Chapter 9 Ivy’s Defiance

Ivy’s POV

Five days pass, and I feel like I am going insane.

Alexander doesn’t visit me anymore. Neither does any maid. Three times a day, someone knocks on my door and leaves a tray of food outside. The loneliness is slowly killing me, and I feel like I have lost all sense of time.

Finally, on the sixth day, a stiff looking guard tells me that Alexander wants my presence at a banquet. He drops a black box and a note and leaves before I can ask any questions.

Nervously, I open the box to reveal a dark blue dress. It’s simple and elegant, and instantly, I am in love with it. However, my mood sours when I read the accompanying note.

Get ready at 8 P.M sharp.

That’s it. That’s all my cruel husband has to say to me. I sigh at the barely concealed command in the note, but don’t let it get to me. The idea of leaving this prison, even for a little bit, is way too appealing.

I spend the rest of the day getting ready, finally having something to look forward to instead of wasting away in this cold, cold room. Ten minutes before eight, I stand in front of the mirror, pleased with what I see there.

The dress fits perfectly and leaves my shoulders bare, giving me a delicate look. I put my hair in a soft updo and have brushed light makeup on my face. My eyes look alive after so long, and after giving myself a one last once over, I quickly make my way down the stairs.

Once again, a part of me is filled with hope. My earlier plan to appeal to Alexander’s humanity springs to the forefront of my mind.

Maybe, by taking me out on this banquet, he is calling a truce between us?

I see him standing near the front door, looking impatiently at his watch. He is dressed impeccably in a black suit, and his blue pocket square matches my dress. When he finally lifts his eyes and looks at me, I freeze. His eyes trail over my body with a slow sensual caress, and his lips tighten.

I offer him a small shaky smile, wondering if he’ll compliment how I look. However, my smile falters when I see his eyes harden. With a dismissive flick of his fingers, he orders me to follow him before walking out the door.

For a moment, I just stand there, not sure how to react to that. Then, with a deep breath, I gather all my dignity and calmly follow him out. Outside, he is already sitting in the car and has his phone to his ear.

When the driver comes around to open my door, I feel an embarrassed blush color my cheeks. Ducking my head down, I quietly sit inside, not meeting Alexander’s eyes.

The drive is awkward, and Alexander doesn’t say a word to me. He is constantly typing out emails or taking calls as if I am not even there.

However, soon his dismissal stops getting under my skin as I take in the outside view. It feels like it’s been so long since I saw the outside world. Even the traffic lights and hubbub of the streets feel charming to me.

By the time we reach the gorgeous banquet hall, my heart is soaring with excitement. I get out of the car without waiting for anybody to open my door and stand there with giddiness rushing over me.

Slowly, Alexander comes towards me and offers me his arm. I look up at him, once again trying to offer him a small smile, but my lips freeze. He is looking down at me with excitement of his own. Except, there is a vicious edge to his eyes and a wicked tilt to his lips. A jolt of apprehension and fear goes through me, but I shake it off.

Come on Ivy, don’t fret and just enjoy the little freedom you have got!

Undeterred, I slip my hand in his arm and let him lead me to the banquet. My eyes are wide as I take in all the beautiful floral arrangements in the banquet. They are made up of clusters of Jasmine. Instinctively, my fingers reach towards them.

“These are my favorite flowers!” I breathe out the words. Alexander doesn’t respond, neither does he let me go near the flowers. Instead, he just marches forward.

I don’t let it bother me as the smell of delicious food assaults my senses, and my smile widens. I feel an almost childlike glee take over me and feel the urge to run forward and explore everything.

My eyes joyfully take in the decor, the people mingling and the light orchestra playing on the side.

“You seem excited to explore.” Alexander’s deep voice whispers low in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Don’t worry, I have just the spectacle for you to enjoy, little liar. Right there in the corner.”

Happy that he is finally talking to me, I lift my eyes to where he is gesturing, ignoring the strange note in his voice. However, I only find more people standing around a couple there. I am not sure what’s there to look at. I am just about to ask him that question, when the people move away and I get a look at the couple.

For a moment, it feels like my entire world tilts on its axis.

My body goes rigid as I take in the scene, and a sharp stab of pain pierces my heart.

I watch as James stands there with his arm around a woman I know all too well. Rachel.

He whispers something in her ear, and she tilts her head back to laugh. It causes the hot coffee she is holding to lightly splash on her fingers. Immediately, James takes the coffee from her hand and blows on it. With his other hand, he takes her fingers and kisses the tips, making her blush.

It is a gesture he has done to me a thousand times before. A gesture Rachel loved to tease me about.

How much I wish somebody would do that for me, Ivy.

And, now somebody was.

Tears fill my eyes as I watch them look like they are completely in love. But … how?

James had introduced Rachel to me a few years back. They both were family friends. I had immediately taken to her and she had been my only female friend. I discussed everything with her. She was always rooting for me and James to be together.

