Mine to mark

"Ah, he is a gentleman in the village, Your Majesty. He's a son of a beauty shop owner who works in the magistrate's office," Mother answered but the King didn't look at her. His eyes were on me.

"Your lover, Miss Lucy?" he inquired and for some reason, I found it awful to be asked if Anthony was my lover. I just couldn't imagine myself around that man.

"In his dreams," I said mindlessly and it was too late to know that I had spoken my mind out.

Mother's eyes widened at me.

Meanwhile, one corner of the King's lips tugged up as if he was amused. But it disappeared quicker than I've seen it.

I cleared my throat and spoke to make up for my mistake. "I mean, no, Your Majesty. Anthony is just someone I know."

Mother heaved and I hope she won't beat me too hard after this.

"A suitor?"

I wanted to glare at the King. Why is he insisting on this topic? Why do I have to be the topic when I just want to eat my heart out? They should be talking about something more important than my personal life!

"No," I replied, my tone was low and cold. It's the tone I use whenever I'm pissed.

"That is great, then." Prince Marcel was enthusiastic as ever.

"But… I think it still depends if Lucy wants to marry or not," Claire spoke in a gentle voice and whispered something to the prince.

Finally, my dearest sister, you've understood what I meant.

Prince Marcel smiled. "Of course, Lucy can choose to marry later if she's not yet ready."

It was the worst lunch ever. That's not an exaggeration. There was so much to eat at the table and it pained me that I didn't get to eat a lot because of the questions they kept on throwing at me. It was my first royal meal, yet it wasn't a remarkable one.

"Lucy, come with me in the room-"

"Oh, right! I think I lost my bracelet somewhere in the hallway earlier, Mama. I'll go ahead to find it! See you later!" I gave my mother a flying kiss before running to the stairs. I know what she's planning. She'd only reprimand me for my behavior and I don't want any of it. I'd rather escape and see her later when she's not mad anymore. Most of the time it works. Out of ten, I guess it works three times.

Claire was meeting the tailor and I haven't given my measurements yet, but I will come later when they are done. Truth was, I don't remember the way back to that room since the palace has a lot of doors and pathways and I'm not good at directions. So, I just stayed on the terrace and looked over the large garden of the palace.

I guess I'll be asking some maids for directions. That's not a hard thing to do.

"What are you doing here?"

I jolted when I heard a voice from behind.

I turned and I was surprised to see the King.

"Your Majesty."

He took a step closer and like a reflex action, I stepped backward. My back touched the railings.

"Uh, I was on my way to the room where my sister and the tailor were, but I forgot the way…" Yes, it's stupid to admit it. "I happened to pass by the terrace and decided to look at the garden for a while."

"You like my garden?" He glanced at my back briefly before settling his eyes back to me.

"Who wouldn't? Flowers are lovable, and your garden has a lot. In fact, it's the biggest garden I've ever seen, so I was amazed."

"You love flowers, I see," he mused. His eyes darkened. "I guess that's why you smell like flowers. Like freesias and lilies…"

My lips parted a tiny inch. The way he darkly said the last words sent shivers down my spine. I'm aware of his sharp smelling sense but why would he notice the way I smell?

"I'd take that as a compliment, Your Majesty."

He chuckled. I didn't know he knew how to smile more than a small smirk because he was all serious earlier. But now, looking at his demeanor, I can say that the King is really a dangerous man. He can be silent, sharp, playful, and deadly. He is the person I should never mess with in the palace. I shouldn't talk to him more than necessary or else I'd meet my death early.

"You are sharp," he suddenly said.

"Pardon?"

"You are sharp to know how dangerous I am. You are wrong at one point, though. Talking to me won't kill you."

"How did you…" My eyes widened. "You can read my mind?"

He stepped closer and I pressed my back at the railing, hoping for more space. I heard wolf shifters are stronger and have sharper senses than humans, but I didn't hear anything like they could read minds!

"Yes, Lucy."

Lucy? Where's the "miss"?

"Is it one of the abilities of shifters? You can read people's minds?"

"No, shifters are no mind-readers. We can only read the mind of that one person. In my case, it's you."

"Why me? I don't want my mind to be read by anyone. Is there something we can do to undo it, Your Majesty?"

He smirked. "No, Lucy. There's no way to undone it. It's called mind-link." He moved closer, invading my private space. "And you know what it means, young miss?"

His hands held the railings at my sides, caging me between his arms. He bent until I could feel his breath against my face.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" If it was another man, I would have pushed him but he wasn't just any man in town. He's the king Sawford. An alpha king.

"Whatever this mind link is, I don't want it. It feels like I have no privacy. Besides, isn't it unfair? Your Majesty can read my mind but I can't read yours."

What I get is what I give. An eye for an eye. That's my principle.

Amusement and wickedness flickered in his eyes.

"Yes, you can read mine. After all, it's a mind-link, so we should have a fair share of knowledge, shouldn't we?"

I don't want him to read my mind but if there's nothing that can break the stupid mind-link, then getting even sounds better.

"And how can I do that?"

I'm just a mere human and it sounds crazy and impossible to get to hear the King's thoughts. But maybe there are still things I don't know. After all, the world is full of surprises. Just like how crazy it was to believe that wolf shifters were discovered a century before.

"You really want to know?" he whispered and the way his lips curved up let me know that whatever it was, I wouldn't like it.

I've been unruly my entire life. It's not hard for me to notice someone's mischievous nature. And now I can say that the King is playing with me. For some reason, he finds me interesting. I wonder what this mind-link was, or if he's fooling around and can read anyone's mind. But he isn't someone I should play with. He's lethal and being around him means one wrong move and I'll meet my doom.

"Trust me, this mind-link is real, Luciana. Mates have this kind of connection. You are bound to me. You are mine to mark."