The ride to the kingdom was slow and steady, awkward and uncomfortable.  West was pressed up against the window on the far side of the carriage and I on the other side, my nose up against the cool glass.  Neither of us said a word.  We were still inwardly venting over the fight we had had the night before.

The contacts in my eyes were bothering me, and I did not like the blue seal that it added to my silver irises.  I didn't look normal with blue eyes.  Or maybe I just wasn't comfortable with the change.  I had always thought that my silver and gold irises made me look special, unique, beautiful.  West didn't seem to mind the change.

The kingdom arose in the distance like a pearly white mountain.  It's steeples were pointed and the traditional flags whipped around the peaks.  The sun reflected off of the marbel white and almost burnt my eyes.

"Whoa..." I whispered.

West scooted to my side so he could see out of my window as well.  He made sure not to touch me, but I could see him leaning in closer as his eyes widened.  We were so use to concrete buildings surrounding by forests.  This was insanity.  The carriage hit a bump in the rode and West fell on top of me.

"Get off of me," I hissed.  He jerked his body off so quickly that I thought he'd hit the ceiling.

"We're entering the court yard," Adrianna, our escort, informed us. "Now, we need to go over a few basic rules again..."  

West and I paid no attention to Adrianna, our eyes focused on the scene outside of the carriage.  On one side, a man and his cavalry were trying to tame a wild Blue-stoned Serpent and lure it into a large gaping door in the side of the castle.  On my side of the carriage, woman were gathered around a certain beautiful girl, laughing and bowing toward her every whim.  The beautiful blonde girl of attention looked at our carriage momentarily, locked eyes with me, and glared.

"Brilliant..." I murmured.

The carriage halted suddenly, and West and I were quickly ushered out of the light and into a dark corridor with multiple rooms  branching off.  At the end of a passage was a huge door, a deep cherry wood with brass doorknobs.  It opened with a booming echo, light pouring into West and my eyes.

"King Alexander, this is your new servant and a fresh maid for dining and cleaning."

Once my eyes had adjusted, I noticed a throne room filled with bright golds, reds, and greens.  Woman with hardly any clothing were laying all around the room, biting on fruit and drinking fine wine.  Men were courting and flirting in rich attire, trying to touch and get what they pleased while woman batted their bristling eyelashes.

The king was standing at the end of the room next to his throne, chatting with a couple of other stately men.  He glanced at West, Adrianna, and I, and then did a double-take, gathering himself together and approaching us while his guests watched. 

"Welcome," he said, composed, taking a sip from his goblet.  "You two are working in my home, I hear."

West nodded and bowed.  He glared at me when I just stood there, gaping at the king.  I was brought back to earth, and curtsied.  The king's teasing dark eyes glanced at the cleavage my low-cut dress exposed.  I normally had large breasts, but this dress that Adrianna made me wear made it very apparent.  I knew why Adrianna made me wear this low-cut, skintight dress.  I was the bate.

"You are cleaning, my lady?" King Alexander said, taking my hand and kissing it softly.  The man was incredibly young, barely in his twenties.  He had dark hair and fair skin with piercing black eyes staring into mine.  I thought for a second that he may be able to see beyond my contacts.

"I am."

The king glanced at West.  "And you two are ... siblings, I hope."

My cheeks were burning, and West opened his mouth to speak, but Adrianna cut him off briskly.  "Yes, your highness.  They are."  

"Very good, very good."  The king smiled at me, looking me up and down.  "Why don't you two go get and ready yourselves and join me for dinner."  It wasn't a question.

"Yes, sir," I said in a flirty voice, remembering that I was in this game to win it, and to show West that I was better than he believed.  I followed Adrianna out of the room, walking in a sultry manner I had learned from the best.

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