Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Whispers In The Harem

He stepped out into the corridor, closing the door behind him. A cold, calculating smile spread across his face despite the agonizing ache in his stomach.

’She thinks she’s teasing me,’ he thought, walking back to his suite.

’But she just proved she can’t stay away from me. Her obsession is growing much faster than I expected. She’s already addicted to the chase. Tomorrow, I’ll win her stupid trial, and then I’ll break her entire kingdom apart from the inside.’

Walking back to his room felt much shorter this time. He knew Yena was probably waiting somewhere in the shadows, ready to scold him for playing with fire.

’Let her scold me,’ Kai thought, pushing his bedroom door open.

’The trap is fully set. Now I just need to wait for the queen to step right into it.’

*****

Morning light spilled across the marble terraces, offering a false sense of peace. Kai wandered the eastern wing of the palace without a guard breathing down his neck.

Wearing the Matriarch’s golden bracelet granted him a small sliver of freedom, allowing him to explore the winding corridors and map the royal layout.

Female soldiers still watched him from their posts, though their gazes held raw lust instead of suspicion. He just offered them a mocking smirk and kept walking.

He eventually found the royal harem gathered near a shallow reflection pool.

Ten beautiful men lounged on velvet cushions, wearing sheer silks that barely covered their skin.

They looked like living statues, perfectly carved but missing a soul. Their eyes were vacant, and their skin held a sickly pale hue that told a very grim story.

"You must be the new favorite," a blonde man murmured, sitting up slowly. His cheekbones protruded sharply, and a fresh slave brand marred his collarbone. "You strut around like you own the place, but you’re just fresh meat." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I’m Kai," he replied, leaning casually against a stone pillar.

"And I don’t plan on being meat for anyone."

A few of the men laughed weakly. The sound was dry and devoid of any real humor.

"We all said that on our first day," a dark-haired consort whispered, stepping closer to Kai. He looked around nervously to ensure no guards were listening.

"You survived the trials, so you think you’re strong. But strength doesn’t matter when you’re in her bed. She drains us, Kai."

"What do you mean she drains you?" Kai asked, keeping his voice level.

"During the act," the consort explained, his voice trembling.

"When you’re lost in the pleasure, she pulls the life force right out of your chest. She uses our vitality to fuel whatever cursed magic is burning her brain. You feel amazing for a few minutes, and then you wake up feeling like a hollow shell."

’She’s a parasite,’ Kai thought, piecing the puzzle together. ’She’s using sex to siphon energy because those celestial artifacts are destroying her own mana reserves. That explains the glowing veins and her frantic desperation.’

"She killed over twenty favorites in the past year alone," the blonde man added softly. "They just drag the bodies out at dawn. You’re just the next meal, so don’t get too comfortable in those expensive robes."

"I appreciate the warning," Kai smirked coldly, pushing himself off the pillar. "But I think she’s going to find me very hard to digest."

He left the broken men by the pool and slipped into the servant corridors to avoid the midday patrols. The air felt cooler here, smelling of fresh linens and roasting meat from the kitchens. He needed to find a quiet place to organize his thoughts, but a firm hand suddenly grabbed his silk lapel and yanked him into a shadowed storage closet.

Kai pinned his attacker to the wooden shelves in a fraction of a second. He pressed his forearm against their throat, ready to summon his ice, until he recognized the familiar amber eyes glaring back at him.

"You have terrible reflexes for a bodyguard," Yena rasped, tapping his arm so he would ease his grip.

She wore a simple gray maid’s uniform, though the rough fabric couldn’t hide the athletic curve of her hips. Her brown hair was tied back in a messy bun, and she smelled like desert dust and cheap soap.

"You shouldn’t sneak up on me," Kai murmured, loosening his hold but keeping her trapped against the shelves. He stepped into her personal space, pressing his thigh between her legs. "What are you doing inside the palace walls, Yena? If they catch you wearing that, they’ll cut your hands off."

"I couldn’t just sit at the inn and wait for you to die," Yena countered, her breath hitching slightly when his hips brushed against hers.

"The outer city is going crazy. Noble families are placing bets on how long you’ll last before the Matriarch breaks you. You’re getting too deep into her web, Kai."

"I’m exactly where I need to be," he whispered, trailing a finger down her jawline.

"She’s playing you," Yena insisted, though she leaned into his touch. "I heard the guards talking. She plans to drain you during the final trial tonight."

"I already know about her little trick," Kai smiled, tracing the collar of her maid uniform. "I spoke to her about the broken toys in the harem. She feeds on life force to stabilize her crumbling mind. But I’m not a regular man, Yena. If she tries to drain my core, I’ll freeze her from the inside out."

"You’re too arrogant," she sighed, resting her hands flat against his chest. She could feel his heart beating steadily beneath the silk.

"You let her kiss you in the garden last night. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel it. That power is addictive."

’She’s jealous,’ Kai realized, feeling a rush of possessive satisfaction. ’She hates knowing another woman touched me.’

"She kissed me, but I didn’t give her anything," Kai promised, leaning down until his lips hovered just a millimeter above hers.

"I’m just playing my role to get close to the vault. You’re the only one I actually want."