Chapter 3

Aria POV

I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I could feel their hands on me, smell their scent, hear their voices telling me to forget. But how could I forget something that felt so right before it went so wrong?

When morning came, I splashed cold water on my face and looked in the mirror. My blue eyes were red from not sleeping, and my skin was pale. I looked like exactly what I was—a girl who got her heart broken by two kings who didn't want her.

But I couldn't let anyone see that. Especially not Dad. He was already waiting for me to fail.

I put on my training clothes and tied my hair back. If I was going to prove myself, I needed to focus on the competition, not on green eyes and storm-blue ones that haunted my dreams.

The training grounds were behind the castle, with different areas for different kinds of fighting. I found the sword practice area and saw a young girl there, holding a sword that looked too big for her.

"You must be Aria," she said, turning around. It was Willow, the youngest Ravencrest witch. She had long dark hair and eyes that seemed older than her sixteen years. "I'm supposed to practice with you today."

"Are you sure? You look—"

"Young?" She smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile. "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself."

She came at me fast, her sword moving like lightning. But I'd been training in secret for years, and my reflexes kicked in. I blocked her attack and spun away.

"Not bad," she said. "But can you actually fight back?"

I could. I came at her with everything I had, using moves I'd practiced alone in the woods back home. She was good, but I was better. Within minutes, I had her sword on the ground and mine at her throat.

"Yield," I said.

She smiled and stepped back. "Well, well. Maybe there's more to you than meets the eye."

That's when I heard clapping. Slow, mocking clapping.

I turned around and saw them. King Orion and King Darius, standing at the edge of the training ground, watching us. My heart jumped into my throat.

"Impressive," King Darius said, but his voice was cold. "You managed to defeat a sixteen-year-old witch."

"Don't get too confident," King Orion added, his green eyes hard. "Real enemies won't be so easy to beat."

"You still have a long way to go before you're ready for actual competition," King Darius said. They both looked at me like I was nothing special, like last night never happened.

Then they walked away, leaving me standing there with my sword in my hand and my heart on the ground.

"Ouch," Willow said quietly. "That was harsh, even for them."

I wanted to throw my sword after them, but instead I just stood there, shaking with anger and hurt.

"Come on," Willow said, picking up her sword. "Let's go find my sisters. Lunch is probably ready."

***

The gardens were beautiful, with flowers everywhere and fountains that made peaceful sounds. But I couldn't enjoy any of it because my mind kept going back to this morning.

Seraphina and Vivian were already sitting at a table under a big tree. Sera looked like she knew secrets about everyone, and Vivian looked bored.

"Aria," Sera said as we sat down. "How are you finding the castle?"

"It's... big," I said.

She laughed. "Indeed it is. And full of complications."

Something about the way she said it made me look at her closer. Her silver hair caught the sunlight, and her eyes seemed to see right through me.

"What kind of complications?" I asked.

"Oh, you know. Destined bonds that don't follow the usual rules. Connections that challenge everything we thought we knew about how the Moon Goddess works."

My blood went cold. Did she know about the mate bond? About what happened last night?

"Some bonds," she continued, not looking directly at me, "come with unexpected complications. When fate decides to be... creative."

"I don't know what you mean," I said, but my voice shook.

"Don't you?" Her eyes met mine. "Sometimes the Moon Goddess gives us exactly what we need, even if it's not what we expect. Even if it's... more than we expect."

Vivian rolled her eyes. "Sera, stop being so mysterious. You're scaring the poor girl."

But Sera just smiled and took a sip of her tea. "Just remember, dear. The heart wants what it wants. Even when it wants... more than one thing."

I almost choked on my food. She definitely knew something.

"The royal twins are interesting, aren't they?" Sera said casually. "Orion and Darius. Two kings ruling together. So different, yet so connected."

"Different how?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Orion is fire—passionate, quick to act, protective. Darius is ice—calculating, patient, strategic. Together, they balance each other perfectly. Apart..." She shrugged. "Well, they're never apart."

"Why do they rule together?"

"Their father decided it was best. Two perspectives, two strengths. They've shared everything their whole lives. Everything."

The way she said that last word made my stomach do flips.

"Must be complicated," I said quietly.

"Oh, very. Especially when they want the same thing."

I looked up fast, but she was just smiling that knowing smile.

"More tea?" she asked innocently.

***

That night, I took a long bath, trying to wash away the day. The hot water felt good on my sore muscles from training, but it couldn't wash away the hurt from this morning.

They had looked at me like I was nothing. Like last night never happened. Like I was just some girl they barely noticed.

I was still in the bath when I heard my door open.

"Luna?" I called out.

No answer.

I heard footsteps in my room, and my heart started racing. I knew those footsteps.

"I'm in here," I said, not sure if I wanted them to come in or leave.

The washroom door opened, and both kings walked in like they owned the place. Which, I guess, they did.

King Orion's green eyes went wide when he saw me in the tub. King Darius's storm-blue eyes darkened.

"Get out," I said, but I didn't move to cover myself.

"No," King Darius said simply.

"We need to talk," King Orion added.

"Then talk from out there."

Instead, King Darius sat on the edge of the tub. King Orion leaned against the wall, his eyes never leaving mine.

"About this morning—" King Orion started.

"You mean when you humiliated me in front of everyone?" I interrupted.

"We had to," King Darius said. "People can't suspect."

"Suspect what? That you actually noticed I exist?"

King Orion moved closer. "You know it's more than that."

"Do I? Because this morning you acted like I was nothing."

"We can't act like we care about you in public," King Darius said. "It would complicate everything."

"And we can't have complications," King Orion added.

I stood up in the tub, water running down my body. Both of their eyes followed every drop.

"Then what do you want from me?" I demanded.

King Darius stood up and reached for me. His hands were warm on my wet skin as he helped me out of the tub. King Orion handed me a towel, but I didn't put it on.

"We want you," King Darius said simply.

"Both of us," King Orion added.

"But only in secret," I said. "Only when no one can see."

They didn't answer, which was answer enough.

King Darius pulled me against him, and I could feel how much he wanted me. King Orion moved behind me, his hands on my waist.

"This is wrong," I whispered, but I didn't pull away.

"It doesn't feel wrong," King Orion said against my neck.

"It feels like everything," King Darius added, his lips almost touching mine.

The heat between us was just as intense as last night. Maybe more. I wanted them both so badly I could barely think.

But then I remembered this morning. The cold looks. The mocking words.

"No," I said, pushing them both away. "I won't do this anymore."

"Aria—"

"No. Either you claim me publicly, or you leave me alone. I won't be your secret."

They looked at each other, green eyes meeting blue ones.

"You don't understand," King Orion said.

"Then explain it to me."

"We can't," King Darius said.

"Can't or won't?"

Silence.

"Choose," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "Claim me in front of everyone tomorrow, or never touch me again."

More silence.

"That's what I thought," I said, wrapping the towel around myself. "Get out."

"Aria—"

"GET OUT!"

They left without another word, and I sank to the floor, crying harder than I had since Mom died.

I was tired of being someone's secret shame. First Dad, who was ashamed I killed Mom. Now them, who were ashamed to want me.

Maybe I really was just a mistake. Maybe that's all I'd ever be.