ra’s POV

    “Love?” Dorian’s voice was low, too soft, too careful. I almost couldn’t believe the wordsing out of his mouth.

    I scoffed, pushing my thoughts deep down where they belonged. Love? Was he serious?

    I couldn’t afford to let myself go there again–not with him. Not after everything he’d done.

    He doesn’t love me.

    The thought stung, but I buried it quickly. He wasn’t here because he cared. He was here because he was possessive. That was the difference between love and obsession.

    2

    Dorian’s breath brushed against the side of my neck, his voice a murmur, rough, almost pleading. “Please, ra…tell me. What should I do?”

    I didn’t have the energy to respond with anything more than a dry, t tone. “Don’t poison anyone.”

    For a second, he was silent–stunned. And then,ughter. A harsh, mocking sound that made my skin crawl.

    “Well, I can’t promise that.”

    His fingers found a lock of my hair, and he twirled it between his fingers, the movement so casual, so at odds with the chill in his eyes.

    “There’s someone I really want dead,” he said, his smile colder than the room we were in.

    Thorne.

    I could feel my heart tighten at the thought of him. What was he doing right now? Had he already left the mountains, or was he still out there, somewhere, trying to escape whatever mess I’d been dragged into?

    “I’m starting to understand Amara,” Dorian mused, his voice dropping, thoughtful. “Jealousy… it makes people do crazy things.”

    I snapped my gaze up to meet his. “Don’t touch him.” My voice came out sharp, dangerous. “And don’t you. dare hurt my people.”

    A flicker of amusement danced in his eyes, though his tone remained icy. “You’re the Queen of Lycans now, ra. Lycans are your people.”

    I ignored the reminder and stared him down. “Give me your word.”

    His

    eyes grew colder, darker. “It drives me mad, how much you still care for him.”

    “Dorian!” The word tore out of me, but it barely made an impact.

    Dha

    He twisted his lips into that signature, taunting smile. “I won’t let it bother me. You’re going to be mine bsoon/bb. /bMy mate. My queen. My wife. And the mother of my child. Thorne and I… this battle? I’m the ultimate winner.”

    I wanted to retort, to tear him down with words, but instead, I just turned away. “Are you done here?”

    “The mating ceremony’s in two weeks. We’ve got party nners working overtime, and the best tailors bare /bmaking your gown. Any special requests?” he asked, his voice still dripping with that arrogant certainty.

    “No. Whatever you like.” My response was empty. I couldn’t even muster a shred of care for this farce anymore.

    He sighed, frustrated. “You can’t even pretend to care, can you? It’s like you’re not even trying to y along.”

    The truth was, I wasn’t. I just wanted it over.

    “ra…” His voice softened, and I almost hated the vulnerability there. “Will there ever be a day when you’ll feel something for me? Or will that day nevere?”

    “You can wait and see,” I shot back. My voice was steady, detached. But inside? I was already gone. That day? It’d nevere.

    I pulled myself free from his arms, curtseyed in the most formal way I could manage, and without sparing him another nced, I spun on my heel and left the dining hall.

    It would nevere, I thought bitterly, my steps echoing in the silence of the hallway.

    The past two weeks had been a blur of preparations. I barely saw the outside world anymore, only the chaos of the castle. The servants scrambled, cleaning the castle, preparing rooms for guests, and getting everything ready for the ceremony.

    The venue, the mountaintop location, was supposed to be beautiful, some kind of romantic fantasy, I was sure. But all I could feel was the weight of Dorian’s obsession pressing down on me. The more effort he put into this… the more I resented it.

    Belle had checked out the venue and came back gushing about how beautiful it was. But I couldn’t share her excitement. How could I, when all this was just another reminder of how trapped I was?

    I stayed locked in my room most days, counting the minutes until the ceremony. Three days before it, Belle finally dragged me out of my sanctuary to try on the wedding gown.

    “Can you try to care about this? Just a little?” she asked, her voice carrying that familiar mix of frustration and excitement. “You act like it’s someone else’s wedding!”

    I shrugged, uninterested. “Satin?”

    “No!” Belle’s voice went sharp, exasperated. “It’s lien! Satin would ruin the entire vibe!”

    I sighed deeply. “Lien. Got it.”

    Belle didn’t let up. “I need ideas, ra. I need at least six ways to adjust this gown.”

    b10:21 /bbSat/bb, /bbSep /b13

    bI /bcould already feel the headacheing. “Fine, let’s just get this over with.”

    We reached the fitting room, and the maids stood as one, bowing as we entered. The whole atmosphere was.. suffocating.

    And there, in the back of the room, was Eliza.

    I hadn’t seen her since she’d lied about that beer at the Spring Ball. But here she was, along with the others from Amara’s gang. Mira, Issa… all of them.

    “What are they doing here?” I muttered to Belle. “I thought this was just a fitting”

    Belle looked awkward. “They’re your bridesmaids. I thought you should at least meet them before the ceremony…b” /b

    I didn’t have the energy for this. “Tell them to leave.”

    The girls exchanged awkward nces, and Mira shuffled ufortably. Issa, as always, looked defiant.

    “The Queen’s bridesmaids are chosen from the most prestigious houses,” Issa snapped. “It’s tradition.”

    “Tradition?” I echoed, a bitterugh escaping. “The King’s marrying a werewolf queen. Tradition can go to hell.”

    The tension in the room thickened.

    Just as I thought they might push back, Eliza dropped to her knees. “My Queen… Please, forgive me. I know I betrayed you, I lied, but Amara-”

    “It’s fine,” I cut her off, my voice t. I didn’t care. “I don’t need bridesmaids.”

    Eliza kept crying, but I didn’t have the patience for her guilt. Mira chimed in, pleading her case, but I was done.

    Issa snorted. “A bunch of weak pussies,” she sneered. “Begging for forgiveness. Pathetic.”

    Belle’s fists clenched, her face red. “What did you just say?”

    Issa crossed her arms, coldly amused. “Sad, really. Dorian marries a lowborn werewolf and you’re all bending over backwards for her. At least Amara had some spine.”

    “You’re a narcissist,” Belle spat. “If you hate it so much, why bother showing up?”

    Issa rolled her eyes. “If my House didn’t force me, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

    I was done. “Get out of my sight.”

    Issa looked taken aback. “What did you just say?”

    “Oh, was that too subtle for you?” I raised an eyebrow, an icy calm settling over me. “Let me put it another way… Get out.“*

    b10:22 /bSatb, /bSep 13

    She bristled, cheeks ming, but I wasn’t about to deal with her tantrums.

    Just then, the door flew open, and a voice rang out-“Who wants my daughter gone?”

    I turned, finding myself face–to–face with a woman whose presence dominated the room.

    She was tall, her features sharp andmanding. Silver streaks in her hair, her hazel eyes piercing.

    Belle whispered urgently in my ear. “That’s Elder Medline. Issa’s mother. And…” She paused. “She’s Dorian’s godmother.”

    I raised an eyebrow. “Great. Just what I needed.”

    AD