One Night With The Brutish Alpha, Bound Forever

Lysandra's POV

"King Caspian of Mountop will be at the border for an important trade, you will warm his bed" My Father said stamping the royal seal on a parcel

My eyes widened in shock, surely he was telling one of his drunk jokes but nobody laughed and nobody shared the same surprise

Something snapped inside of me

I bowed slightly in his direction "I decline. I bare the mark of the Hergo clan, I'm no whore for a travelling King"

My father finally lifted his eyes to mine, a tired sigh escaped his lips "It's not a request Lysandra, it is an order from your king"

He looked exhausted even though he had spent less than an hour in this court today. To him wine and women were more important than the kingdom's affair

"You are not my King" I said keeping my voice steady above the slurred whispers of the men in his court

"My King is dead and she died in battle protecting Hergasus. You're just a Herdman she married and tamed. You’re no royal father!"

"Watch your tongue woman!" General Ashton slammed his fist on the table

I slammed my fist harder and rose with so much force that my chair tumbled backwards

"You watch your tongue, You shall not raise your voice at me" I pointed at him "I am Lysandra Hergo, descendant of the great Hergo clan. I'm a warrior princess...."

My words were cut short by a slap so hard that I was thrown off balance. I turned to see Rachel, my father's new wife staring at me with contempt

"You are nothing but a tool for the crown, you will serve King Caspian" Rachel said before taking her seat beside my father

The room erupted in mocking laughter and snorts. My eyes burned with unshed tears not because of the strike– I have been struck by strong men in battle but because of the humiliation, something I could never get used to

"My beautiful Queen, I have been awaiting your presence" My father said leaning over and nibbling the side of her neck

She simply pushed him away with an eye roll, unlike him she was always sober and had the desire to rule. It was evident in her eyes.

"Your sister, Iris, has been weak from her cold, by the goddess it will be a shame if anything befell her" She said leaning back with a proud smirk plastered on her face

My heart thundered painfully as I thought of my sister. My compliances was the only thing giving her a life better than mine in the palace

"By the command of my king, I, Lysandra Hergo shall serve King Caspian" I curtsied low

"And I shall see to it that you're prepared accordingly" Rachel's grin widened, she was enjoying every bit of this

My tunic was torn off my body then I was forced into a tub of warm milk after which my skin was pampered with rose infused honey.

When I stepped into Rachel's waiting chambers clad in sheer fabrics that did nothing to hide my dignity, her eyes glowed with joy

She stood behind me forcing me to look at the mirror in front of us while skillfully loosing my braids

"The King will have eyes for only you, I'm certain" She whispered then she put a parcel with the royal stamp in my hand

I looked at her utterly confused then realisation hit me as she nodded

"Feed it to him, it is the only way to save your people from another war"

The ride to the border was too rocky, not because it was lined with large stones that should have been moved a long time ago but because it was evidence that my mother died in vain.

Women swayed their hips in anticipation for a top bidder under the moonlight, children barely had flesh and drunk men staggered through the street on every turn

While the forest beyond was laced with bandits and rebel groups

It was not always like this when my mother ruled, Hergasus was a land of prosperity, men were traders and women fought to protect the borders while children ran free.

The Inn bustled with foreign dancers and men dressed in the finest robes, they spoke of territories carelessly and visualised future wars.

I quietly blended into the background with the musicians holding my cloak tight together

"Hergasus is due for new leadership" A man strolled in clad in brown breeches

His muscles were toned– definitely carved from years of war, his long black hair sat loose around his shoulders and his orange eyes looked so inreal.

He moved with the authority of a warlord rather than a King.

As he took his seat at the head of the table, his eyes swept the room slowly before landing on me. I lowered my gaze immediately

He continued talking about how the land was fertile with great purpose but the King was a joke. I totally agreed with him, He spoke as though he'd lived a thousand years.

"Hergasus has no defence right now. We can just send Soldiers to wipe them out, it is as easy as lifting a feather my lord" One Of the men spoke while the others nodded in agreement

My heart tightened in my chest as anger washed over me but I force myself to stay calm.

"The Hergo Clan were able to establish sovereignty and self sufficiency, we will need a tangible reason to declare war"

The conversation moved from war strategy to wine and bed affairs. By the end of the night everyone were too drunk to even stand except him.

I quietly followed behind him as he made his way back to his room. He settled into a chair at the end of the room while I closed the door.

"I am Lysandra my lord, i am here to serve you" I curtsied low

He lifted his brow as I took off my cloak to reveal my body underneath

His eyes roamed my body with amusement– the fabric molded into every curve of my body and it was transparent enough to hide nothing.

Then his expression hardened as his eyes dropped to the intricate gold on my ankle, He moved with an unnatural speed grabbing my neck and slamming me into the wall

"You are a Hergo warrior, who sent you" His fingers tightened around my neck restricting airflow