HIS QUEEN
Chapter 20

Training with Eridian had been going well. I learnt a few tricks from him but I was yet to beat him. His speed and strength gave him an edge over me. Each time I whined, he reminded me Gardenia would be fighting for my submission. The contest had been moved to the end of the month so, I had a lot of time to practice. Archery had been the worst during my training. I was barely able to hold the bow properly much less hitting the bulls eye. I needed to be good at atleast one activity. Don't get me started on hunting. I was too noisy to catch a damn rabbit. I couldn't move stealthily like Eridian or Jairus. The rabbit always spotted me before I could make a kill. I groaned in frustration as I dragged myself to my room and collapsed face front on my bed.

My body had barely gotten any rest since training began. Sometimes I felt like giving up but when I remembered the smirk on that bitches face and Jairus's face when I refused to train, I pushed harder. I was going to wipe the smug look off that bitchs face and show her who the real queen was. I hadn't even seen Thane in a while now. I had been avoiding him since after my heat but now he wasn't available to be avoided. I hadn't seen him in almost a week and my heart ached at the thought.

Some days after training I crave his warmth. I want to sink myself in his arms and relax after a hard day of stressing my muscles.

I turned at the sound of the door opening. A guard stood at the door, hesitant to enter.

"My queen" I blushed at the title.

"Is there a problem?"

"The king has requested your presence in his study"

"I'll be there" he left. I squealed into my pillow. He wanted to see me. I took my sweet time taking a shower. I wore a white flowing dress and sandals and went to his study.

The door was ajar, so I went in. "You asked for me"

"That was thirty minutes ago" I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Follow me" he walked past me and out the door. I followed silently behind him until we got to the stairway connecting the four wings. He placed his hands against the wall and a keypad appeared. He pressed digits on it and the floor divided. Another staircase appeared and he descended. I followed him in and the opening closed. I stumbled into his back as I couldn't see properly. I mumbled a soft apology. Lights flooded the room and I winced at how bright it was.

He continued down the stairway and I followed. We reached the end and he opened a door. I looked around as I stepped in. The room was equipped just like the gym upstairs. Swords hanging on the wall, bows arranged in an order, sharpened knives hung below the swords. A silver armour stood in the corner. I trailed my hands in the bows. A white one caught my eyes. I hung it in my shoulder and it fit perfectly.

"You like it?" I nodded enthusiastically. "Come with it" I carefully removed it from its place on the wall and brought it to him. He picked an arrow, positioned it on the bow and shot his target. It landed on the bulls eye.

"Here. Try it" I took the bow and an arrow and shot. It landed few inches before the target board. I groaned and heard a chuckle behind me. I turned and saw Thane trying to hide his smile. I had never heard him laugh before. I smiled inwardly at the thought.

I picked another arrow and shot again. I missed. I inhaled sharply when I felt him behind me. He held my hands in his own and positioned the arrow and bow properly.

"At the count of two, let it go" he breathed into my ear. I nodded.

"One" I shivered. "Two" I immediately released my hand in the arrow and it hit the bulls eye. I squealed and jumped into his arms.

"I did it" he gave me a small smile.

"Try again" I tried again but I missed. I pouted.

"Keep trying" he reclined in a chair while I continued, determined to get it right. I spent two hours trying and not a single arrow hit the bulls eye. A few landed on the board, some close to the bulls eye. But never on the bulls eye. He inspected the board and gathered the

arrows.

"You've improved a lot"

"But not good enough, I know. That she wolf is going to beat me in all the activities"

"She's absolutely bad at archery" I looked at him. Was he trying to give me hope. I had improved and she was bad at it? I had an edge in one activity at least. We walked quietly out of the underground gym to the west wing.

"Shower and meet me in my room" he walked ahead into his room. I entered my room and showered. I wore PJ's this time. I walked to his room, my bare feet padding on the floor. I knocked on his door and waited. I heard a voice so I opened the door. He sat in front of a round table with different meals arranged on the top. There was roasted lamb, salted livers, beef stew, bread, grilled meat and too many others.

"Sit" I sat down eagerly. He took a plate and passed it to me. I waited for him to start dishing before I started taking mine. I took a little bit of bread, the livers and some stew. I stuffed my face without a care for my surroundings. After exhausting myself today, I deserved a feast. I looked up halfway to see Thane staring at me. His face unreadable as usual. He faced his plate and continued eating. I filled down a glass of water and started eating slowly. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. And not knowing made me uncomfortable.