Tanya’s POV
I’m over the moon that we’ve found the notebook, but as I’m flicking through, my smile slowly starts to dwindle down into a straight line. Marco notices this.
“What’s wrong?”
I sigh. “Each perfume in here cures a different type of black magic.”
Caspian’s brows crease in confusion. “But isn’t that a good thing?”
My chest deflates. “We don’t know what black magic was used to contaminate the water. I don’t have time to make and try each perfume in here.”
The men around me mirror my unsettled expression. We have no way of knowing which perfume is the right one, and some of these perfumes take ages to curate, let alone try and perfect on the first try. None of us have much knowledge on black magic to begin with, and the task is now seeming to be impossible.
“I don’t understand. Who would want to poison my p
Tanya’s POVI’m tremendously relieved to see Marco, although I’m ever aware of the sweat that douses his body, and the tired look in his eyes. But he remains strong, handing me the ingredient with confidence. He has fulfilled his end of the task, now it is time for me to complete mine.I take another glance at the notebook situated on the table, ensuring I have followed every step, including dripping in my blood, before reaching the stage that describes how to use the ghost orchid. I cut off the leaves, petals and stem and grind the rest into a powdery substance, before sprinkling it into my solution.I watch in anticipation. At first the solution remains murky to my disappointment, swirling in a dark grey to purplish hue, leaving my heart to hammer against my chest in growing worried. But eventually, the solution swirls into a clear state, reflecting my eyes that sparkle with excitement as I release a breath of relief. We did it!
Tanya’s POVI can tell Marco’s incredibly confused, and I don’t blame him for being so. From his point of view, we are just good friends, it is highly strange that I’d suddenly be asking him to marry me, for just a day in fact.“Mr. Barlow’s dying wish is for me to get married,” I say solemnly, watching the gears in Marco’s head turn in slow understanding. “So even if it’s fake, at least I can fulfill his wish, you know.”“Oh,” says Marco quietly. “I understand now. You want me to pretend to be the groom?”Pretend sounds so wrong in my mind, but of course I can’t say otherwise. It is the reality after all.“Yes, just for the day. We complete the ceremony so Mr. Barlow can die in peace. Would you be okay with that? I understand if it would make you feel uncomfortable.”Marco nods his head slowly. “No, of course I
Tanya’s POVMy skin can’t help but tingle to Marco’s touch, and I wonder why Marco chooses to brush my hair away from my neck. Was there something wrong with it?“Were you able to get it?” I ask.“Yeah, it’s zipped up,” he replies, and upon feeling the dress is now secured, I turn round to face him. It feels strange to be in the wedding gown, and I try to hide the insecurity from the dress that shows off my small curves and cups my breasts nicely.“Do I- do I look okay?” I can’t help but ask. Marco physically takes a step back, taking in all the fine details of my gown, before returning to gaze into my eyes.“I think you look beautiful,” I can’t help the light flush that I feel rise upon my cheeks in reaction to his words. However, I still wonder if something is on his mind, and Marco seems somewhat preoccupied with his thoughts.Despite my assumptio
Third POVMr. Barlow’s burial is a quiet one, but the old man has wanted it that way, and it seems to suit him. After his many years on earth, living two very different lives. It made sense that he was surrounded by those that were a part of the latter end of his timeline.Even being the recluse alcoholic that he was, Mr. Barlow was known as the wise drunkard of the pack. Not everyone got along with him, but everyone did heed his advice when he chose to give it.Even now, Tanya smiles at the thought as she stands beside Marco. Watching solemnly as the coffin is slowly lowered into the ground. It reminds her that life is short, and at any moment it can be taken away from anyone. There is no escaping death. Mr. Barlow’s words ring through her mind.“Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. You gotta chase after your own happiness Tanya. Chase after it with all your heart.”At that mo
Third POVThe sound of the ring catches the attention of both Marco and Tanya, and their heads snap down to look at it. It sits eerily amongst the grass, the glint of its silver plating calling for attention. Tanya goes to pick it up hurriedly, but Marco is quicker, snatching it up in his grasp. There’s a discernable frown on his lips as he stares at it with intensity, and hidden disbelief.The cobalt daggers that are his eyes, flit back and forth between Tanya and the piece of jewelry in his hand. This is far from what Marco expected, unable to understand why she would keep the ring with her for all these years. Couple of seconds pass by and Marco’s expression still doesn’t ease up. Finally, without another word, Marco takes both her ring, and her ruby necklace and storms off, leaving Tanya in the rain to drown in her own thoughts.Marco returns home, and throughout his entire nighttime routine, he is consistently thinking about Tanya
Tanya’s POVSurprise and astonishment cross my face as I stare down at the document in utter confusion. Why would he want to marry me again if he was so upset with me? I look at him curiously. “But why?”I watch the prince cough, somewhat trying to per long the answer to my expression, as he wipes his face clean of all emotional response. A cold, blunt tone implies he does not feel anything towards me. “Don’t think much of it,” he says. “I don’t love you. Love doesn’t coexist between us from now on since I cannot forgive you.”Marco talks about love like it’s a logical expression, a switch that can be turned off and on with a quick flick of the wrist. He then explains. “If I don’t act quickly, the Blue Moon Tree is facing possible destruction but putting a dam in its place due to the Blue Moon Pack’s poor economy. Yes, Eric has made the proposal again, and there’s
Tanya’s POVThrough the conversations between the princess and Caspian as we walk around her garden, I come to find out that although she’s a princess, she does basically run the kingdom. Her father was the former Alpha, but due to old age and a myocardial infarction, he passed away a year ago.Marco mentions to me that the former Alpha was well liked by many, both by the royals and the residents of the kingdom. He was a noble man, majestic in nature, with a charismatic flare. He was the reason the Fauna kingdom’s economy thrived and had an abundance of connections.And now I can see that same trait in Isabella. She is highly intelligent, and well capable of holding her own in a conversation. She has her father’s charming mannerisms. But what Marco also discloses to me quietly, was that the King had died on the day of the younger sister’s wedding. Peyton was getting married to her fated mate. However, thirty minutes before
Unknown POVI have always existed in the dark. Hidden from view. Invisible. Nestled in the darkest corner of my master’s mind. Despite my yearning to be known, to be seen, it remains impossible. An impenetrable mental barrier blocks me from stepping into the light. And I lack the strength or power to overcome this barrier. So for years and years, I remained in the dark, as I worked tirelessly to accumulate small bits of power day by day.But all of that changed momentarily when I felt my master fall from the cliff. I wanted to save her; I was desperate to save her. And so, I fought against the barrier with all my might, pushing against the walls that caged me in. And finally, I did it. The wall cracked, and my powers slipped through to give my master the strength to survive the fall.From then on, the small slit in the barrier allowed me to venture out for little bits at a time. When my master was unconscious and asleep, the defenses of the mind w