Chapter 3- Wedding bells of doom

Celeste.

“You look beautiful, my lady,” the seamstress fitting me into my wedding gown exclaimed.

I said nothing in response, not because I didn't think it was true but because I didn't care.

This wasn't a wedding; it was a humiliation ritual.

The great General Celeste was reduced to nothing but the bride of her enemy.

I was burning in my soul. I wanted to stop this wedding, anything I could do, but I knew it was a waste of my time.

Stop whining and do it. We have a plan, we'll execute it.. My wolf, Silver said.

She was right, throwing myself a pity party was just as pathetic as marrying Edgar, but at least I could control one of these scenarios.

I stared at the golden ball gown. I truly looked magnificent, and that was what irritated me. Was I going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me at my best? I couldn't.

“All done, Your Grace,” The seamstress announced, her cheeks red with excitement.

She looked happier than I, which annoyed me even more. She was but a clueless child, couldn't be more than eighteen, and even though I knew she was genuinely happy for me, her joy felt more like mockery than anything else. I knew it wasn't her intention, but intentions these days meant nothing to me.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“You're welcome, Your Grace. Do you like it?” She asked, her eyes glinting with pride.

“It doesn't matter what I like, “ I said flatly, and her face fell. I smiled at her. An impressionable child. Maybe

I could make her one of my ladies-in-waiting.

“Let's get this over with.” I sighed and stepped down from the stool.

She stared at me with a confused look. To her, it was odd for a woman not to be excited about her wedding day. What was more, not excited to marry the king.

"Okay. Would you like me to style your hair, or do you want the royal hair maker?

"That's it!" I suddenly exclaimed, confusing both women. I had sent the royal hairdresser away because I wanted Selene to do my hair. She’d been doing it ever since I turned fourteen till now.

"Your Grace?" The girl asked with confusion.

"Get me a pair of scissors, will you?" I asked and she gave me a look but shrugged and walked off.

Selena chuckled as she watched the young woman leave.

"You have given the poor girl a Brian fog, Your Grace," Selene said with amusement.

"I like her. I'll ask for her to be one of my ladies in waiting."

"You have my support, your Grace,”

I smiled and glanced back at the mirror.

I looked so beautiful, it was almost like I was seeing a different woman. I had become so used to wearing armor and carrying around swords, arrows, and guns, I had forgotten just how feminine looking I was.

My blonde hair cascaded down my back in ringlets, and my green eyes shone with constipated emotion.

The maid walked back in with a pair of scissors a few minutes later. She was more than excited to be of help in any way, and I loved her for that already. She was the only one who had looked genuinely happy to be around me when Maverick had brought about twenty professionals to prepare me for my wedding.

"Thank you... What is your name, girl?" I asked.

"Lyra, Your Grace." She bowed.

"Lyra, beautiful name," she blushed.

"Thank you for this dress. You'll be heavily compensated apart from the king's compensation, of course. You're dismissed."

“Thank you, Your Grace.” She bowed and left.

"What do you plan to do with that?” Selene eyed me.

I grinned and brought the scissors to my hair.

"Just a bit of a trim,"

*****

The sound of heavy royal music sounded as I waited outside for the doors to be opened for me..

"I can't believe you did this," Selene whispered beside me, her eyes filled with mirth and confusion as she stared at my now almost bald head.

Before I could come up with a suitable retort, the great double doors of the temple opened, and the sound of the orchestra playing wedding music filled the hall. The four women in front of me walked in first, raining flowers on the ground as they went down the aisle.

I glanced up to find the king staring at me, his expression dark.

Perfect!

I grinned, knowing he'd seen my now-bald head.

Every single woman in the congregation stared at me with their mouth hanging low and eyes bulging out.

The men stared at me with eyes so wide, I was expecting them to fall out of their sockets.

Even the music seems to stutter.

I smiled to myself, satisfied by this. If he wanted to humiliate me, two could play that game.

As I approached the aisle, Edgar's dark expression suddenly disappeared, only to be replaced by an amused expression.

"Lovely," he said, and I glared. That was not the reaction I was going for. But then I saw it, it was only there for a split second, but I saw his jaw clench in disapproval.

I smiled smugly.

He smiled back.

“Dear beloved, we are gathered here today to wed two people and two kingdoms in matrimony. King Edgar Damascus and Princess…”

“General.” I corrected the priestess.

She blinked at me.

“General Celeste Gundberg.”

I said again to give her a clearer picture.

The priestess glanced at Edgar for his approval, and he nodded, smirking but deep down that smug look still plastered on his unfortunately perfect face.

“...and General Celeste Gundberg…”

I tuned the priestess out completely.

“You may now kiss your bride.”

As soon as I heard that, I stiffened.

Edgar stepped forward, not waiting for me to even process what was going on.

Defensively, I put up my hands to stop him, but his lip was already on mine.

I closed my lips, refusing to give him access.

He grinned against my lips. “You are going to get punished for this,” he murmured and then claimed my lips in a searing hot kiss. I didn't move. But an unmistakable rush of adrenaline passed through my body and my wolf stirred and then howled as if being marked.

“Mate” the word rang in my head like a dooms drum.

goddess no!