Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118: 0118

Lorelei POV

"When are we leaving?" I asked, silently praying it wasn’t tonight. My entire body was still incredibly sore, and the thought of trying to survive a crowded club in this condition made me want to melt straight into the floor.

"Not today, of course. Even I deserve proper rest after that miserable journey," Nala replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.

I found myself letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

As she turned to retrieve the dresses from the armchair, I remained where I was, my mind still tangled in confusion.

"Don’t you want to know who I really am?" I finally asked. "Or why I’m lying about my name?"

After uncovering a secret that big, it only seemed natural that she would pry. I knew I certainly would.

"No," she answered with a casual shrug, holding each dress against herself as she studied her reflection in the full length mirror. "Matters that do not benefit me do not concern me. Your truths belong to you. If they do not touch my path, they are not mine to carry."

"Oh," was all I could manage.

It was a strange kind of selfishness.

Oddly enough... it was also refreshing.

After a few moments of silently examining her reflection, Nala sighed and tossed both dresses back onto the armchair.

"Your people dress far too modestly," she declared. "To speak truth... it is rather boring."

My eyes immediately snapped to the tiny, sheer, backless pieces of fabric lying on the chair.

"Modest?" I repeated, unable to hide my disbelief.

She called those modest?

If those dresses were considered modest in her eyes, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what she thought of the simple green satin dress and scarf I was currently wearing.

"Yes, modest," she said, turning to face me. "Tell me, how is a woman supposed to gather husbands when she dresses as though she hopes no one will notice her?"

"Why do you need to attract husbands?" I asked, deliberately emphasizing the fact that she had said husbands, not just a husband.

"Because I do," she answered simply, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. She leaned against the vanity, folding her arms across her chest.

"In N’zari, a woman may take as many husbands as her station allows. My mother, the Queen, took ten. Only five proved strong enough to survive her trials, and only one earned the place beside her as King. As for me... there are already four men waiting for the day I decide they are worth settling down for."

Hearing that she had four men patiently waiting for her left me utterly speechless.

Thanks to Emily, I already knew there were places where women could have multiple partners, but... gosh.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how exhausting that would be.

Having to keep up with the emotional, physical, and sexual needs of four different men sounded like a full time job. Kaelen alone was already more than enough to leave me completely drained.

"But for now," Nala purred, a wicked glint dancing in her golden eyes, "I would not mind tasting a little werewolf blood to satisfy my curiosity. If one turns out to be especially pleasing... perhaps I shall let him earn a place among my future husbands." A teasing smile spread across her lips. "You may come with me if it pleases you. Surely between the two of us, we can find someone worth sharing."

My face immediately grew hot, and I shook my head so quickly that my curls slapped against my cheeks.

"I’ll pass."

"Why?" she asked, her golden eyes narrowing as she stepped closer. "Has someone already found a place inside your heart?"

The moment those words left her lips, my chest tightened, and my heartbeat lurched.

"No!" I blurted out far too quickly, my voice carrying far more panic than I intended.

Nala tilted her head, studying my flustered expression with a knowing smile.

"Not Alpha Kaelen?"

The instant she spoke his name, my eyes widened.

Did she know?

Did she somehow know about our strange arrangement? That we had been in bed together literally just last night?

"Why would you say..."

"I have been watching you," she whispered. "Your eyes always search for him, even when you believe they do not."

Before I could deny it, Nala murmured a low, unfamiliar word beneath her breath and flicked her slender wrist.

Instantly, the lights in the room went out.

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