The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride-Chapter 13: A girlfriend

The female sauntered closer boastfully. Her green eyes flashed a vile light that Ren was utterly familiar with. She didn't even bother to hide it beneath a sweet and innocent facade like Ara, her half-sister, used to feign.

Gloria instantly shielded Ren, standing between them to take any possible harm. She was a few inches taller than Ren, and compared to this female, this short maid was entirely vulnerable if she raised a hand.

The woman folded her arms across her chest and put on a cruel smirk. She gave Ren a scrutinizing glance as though she knew who she was. Tilting her head, she paced the floor around the princess while the maid opened her arms to protect Ren. That would have been a useless attempt if this female decided to attack and kill Ren.

"Do we have a new maiden at His Highness's service?" She pursed her lips, and as her eyes rolled over the table, she frowned. A maiden wasn't allowed to eat in the Alpha's chamber.

She dropped her arms to her sides, laughing hysterically. However, suddenly, she surged forward, pushed the maiden away harshly, and stormed to Reneira in the blink of an eye, grabbing her throat and pinning her to the wall behind her.

"Auh..." Ren groaned in pain but didn't fight back. She had taken her husband's advice seriously. It was a grave mistake to put up with shifter females, and Ren didn't want to send her head rolling on the floor.

Her white fangs were sharp. Ren swallowed at the sight of them but allowed herself the luxury of a moment to focus and collect herself to think of a solution to calm her down. She closed her eyes and opened them lazily.

"Is... this... how you treat a royal guest?" she stammered as the girl was almost strangling her. Her breath came short, and her face turned almost red.

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'Well, dear husband, you have to wrap up your mess.' She had some guesses. Could this woman be Elaika? If so, this girl wasn't only in charge of the castle's chores or handling the vassals. The way she entered without asking for permission or being summoned expressed a far closer relationship.

Gloria fell to her knees right at her feet, pleading with the female and shaking in fear. "Kill me, my lady, but don't hurt her."

In response, the female kicked her so hard that Gloria flew away, curling in pain and agony.

"How dare you touch my maid?"

Ren growled between grinding teeth. She wouldn't let anyone bully them. Not after surviving countless dead holes and traps.

"Lady Elaika! No! Don't make Your Majesty furious." The maid begged and coughed, blood gushing from her split lips.

So this was Lady Elaika! She was a tricky, deceitful, evil diva, indeed! Ren chuckled at her fate. This was getting humorous.

The woman's eyes narrowed, and she loosened her grip around her throat. "Who are you, human, to tell me what to do?" she scoffed.

The loathing etched on her expression and tinged in her tone was undeniable, demonstrating a profound hatred that was lethal.

Ren was about to say she was misunderstood when a cold voice filled with danger echoed, dispelling the burning flames of wrath.

"Elaika, take your hands off my WIFE!" He pressed a strong emphasis on the last word.

"Your wife?!" Elaika's eyes filled with tears. All the pride on her face vanished. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gazed at the Alpha. "That is not possible. It can't be a human. It should be me." Her voice was quieter than before.

Ren couldn't say if it was love or respect that softened her voice, but what she knew was that the grip tightened around her neck, making it harder to breathe.

"Why did you marry her?" She looked into Ren's face, jealousy rubbing her sanity.

Beta Coran also emerged from nowhere immediately, wearing a grave, ashen, infuriated expression on his face. "How dare you enter the princess' privacy?"

"Brother, I'm his girlfriend. We were promised to each other. How could you let this happen? He promised it to our father."

Ren felt sweat running down her back. This was getting destructive.

"Elaika, don't make me repeat myself!" Kai warned and scowled as he advanced when Elaika disobeyed him. Letting out his Alpha aura, a mighty air of authority lashed out and pressed hard on everyone, making Coran and Gloria kneel while Elaika's knees gave way. She was defying him. It was an obligatory act, all his force of nature, and if a shifter resisted, it had grave consequences.

Ren felt the pressure in her heart and mind—a will to kneel before him and succumb to all his desires. The grip loosened around her neck, and eventually, Elaika surrendered, falling onto her knees. Ren sprawled on the floor, gasping for air.

However, it wasn't Kai's aura or this girl's oppression that squeezed her heart but something else. Tears beaded in her eyes as an excruciating pain assaulted her veins. It was the bracelet—the poison that cobalt had been spreading through her body. She felt the world spinning and saw a panicked Gloria, who screamed her name, and her husband's face. His warm, strong arms wrapped around her freezing body. She found concern etched on his face. But why?

Was she dying so fast? It hadn't even been a day since she entered this land.

Pity, she had plans. She wanted to keep this marriage and make it genuine. Sigh! She disappointed her beloved cruel King. What a fleeting dream.

She closed her eyes. This time, she didn't want to give in to death, she wanted to live, only for the sake of people who needed her alive.

...

"Rail, lock her in the dungeons for a week. She must know her place," Kai ordered his man. Everyone knew what she had done to provoke their Majesty.

Elaika glanced at him, innocently. "Is this how you treat me after everything I have given you?"

Kai raised his brow. What had she exactly given to him?

Coran, on the other hand, furrowed his brows. "Shut up, Elaika. Don't make it worse already."

She started crying loudly. "I thought she was a maid who dared to crawl into your chamber. How would I know that? I smelled your scent on her."

Kai ran his fingers through his hair. "Everybody, get out!" he demanded. He had to talk to her alone and make it unmistakable that she must cause his wife no harm.

The dining hall was then emptied, leaving only Elaika standing there.

"I thought you were a thoughtful person. Do you know how disappointed I am?" Kai drummed his long fingers on the table. His composure was icy and emotionless, but internally, he was worried for his wife. That bracelet must have been destroyed before it killed her.

The girl sniffed and wiped her tears, deciding to kneel. "You didn't break up with me!"

"I did. I sent a letter to your grandfather and explained the situation. We are at war, Elaika, and as a reasonable General, your grandfather agreed to rescind the former agreement. We're not even mates or engaged!"

Elaika frowned. She knew it. Her grandfather had given her the letter the moment she arrived at the castle in the mountains, but she refused to accept it.

"I'm sorry! I will take the punishment, but Kai, you know how much I love you. I can wait for you. This human is vulnerable. Not even a day here, and she has fallen bedridden. She will die soon. She can't carry your child to maintain any peace. We had slept together before. I'm strong. Let me give birth to your heirs."