*Isla*

“Miss Isla? Miss Isla, are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I tell her, blinking my eyes as I try to clear my head. The ceiling looms above me. “I’m fine.” I try to push myself up onto the mattress but find myself floundering, unable to get my limbs to cooperate. I don’t remember ending up on my back. I must have passed out.

“Here, lie down for a moment. I’ll get you some water.” She grabs a pillow and fluffs it with practiced grace.

“I can manage,” I assure her. She frowns, looking me over with a sympathetic gaze.

I sit there for a moment, staring at the door that King Maddox has just left through. My cheeks heat just thinking about him.

I feel like such a fool. Had he come here to do what he bought me to do? What I sold myself for to pay a debt? 

How had I not known this is what I was worth?

And he’d just… left. Seen me, and left. Deciding against whatever it was he came here to do. 

If I’m not deemed worthy, then what?

 “Here you go, sweetie,” she says, handing me the glass. I take it and sip it, but I’m still in shock. I barely get out a thanks. I hold the glass to my lips for a few minutes, willing the water to go down. “How long was he in here?” she asks me.

“Not long,” I tell her. “Just a few moments.” I set the glass aside and force some deep breaths down my throat.

I need to get a grip on this situation. 

“What were you talking about? Not that it’s my business.” Poppy gives me a small smile, and I feel like I need to tell her everything.

But I don’t know what to say so I just tell her, “Nothing. He just wanted to make sure that I was okay, after that woman hit me.”

“That was awfully kind of him,” Poppy says. She goes back to the pile of clothing and begins to straighten it up. Some of it fell on the floor when she saw the king and dropped to her knees. Maybe I was supposed to do the same. Should I have immediately dropped to the floor? That would’ve been difficult in the little I am wearing. Did I even bow my head? I don’t even remember.

A knock at the far door interrupts Poppy, and she goes out to it, leaving me along with my thoughts for a moment. The king just saw me wearing only a towel with my hair up and a bare face. I can only imagine what he must be thinking of me. He probably thought I looked hideous. I’m sure I won’t ever see him again, not after that. I’ve been here for only a few hours, and already failed. How would he punish my Alpha? Or, Goddess forbid, my family?

“Here you go—finally!” Poppy says, setting down a plate with some dinner on it. I can’t see what it is, but it smells good. “Come and eat, sweetie, while I figure out what you should put on. I doubt you’ll have any more visitors tonight, but one never knows.”

I am starving. I can’t remember the last time I ate a full meal, so even though I feel a bit odd eating in front of her, I get down off of the bed and go over to eat.

It’s chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy and a roll. To drink, there’s a small bottle of champagne.

“This is for me?” I ask her. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” she says. “That’s what they’re having at dinner. They just fixed a plate for you.”

I stare at her for a moment looking down at the meal. Of course I wouldn’t be expected to dine with him. I’m here for one purpose, and it’s not companionship. I sit down and begin to eat, trying to control myself. I didn’t even see the chocolate cake at first. I can’t believe all of this food is for me.

Poppy finishes hanging up the clothes, and as she does so, she talks about King Maddox. “He’s so handsome. He has women from all over the kingdom throwing themselves at him all of the time, of course. And he doesn’t like it. You know, he’s sworn never to take another Luna.”

“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard,” I say.

“Luna Rebecca was the love of his life, his true mate. He loved her so much. Some people say they’ve never seen anyone so much in love with their mate. He’s even said that if the Moon Goddess gives him another mate, he would reject her. That’s what I’ve heard anyway. It’s not like I converse much with him.”

I don’t have much to say to that. He did say he knew who she was, after all. I only smile at her and keep eating, trying to remember to chew and not scarf it down.

“But… he is lonely and sad, I think, and he’s too young for all that. I hope, one day, he meets a beautiful young woman who will make him forget all of his sadness.” She smiles at me with a twinkle in her eye, and I think she’s trying to imply something. I find it hard to swallow the bite of cake I’ve just stuffed into my mouth. 

I am nearly finished eating now. I haven’t drank the champagne because I don’t really drink alcohol, and I’m so lightheaded from nearly fainting, it’s probably not a good idea. I take a few more bites of my cake and say, “Well, I hope he finds someone. He seems like a nice man.”

She chuckles. “Yes, I hope you do.”

I look up at her, not understanding what she means. The way she said that implies that I may have had an ulterior motive in what I said, and I most certainly do not. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… it’s only natural that someone in your position would want him to find… someone to make him happy. I think you should put this on when you’re done.” She smiles and sets out a pajama set for me on the bed. I have no idea what time it is, but if the king is eating dinner, maybe it is time to get ready for bed. I think those dinners usually start late.

I finish eating and take another sip of my water before I ask, “What do you mean, someone in my position? I’m his breeder.” I get up and walk over to the bed where she has laid the pajamas as she goes to the table to get the tray I’m finished with ready to set out for the other servants to pick up.

The pajamas are very nice–soft, and silken. I run my fingers over them absently.

Poppy gathers up the tray and opens the door as she says. “You know, someone in your position. Someone like you will obviously grow attached to him. I know I would.” She makes a face at me, wide-eyed, and smiles before she goes out.

I am lost and wait for her to come back in. “Attached to him?” I ask as she reenters the room. “Why on earth would I become attached to someone using my body to give them a child? A child that’s mine, but I’d have no… no right to keep?” My eyes burn with tears. All of the food I’ve eaten threatens to come back up, and the shocked look on Poppy’s face only makes it worse. 

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I shouldn’t have said–It’s just–I don’t know much about breeders. I just know you’ll be with him, often, and… and cherished, especially when–when you—” Her eyes gloss over as she makes a weak motion toward my belly. “Did you not agree to this?”

“I thought I’d been sold as a servant,” I choke out, the words cracking and shattering between us. 

Poppy looks struck and lowers her gaze for a moment before saying, “He’s not a horrible man, Miss Isla. He won’t mistreat you.”

I turn from the pajamas and sit down on my bed, scooting back until I’m resting against the pillows. I take a deep breath, and say, resigned, “What happens now?”