It was the day of the ball, and all eyes were on me.

The past two days leading up to this event had been the worst days of my life, all because of Keial.

That night, two days ago when Keial had visited me in my bedroom, just like he said, word had somehow gotten out that 'The King had a servant lover' and it wasn't long until my name came into focus.

It wasn't like I didn't know this wouldn't happen, I would rather it come out now rather than later, at least this way I had time to prepare myself for what followed.

I had been gossiped about, talked about within ear range, glared at, and to my surprise I had gained somewhat of a positive following within the castle.

I was used to being invisible ever since I arrived here, but now with these 'followers' I felt like wherever I went, so did they.

My mornings were not met with constant wonder from female servants if 'Keial was in love with me' or asking whether or not 'I was in love with him'.

The full day, leading up to this moment, standing beside him dressed in fine clothes fit for royalty, I had been watched and walked on eggshells.

"Remember your duty." Keial leaned down and whispered in my ear, then smirked ever so slightly as his lips grazed my cheek.

My 'duty', how could I forget?

This was the moment I either failed or achieved the purpose of our deal, everything until now had been leading up to this, and there was no way I was going to fail.

I had to convince everyone in that room that I, Felix, was the King's lover, and madly in love with him.

*****

I laughed at something someone said as I stood closely next to Keial, our shoulders touching as I listened and smiled at what the man in front of me was saying as he told a story.

"Truly it was a wonderful day, filled with the finest beverages, women, and food the King had to offer." He said, as I tried my hardest not to roll my eyes or sigh.

An Alpha from a northern pack, he was massive, he was called Bigor and the name suited him, as he was a large tall man with muscle, yet sported a big gut of a belly.

"Those days seem like a century ago." Keial hummed as I sipped the strong liquid in my glass.

I looked around the room and saw that the event was in full swing, filled with the most beautiful women, and wealthy powerful men, it was something I may never see again, and every time I looked away from what Keial was doing to look around, I was left in 'awe'.

This wasn't my world.

I was nothing like these people.

"Felix?" I heard Keial say my name, making me snap out of my thoughts.

Everyone in the circle of people who were around us was now looking at me, making me swallow nervously whilst trying my best not to make it obvious I wasn't listening.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I smiled, and looked at Bigor, as I ignored the look in Keial's eye.

"I asked if you were a hunting man, you look like you'd be a winter wolf." Bigor asked, reaching out to pat me on the shoulder.

"If you ever need a pack, my lands are open to one of Keial's men."

I stared at him and nodded my head, what did he mean by one of 'Keial's men'?

"Oh, I don't h-"

"I don't plan on letting this one go." Keial's voice sent shivers down my body, as he grabbed hold of my hand and intertwined it in his, and then brought my hand to his lips.

What was he doing?

I looked around in panic and saw that everyone was looking, and whispering, some with smiles, but most with a glare of envy in their eyes.

"He's quite attached to me, I'd be a fool to let him go, now wouldn't I?"

Bigor laughed and nodded his head then drank the remaining of what was in his jug, as I watched the rest of the group chuckle and flush at what Keial just said.

"Well understood, I'll back off." Bigor bowed drunkenly.

"Now if you must excuse me, the ladies here whisper my name, and before I get piss drunk, I must answer the call." He grinned, before bowing his head to Keial.

I watched as he left, and the rest of the people scurried away from Keial, I then felt a chill run down my back as Keial's hand tightened in mine.

I looked at him and saw that he wasn't looking at me, but across the room, and as much as I tried to stop my chest from clenching when I saw who it was, the moment she looked over, I knew it was impossible.

What was she doing here?

I watched as she walked over, wearing a revealing, yet elegant gown in scarlet red, her jet-black hair tied up with studded diamonds in her hair, she looked like a goddess of old and was by far the most beautiful woman inside the room.

"King Keial." She curtsied, then raised her head as I watched her deep blue-eyed look into his.

