Chapter 6: My Mate Carries the Wine

Every head in the Hall turned to the King of the High Crown.

Sunniva stood with her hands folded and her eyes shining.

She had picked her moment well.

He had just called a thrall's spill a clumsy girl's mistake in front of a room full of kings, and she was handing him a way out.

My father looked up for the first time that night and nodded.

Osric was already smiling.

King Evander rose from his chair.

He was not smiling.

"Lady Sunniva," he said. "That's a generous offer, and I thank you for it."

"Then you accept," Sunniva said, and her smile spread.

"No."

Her smile stopped.

"I can't accept," the King said, "because my mate is already in this Hall."

The Hall rustled with whispers.

"My wolf knew her the moment I came through the doors. She's been standing behind my chair all night."

He did not look at me.

Everyone else did.

"She is holding your wine jug," King Evander said.

I felt the whole room turn on me.

My face went white and then red.

He had promised he would not claim me in public.

He had just done it in front of four kings.

"No," I said.

It came out loud.

I had not meant it to.

"I'm not his anything."

The old King of Fenmark started laughing, and so did the Eastern King, and the Marsh King covered his mouth.

"A thrall," someone said, near the back. "His mate's a thrall."

"I'm a servant," I said, louder, over them. "I pour wine. The King made a mistake."

I met his eyes then.

He looked at me for a very long moment, and I saw him take it, whatever it was, and put it away.

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Alpha's Slave-Born Daughter Made Kings Kneel from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.