She looked around the room, noticing the empty easel and the laid out charcoal in front of her. She was alone.
There was no man and no hands to roam her body
The book she was reading has fallen on the floor as did the other pencils she was using. She has been entranced once again by her dirty petty thoughts, hoping that her mate was pleasuring her.
As the crown princess, Arryn has many worries and one of them is finding her mate.
Arryn rested her head upon her arms and cringed, her chest smarting. If she weren't suffering from her heat, she would've been out there, spending some time in the forest as she hunts with her brother. She lets out a sigh and turns to enter her room, not believing that in less than an hour, the ICES division will be invited over to celebrate two decades of alliance with them.
It was understood that a banquet is to be expected in accordance to the celebration of the said alliance. Twenty years ago, the Dust has been chosen to rule over the five tribes when the Ember queen was overthrown due to their belief of her performing dark magic which exhumes most of the highly regarded mythical creatures. The Dust has taken over for they are one of the strongest, second only to the Ember Tribe which is a big and very functional clan. As for the Ivy, Sage and Coal Tribe, they are all codependent to the ones high above; though occasionally, one will step across the line and perform mutiny for the sake of seeking assurance that the one from above, is powerful enough to deal with it.
Arryn kicked off her shoes and whimpered when she felt the first indication of her heat. It will be full moon soon, but she is unable to fully shift to her whole form because of her curse. When she had reached seventeen, Edom, their royal doctor, has aided her out of the misery by offering her various potions. As the years passed, the symptoms became lethal that Edom could only conclude that she has the Frozen Heat.
Frozen Heat happens to every first born royal as an assurance that the next heir to the throne would be legible for procreation. Unfortunately, after ten years of intensive research, Edom could only suggest that Arryn should set out to find her mate on her own which is highly impossible and dangerous.
Arryn twisted the pendant upon her neck and nibbled at her lips. She is a royal, and as the heir to the crown, she shouldn't be wandering from tribe to tribe, looking for her mate for she might end up encountering trouble instead. She felt her forehead and shivered at the touch; cold, but inside, her skin is burning like coal above fire. Arryn retired on her bed, curling upon herself as her body shakes.
"Mou Selene?" the voice of Rocco, her brother, rang out as he stands by the hall. He twirled his fingers upon his golden hair and adjusted his mask over his face. "Mou Selene! Father King told me to get you, the ICES are here."
Arryn groaned, whimpering for she could barely endure the pain. It will take her half a day to soothe herself back to her calm state but the ICES are an impatient bunch. How could they arrive at such an importune time when she is currently fighting the urge to combust? Arryn gritted her teeth. She has to be next to her father for she never wanted to be labeled as irresponsible by the arrogant ICES.
Biting her lip, Arryn snatched her mask and wore it upon her face.
Since she was a child, it was an absolute rule that her face shall not be seen by anyone outside her family. It was a mark of a royal, a rule that is set to protect them. Arryn touched the jade pendant that is encrusted on her mask. It helps to conceal her scent and serves as a proof to her status. Without her mask...Arryn will be found and all of the protection set upon her will go to waste.
Fixing her skirt, Arryn opens the door to her room to see Rocco, tapping his foot impatiently, a fourteen year old acting up. "What is taking you so long? You promised that we will race outside. It's been months, mou selene, months! Get out of your room."
Arryn shakes her head at her brother and captured him in a headlock. Disgusted, Rocco pushed her away with a glare directed at her. Sticking out his tongue, Rocco left her gawking as he ran down the stairs.
"Trickster!"
Arryn chased after him, ignoring the persistent pain upon her chest. Because they grew as royals, they have responsibilities and duties which bounds them inside the castle, restricting any contact from the outside world.
She ran after Rocco until she lost sight of him by the third floor hall, encountering a couple of maids who are startled to see her out of her room.
Arryn huffed in frustration and removed her mask, resting it upon the window sill as she surveyed the hall for any signs of her wayward brother. As she turns, Arryn gasped when a couple of men marched out from the room. Startled, she hides behind a curtain only to stumble upon someone, her lips accidentally landing on top of someone else's mouth.
"Hmmp." Arryn tried to twist her body but she was held in place. She opened her eyes to see piercing black eyes glaring at her, making her knees go weak. With her cheeks blushing, she scrambled on her feet, anxious for her face was exposed.
"Who are you? What are you doing here ?"
"I'm just-" Arryn gasped when she was thrown on the wall and the tall guy cornered her – Caius Lykos, the alpha of Ember Clan.
Many had known him to be aloof and cold, ruthless, manipulative and most of all, shameless. His words are venomous for even the strongest knight cannot stomach what he is saying when his temper reached its boiling point.
Caius has been appointed as the next clan leader after his family were murdered two decades ago. Their pack respected him the most because of her short temper and sharp tongue. His people respected him; a Lykos, a second to the royals. They are known for their white coat and coal colored eyes.
Caius wrinkled his nose and blew his long blonde hair, snorting as he rested his arm above her head. He could sense that the girl was pretty but with his sight strained, he could only squint in the dark, his irritation apparent. "Pitiful – you bunch of Dust women are so desperate; always thinking that one of the ICES men who visits your kingdom will be your mate." Caius huffed and crossed his arms, "You even dare to spy on us?"
Arryn's face reddened, "I am not spying," she averted her eyes to see her mask upon the window sill. If she could only take it and run away from here...
Caius gritted his teeth and his hand landed upon her cheek. Arryn gasped at the unexpected assault, her eyes brimming with tears. She bit her lip and tried to defend herself, "I am not spying on you, I am merely passing by and then you were there, hiding behind the curtain."
Caius was shocked when Arryn moved away from the wall and turns away from him, not even paying a backward glance.
Caius observes her as she goes, the sight of her golden tresses swaying making him gulp. With his arms crossed, Caius could only promise himself that there will be a proper retribution to how she acted with disrespect.
He will make sure that the banquet won't be as boring as the others are.