Chosen

by Samantha Britt

  If I thought Lord Stanley’s kitchens were large, the ones in the castle were gigantic. Agent Min left us to wait in the strange area. I counted seven stone fireplaces carved into the walls. Workers stepped into two rooms extending off the kitchen, each of them coming back with cold items. I was in the middle of trying to peek inside the mysterious room when a lovely woman with midnight hair glided in.

  “Ladies, sorry to keep you waiting. I was having words with our tardy grocer,” the woman stopped in front of us. I noted the streak of flour marring her otherwise flawless face when it hit me. She wasn’t a woman. She was draekon.

  Agent Min said his sister was the head chef. I guess I’d been too out of sorts to really understand what that meant.

  A draekon worked in the castle? I thought only humans would be subjected to serving the king and his court.

  Remembering my manners, I lowered my chin and dipped into a curtsy. I didn’t know if the submissive greeting was standard in Draek, but it was how Caldirians addressed Lord Stanley. Beside me, Lorie and Bridget did the same.

  Lifting my eyes, I noted genuine surprise covering the draekon’s smile. “My name is Mai, but most in the kitchens call me Chef.”

  “Amelissa.” I gestured to my friends. “Alorie and Bridget.”

  “Lovely to meet you,” Chef returned kindly. “Now, let’s get you settled in.” She spun around and walked out the way she’d come. We hustled to keep up with her long strides.

  “This is the passage to your living quarters. You will rest for the evening. Tomorrow morning, we will discuss each of your duties.”

  I knew I just met her, but I already liked Chef. Maybe it was because I associated her with Agent Min, but I think it was the way she interacted with us. I believed she was the first draekon to not fawn over our looks and question our decision to work instead of making draekon babies.

  The passage was long with only right turns. Even though it was a servant’s hall, it was still nicely decorated and well-kept. It was far nicer than any home or building in Caldiri. I felt a twinge of relief to know we wouldn’t be living in a dark dungeon like the one I’d created in my imagination.

  A wall covered by an oil portrait came into view. The image showed a stunning family. A husband and wife sat beside each other. Two young boys stood beside each parent, wearing matching green tunics and brown trousers. An infant was cradled in the mother’s arms, and the female’s illustrious smile seemed to brighten the hallway.

  The location of the portrait puzzled me, but before I could ask Chef about it, she opened a door to my left and stepped to the side to allow us to enter.

  “Here you are. Your quarters.”

  My first thought was Chef must be mistaken. An expensive looking couch sat in the center of the room. Its solid green color was accented by floral patterned pillows. Two high-backed chairs flanked the couch, facing a roaring fireplace.

  My gaze traveled along the walls, admiring the elegant floral wallpaper lining the surfaces, until it landed on a dark wood table adjacent to the kitchen.

  I shook my head. The fine furniture and the small alcove with a wooden stove seemed too fine for kitchen servants.

  “This is where we will live?” Lorie didn’t hide the wonder from her voice.

  Chef nodded. “Yes. There are only two rooms, but my brother said you three would prefer to share than be separated.”

  “Yes,” I quickly confirmed, thankful to Agent Min, yet again. “My sister and I will share.”

  “Sister?” Chef’s gaze moved between Lorie and me. Her lips turned down. “Recruited in the same census? How unfortunate.”

  Her reaction was sincere, and the realization both confused and touched me. Tears gathered in my eyes. I immediately forced them away, rubbing my eyelids. I must be tired.

  Chef recovered. “I’ll have someone bring you dinner, then I suggest you rest. I will be here one hour before the sun rises. We must begin work before the rest of the castle wakes.”

  I felt a moment of panic, worried Lorie would protest the early working hour, but I was surprised when she remained silent. Each of us murmured our thanks and goodbyes to Chef. Once she exited the room, we all collapsed onto the nearest chair.

  No one said a word. We were all too preoccupied in our own minds to speak.

