Chapter 135 - 0135
Lorelei POV
"I do not understand why you require so many males," Nala commented as we settled into the plush back seat of the center van.
She raised an amused brow while watching four of Kaelen’s guards, including Paul and Isaac, move into position, splitting themselves between the front seats and the rear perimeter. "I understand it is for your safety, but I assure you, my guard, Jarek," she said, gesturing toward the door, "is more than capable of keeping both of us entirely safe."
At that exact moment, her personal guard stepped into the vehicle. He was broad shouldered and completely bald, dressed in a sharp, plain dark suit instead of the ornate Nzari attire I had grown used to seeing, clearly meant to blend in with the crowd.
But what immediately caught my attention and made my brows knit together was his face. Both of his eyes were completely sealed shut with smooth, scarred skin.
Noticing my stunned expression, Nala leaned back against the leather seat. "He may be blind, but do not allow that to deceive you," she said with a soft chuckle. "Jarek possesses senses far sharper than those of any seeing warrior. His blindness is merely a gift to those arrogant enough to mistake it for weakness."
I couldn’t help looking at him with a sudden wave of admiration. But the very next second, his head turned directly toward my exact position. Even with his eyes sealed shut, it felt as though his gaze had locked onto mine, and the corner of his scarred lips lifted into a faint, knowing smirk.
A sharp shiver ran straight down my spine, forcing me to quickly look away.
The ride to the nightclub lasted about an hour. I couldn’t tell for sure, but by the time the van finally pulled up to the curb, the moon was already high in the sky, casting a sharp silver glow over the bustling city streets.
The nightclub was massive, its sleek exterior lined with pulsing neon lights that painted the building in shifting shades of blue, violet, and crimson. The heavy, rhythmic thud of the bass was so loud I could literally feel it vibrating through the frame of the van before the doors had even opened.
"Tell your males to scatter once we enter," Nala said, smoothing the front of her dress before turning to me. "The last thing we need is a circle of towering guards bruising the fragile pride of every male who catches sight of us."
At her words, I stole a glance toward Paul in the front passenger seat, offering him a silent, sympathetic look. He simply gave me a small, knowing nod in return, letting me know he understood the assignment and would keep his distance while still keeping an eye on us.
"They’ll blend into the crowd," I promised, turning back to the princess. "You won’t even notice they’re there."
Hearing that, Nala’s golden eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Good," Nala said. "Now let us see whether this place is worthy of all the noise people make about it."
These past few months had felt like a dream. Who would have thought that after being tortured, kidnapped, and sold, I would now be walking side by side with an actual princess into one of the city’s most exclusive nightclubs?
I was far more excited than I cared to admit.
The second we stepped through the heavy doors, a wave of energy crashed over me. Between the deafening bass, the flashing multicolored lights, and the sea of people moving in every direction, it felt like I had stepped into an entirely different world.
Some people were dancing without a care in the world, others leaned casually against the bar with drinks in hand, while the rest seemed completely lost in the rhythm of the night.
"Wow," I breathed before I could stop myself.
My eyes wandered across the crowded dance floor, only for my face to scrunch up in shock as I spotted a couple making out in a dimly lit corner.
They were practically tearing at each other like wild animals. Her dress had ridden halfway up her thighs, his hands roaming shamelessly over her body as he pinned her against the wall.
Is that actually normal in clubs? I wondered, completely stunned.
Before I could stare any longer, Nala grabbed my arm and effortlessly steered me through the crowd toward an elevated VIP section that had been reserved exclusively for us.
We settled into the plush leather seats of our private booth. True to his word, Paul and the other guards spread out around the club’s perimeter, blending seamlessly into the crowd as though they were nothing more than ordinary patrons enjoying a night out.
Within minutes, a handsome waiter approached our table carrying a polished crystal tray.
"These are on the house, compliments of the management," he said smoothly as he placed a few sleek, frosted glass bottles in front of us alongside a set of short crystal glasses.
This had to be Kaelen’s doing.
Curious, Nala leaned forward and picked up one of the bottles, her sharp golden eyes scanning the label.
"No alcohol?" she scoffed. "Is this meant to insult me? Had I wished to drink overpriced fruit juice, I would have instructed my servants to have it freshly prepared before we ever left the estate."
I quickly hid a smirk behind my hand.
Yep. Definitely Kaelen’s doing.
The young waiter immediately flustered, raising both hands defensively. "I’m so sorry, ma’am, but those were the strict instructions. I really can’t serve you anything stronger than..."
Before he could finish, Nala rose to her feet in one fluid, terrifyingly graceful motion. She leaned across the low table, gripped his chin firmly in her hand, and tilted his head upward until he was looking directly into her eyes.
"Bring me alcohol," she said softly, her voice dropping into a deadly whisper.
Her golden eyes suddenly flared with an unnatural brilliance as she muttered a single command beneath her breath.
"Zhakar."
The waiter, who had been squirming against her grip only moments ago, instantly went still. The color drained from his face as his pupils flashed a brilliant shade of gold for the briefest second before fading back to their normal brown.
"I’ll be right back with your order," he whispered, his voice completely blank, stripped of every trace of emotion.
Only then did Nala’s lips curl into a triumphant, satisfied smile. She released his chin, reached forward, and playfully poked the tip of his nose.
"Good boy. Now do not keep me waiting."
The waiter gave a quick, almost robotic bow before turning on his heel and marching straight toward the bar without a second glance.
As Nala casually slid back into her leather seat, her eyes landed on my pale, thoroughly stunned expression.
She waved a dismissive hand. "There is no reason for concern. The command loosens its hold after about an hour."
"And until then?" I asked, my voice coming out far shakier than I intended. My brain was still desperately trying to process the fact that she could actually control someone’s mind.
Nala simply shrugged as she leaned back against the velvet cushions.
"Until then," she replied with an unconcerned smile, "he belongs to my will. My cute little puppet."