Isabella's POV
I barely slept after what happened in Leon's chamber.
The way he kept trying to drag pieces of my past out of me…
The way his eyes followed every breath I took…
No.
I couldn't think about that.
I woke early, washed quickly, and went downstairs to start my chores. I didn't get the chance.
The packhouse today erupted with noise.
High heels.
Perfume.
Annoying giggles bouncing off the walls.
A woman walked in like she owned the place.
Sierra.
Roger's girlfriend.
Daughter of Elder Taron… one of the cruelest men in the Redmoon Council.
Blonde hair, perfect curls, lips red like she dipped them in someone's blood.
And the look she gave me?
Pure hatred.
"Oh," she said loudly, "so this is the famous little maid."
Roger smirked beside her. Damon and Kennedy sat lazily, already entertained.
I bowed my head. "Good morning."
She let out a dramatic laugh. "How cute. She talks."
I stayed silent.
I'd learned quickly: silence was safer.
Sierra walked around me like she was smelling something rotten.
"You're the one cleaning the packhouse now? Wow. How the standards have fallen."
Damon chuckled. "Careful, Sierra. She might cry."
Roger added, "Nah. I heard she doesn't cry. Leon likes the tough ones."
I didn't respond. I simply kept my eyes down.
Sierra hated that.
"Look at me," she snapped.
I lifted my head.
She smiled sweetly, which was somehow worse. "Did Leon assign you to serve today?"
"Yes."
She clapped her hands once. "Perfect. Start by cleaning my shoes."
I froze.
Kennedy burst out laughing. "Damn. You're vicious, Sierra."
She shrugged. "Someone has to remind her of her place."
I bent slowly, grabbed a cloth from my apron pocket, and reached for her shoe.
Before I touched it… she pulled her foot back and kicked the bucket of water beside me.
It splashed all over my skirt.
The brothers roared in laughter.
I steadied my breath. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Oh, she's trying to be strong," Sierra teased. "That's cute."
Roger leaned back in his chair. "You should've seen how much she shook in Leon's presence yesterday."
My jaw tightened.
Sierra tilted her head. "Tell me… how did a maid catch his attention? You must be doing something behind our backs."
Roger smirked. "Probably trying to seduce him. Pathetic."
I lifted my head then. Calm. Cold.
"I'm not seducing anyone."
Sierra stepped closer. "No? Then why does Leon keep calling you? Why is he looking at a servant when he has women like me?"
The jealousy dripping from her voice was almost laughable.
"I don't control where he looks," I said quietly.
Her hand shot out.
She slapped me so hard my vision blurred.
The brothers stared, waiting to see if I dared react.
I didn't.
I inhaled… slow.
Controlled.
Unbroken.
But Sierra wanted more.
"Say something," she hissed. "Defend yourself."
I met her eyes. "I don't fight people who feel threatened by me."
The room went silent.
Her face twisted with rage. "How dare you—"
"What's going on."
Leon's voice.
Everything froze.
He walked in wearing dark clothes, hair still wet from a morning training session.
His eyes moved across the room… landing on my wet clothes… the bucket… Sierra's raised hand.
And something dark filled his expression.
"Sierra," he said slowly, "take your hand down."
She dropped it immediately. "Leon… darling… I was just—"
"What," he asked, "were you doing to my maid."
The way he said my maid made my heart skip.
Sierra forced a laugh. "Teaching her some manners."
"I didn't ask you to."
"She disrespected me—"
Leon stepped closer. "She can't disrespect someone beneath her."
Sierra's jaw dropped. "B-Beneath? Leon, I'm the daughter of—"
"I know exactly who your father is," Leon said. "And he isn't here."
Roger stood up quickly. "Leon—"
"Sit."
One word.
Roger obeyed instantly.
Kennedy and Damon suddenly became quiet too.
Leon looked back at Sierra.
"You enter my palace," he said softly, "you insult one of my staff, and you make a mess of my dining hall."
"I just—"
"Apologize."
She froze. "What?"
"Apologize to Isabella."
My breath caught.
Sierra laughed in disbelief. "Leon… I don't think you underst—"
He raised one eyebrow.
She swallowed. Hard.
Then turned to me.
"S…Sorry," she muttered.
"That wasn't an apology," Leon said.
Sierra glared at him, then forced out, "I'm sorry."
I nodded once. "Thank you."
Sierra stormed out, practically shaking with anger.
Roger followed her, whispering in her ear. Damon and Kennedy exchanged looks, clearly shocked.
Leon turned to me.
"Come with me."
My feet felt heavy. I followed him quietly down the hall.
When we reached his office, he shut the door behind us.
He looked at me. Really looked at me.
"You're hurt," he said.
"It's nothing."
He stepped closer. "I decide what's nothing."
I held my breath as he lifted my chin gently. His thumb brushed the spot Sierra slapped.
"You didn't cry," he murmured.
"No."
"You didn't fight either."
"I had no reason to."
His eyes locked on mine. "She humiliated you."
"She wanted a reaction."
I swallowed.
"I didn't give her one."
Leon's jaw tightened. "Do you always endure everything so quietly?"
"I do what keeps me alive."
Our eyes stayed locked a moment too long.
Then he said:
"You handled her better than most people in this palace."
A strange warmth spread in my chest.
Not comfort.
Not affection.
Power.
For the first time, Leon wasn't testing my fear…
He was acknowledging my strength.
"Go change your clothes," he said softly.
I nodded and turned to leave, but he stopped me with a single sentence.
"Isabella."
I looked back.
"There will be consequences for Sierra," he said. "No one touches what's mine."
My heart skipped painfully.
I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn't his.
But he walked past me, ending the conversation...
Leaving me with a truth I didn't want…
Leon wasn't just watching me now.
He was...claiming me.
And that was far more dangerous.