  I, for one, was too busy realizing the day hadn’t been all that bad. Considering what I was expecting, the forced spa treatment and kitchen assignment were not the worst things I imagined would happen to us. Besides, Lorie and I weren’t separated. I closed my eyes, thanking the gods for the good fortune.

  Delayed fatigue set in the moment my eyelids touched. My anxiety remained, but the stress and tension of the day finally took its toll. I hadn’t slept well since we left Caldiri—the bumpy and dangerous six-day trip saw to that. I wasn’t just tired; I was exhausted.

  I wasn’t sure if food ever arrived for dinner. I fell asleep within minutes.

  16

  Hours later, I awoke lying horizontal on the sofa. A warm, furry blanket was placed over my body. Rather than get up and search for a bed, I burrowed deeper into the couch and resumed my slumber.

  Too soon, morning arrived. Light fingers tapped my back. I was face down on the sofa with one arm hanging over the edge.

  “Lissa?” Bridget murmured softly. “It’s time to wake up. Chef will be here at any moment.”

  I groaned but pushed myself upright. Bridget stood there, hair already brushed and tied back, but it was her outfit that made me blink in shock.

  “What are you wearing?” My eyes trailed the flowing green skirt, finding nothing at fault with the item of clothing. The black, corset-style top, however, was a different story.

  Bridget fidgeted. “They were delivered last night. They are our uniforms.”

  Lorie chose that moment to walk out of the bedroom she slept in. I took one look at her and jumped off my makeshift bed.

  Absolutely not.

  My sister held up her hands defensively. “We don’t have a choice. Bridget’s telling the truth; all female kitchen staff wear them.”

  “Chef wasn’t!”

  Bridget spoke up, “Maybe because she’s a draekon?”

  A knock interrupted. With a warning glance to me, Lorie walked to the main door and opened it.

  Chef stood on the other side. A young man was positioned beside her. My eyes widened as they both stepped inside, and I observed his form-fitting, green pants and shirtless torso.

  Well, he wasn’t really shirtless.

  A wide bundle of tan fabric hung over his right shoulder, covering a portion of his chest and back. It was attached to his left hip by a pin displaying the kingdom’s crest—three mountain peaks with the outline of a draekon in beast form, breathing fire.

  Unaware of my distraction, Chef observed my state of disarray. “Did you not receive your uniform?” At the same time, I saw when she noticed Lorie and Bridget were already ready.

  I wanted to object to the inappropriate clothing, but I knew it would be a losing battle. I was a human in the most powerful draekon’s castle. I held no influence, and I couldn’t see how complaining on the first day of my new life would be a good idea.

  So with a sigh, I made up some excuse for my appearance and apologized before dipping into the room I’d seen Lorie leave. As I suspected, another uniform sat folded on the edge of the large bed. I stripped down and forced my legs into the skirt before lacing up the revealing top.

  Once I tied the knot, I realized it wasn’t as bad as I originally thought. It was definitely more revealing than anything I’d ever worn in public, but I was covered, except for the air I felt on my exposed shoulders.

  Spotting a wash basin, I splashed my face with the cool water. Taking a cup on the adjacent table, I filled it halfway and swirled the liquid in my mouth. Spitting it out into the other basin, I returned to the main room.

  I stopped beside Lorie as I finished running my fingers through my hair. My sister handed me a ribbon, and I expertly t
ied my hair into a bun.

  Chef watched me until I finished. Then she nodded. “Good. Let’s begin.” She left the room, and her companion followed. Again, the three of us struggled to keep up with her fast pace.

  “You three will be servers for castle guests. They reside in the south wing, though most of them take their dinner in the northern wing with the rest of Court.” Chef said the words over her shoulder.

  “Each evening, the visiting guests’ servants will deliver a menu regarding what their masters want for meals the following day, as well as the times they would like the food delivered. That is where you come in.” We entered the kitchen. The room bustled with people as they were busy making food for the day. I frowned, seeing most of the workers were dressed in loose green pants and brown shirts with aprons tied around their waist. I’d prefer to wear those clothes.

