Chapter 9:
The longer I stayed in Maurine’s orbit, the more I felt like a ghost of myself. She had a way of tuming everything into performance–every gesture, every word, calculated and coated in sugar. But the sugar always came with venom. And I… I let her do it. Because this was what i signed up for. Because this was the role I needed to play.
Because if I didn’t, everything I sacrificed would mean nothing
“Lucas,” she called from the sunlit balcony, her voice like honey laced with command, “I’ve decided I want a pair of royal horses“:
I tumed from the courtyard training grounds, where I’d just finished running drills with a few of the Aethon warriors. My shoulders were slick with sweat, muscles aching, my wolf still on edge. I hadn’t shifted in days. Not properly. I wasn’t sure if it was the chain around my neck or the chain around my soul that made me feel caged.
“Horses?” I asked.
She tilted her head, barefoot on the marble tiles, her golden hair pinned up like she was the goddess of the full moon herself. “White ones. Purebred. From that southem lineage the nobles keep. I want them for the Autumn Parade. I’ve already picked out matching ribbons.”
“You know how hard it is to get them out of territory” I said.
“I know you’ll manage,” she smiled sweetly. “You always do.”
She turned and walked away before I could respond.
Three hours later, I was halfway across Aethon territory negotiating with a grumpy old breeder who didn’t care that I was Alpha Lucas, or a knight, or anything else. He only cared about bloodlines and tradition.
“I don’t care if the Alpha Council sent you personally” he barked. “These horses weren’t bred for showgirls.”
My jaw tightened. “She’s not a showgirl. She’s a future Luna.”
“She’s still not relevant enough”
“You’ll know how important she is to this world soon I corrected.
“Same damn thing they say these days,” he muttered. “But fine. Take them. Just know they’re better bred than the wolves guarding her.”
The insult didn’t land.
I paid in full, personally loaded the horses into a reinforced transport, and drove them back through a downpour that soaked me to the bone. By the time I returned to the estate, the moon was high and Maurine was throwing a tantrum over a necklace that had arrived in the wrong shade of gold.
“You got yellow gold?” she shrieked at the servant. “I said rose! Like the one I saw on that witch Alpha’s mate at the last summit!*2
The servant stammered an apology
I stopped forward, mud–stained and exhausted. Til get it replaced.”
She spun toward me, eyes‘ softening. “Oh, Lucas. You’re back.”
“I got the horses.”
Her smile stretched wide, and she clapped her hands together in delight. You really do adore me.”
I didn’t answer. I just nodded once and excused the servant before the poor girl started crying.&
Maurine followed me into the inner garden, her hands trailing along the rose bushes. “Do you think I’m selfish?” she asked suddenly.
I didn’t answer.
She blinked at me. “You’re really growing more quiet on me. You used to adore me so much. What’s happening, Lucas?”
Damn, I had to remind myself of who she was according to the prophecy. That she was the key, and she was my fated mate–one who couldn’t even feel our connection.
“Nothing. Just tired. Do you want me to change the gold for you?”
She twirled on her heel, the silk of her dress flaring like smoke. “Good. Because I want that necklace in rose gold. And I want it before the ball “E
“I’ll make it happen.”
“I know,” she said, almost fondly.
That night, she made me sit beside her while she tried on gowns. Dozens of them. One by one, she emerged from behind her private changing screen, Spinning, waiting for my opinion.
“Too tight?” she’d ask. “Too modest? Or do you think it makes me look like a Luna?”
“They all do,” I said. “You’d make anything look like power.”
She laughed, then walked to me slowly in one particular black velvet gown with a plunging back. She placed her hands on my chest. “Say it again.”
“You look like a real Luna“%
“Good,” she whispered. “Because that’s what I am.“}
She kissed me then–slow, claiming, demanding. Her mouth tasted like wine and lavender. My wolf stirred uneasily under my skin, but i kissed her back. But damn it, I couldn’t feel anything. I should be happy. I should be delighted.
8:17 AM
Que laughed, when worked to the slowly in une paurai Mack Verver yoWII with a prunging buck, one praceu bei manus un my chest Say it again.
“You look like a real Luna!
“Good,” she whispered. “Because that’s what I am.”
She kissed me then–slow, claiming, demanding. Her mouth tasted like wine and lavender. My wolf stirred uneasily under my skin, but ! kissed her back. But damn it, I couldn’t feel anything. I should be happy. I should be delighted.
When we pulled apart, her eyes glowed faintly. “You’ve changed, you know,”
“How so?”
“You’re flinching now when I touch you.”
“I’m still trying to get use to this,” I said dryly
She laughed and turned away, slipping back behind her screen. “You’re becoming more obedient. I like that.”
I sat in silence, letting her words sink like thoms into my chest. Somewhere under the skin, my wolf paced, unhappy.
Obedient. That’s what she called it. I called it surrender.
skin Rs1
Later that night, I stood on the balcony alone. The moon was high, full, and white–hot. The estate was quiet, the air cold. I looked out across the trees, down toward where Rebecca’s old cottage used to be before she left. She hadn’t said goodbye. Not really.
I took my phone out, thumb hovering over her number again.
Still no answer. Her silence was the only thing louder than Maurine’s voice.!
