Chapter 28
The palace gates loomed ahead as our carriage rolled to a stop. The moment the door swung open, the cool evening air rushed in, carrying the faint scent of damp stone and burning torches.
Whiting just outside, arms crossed, was Knox
Of course.
His usual lazy smirk was firmly in place as he leaned against a stone pillar, looking me over as if trying to decide whether I was worth acknowledging.
“Back already?” he drawied
I rolled my eyes. “Did you miss me?”
Knox scoffed. “Not even a little.”
Before I could fire back, a palace guard stepped forward, reaching for the shopping bags in my lap,
My lady, allow me,” he said, bowing slightly
It still felt strange being addressed with such formality
I hesitated but handed them over. The guard took them carefully before disappearing into the castle.
Cecilia sighed dramatically be
beside me. “Well, that was eventful”
I glanced at her. “You mean painful.”
She grinned. “I thrive on drama, Liana”
Knox snorted. “You are drama, Cecilia.”
She gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “Excuse you.”
Knox smirked. “Excused.”
I fought the urge to smile as Cecilia narrowed her eyes at him. “One day, someone is going to put you in your place. Knox.”
“Yeah?” He tilted his head, mock curiosity in his gaze. “You volunteering?”
Cecilia scoffed. “I do have better things to do with my time.”
Knox chuckled. “Pity.”
Cecilia turned to me, exhaling. Anyway, We aren’t done.”
I raised a brow. “We aren’t?”
She gave me a pointed look. “No, my dear. You still have so much to learn about court life”
I groaned. “Can’t we start tomorrow!”
Knox chuckled. “No rest for the future Luna.”
I shot him a glare, but before I could say anything, he straightened, his expression shifting slightly.
“The training grounds,” he said. “Now.”
1 Minked. “Now!”
Knox nodded. “Alaric wants you there. Immediately.”
I sighed. “Why do I feel like I’m being summoned like a misbehaving child?”
Cecilia patted my shoulder. “Because you are!
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Chapter 28
I groaned again.
Knox smirked. “Move it little wolf”
Cecilia waved as I started walking toward the training grounds. “We’ll continue later!”
I didn’t doubt that for a second.
Knox training was almost breaking my body into pieces.
By the time I arrived, the sky had deepened into a navy blue, stars beginning to pierce through the fading daylight.
The torches lining the stone walls flickered, casting long shadows across the open field.
Alaric was nowhere to be seen
I turned to Knox, crossing my arms. “Well!”
He stretched lazily. “He may have been called away.”
I narrowed my eyes “Then why am I here!”
Knox shrugged. “Figured you could use the extra training”
1 huffed. “You just enjoy making me miserable.”
He smirked. “Only a linle.”
Before I could argue, a group of maids approached from the side entrance. Their postures were rigid, eyes carefully avoiding mine.
One of them, a young woman with chestnut hair, stepped forward “Lady Liana, we are to attend to your gowns now.
I hesitated.
Knox raised a brow. “What, no argument?”
I shot him a look. “I was going to argue. But honestly, I could use a break from you.”
Knox grinned. “Smart choice?
Cecilia appeared beside the maids, looking entirely too pleased.
“Ah, good,” she said. “This will be fun.”
I sighed. “Your definition of fun worries
me.”
Cecilia linked her arm through mine. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
I groaned. “You said we weren’t done. What now?”
Cecilia smirked. “Tonight! We meet the mated.”
I frowned. The what?”
She gestured toward the hallway. “Alaric’s court. The wives of the council members. The women who actually decide half the things that happen here.”
I exhaled slowly
“Don’t worry,” Cecilia added. “You’ll be fine.”
I raised a brow. “And if I’m not?”
She grinned. Then at least it’ll be entertaining.”
“Please, no,” I muttered. “I do not want to.”
Chapter 28
Cecilia parted my arm. “Well, too bad, because we’re already here.”