  “The cooks will prepare the meals,” she gestured to the individuals wearing the aprons, “and you will deliver them.

  “Nolan, here, will stay with you for one week to help you three learn the layout of the castle. After that, you will run food and serve on your own.”

  The knowledge was a relief. I’d only walked through the kitchen portion of the castle, but I predicted navigating the rest of it would be daunting. A week of training would be perfect.

  “Sounds good?”

  Each of us bobbed our heads, too overwhelmed and nervous to say anything else.

  Chef’s eyes softened. “Don’t worry. It isn’t so bad.” Her eyes did not miss me trying to tug my corset-like contraption up. “I know you are unused to such clothing in Caldiri.” Her brother must have shared our home region with her. “But it is normal in Draek. No one will think your attire is strange.”

  Her words made me consider the citizens I’d observed while walking through the capital. Their clothing had consisted of varying styles of undress. I’d overlooked the fact because everyone walked with such poise and confidence; it hadn’t dawned on me to be shocked.

  Was Caldiri the only region concerned with such things?

  Her kindness encouraged me to ask, “Is there any way to get a different uniform?” I held my breath.

  Chef showed a sympathetic smile. “No. Just because draekon can’t touch you doesn’t mean they don’t want to look at you.”

  Nolan, the nearly half-naked man, showed us to an internal passageway that connected the kitchens in the main building to the guest quarters in the south wing. He explained the entire castle was connected by such passages, as well as parallel passages used by the draekon and guests. We currently moved through the concealed passage only used by servants and castle staff.

  He guided us to the south wing and an internal stairway within. We each juggled our own tray filled with food, dishes, and tea as we ascended the stone steps. The climb barely affected me—aside from nearly tripping over the flowing skirt—but Bridget and Lorie were huffing by the time we reached the top floor.

  Nolan held open the door for us to pass through before he resumed his position in the front. We stopped at the first, elaborately carved entryway.

  Nolan gestured to Bridget. “This one is yours. All you do is knock, and the guest’s maid or valet will answer to retrieve the tray.”

  With a nod, Bridget moved forward and followed his instructions. In a timely manner, a pretty red head opened the door and tilted her head to Bridget. Without speaking, the girl held out her arms to take the breakfast tray. Seconds later, the door shut.

  Bridget turned to look at us. “That was easy.”

  Nolan smirked. “Yes. Well, eventually, you will be in charge of more than one guest a day. In addition, you will be responsible of ensuring delivery to whatever location the guest wishes to take their meal. But we wanted to start you off with the basics.” His amusement brightened his face, and I permitted myself to admire his tan skin and dark lashes. Would I ever see an unattractive person in Draek?

  Our group moved on to the next room, and Lorie performed her duties. Once the door closed, she turned around and beamed at me. “Look, Lissy. I worked for once.”

  I laughed. We both knew her comment was ridiculous, but Bridget and Nolan looked confused.

  I shook my head. “She’s joking.”

  Indifferent, Nolan shrugged and pointed to the third room down the hall. I understood his silent instruction and walked over. Balancing the tray on my hip, I raised my free hand and tapped the wood.

  I was lowering my arm when the door swung open. A tall, lean figure filled the doorway. “Finally. I’m starving.”

  I froze, surprised to see someone other than a servant open the door. He was dressed too fine to be mistaken for a servant. His gold pendant and chain screamed of wealth as it shined in the hall’s candlelight.

  But that wasn’t what made every muscle in my body tense.

  Not only did one of the castle’s guests answer the door, but a blond guest opened the door.

  All my life, the only blond people I knew were my siblings. After speaking with Remi, I realized it would’ve been the same anywhere in the kingdom.

  But there I was, looking straight into the face of another blond man.

  His eyes were trained on the tray. When I didn’t hand it over immediately, his gaze moved to my face. I knew the moment he noticed my hair. His eyes widened slightly before quickly shuttering.

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “Well, what do we have here?”