Then, how come, they are together like this. Just days after our engagement broke off…

Instantly, I berate myself.

No.

I have no right.

After all, I am married now. Even if I had agreed to it to save James, I had given up on our engagement first.

I bite down on my lower lip to stop the quivering and try to turn away. But Alexander’s merciless fingers snatch my hand in his, holding me in place.

“Oh, look at that familiar face. We just have to say hello, don’t we?”

He asks with a menacing tone, and I can only watch in helpless horror as he leads me towards them.

With every step I take, my heart feels like it’s getting crushed with a gigantic hammer. By the time I am near them, my skin feels raw with hurt and pain.

The moment James spots us, his entire body goes rigid. He looks at me once and quickly looks away. Rachel pales on the side and watches me, tongue-tied.

“Well, James, how surprising to see you here! Who’s your lovely new lady friend?” Alexander asks with mock honey dripping from his voice.

Suddenly, I understand what this is. This is all a plot to hurt me. To bring me pain by making me see this; my best friend and my fiancé together.

I am slightly trembling with the effort to hold myself together, afraid that any second now I’ll shatter in pieces.

James smiles uncomfortably.

“Well, Ivy already knows her. They are great friends, actually.” He mumbles.

Suddenly, I feel Alexander tense next to me.

“What?” He asks sharply, an edge to his voice.

“The best of friends!” Rachel finally finds her words and squeals animatedly. “Isn’t that right, Ivy? You look so beautiful, I am so happy to see you after all this time!”

She continues, acting like nothing is wrong. From the corner of my eye, I see a strange expression come over Alexander’s face. He no longer wears the vicious glee he was sporting a second ago. Instead, his expression darkens as his eyes flit from Rachel to James.

I want to respond to Rachel, but my throat feels constricted. I swallow slightly and instead, just give her a small smile, praying that it hides my pain.

Then, in a surprising act, Rachel thrusts her hand forward, and my heart sinks as I look at the ring there. It is the same engagement ring James had gotten for me.

“Well, we are engaged! You were already so busy with your marriage, or you would have been the first one I’d tell.”

For a moment there, Alexander’s gaze becomes so hard as he looks at Rachel that I almost feel like he is going to flay her with his words. But then, all expression wipes from his face, and he looks at her blankly. I blink in confusion, not understanding his mood swings.

My mind feels muddled with all the emotions anyway. I am suddenly too tired to think, too tired of holding myself up. The excitement of finally getting out of the palace has completely seeped out of me. Now, I am almost wishing for the safety of my prison, so I can just curl in a ball and cry.

Instead, I bury all the waves of my grief and layer them with a big smile. Gently, extricating myself from Alexander, I step forward and envelop Rachel in a hug.

“Congratulations,” I whisper to her.

“I am happy for you both.”

I tell them both sincerely, as I move back.

It’s true. I am happy for them.

James and I could never be together anyway. Just because I wasn’t happy in this fake marriage, didn’t mean they needed to be as well.

It’s just that it hurts …  so much.

Rachel nods tightly, and then she awkwardly says her goodbye to us, almost dragging James away.

When they finally leave, I almost sway on my feet, overwhelmed by the emotions still running through me.

“Well, well, that was pathetic.”

Alexander turns to stare at my face, pinning me with his harsh gaze. I try, but I cannot hide my emotions any more. I feel vulnerable and broken as I wrap my arms around myself, tears pooling in my eyes.

I look up at him, ready to find him gloating, but his face is hard. An irritated expression flashes through him as he takes my tearful eyes, almost as if he doesn’t like the sight of them.

“What a mess you are,” he bites out. “Looks like your love is just like your fake piety. Easily changeable and replaced. Your great love is nothing but a sham. Aren’t you ashamed now?”

His words sting so much that I feel myself pushed over the edge. All the grief, pain and hurt from today’s encounter bubbles over, and tears freely fall down my face. A tornado of courage builds in my belly, and for once, fear leaves me as I look at him.

“Why should I be ashamed?” My voice comes out shaky but clear. “Yes, I am sad. I am hurt, but I am not a mess.”

I say firmly, even as more tears fall down my face.

“When I was with James, I was pure in my love. My love was not a sham. Why should I be ashamed when I did nothing wrong? It’s people who hurt others so cruelly who should be ashamed. It’s people like you who exploit other people’s weaknesses and use dirty tactics to destroy others who should be ashamed.”

With every word I speak, Alexander’s jaw clenches and his eyes turn darker. Cold anger takes over him and makes him look terrifying.

But I can’t stop. It’s like a dam has broken inside of me.

“It’s you who’s the mess, not me.” I end with a trembling whisper. A hiccup making my last words come out distorted.

I keep my gaze on him, not backing down, even as I realize my mistake.

Fear finally makes itself known as Alexander’s eyes turn to ice, and his expression turns terrifying.

Suddenly panicking, I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing that whatever he is going to say next is going to break me!

A horrifying realization dawns on me:

Nobody can save me now from the Lycan king’s wrath!