Chapter 5 Bryan Showed Interest In Someone

Makenna's POV:

Bryan was mad-absolutely unhinged.

I stared at Bryan's retreating figure, my breath catching in my throat as a wave of fear nearly crushed me.

Even though he had already vanished from sight, the visceral sensation of teetering on the edge of life and death lingered so strongly that I could barely hold myself together.

I had been so close to dying.

That shadow still loomed, filling the room as I gasped for breath, my body trembling as I tried to push myself up from the couch.

But fear gripped my legs, making them betray me. I stumbled forward like a puppet whose strings had just snapped, and before I could regain control, I collided with Dominic.

He caught me, his hands as cold and detached as his gaze. His grip on my waist made me shiver, and I could feel the frost of his indifference seep into my bones.

"Your Highness," I managed to whisper, my voice shaking with dread.

For a moment, a flash of surprise darted through his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly as he shoved me aside.

"Ah!" I gasped, nearly losing my balance again as I reeled backward.

I barely steadied myself by clinging to the wall, my body rigid with tension. It wasn't until then that I realized how exposed I was. Humiliation crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, desperate to shield myself from the vulnerability of the moment.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness..." I stammered, anxiety gripping my heart.

I waited, fearing that my misstep would earn his wrath.

To my astonishment, Dominic didn't so much as glance in my direction. Instead, his face took on a pensive look. Slowly, almost absently, he lifted the hand that had steadied me earlier and brought it to his nose, as if to catch a lingering scent, before casting me a sharp, probing stare.

I couldn't tell if I was imagining things, but there was something dangerous gleaming in his eyes-a subtle, lurking menace. His previous action carried with it an undercurrent of something more... something far less innocent.

Heat rushed to my face, and I instinctively averted my gaze, lowering my head, afraid to meet his eyes again.

Just then, Hayley approached Dominic, her voice a bit shaky as she greeted him, "Your Highness, would you like to choose a sex slave?"

"That won't be necessary," Dominic cut her off, his voice cold and detached. His eyes flicked back to me once more. "Pick whoever you want, but since Bryan seems interested in this one, let her stay."

With that, he strode off, as if nothing unusual had transpired, leaving me to wonder whether any of it had been real.

Hayley, eager to please, nodded repeatedly and hurried to escort me back to the main hall.

Once there, she handpicked a selection of young, attractive women, destined to serve the three princes. The ones who weren't chosen looked relieved, their gazes filled with a kind of pity for me, as if Bryan's earlier behavior had been enough to strike terror into their hearts.

I mustered a bitter smile, my insides tightening again at the thought of what the future might hold. The weight of despair was creeping back in, heavier this time.

"Quiet down, everyone," Hayley ordered sharply, her voice slicing through the low hum of whispers.

The soldiers promptly began ushering the unselected women away, while Hayley turned to address the rest of us. "Tomorrow, you will be presented to the king. For now, get dressed and prepare to rest in the rooms set up for you tonight."

A wave of relief swept over me. At last, it seemed this ordeal was drawing to a close. But just as I reached for my clothes, a commanding voice rang out.

"Stop! No one is leaving."

The room froze, and once again, my heart lodged itself in my throat.

A striking woman with an air of effortless superiority strode toward us, her high heels clicking against the floor with each confident step. Her eyes swept over us like someone inspecting damaged goods.

Her critical gaze made my skin crawl, and I found myself lowering my head, a frown forming despite my best efforts to stay composed.

Hayley's demeanor instantly shifted to one of subservience. "Miss Kristina Harrison, what brings you here?" she asked, her voice dripping with deference.

Kristina let out a sharp, derisive laugh, her eyes filled with cold contempt as they roved over us. "I heard Bryan showed interest in someone just now. Which one is it?" she demanded, her voice filled with arrogance.

Her question made all heads turn in my direction.

My chest tightened painfully, and before I had the chance to speak, Kristina was already standing in front of me, her expression cold and unyielding.

"So, you're the one Bryan's taken an interest in?"