Lycan King's Regret: Punished The Wrong Daughter

Arabella Toussaint:

I stood in front of the mirror and turned slightly to look at myself from the side. The off-white dress was something I had bought on my last birthday as a treat for myself.

Its soft fabric skimmed my body comfortably and fell just below my knees, with a simple A-line shape that moved easily when I walked. The short sleeves rested lightly on my shoulders, and the modest neckline was softened by a narrow row of delicate pleats. A slim belt at my waist added a little definition.

My white hair was gathered into a loose side braid that rested over my shoulder, with a few wispy strands framing my face. I opened the small jewelry box on the dressing table and took out the earrings Maya had given me on my last birthday. They were simple silver drops, but I loved them.

I didn’t want heavy makeup. A little mascara was enough for my eyes, followed by a nude shade of lipstick.

Tada! I was done.

I leaned back to inspect the final result. Was it too much? After all, it was just a dinner. I almost considered changing, but then looked at myself again.

No, I liked it.

Tonight, I’d be formally introduced to the queen and her brat of a daughter, Aliya, after my return.

Right on cue, my phone began vibrating across the dressing table. I picked it up and smiled. It was a video call from Maya. I accepted it immediately. "Okay, don’t say anything yet. Look."

I propped the phone against the mirror and stepped backward, spreading my arms before slowly turning around so she could see the entire look. A loud whistle came through the speaker. "Damn, Ara. You look gorgeous."

I grinned and turned back toward the phone. "Really?"

"Really. Although now I’m slightly concerned for everyone else in that room."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why?"

"Because you’re about to walk into a den filled with lycans, and the king himself will be there."

My smile faded slightly. "Bitch! That doesn’t exactly make me feel better."

"It should. It means you need to walk in there confidently, as if you own the world."

I laughed softly. "That’s easy for you to say." I checked myself in the mirror and looked for my shoe box.

"No, Ara, it’s easy for me to say because I know you. You raised Yara Café to these heights. You built something people respect, and you should be proud of that. You are not a nobody anymore." Maya’s expression softened. "So don’t walk in there like someone waiting to be judged. Walk in like the woman who earned her place there."

I glanced at my reflection, smoothed a hand over the side of my dress, and swallowed, looking at myself again. "You really think I can do that?" I muttered to myself.

"Yes. Just keep your head high and don’t let any of them make you feel small. I’ve seen you handle worse than a room full of judgmental royals."

I opened my mouth to argue, but a knock sounded at the door. Maya’s smile widened. "Must be your escort?"

"I don’t know." I glanced toward the door. "I should go."

"Wait, let me see who it is."

"I’ll call you later, sweetheart. I promise. I’ll tell you everything." I said while laughing and ended the call before she could protest. After setting my phone down, I turned toward the door. "Come in," I called.

The door opened, and Beta Bradley poked his head inside. "Ready?"

"Give me one second." I hurried back to the shoebox near the dressing table and pulled out my sandals. After slipping them on and fastening the thin straps around my ankles, I stood and held my arms out with a smile. "Now I’m ready."

Bradley chuckled and offered me his arm. "Let’s go, then."

My smile remained, but my heartbeat had already started speeding up. I slipped my hand through his arm, and we stepped into the corridor together.

The closer we got to the dining area, the more familiar everything became. And then I realized exactly where we were going. It was the same dining room where I had last eaten with Lucien three years ago.

The same room where I had slipped something into his food. My steps slowed for half a second. Goddess. Why was I thinking about that now?

Before I could think about it any further, we reached the large double doors. The guards standing outside immediately pulled them open.

I walked in beside Bradley and the room fell silent. One moment there were voices coming from around the table, and the next, every conversation had stopped.

For a second, all I could hear was the soft sound of my own footsteps as Bradley and I walked farther into the room.

"Is it her?"

"What is she doing here?"

"Shouldn’t she be in jail for attempting to kill our king?"

What were they talking about? Seriously? It was only an attempt to make him unconscious.

That’s it!

Why would I try to kill him and come back to the palace so confidently?

Bradley pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down with a quiet thank-you. Instead of walking away, he took the seat beside mine.

I already knew who would eventually occupy the chairs on my other side. Queen Theodora and Aliya Volkov. Neither of them had arrived yet.

When the queen’s arrival was announced, the doors opened, and we all rose from our seats. Those two evil women entered with their practiced, fake smiles.

But the moment Queen Theodora saw me, she looked as though she had seen a ghost. She stopped mid-step, her eyes widening as the color drained from her face. Aliya’s smile faltered beside her, and for once, neither of them looked so smug.

Theodora stared at me like I was something filthy that had no business being there.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" She snarled, "Who invited her? This is a royal dinner, not a shelter for strays like her."

The words hit harder than I wanted them to, with everyone watching.

Ha-ha. So much for walking in here like I owned the world.