02 | blue

T W O

The air was charged. It was electric, the heady feeling of magic in the air. Everyone was there. Lukov saw. Sirens, Fae, werewolves, witches, vampires, he even thought he saw a few Goblins. He knew what they were here for—definitely not the wedding. They were here to see if the treaty will hold, see if they can put their age long hatred aside.

It was a bold move for Achlys to propose this treaty. He never really liked the woman, always thought that she was too powerful for her own good and she carries herself with a coldness that only she can pull off. Her daughter wasn’t the same though, she looks like the kind of person who will cry when a puppy dies.

He looked down at his black tuxedo and brushed off non existent lint from it. He remembered the comment Shivani made about it and chuckled darkly. She was going to be here soon and they will ride off to his pack where he will make sure she learns that he can’t be addressed like that especially not by a nobody who gets her powers from spell books.

“Son.” Lukov stopped dead in his tracks. His father, Declan was in a tux the same he was. “I am proud of you.” Lukov grinned at his father even though it pained him to do so.

“Thanks dad.” His father nodded and left him to wait for his future wife who was somehow taking too long. Did she realize that he was going to make her life hell once he married her and then decided to run away? Lukov’s wishful thinking came to an abrupt end when Shivani came in with two maids servants accompanying her. He saw Achlys in his periphery with a rueful smile on her face.

Shivani walked gracefully through the crowd, waving and smiling at them all. She then went to stay beside Lukov.

“Your hair doesn’t look like a worn out mop today.” Her hair was flattened and pulled into some complicated French plait while some stray hair framed her face softly calling attention to her neck and brown skin.

“Can’t say the same for you.” It wasn’t a very honest observation seeing as Lukov pulled his long hair into a low ponytail too. He bared his teeth at her.

“You do not address me that way.” He gritted out making sure to convey the image that he and Shivani were in love as he pulled her closer to his broad chest but not without squeezing her slender shoulders a little too hard. Shivani gave a little groan of pain but didn’t make a scene. She just stood on her tippy toes and brought her mouth close to Lukov’s ears as if to whisper in conspiracy.

“Touch me like that again and I will lay a curse on you.” He was already cursed with her unbearable presence as it was, he wondered if there was something even more painful in existence but he knew there isn’t. The red headed witch is his only curse.

“You will not.” Lukov then led them to the seats arranged for them. The ceremony started, first with the high priestess chanting and performing the rituals that allow Shivani be a true part of the pack and then there was dancing and singing and some other fake stuff that made Lukov want to bash his head against some wall. After some hours, an end came to his misery when the ceremony was finally over.

“We have to travel with a car like a lowly human because of you, little witch.” Lukov sneered. Not that it will be too safe for them to just shift and run through the forest.

“I do not care, Lukov.” Shivani mumbled tiredly. She stood and hobbled all the way into the car. Lukov watched her as she left. He saw her mother talking to her just few minutes ago and wondered if her sudden urge not to argue with him had anything to do with the discussion she had with Achlys.

He followed after her briskly into the Limo that his father had so generously supplied. It was at least big enough for them to avoid each other. Shivani was already seated into the limo and her hair that he thought must have taken a lot of effort was already loosened and she was recklessly taking liquor.

“The driver wants to know where we will be driven to.” Shivani rose a delicate brow as if she couldn't understand why there isn't just a specific destination in mind.

“My house.” At least, at that place where Lukov will have all the privacy he desired, he might orchestrate an accident, make her fall off a staircase and break her pretty neck.

“Not the pack house?” She knew a bit about werewolves then.

“Not the pack house. Take us to my house, Fabio.” The driver didn't hesitate.

“How long will this take, Fabio?” They were just three minutes into the drive and she already felt suffocated by Lukov’s intolerable presence.

“A few hours, ma’am.”

“A few hours with me in an enclosed space, thank your lucky stars, witch.”

“I do not have any of those. If I did, I will not be stuck here with a large mutt who thinks himself immortal.” Lukov’s eyes flashed with anger. It was like she was inviting him to dip his large claws deep into her neck and not let go until life has left her body.

“I just hope you know I am going to make you suffer.” Shivani flinched. She knew he hated her but she'd thought he feared her mother and he would not act on the hatred he felt for her but now, her fears has been confirmed. She ignored him and looked ahead with a bravery she didn’t feel.

Soon enough, Shivani fell asleep with her head lulled to her side. In her dreams, she was burning, her hair was singed, her face was stained with charcoal and flame licked at her skin. She trashed around the car as the burning sensations increased.

She felt a huge hand grip her by her shoulders shaking her violently. She fell deeper into the fire until she came face to face with a woman with a ginger colored hair like hers. The woman brought her hands to cup Shivani’s cheeks, saying something but Shivani couldn’t hear it. She fell back to earth with a loud thud and woke up with a gasp. Lukov was standing above her with a frown.

“We are here. You sleep like the dead.” Shivani closed her eyes and remembered the strange woman from her dreams. She shook her head violently to wish the image away.

“I wish we crashed.” Shivani said with bitterness. Lukov thought he heard the driver snort as she made her way into the house holding her shoes in her hand. Lukov wondered if it was his eyesight but he saw that her hair has been blackened at the ends with what looks like soot. Something was up with the witch girl and he wants to find out.