  I was speechless. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Thoughts raced in my mind, wondering who the man before me was and where he came from.

  “What is it?” another deep voice called from inside. “Where’s the food?”

  “One moment.” The man turned his head to yell over his shoulder, and I noticed his pointed ears. My heart started to pound. He’s not human.

  The creature returned his attention to me, keeping the amused smile on his lips. “I’ll take that.” He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the handles of the tray, brushing against mine. I released my grip. His quick reflexes were the only reason the food didn’t clatter to the floor.

  “Thanks, doll,” he said with a wink before shutting the door in my stunned face. I stared at the dark wood for another second before turning around.

  Nolan’s perplexed expression filled my vision. “What was that?”

  “Nothing.” I straightened my back and willed the odd encounter from my mind. There would be time to figure out who and what the creature I just encountered was, but it could wait.

  Nolan looked ready to persist but stopped himself. With a twist of his mouth, he turned on his heel and led us on a tour of the guest wing.

  The south wing consisted of three floors. The first served as a common area with a dining hall, ballroom, and various salons for different uses. The second and third floor were where the guests’ rooms were located. Each of them was luxurious and elegant in their own right, but those on the third were reserved for the more highly-ranked dignitaries, foreign emissaries from nearby continents, and noble draekon visitors.

  Nolan showed us the interior of some unoccupied rooms, and I nearly doubled over. The four post beds were made of the darkest wood, and their spires were carved with elegant scrolls and designs. The satin bedding was edged with delicate needlework. Artwork adorned each wall, and the tables and chairs matched their finery with thick, velvet upholstery and engravings of their own.

  “This is amazing,” Lorie breathed, putting our awe into words. She admired the high ceiling with gilded chandeliers. “Stunning.”

  “Yes, I suppose it is,” Nolan agreed, sounding a little bored, “but you get used to it.”

  I wasn’t sure I would ever become accustomed to seeing such wealth displayed in everyday items, but I kept the thought to myself.

  We made our way back to the servants’ stairwell when three draekon stepped into the hall directly in our path. To my surprise, Nolan did not stop walking. He continued leading us forward. A dip of his head was the only indication he even saw the
draekon.

  My hands trembled as the draekon stop talking. They had been busy conversing with one another, but that ended as we drew near. One of their eyes locked onto my chest, and I felt my cheeks heat. I lowered my head to shield my face, wishing my hair wasn’t tied back.

  A laugh met my ears. “They are always so skittish when they arrive.”

  My blush deepened, knowing he was talking about me.

  His two companions joined in his amusement. “Don’t worry. They will warm up to us eventually. Then, if we’re lucky, they will warm our beds.”

  Lorie gasped behind me. I felt her draw closer as we passed the laughing draekon. Nolan didn’t stop moving. I exhaled a deep sigh once we entered the stairwell and were out of sight.

  I clasped my shaking hands. In Caldiri, the majority men treated women with respect and dignity. Sure, there were those who were known to be suggestive or inappropriate, but I couldn’t recall ever hearing someone speak so brazenly. My sense of propriety struggled to process it.

  “You best get used to that,” Nolan said without ceremony. “You will hear such comments often.”

  “Really?” It was Lorie who asked the question.

  Nolan stopped walking and turned to face us. I wondered what he saw.

  I bet it was three pale young women with matching expressions of embarrassment and horror. Or maybe it was just wide-eyed innocent girls, recently torn from their home.

  Regardless, whatever he saw made his shoulders fall. His stoic demeanor vanished as he rubbed his face. “Look, you are all very pretty. Males—both draekon and human—are going to notice. They will make comments; some might even try to seduce you. It is not uncommon in Draek.”

  I gulped when he used the word seduce.

  “Will any try to… force us to…” I couldn’t get the word out.

  His face shifted into anger. “Of course not. No one is allowed to touch you without permission.”

  I closed my eyes and sighed. Good.

  But Nolan wasn’t finished. “What made you think such a thing?”

  I cracked my eyes and noticed his concerned stare.