CHAPTER 005

Keira's POV

The morning of the wedding, the maids dressed us in the same room. They moved between Lyra and me with brushes, pins, and soft chatter about the ceremony. Lyra's gown was plain. Without lace or embroidery. Exactly what the Lycan King had demanded for his bride.

Mine was the opposite. A corset bodice with delicate floral designs stitched across the skirt. The kind of dress I once imagined wearing for Zeke.

Back when I still believed in fairy tales.

"Could you give us a moment?" Lyra asked the maids sweetly. "Just us sisters, before everything starts."

The maids nodded and stepped out and the door clicked shut.

Lyra grabbed my arm and yanked me toward her. Her sweetness vanished like smoke.

"This is mine, sister," she hissed as she took hold of my gown. "I hope you don't die too soon. I want you alive long enough to watch Zeke and me live happily. And also see you at the Luna Tournament. That's if your husband would let you take a step out.” She laughed.

I scoffed and tilted my head back at her.

"You actually think he loved you? Has he ever once been there for you? Except when you played pathetic and pitiful in front of him? Do you think he'll love you the same way if he realized you had a wolf all along and had been lying against me?”

I saw her face contort just a fraction but then she composed herself back.

"I'm in a good mood today," she continued, smoothing down her plain skirt with a satisfied smile.

"So I'll let your little attitude slide. And just so you remember—if you ever tell him I have a wolf, no one will believe you anyway."

I turned my face away. My hands curled into fists at my sides. Tell him? I wasn't so mad to do that, he deserved everything that was gonna come his way.

“The Lycan King couldn't even make it to his own wedding and sent a representative instead. How pathetic is that?” She said.

That was another thing I wasn't sure about, what was Magnus up to? Lying about his identity when he was here in person.

Worse…why did he reveal himself to me?

We dressed silently in each other's gown…well Lyra wasn't too silent about it. She squealed at every opportunity she got.

The maids returned and finished dressing us, thinking one sister was the other. They adjusted the last pins in our hair and led us out toward the ceremony grounds.

Lyra walked ahead of me, her chin lifted and pride oozing from every step.

Until she reached the altar and saw Magnus standing there.

She spun halfway toward me, her face draining of color.

"That's him?" she gasped. "That's the King's representative?"

I watched the shock spread across both her face and Zeke's. His mouth fell open slightly as he realized who he was standing across from. Why not? If the ‘King’s representative’ reported what he saw that day. They would be in huge trouble.

The whispers had already spread that the King couldn't even be bothered to show his face at his own wedding.

Magnus was standing right there at the altar. In the flesh. Playing the part of his own messenger while the rest of them remained blind.

For one small moment, I let myself enjoy it. The shock on their faces. The quiet satisfaction rising in my chest.

But under all that, my stomach twisted with dread. I had let Magnus believe I wasn't his bride days earlier. He'd told me it didn't matter who showed up. But there was a difference between not caring and being deceived.

I had no idea which side of that line I was about to fall on.

The ceremonies were private and quick. My parents had arranged it that way.

They'd made certain nothing would lift our veils early or let either groom catch a glimpse of our faces before the vows finished.

I stood beside Magnus through the entire thing. My heart was pounding loudly beneath the fabric covering my face. Unsure whether I was walking toward safety or straight into disaster.

The vows ended and we left together in a car.

His presence filled the whole space around us. I wanted to speak at least to let him hear my voice but that was only hastening my own death.

Neither of us spoke during the ride. I kept my hands folded tightly in my lap. My veil was still down. Watching the passing scenery through the small gap in the curtain.

We arrived at a manor soon and it was larger than anything I had ever seen. This place made our own pack house look small and plain.

Staff lined the entrance in neat rows. Someone had scattered flower petals along the path inside. Clearly expecting a celebration.

Neither of us seemed to want any part of it.

"I told them not to bother with this," Magnus muttered under his breath. His tone was flat with irritation.

We walked past the decorations and into the manor. The staff bowed as we passed. I kept my eyes straight ahead.

When we reached the bedroom, he turned to face me fully, with an unreadable expression on his face.

“You might have thought I'm the King's representative but I'm actually the King. That secret stays with you until you die.”

"We're required to share a room tonight," he said. "It's mandatory. But I'd rather not look at you more than necessary."

His eyes narrowed slightly. Studying me through the veil.

"If you want to stay alive, stay out of my sight."

I nodded quickly. My throat felt too tight to answer with words. He glanced at me again, his brow lifted slowly.

"Why do you still have your veil on?"

I braced myself. My hands trembled faintly at my sides. My heart was pounding so loud I was certain he could hear it.

This was the moment.

Before I could reach up and lift it myself, he stepped forward and pulled it away in one smooth motion.

For a second, his eyes widened. Surprise flickered openly across his face before he could pull it back under control.

Then something else crept in behind it, amusement. The same look he had when I had pointed my arrow at him.

His lips curled into a slow smirk and he took a step back, tilting his head. He studied me like he'd never seen me before.

"Well, well, Sunflower," he said slowly. His voice dropped lower. "Surprise, surprise. Things just got a lot more interesting.”