Page 72 of Bred

I was overwhelmed with the possibility of what lay before me. I had achieved what I had set out to do—at least part of it.

But the servant didn’t answer my question. She just kept climbing.

The stairs seemed to go on forever, and I pressed my hand against the smooth stone wall to keep from falling backward. My legs were weak and my heart pounded in my chest.

I’d done it.

I’d passed the test, and the king had chosen me.

Ahead of me, the servant paused, and the scrape of a key in a lock echoed around me. Another secret door opened, and I hurried to catch up.

The woman huffed impatiently as I squeezed past her and stepped into the room.

“Are there more of these rooms?” I murmured. It was sumptuously decorated, with rich tapestries and an enormous bed covered in thick quilted blankets and embroidered pillows. A table beneath the stained glass window held a pewter jug, two matching goblets, a large bowl of exotic fruit, and a tray of sweet pastries.

“What— What do I do?”

The woman shrugged and unlaced my gown. The door creaked open, and Artin swept into the room. “What else should you do?” she asked. Her voice was sharp, and I flinched as the servant tugged at the gown to drag it down my torso. I crossed my arms over my breasts, and my face warmed with embarrassment.

“The king is coming to breed you,” Artin continued. “There is no need for modesty any longer. You will be examined regularly to determine the success of this venture.”

The gown slipped down my legs and pooled on the floor around my feet. Without pause, the servant tugged at the ribbon that held my underskirt in place, and it, too, tumbled to the floor, leaving me naked in front of Artin.

The servant pushed me forward, and I stepped out of the gown so she could gather it up in her arms. Artin pulled a small velvet pouch from her belt and drew out a silverblue chain set with long sapphires. She stepped toward me and fastened it around my waist.

I shivered as the cold metal settled against my skin and Artin’s fingertips stroked against my naked flesh.

“This is a contract, Liana,” she murmured. “And I will expect payment for this favor. I could have turned you out into the street and no one would have said a word. I trust that Tannyl would not have wasted his time, or his precious herbs, on a worthless investment.”

“Investment?”

Artin straightened and looked me in the eye. “We will speak about this more in due course… I have a feeling that it will not be long before the king has what he desires. Then we shall talk about your future.”

I swallowed hard, but nodded my agreement. I owed the goblin everything. If he’d turned me away, I would be scraping pots in the freezing dark of the kitchens beneath my mistress’ house.

“The king will be here shortly. Make yourself ready. If he is pleased with you, then our next conversation will be an enjoyable one. If not…”

Her voice trailed away, and I had to assume that if the king was displeased, that I would be disposed of and another of the young women who had been passed over would take my place. I couldn’t let that happen.

“I understand,” I whispered.

“Good.”

Artin’s smile was bitter as she gripped my wrists and pulled my hands away from my breasts.

“Take some wine, but not too much,” she said as she released me and turned away. The servant departed the room first, and I shivered as Artin pulled the door closed behind her.

Wine would calm my nerves.

A fire crackled in the hearth, and the silverbeeswax candles I coveted so much burned in pewter candelabras placed around the room. It smelled heavenly, and I took a shaking breath before I poured two cups of wine with an unsteady hand.

I had come to the Monarch full of bravery, but now that I was here and the king was approaching, all of that bravery melted away.

I stood in front of the fire and barely felt the heat sweep over my bare skin. The sapphires in the chain around my waist glittered in the firelight, and I rubbed my fingers over them gently. The chain was loose now, resting on my hips, but when the king’s child was in my belly…

Everything would change.

I held the goblet to my lips and inhaled the scent of the rich, honeyed wine. One small sip was all I allowed myself. I was too nervous to give myself over to the warmth of the liquid. I wanted to be alert for what lay ahead.