CHAPTER 8
Aria's POV
The Moment Zaine's words hung in the air — "And she is my fated mate" — it was like the very walls of the grand dining hall stiffened in disbelief.
I couldn't breathe. Not because I didn't want to But because every pair of eyes on me felt like blades pressing into my skin. I Stood there caught between Amanda's venomous glare and the Grand Queen's frozen expression of horror.
Amanda's lips parted slightly But no words came out. It was the First time she looked powerless.
But Zaine? He didn't Falter. He didn't hesitate.
His hand large and steady tightened around mine as He spoke again — this time with the coldness of a King not a man.
"GET UP."
Amanda blinked caught off guard. "Your Majesty—"
"I said" His voice dropped sharper and Harsher "get up from her seat."
The softness from earlier was gone. This wasn't the King Zaine who held me so carefully the night before. This was the Alpha King who Ruled over Alphas.
Amanda stiffened Her jaw clenching as she slowly stood. Every of his movement screamed reluctance. Her Hands were curled tightly into her gown as if she wanted to tear it apart.
King Zaine said Nothing more to her. He simply turned to me and gently guided me by the small of my back.
"SIT ARIA" He said softly.
I sat.
I shouldn't have.
I Knew I shouldn't. Every of the nerve in my body screamed not to But I did anyway because his touch felt safe even amidst all the hatred aimed at me.
As soon as I settled on the chair beside him — the chair Amanda had so proudly claimed as hers moments ago — the temperature in the whole dining room dropped.
I could feel the rage radiating from Both Amanda and the Grand Queen like waves of poison.
King Zaine however didn't even glance at them. He focused entirely on me.
He reached out calmly as if what he was doing was the most natural thing in the world and began dishing food onto my plate.
"EAT" he said simply.
I stared at the neatly arranged meats fruits and bread on my plate. My stomach twisted painfully. I wasn't hungry... I wasn't even sure I could swallow anything past the lump that had lodged in my throat since Amanda's slap earlier.
But refusing would only make this worse. I picked up my fork with trembling fingers.
King Zaine poured me water next. His movements were unhurried and careful like a man serving his Queen.
The Grand Queen was visibly seething now though she masked it beneath a tight forced smile. Amanda wasn't even pretending to be composed. Her fingers dug into the edge of the table and her eyes were locked onto me like she wanted me dead that very second.
Still King Zaine didn't care. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment passed his face.
"Eat slowly Aria.." he said softly when He noticed how my hands shook as I lifted the fork to my lips. "You don't need to rush."
But how could I not?
Every bite felt like glass shards cutting down my throat. Every chew rang in my ears louder than it should have while the deadly silence around us squeezed my lungs tight.
Their eyes never left me. Not even for a second.
I could feel Amanda's jealousy and hatred like fire licking at my skin. I could feel the Grand Queen's disapproval like ice sinking into my bones. And I could feel the invisible line I had crossed — a line that in their eyes an Omega like me had no right to even look at let alone step over.
My hands trembled slightly as I kept shoving tiny bites into my mouth just to get it over with. I wasn't even tasting the food. I wasn't savoring the royal delicacies laid before me. All I could think about was finishing as quickly as possible so I could leave this suffocating nightmare behind.
King Zaine noticed. He leaned a little closer his voice low But filled with concern.
"Aria.." He murmured "don't rush. Calm down. You're safe."
Safe?
If only that were true.
My heart twisted painfully. He meant well. I knew he did But safe wasn't something I could feel while every stare in the room screamed you don't belong here.
Still I obeyed him and tried to slow down even if every bone in my body begged me to flee.
I finished my food in silence.
And then I couldn't take it anymore.
I placed my fork down gently wiped my mouth with trembling fingers and stood so quickly my chair scraped against the marble floor breaking the heavy silence.
King Zaine looked up sharply. "Aria?"
I swallowed hard and lowered my eyes. "Thank you" I whispered quickly my voice tight and thin "but I... I should go."
Before He could respond before Amanda could smirk or the Grand Queen could throw another icy glare my way I turned and hurried out of the dining hall.
My legs had already carried me down the hallway faster than my mind could process.
By the time I reached my chambers I slammed the door shut behind me and pressed my back against it tears already falling before I could stop them.
Because no matter how softly he touched me.... No matter how gently he called my name....I didn't think I was safe.