Two

I stood in front of the floor-length mirror as the maids fussed around me, making sure my dull blonde hair had some life to it and added light makeup around my eyes to make their amber colour pop more. I almost looked like a different person, someone who hadn’t lived her entire life in filth and servitude.

What was going to happen when I got there, and he realized I wasn’t the person he asked for? Only time would tell, the Fira Pack only being a few hours away by carriage. I just hoped that if this was my end, he would make it quick and painless. I’m dressed in a plain white dress that looks more like a nightgown than a wedding dress and sent off.

Only one person is waiting at the main gate, Magnus. The rest of the family, I assumed, were already celebrating my departure.

“Are you here to see me off?” I asked him.

He grinned at me. “I can’t let my precious Sevika be sent off all on her own, can I?” He grabbed strands of my hair delicately before grasping the back of my head. His fingers grazed over the slave mark burned into the back of my neck.

“I thought I would remind you that no matter where you go, always remember where you came from. If things don’t work out, I’ll gladly welcome you back.” He kissed my cheek and pulled away.

I resisted the urge to wipe my cheek and nodded briefly.

“Good girl, now off you go.” He didn’t need to tell me twice, the moment he let go of me I rushed to the carriage and told the coachmen he could depart.

I didn’t look back, not even once.

~*~

When I arrived at the Fira Pack palace there was no one there to greet me other than the butler and a handful of servants. There was no sign of my future husband, he couldn’t be bothered to come and greet his new bride at the front door.

“Welcome to Fira, Miss Emery, my name is Carlak. I hope the journey here wasn’t too difficult for you,” the butler said and helped me out of the carriage. He frowned at my attire but said nothing and led me toward the front doors.

“It was quite comfortable, thank you.”

“Will you need help with your luggage?”

I shook my head. “I do not have anything with me, there is no need to worry.”

Carlak is visibly upset about this but said nothing once again and simply nodded in acknowledgement. He continued to lead me through the grand foyer but I didn’t pay any mind to the décor around me, keeping my head down and my pace quick to match Carlak.

“I apologize for the rush of this ceremony. As I’m sure you’re aware, this will be the 5th wedding ceremony that our King has had, you can understand that he isn’t quite fond of them,” Carlak said as we stopped outside the ballroom doors.

“No need to explain, I’d rather have this over and done with myself.”

“Very well, you may proceed inside.”

I pushed open the doors and blinked against the bright morning light, a major change from the dreary and shadowed atmosphere in the rest of the place. The room was empty except for two figures who stood at the altar.

I heard the audible gasp that left my lips when I laid eyes on the Alpha King, my future husband. Striking blue eyes shadowed by long, luscious lashes and perfectly angled eyebrows. His raven hair looked soft to the touch despite the amount of oil used to slick it back, one single strand breaking free and hanging on his forehead.

It is always the ones who look like Gods who commit the worst acts.

I took a deep breath and tried to steady my legs as I walked forward to meet my King and husband. I had to fight the urge to keep my head down, not wanting him to see my face and show how disgusted he was.

“Let’s begin,” his deep voice rumbled. The Elder in front of us cleared his throat and began reciting vows out of a large book but I barely registered the words. I clasped my hands in front of me and looked down the entire time, praying this ended soon.

“You may now seal the communion.” Those words snapped me out of my daze, and I looked up to meet the steely blue eyes of the Alpha King.

‘Is this where we kiss?’

To my relief, he picked up my hand and placed a warm kiss on the back of it, his eyes never left mine and nearly bore holes into my soul. Bells above went off and I imagined this is where people would have cheered for us if there was anyone else here.

“Dinner has been prepared,” he said and started walking down the aisle. I picked up the skirt of my dress and rushed after him, overwhelmed by how fast everything was moving.

I am led into a large dining room that looked like it could seat 50 people, but only 2 of us would be occupying it, making the whole room seem a lot larger than it was, and a whole 5-course meal put out.

“Sit down and pick whatever you like. If you have any questions, now would be the time to ask them.”

I sat down and mulled over the options on the table, afraid to pick at anything after my experiences with food. It had become a new favourite of Magnus and Alaira to put gross and dangerous things in my food and force me to eat it. They had gone as far as to put poisonous plants and herbs, bringing me close to death but unfortunately not close enough.

“May I ask what your name is?” I asked.

He gave me a skeptical look. “You’re unaware of your King’s name?”

“We are never allowed to speak your name unless said to, so it has never been told to me.”

He laughed at this. “It’s Caspian Eos. I believe your name is Alaira of the Emery family, correct?”

I almost corrected him but snapped my mouth shut when I remembered who I was pretending to be. “Yes, that’s correct.”

“Eat something, you must be starving.”

‘I can do this…’

I picked a piece of meat off my plate and lifted it to my lips, not bothering to smell it before I plunged it into my mouth. The moment the tender meat touched my tongue I felt my stomach flip and my mouth instantly rejected the food, spitting it back out into a napkin.

I felt the air in the room dropped several degrees and looked up to see the icy stare of Caspian. I could only imagine what that looked like to him and what he was thinking.

He dropped his utensils on the table and wiped his mouth as he stood up.

“I’ll leave you to eat and get a servant to show you to your room after,” he said, clearly getting the wrong idea.

I opened my mouth to tell him it wasn’t what he thought but closed it right after. What was I supposed to say? Would he even believe me?

If I wanted to put myself on the path to getting killed, this is a surefire way to do it.