Chapter 4

Aria POV

Three days passed, and I felt like a ghost in the castle. Everyone else had somewhere to be, something important to do. Luna spent her mornings training with the Ravencrest witches, learning about herbs and potions. Ethan and Cade worked with Blake on the Council vetting process, studying the other competitors and planning strategies.

And me? I wandered the halls like I didn't belong anywhere.

Which was probably true.

Sometimes I'd catch a glimpse of King Darius in the corridors. His storm-blue eyes would find mine, and for a second, everything else would disappear. But then he'd look away and keep walking, like I was just another servant he barely noticed.

It hurt every single time.

On the fourth morning, I was sitting in the gardens, staring at nothing, when Blake found me.

"You look like someone stole your favorite book," he said, sitting down next to me.

"Just thinking."

"About?"

I shrugged. "About how everyone else knows what they're doing here, and I'm just... taking up space."

Blake was quiet for a minute. "Want to go for a run? I usually run the castle grounds every morning. Could use the company."

"I don't want to slow you down."

"Trust me, you won't."

He was right. I'd been training in secret for years, and all that running in the woods back home paid off. We ran through the forest trails behind the castle, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe again.

"You're fast," Blake said when we stopped by a stream to rest.

"I like running. It's the only time my head gets quiet."

"I know what you mean." He splashed water on his face. "Hey, I have an idea. I could use some help in my office. Nothing exciting, just answering phones, filing papers. But at least you'd have something to do."

"You don't have to—"

"I want to. Besides, my office is right between the Kings' offices. You'd be in the middle of everything."

The middle of everything. Including them.

"Okay," I said. "Thank you."

***

Blake's office was smaller than I expected, with a big desk covered in papers and two doors—one leading to King Orion's office, one to King Darius's. I could hear voices through both doors, but I tried not to listen.

Tried and failed.

"The phone doesn't bite," Blake said, seeing me stare at it.

"Right. Sorry."

The work was easy, and Blake was nice to talk to. He told me about growing up in the castle, about how the twin kings were when they were younger.

"They've always been close," he said. "Even as kids, they did everything together. Shared toys, shared friends, shared responsibilities. Their father raised them to rule as a team."

"Must be complicated, sharing a crown."

"They make it work. They balance each other out."

I wanted to ask more, but the phone rang, and I had to focus on work.

Around lunch time, Blake suggested we go swimming in the castle's indoor pool. I'd brought a bikini, thinking maybe Luna and I would swim together, but she was always busy with the witches.

The pool was beautiful, with tall windows and warm water. Blake was a good swimmer, and we raced a few laps before just floating and talking.

"Feel better?" he asked.

"Much. Thank you for this. For everything."

"You looked like you needed a friend."

That's when Cade showed up.

"There you are," he said, sitting at the edge of the pool. "I've been looking for you."

"What's up?"

"Can we talk? Privately?"

Blake took the hint and went to shower off. Cade sat there for a minute, not saying anything.

"Cade?"

"I need to tell you something. Something I should have said a long time ago."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

"I've had feelings for you. For years. Since we were teenagers."

"Cade—"

"I know you don't feel the same way. I've always known. But I couldn't leave here without telling you."

I climbed out of the pool and sat next to him. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Because your dad would have killed me. And because I knew you saw me as a brother, not... anything else."

“Why did you hide it from me, you should have told me. But Cade, you're amazing. Any girl will be lucky to—” 

“Just not you”

“I'm sorry Cade.”

He smiled sadly. "I know. It's okay. I just needed to say it."

"We're still friends?"

"Always."

He hugged me, and I hugged him back, grateful that he understood.

That night, I was getting ready for bed when my door opened without a knock.

King Orion walked in, and his green eyes were angry.

"We need to talk."

"Then knock next time."

"You were swimming with Blake today." It wasn't a question.

"So?"

"In a bikini."

"That's generally what people wear when they swim."

His eyes flashed. "He was looking at you."

"He's my friend."

"He's a male wolf who wants you."

I stood up from my dressing table. "And? You don't want me publicly, so why do you care?"

"Because you're mine."

"No, I'm not. You made that very clear."

That's when King Darius walked in. Of course. They really needed to learn to knock.

"She was also with Cade," King Darius said, his voice cold. "Hugging him."

"You were watching me?"

"We're always watching you," King Orion said.

"That's not creepy at all."

King Darius moved closer. "You're our mate. You don't touch other males."

"Says who?"

"Says us," King Orion said. "You need to be punished for this."

"Punished?" I laughed, but it wasn't a nice sound. "For what? Having friends?"

"For letting other males touch what belongs to us," King Darius said.

"You need to stay away from other male wolves," King Orion added. "All of them. Only we can touch you."

"You're both insane."

King Darius grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "You're ours, Aria. Only ours."

That's when I lost it. I bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

"Ow! What the hell—"

"I'm your mate, not your puppet," I said, tasting his blood on my lips. "You don't get to control who I talk to or who I'm friends with."

King Orion stepped closer, but I held up my hand.

"No. I'm done with this. You want to act like you own me in private but ignore me in public? You want to control my life but not claim me as yours?"

"Aria—"

"If you can't accept me publicly, then I'll choose someone else as my mate. Blake seems nice. So does that Alpha from the Northern Pack I met at dinner."

Both their faces went dark.

"You wouldn't," King Darius said, wiping blood from his lip.

"Watch me. The Moon Goddess may have chosen you two, but I still have free will. And I choose not to be anyone's secret."

"You can't reject the mate bond," King Orion said.

"Can't I? Let's find out."

I walked to my door and opened it. "Now. Get out. Both of you.”