Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 2 (Afterlife saga Book 7) by Stephanie Hudson Read Free Book Online Page A

Ranka so she took her by the arm and forced her to listen to her final warning.
    “Heed my words odalik, for in the eyes of the King she cannot be replaced but you can . Do you understand me now? ” Parmida paled slightly and then nodded, telling me that she finally understood.
    “Good, then do as I ask and keep her guarded day and night. I will be back every day to check on her progress as the King is anxious to see his prize, so I suggest not to keep him waiting too long before he can claim it,” Ranka said and I knew she was only playing her part but I had to say that I was getting tired of being treated like a new toy that needed polishing.
    “You think in pleasing the King I will be rewarded?” Parmida asked quietly and I couldn’t help but snort, which only earned me a dirty look from my new headmistress.
    “I do indeed,” Ranka said grinning and I had to say it was an unnerving sight. Ranka was killer first and foremost, that was clear for all to see. It wasn’t just the way she looked, like some warrior who could mount a horse in one swift movement or draw a bow quicker than taking a breath, but it was also in her eyes. It was that dangerous glint that told a person she didn’t even need to think about her next move but could kill them quicker than thinking about it.
    But then I had to wonder how many people had ever got to witness the softer side to her as I had. It may have been brief but for someone who obviously cared a great deal for my husband, then she had shown nothing but kindness to me. She’d tried to comfort me in her own way and even now she was doing everything to try and ensure my safety. I knew one thing for sure and that was I was definitely lucky to have her on my side in all of this.
    “I want a word with the girl.” Ranka ordered as one of the servants tried to drag me away by the arms.
    “Very well but if urgency is as you say then do not take long for I have much to do and no time in which to do it,” Parmida warned. I looked down at their hands as if silently telling them to let go of me but it was only when they received a nod from their mistress that they complied. I then walked back to my only friend in all this to no doubt hear her last few words of wisdom and if I was going to survive being in the harem, then I would need all the advice I could get.
    “I must now leave you here and go and report to the King.” Just at the mention of him my heart rate spiked.
    “What will you say?”
    “I will answer whatever he asks of me,” she replied, giving nothing away.
    “Yeah, but what is he likely to ask?”
    “Knowing the King, he will want to question me further about when I found you. He will ask if I trust you and also most likely want to know my judgement on making you his next concubine.”
    “What will you tell him?” I asked excited and nervous at the same time at the thought of him asking about me. She raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘well what do you think’.
    “I will be as honest as I can be but I will also explain my concerns about your safety down here and hope he will agree with my recommendation of moving you to safer quarters.”
    “Oh yes, that would be good, I like that idea.” I told her, even more grateful to have her at my back.
    “I thought you would. But until something can be done you need to be careful and consider all in here your enemy.” I looked around seeing that all eyes were still on me and some looked on with outright hatred, but there were also those who looked on with pity, which had me wondering, could she be right, would everyone here be my enemy?
    “The King waits for no man!” Parmida said clapping her hands to tell us that our time was up. Ranka frowned over my head and before the servants could drag me away again, she grabbed my arm and said,  
    “Remember, Chosen… trust no one.”   I nodded and before I knew it I was being dragged away and the only reason I let this happen was because I knew all that Ranka had done