Chapter 7

MARGE 

Every part of the castle felt new and had a strange feeling lingering around it. It was a sensation that came easily due to how silent we were as we walked through corridors and aisles. 

Fren didn’t stop until we had taken several turns away from our starting point. 

When the air began to feel thicker, I stopped walking. She didn’t notice until she’d moved a few inches away from me. Then she stopped. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“Where are we going?” I asked. 

She raised the lamp to her face. A small smile creeped through her cheeks. “Are you scared?” 

“Shouldn’t I be?” 

“You’re in the Lycan realm. You live under the protection of the Lycan king and his son. Who would dare touch you? You’re a treasure now,” 

“Yeah…” I breathed as I stole a glance behind. “That’s not convincing enough. I think we should head back,”

“But we are…”

“No,” I cut her short. “We’re heading back. Please,” 

“Fine,” her smile widened a little. “No pressure. Perhaps…some other time,”

She led the way back to where we started. It didn’t feel like we took the same path but the best part of it was that we were getting closer to where life was. 

I had barely stepped into the main corridor when a servant hurried toward us.

“Lady Margaret.”

I looked around before realizing she was speaking to me.

“Yes?”

“The King requests your presence at dinner.”

My stomach tightened.

“Dinner?”

She nodded. “His Majesty would like you to join the royal family tonight.”

I glanced at Fren.

She looked just as surprised as I was.

“Did he say why?”

“No, my lady.”

I swallowed.

I hadn’t even met the man properly, and now I was expected to sit at his dinner table.

“I don’t think I should.”

Fren frowned. “Why not?”

“Because I’m a guest. I don’t want to impose.”

The servant smiled politely.

“You were specifically invited.”

There was no escaping it.

I sighed.

“Fine.”

The servant bowed and left.

Fren immediately grabbed my arm.

“Come on.”

“Where?”

“To get you ready.”

“I can dress myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you dragging me?”

“Because you’re going to dinner with the King of the Lycans.”

She looked at me as though that explained everything.

I stared back.

“I don’t see what that changes.”

She laughed.

“It changes everything.”

By the time I entered the dining hall, I wished I’d listened to myself and stayed in my room.

The table was enormous.

Garret sat at the head, dressed in black with silver embroidery running along the collar of his jacket. Ryan sat on his right, while Corvina occupied the seat opposite him.

Several council members were already seated.

Every single conversation stopped when I walked in.

I nearly turned around.

Ryan noticed me first.

He stood.

“Margaret.”

His voice was warm enough to loosen something in my chest.

Garret didn’t stand.

He simply watched me.

His eyes moved slowly over my face before settling on the necklace hanging around my neck.

I instinctively touched it.

“Come,” Ryan said.

I walked toward the empty chair beside him.

Before I could sit, Corvina spoke.

“Is she supposed to sit there?”

Ryan’s expression hardened.

“She was invited.”

“I know.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Corvina smiled.

“None.”

I sat down.

A servant immediately placed a plate before me.

I stared at the food.

It looked beautiful.

Almost too beautiful to eat.

I hadn’t eaten anything this elaborate in years.

Ryan leaned toward me.

“Relax.”

“I am relaxed.”

“You’ve been staring at that plate for thirty seconds.”

“I was admiring it.”

He smiled.

“You’re strange.”

“So I’ve been told.”

His smile faded slightly.

“By people who were wrong.”

I looked at him.

Before I could respond, Garret cleared his throat.

The entire table fell silent.

“Margaret.”

I straightened.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“You may call me Garret.”

The words caught me off guard.

I glanced at Ryan.

He seemed just as surprised.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “Garret.”

His eyes remained on me.

“How was your first day?”

“Good.”

“Only good?”

I hesitated.

“It was…different.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Different can be good.”

Corvina placed her wineglass down.

“Or dangerous.”

Ryan’s eyes immediately shifted toward her.

“Aunt.”

“What?” she asked innocently. “I’m only making conversation.”

“You’re terrible at it.”

She smiled.

“I’ve been told.”

A few council members laughed quietly.

For some reason, I found myself smiling too.

Then Garret asked, “Tell me about your family.”

My smile disappeared.

“My family?”

“Yes.”

I lowered my eyes to my plate.

“There isn’t much to tell.”

“Your parents?”

“Dead.”

“And your sister?”

“She was dead too.”

The room became quiet.

“She returned,” I corrected myself. “And she took everything back.”

Garret’s jaw tightened.

“Everything?”

“My husband. My position. My home.”

Ryan’s hand moved slightly on the table.

Garret noticed.

“And you allowed it?”

I looked at him.

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

I almost laughed.

“That sounds like something people with choices say.”

Garret went silent.

Corvina looked between us.

Ryan’s lips twitched, like he was trying not to smile.

Garret finally leaned back.

“You’re not afraid of speaking your mind.”

“I’ve spent four years being punished for speaking. I suppose I’ve already learned what it costs.”

His expression changed. For a brief second, I thought I’d said too much.

Then he nodded.

“Fair enough.”

Dinner continued.

The council discussed pack borders, trade routes, and disputes between neighboring territories. I tried to stay quiet, but I quickly realized that being silent at the table didn’t make me invisible.

Every few minutes, someone glanced at me.

Eventually, Elder Voss cleared his throat.

“My King, there is another matter.”

Garret looked at him.

“The empty queen’s seat.”

I froze.

Ryan’s expression hardened.

Corvina smiled faintly. “I thought we agreed not to discuss that tonight.”

“We agreed nothing,” Voss replied.

Garret sighed. “I have no interest in taking another wife yet.”

“The realm has an interest,” Voss said. “The people need a Queen.”

I lowered my gaze. I suddenly wished I had never come to dinner. Then Corvina spoke.

“Perhaps the realm doesn’t need a new woman.”Everyone looked at her. “Perhaps it needs the right woman.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Aunt, don’t.”

Corvina ignored him.

Her gaze shifted toward me. “Lady Margaret is already here.”