The Alpha King's Mind Reading Maid (Cecilia) novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Cecilia’s POV

Leopold walked down the hallway toward us, his stride long and steady, even as his face darkened, his eyes twin blizzards, cold and sharp.

He stopped near us, looking around, taking in the scene before him. Looking at me, he asked, “Just what is going on here?”

Before I could answer, Vivian stepped closer to him. The venom drained from her face, replaced now with a faux sadness.

“Thank the Goddess you are here, your Highness. You wouldn’t believe the insults I’ve suffered from this woman.” Vivian gestured to me. “The things she said to me… too terrible to even repeat! Sire, she twists things to make herself seem the victim but truly she only wants to take advantage of all of our kindness. She hates me the most because I have your favor!”

“If that is true,” Leopold said, “then why is it she is the one on the ground?”

“I only asked my maids to teach her a lesson,” Vivian said. “We had no real intention of hurting her. We only wanted her to learn to leave us alone. Right?”

She looked to the maids for support. All of them quickly agreed, supporting her lie.

Turning back to Leopold, Vivian pouted. “You believe me, don’t you? And maybe you’ll punish her for the disrespect she’s shown me?”

I heard Warren then, his voice low and deadly. “So noisy! Shut up! Shut up!”

He was irritable. If Vivian didn’t stop, if she kept pushing…

“I only want her to learn to show respect to her betters,” Vivian continued. “It’s for the best if – oof!”

Vivian’s body flung across the width of the hallway and collided with the far wall. After hitting it, she fell hard to the ground.

Leopold’s leg was still lifted from where he had kicked her. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered it again.

The maids and slaves whispered and shook in panic, many of them backing off. They released me, inching away from their murderous king and the lady they were vowed to obey.

On the ground, Vivian spit out blood. “Please… Your Highness… Mercy…”

Leopold’s eyes were predatory and wild, more like an animal’s than a man’s, and filled with a murderous rage. He withdrew his sword from the sheath at his belt.

“My lady!” said one of the maids, rushing forward.

Leopold slashed without warning, without mercy, cutting across the maid’s middle. She fell, grabbing at her stomach. Leopold didn’t even look at her. He was still looking at Vivian and readying his sword to plunge straight through her heart.

In that instant, I realized… This was Warren, not Leopold.

Warren was controlling Leopold’s body.

I couldn’t let this happen.

Moving on instinct, I flung myself at Warren, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Please! Stop!” I begged, hoping beyond hope that I could reach him, that he could hear me.

But he was too far gone. He grabbed my shoulder roughly and tossed me to the side like a rag doll.

My knees cracked against the tiles, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t. My adrenaline was pumping and I didn’t want Warren to kill again. For Leopold to kill.

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Ignoring the danger, I raced forward again, this time placing myself between Vivian and Warren. The blade was still ready to plunge, but this time, I was in the way. I grabbed at it with my bare hands, uncaring what happened to me.

“Please! You have to stop!” The blade sliced into my already bleeding hands, but I didn’t let go. “You can’t do this!”

Warren lowered his wild gaze to my bleeding hand. My blood was pouring out of me, staining the metal blade, while also making long red tracks down my arms, staining my silken gown. He blinked, his fury beginning to subside.

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