Auctioned to the Cruel King - Chapter 58: Chapter 58

Kayla’s POV
“The King would like to see you.”
I stood frozen in place, back pressed to the cool wood, the hem of my robe brushing against my bare ankles. The room around me was still—the same room I’d retreated to after that encounter with Vivian.
I thought I could hold it together. That I could act unbothered. Stoic. Luna-like.
But now, hearing that he wanted to see me again?
That was a different kind of tremble. One that started somewhere beneath the ribs and curled low in my belly. I hated it.
“Compose yourself.”
I said it aloud this time, my voice barely a whisper, but I needed to hear it. I crossed to the mirror. My reflection stared back—flushed cheeks, tired eyes, that stubborn, restless mouth. My fingers curled around the dresser edge, grounding myself.
“You're not some broken thing. You're not what Landon made you believe you were. You're certainly not what she thinks you are.”
I took a deep breath, then another. My hands smoothed down my dress.
Lance sat behind the broad desk, a single candle flickering beside him despite the daylight pouring in from the windows. His face was carved from stone, as always…shadowed jaw, unyielding eyes, hands folded before him like he was already halfway through judging me.
“You wanted to see me?” I asked, stepping in.
He didn’t speak immediately. Just gestured to the seat across from him. “Please. Sit.”
I did, but not before noticing how tight his shoulders were.
He leaned forward slightly. “I want you to tell me everything you remember from the night Vivian was attacked. Every detail. No matter how small it seemed.”
Is he for real?
That wasn’t what I expected. “That’s why I’m here?”
“Yes,” he said, the word clipped. “Any little information.”
I stared at him for a long moment. Something bitter curled in my throat.
“That's what matters to you right now?”
His brow twitched. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t,” I said, my voice a little bolder now. “I thought you wanted to talk about what happened in her room. The parade of insults your ex-lover just laid on me like it was a damn ceremony. Or do you always let women claw at each other until blood is drawn while you sit back and take notes?”
“You know Vivian,” he said with an exhale. “She’s always been like that.”
“I don’t know her,” I snapped. “I don’t know anything. Except that she’s your ex and you two used to have freakishly violent sex that she still brags about. And that there’s some man named Cleo who’s suddenly turned this whole place upside down.”
His eyes narrowed. “Cleo’s not someone you should be concerned about. It’s nothing.”
Nothing?
“No. It’s not nothing,” I told him. “You think I’m stupid?”
Silence.
I leaned forward. “That night… the one Vivian got her fingers broken? He tried to come onto me. Right in front of her. And she stopped him.”
His jaw flexed. “Wait. He what?”
“Don’t play dumb,” I said, voice low. “You know exactly the kind of person he is. And you didn’t think I’d notice how your whole demeanor changes whenever his name comes up?”
He looked away. Then silence stretched between us.
“That's what I thought," I said when the silence became unbearable. "Keeping me in the dark again. What is it—you don't trust me?"
“No,” he said quietly. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” I demanded. “Tell me. I want to help. I want to do something that matters. Am I just your Luna in name?—I want to be more than this pretty pawn everyone either mocks or tiptoes around.”
He was staring at me now. Hard. Like he was seeing something in me that he didn’t know how to name.
Maybe I’d strayed from what I meant to say. Or maybe I’d finally said exactly what needed to be said.
He leaned back, shoulders taut. Then, finally, he spoke.
“A few years ago,” he began, voice quiet but firm, “on a full moon… You know how uncontrollable my Lycan is during those days.”
I nodded slowly.
“We didn’t have the Den back then. It wasn’t safe. So I’d order curfews and have myself chained in the forest outside the palace. Thick silver chains. A dozen guards were close.” A pause. “But that night... the second night of the full moon... I broke through them. They couldn't stop me. It... no one could. They tried."
My breath caught. But I said nothing.
“They couldn’t stop me,” he said, and there was shame in his voice now. “Most of the guards died. I tore through the forest. Straight into town. The first house… there was a… a family…” He trailed off. Closed his eyes.
I waited, because talking may just as well end this. Gave him all the time he needed to continue.
“I broke inside, cutting each and every one of them down. A man. His wife. Their little girl, not more than six years old. I was conscious but couldn't do anything about it. I can sometimes still see that child's face. The confusion and fear.”
He didn’t cry. He wouldn’t. But I saw something shatter in his expression.
“The next morning… gods, the aftermath was devastating. We couldn’t let words spread. Couldn’t allow people to think the King had slaughtered a family. So we blamed it on rabid wolves. That’s what the reports said.”
I was quiet. Hollowed out.
“So where does Cleo come in?” I finally asked.
“He helped cover it up. Vivian knew him. We used to frequent the Last Inn. He found someone to take the fall and was sentenced to death.”
My blood ran cold. "Oh my God. You did—"
"No." His voice was quick. "Goddess knows, we made sure he escaped, never to come back. Gave him enough money... more than enough."
I felt sick. Not from him. But from the weight of the truth he carried all this time.
“So what does Cleo want now?”
“He thinks he’s entitled to more,” Lance said, voice flat. “A bigger reward. A title. Something real. But negotiating with him has been… impossible.”
I sat back, heart thudding.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “That… that’s a heavy thing to live with.”
He didn’t respond right away. Just stared at the flickering candle beside him.
“I don’t talk about it,” he said finally. “Vivian was the only one who ever encouraged me to face it. To own what I did. But even she… she turned it into something twisted.”
I exhaled slowly. “I’ve heard of her version of encouragement.”
That earned me a dry look. Not a smile. But maybe something like exasperation.
“So what are you going to do about Cleo?” I asked.
“I’m waiting for confirmation from one of my seekers,” he replied. “Once I know where he is… I’ll formulate a plan.”
I nodded.
But then I stood. His eyes followed me as I walked to the other side of the desk and sat on the arm of his chair. “Well,” I said. “We’ll formulate a plan.”
His brows pulled together, then eased.
“No.”
“Yes,” I said simply.
“I don’t want you involved in this. In any way. You have nothing to prove.”
I tilted my head. “You’re wrong. I’m your Luna. Whatever affects you affects me. And I’m tired of being protected from things I have every right to face. So I’m going to sit right here beside you and wait. Just as you are waiting.”
We stared at each other. I waited for him to reject my offer and make me leave. And for once, he didn’t push me away.