treatedmostforeigners whocame toour shoresfor thesexexperienceoftheir lives.
Mandy found it easier to talk to the king. Go fucking figure. She chatted with him like she had finallygrownguts.“Itwashighlypleasant,sir.Your Highness.Iapologize.How doIaddressyou?”
“Please, my sweet girl, you’re part of our family now. Sir will suffice. Although I must admit it makes me feel old,” Aramreplied. Itwas time for me to be flustered. The kinglooked like he was in aweofthisgirl.
“Sir, it’s truly an honor to visit your great land. What you have here is magnificent,” Mandy complimented the king. The thick-skinned girl knew how to handle words. Aram bought into her compliments.“Idon’twanttomakeyoufeel old...”
Aram looked at Aris and me, interrupting the girl. “I like her already. Nobody is to touch this delicateyoungcreaturewithoutmypermission.Iherebyclaimher.”
Mandy appeared glad to be chosen by the king. Hadn’t she heard the stories? Did Mandy really trustthe king’s charm? She should waituntil his urges came alive. Thenher gratitude would turninto somethingentirelydifferent.
Valentinahadher armwrappedaroundher husband.Shelookedathimwithalivelyneedtoeither chop his head offor fuckhimuntil he onlysaw her. He alreadyonlysaw her. Vwas too busyfighting bitchestorealizethat.
“Ihave come here to explore your land. Do Ihave to tell youaboutmyplans, sir?” Mandyasked Aram.“Isthereanythingyou’vediscussedwithmyfather concerningmystay?”
The kingshookhis head. “Mandy, dear, youdon’thave to tell me your plans. Youdon’thave any. My sons will make sure you see the best side of Katantia.” He turned toward his sons. His authoritativevoicecamebackwhenheaddressedhisreal family.“Show her agoodtime.She’snotto betouchedbyanyone.”
Therewasnoother choicefor usother thantoagree.
KING ARAM WRAITH WAS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE MAN IN KATANTIA SO FAR. THE MOMENT I MET HIM, I knew I had to tread carefully around him. If my father had taught me anything valuable, it was to detect the most powerful man in the room and find his weaknesses. Mr. Wraith suffered from God complex. I served him compliments on purpose. He appeared younger than his fifty-seven years, lookinghealthyandreadytotakedownanybodywhodaredtoquestionhim.
Iwasn’tgoingtounveil thatIdidn’tagreewithanyoftheKatantiantraditions.
There was somethingfamiliar inhis face. Myeyes fell onAris. Iunderstood whyIfelt that way. Bothoftheir faceswereformedsimilarly.
Whenhe stood to greetus, he was almostas tall as his sons. He made me feel tense as he was the one who had the power onthis godforsakenisland. His grace had dominated the room. I didn’t want himtoseethatheintimidatedme.After whatValentinahadtoldmeofher havingtodeal withtheking togetonthejettopickmeup,myexpectationswereotherworldly.
Up close, his silver eyes seemed magical. Theyfit his ash-blond hair. This manwas close to my father’sagewithhisnumerousgrayhairsandthewrinklesonhisforehead.
“It was a pleasure to meet you,” the king said. He talked, and the world stood still. His family didn’t utter a single word of resistance. “I look forward to spending more time with you if my schedulepermitsit.”
Soon,hedismissedus.
What Manuel had warned me about was beginning to vanish. If the king claimed me, I was safe fromthe debauchery. Nobody would dare to touch me when this man had put it down as law that it wasforbidden.
Irepeated that mantra, but it didn’t convince me. Iwas here to explore and humiliate myself. My father hadn’tsentme here for anyother reason. Itwas clear thatIhad no sayinhis business matters, neither here nor inChicago. Iwas his onlyheir, yetmyguttold me thatIwouldn’tbe the one withthe inheritanceifheever died.
Valentina didn’t owe me anything anymore, but the least she could’ve done was warn me. In the presence ofthe royals, commonrules disappeared. Mybestfriend had become a seductive siren, and shefoundherselfblendedintoaworldoflustandpower.
Ihadzerointentionsoffallingfor their plays.