I barely had time to groan before we entered the grand hall.
The room was stifling
Women draped in luxurious silks stood in perfect circles, whispering behind jeweled hands. The smell of floral perfume mixed with the sharp scent of wine and roasted meats. A long dining table stretched across the hall, lined with gold–trimmed plates and goblets filled to
the brim.
And sitting right at the center-
Lady Brielle. 4
I knew it was her before she even turned to face me.
The air shifted the second I stepped in, conversations dying down as heads turned in my direction.
Some looked curious. Others looked hostile.
And Brielle?
She looked delighted.
She set down her goblet with exaggerated grace, her lips curling into a smirk.
“Well, well, she purred. “If it isn’t our future Luna.”
Cecilia tensed slightly beside me.
I kept my expression neutral. “Lady Brielle.”
She feigned surprise. “Oh? You remember me? I thought you would have forgotten someone so insignificant
A few noblewomen chuckled behind their hands.
1 clenched my jaw.
She wanted me to snap.
To lose my composure.
Not happening.
I simply smiled. “It’s hard to forget something so entertaining.”
Brielle’s smirk faltered just slightly.
Then she recovered
“I must say, I was surprised when I heard you’d be joining us tonight,” she continued, tilting her head. “Most of the previous Lunas never made it this far.”
The room went s
I stiffened.
silent.
She smiled sweetly. “Oh dear, was that too harsh?”
I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, someone cut in.
“I was wondering when you’d stop talking.”
The voice was low, smooth–commanding.
I froze
Because I knew that voice.
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Chapter 28
The entire hall turned as Alaric entered the room, his expression unreadable
Brielle immediately straightened, her hands tightening around her goblet.
He strode toward me, his eyes flickering briefly over my face before lowering-
His hand found my waist.
Firm. Possessive.
The entire room gasped.
1 stiffened, my skin burning where his fingers pressed.
Alaric ignored everyone else. “Took you long enough.”
I blinked, looking up at him. “I–what?”
His lips twitched, just slightly. “Come”
And just like that, he led me away
Like I belonged beside him.
Like it had been the plan all along.
Brielle’s face was priceless.
And I enjoyed every second of it.
The whispers started immediately.
The king never appeared before with his mated.
He never acknowledged them in public
And now he just…
I could feel the weight of their stares as Alaric led me forward, his grip steady, firm. His touch was deceptively casual, but the way his fingers rested against my waist–it was a claim.
A silent declaration.
Something I didn’t understand
But I didn’t dare pull away.
Because if I had learned anything in this world, it was that perception was power.
So I lifted my chin, matching Alaric’s effortless confidence as we strode past a sea of stunned faces.
Brielle hadn’t moved.
Her hands trembled slightly around her goblet, her lips parted in disbelief.
Cecilia, on the other hand, was grinning–as if she had just witnessed the greatest performance of her life.
I could practically hear her thoughts.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
We reached the front of hall, where a table had been set.
ta chair.
Alaric finally released me, pulling out a
I hesitated, but he simply gave me a look.
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Chapter 28
I did
Slowly, the hall came back to life, though the conversations had shifted.
“What just happened?” a noblewoman whispered behind me.
“Did you see that?” another murmured.
“This has never happened before.”
Brielle was still staring.
Alaric leaned back in his seat, seemingly unaffected by the storm of attention we had just caused.
His fingers tapped lazily against the table as his piercing blue eyes scanned the room, expression unreadable
Then-
A smirk
Barely there. Gone in a second.
Barely
But I saw it
And I knew
He had done this on purpose.
I narrowed my eyes at him, my voice quiet enough that only he could hear.
You planned that.”
Alaric didn’t look at me.
But I felt his amusement
His voice was low. Smooth. “Enjoying yourself?”
I swallowed.
I should have been angry,
But instead-
I found myself smirking.
Just slightly.
Because if there was one thing I loved more than anything-
It was winning.