"I just wanted to come over and thank you for the dress, your generosity has left me beyond words, I love it."

I snapped my eyes to Keial and saw him smile, causing my stomach to clench in a painful gut-wrenching motion as he looked her over.

Did he get her this dress?

Why would he do that?

"It was my pleasure, it suits you well, Lisbeth."

I felt Keial let go of my hand and then look down at me as 'Lisbeth's' eyes went to mine, then I felt Keial put his arm around my waist and pull me into his side.

"Let me introduce you to my date, and lover, Felix." He then said, making me blush as her deep blue eyes bore into mine.

"Felix, this is Lisbeth, she and I are childhood friends."

Childhood friends? Somehow I didn't believe that, looking into her eyes as she subtly glared at me.

"Nice to finally meet you." She smiled sweetly, before smiling at Keial.

"Keial has told me nothing but wonderful things about you, it's a pleasure to meet you in person, Felix."

There was no mistake in her tone, she was friendly but I didn't miss the way her eyes darkened.

This woman didn't like me, and now that I had spoken to her in person, the feeling was mutual.

I wrapped my arm around Keial and smiled widely, ignoring my heart beating wildly in my chest as I noticed Keial's eyes looking down at me in amusement.

"It's nice to meet you too."

We had glared at each other for what felt like years and only did we snap out of it when Keial cleared his throat, making me move my arm from around his and stand by his side, my glass now empty and a strong sour taste in my mouth.

"Felix, I need to speak to Lisbeth alone, do not wander too far." Keial told me, as I bit my tongue and nodded my head, not missing the look on Lisbeths face.

"Okay."

Keial's eyes stayed on mine for a moment longer, before he turned and left with Lisbeth, her hand clutching onto his arm like a snake that I so badly wanted to cut the head off.

What did he want to speak to her about, and alone? I thought he trusted me now, I had done everything right tonight, but to leave me like this alone...

I was in a room full of powerful people, people who saw me come in with Keial, the King, but now he was letting some... snake cling onto him?

Friend or not, what the fuck was he doing?

"I see that your glass is empty." A voice makes me jump, as I turn around to see who the voice belonged to.

I saw that it was a man around the same age as Keial, he was handsome, with pointy ears and beautiful pink glowing eyes, and he was also dressed differently than everyone else.

He was wearing what looked like formal, yet battle armor, but as beautiful as this person was, I knew he was a man, even with long silver hair, and feminine features.

"Oh." I stutter.

"Yeah, I had meant to get a refill." I awkwardly laugh, as the elven man smiles down at me.

He had stared at me for the longest moment, and despite not knowing this person, it was hard to ignore that my body responded to him the same way it did to Keial's.

Whoever this person was, he was someone powerful.

"I must say, I did not expect Keial to take a male lover, and one as sexy as you."

The words that left his mouth left me speechless, as he spoke the words so casually that I almost missed what he had said.

Sexy?

Did he just say that? 

In front of all these people.

I followed his eyes as they went behind me and landed on Keial, as he and Lisbeth reentered the ballroom, arms linked and Lisbeth smiling and laughing at someone Keial had said.

"It's a pity he found you first." The man suddenly said, making me snap my eyes back to his pink ones.

"The King may have fooled everyone else with your touching display, but I know that man better than anyone, he will never submit, not to you, nor his childhood fiancee he so shamefully allows to cling to him."

"If you were mine, I would never allow that display of disloyalty." He leaned forward to whisper, as I saw his hand slowly reach out to touch mine.

Then within a split second, I watch as Keial stands in front of me and grips hold of the elven man's hand and then glares down at the beautiful yet mysterious man.

"Ah, Keial, nice of you to join us." The mysterious man said, as I swallowed deeply as I looked into Keial's furious, and darkened eyes.

"Arlen."

The room fell silent, as everyone now quietened and watched in silence at what was now the most interesting thing happening, but once I saw Keial's eyes shift black, the room suddenly felt cold.