Chapter 5: Magic

LAYLA

Standing in front of the mirror, I stared at the mark on my neck.

Yeah. That mark. You know the one you get after your fated mate marks you with a kiss. Although my mark looked like it, it was literally smoking like a cursed barbecue. Black smoke curled out of it with little flashes of red, like someone shoved a demon inside my skin, but whatever it was, I was so happy about it. My entire existence was not in vain. I finally had a purpose goddess chose me for. 

 I had seen marks before of Omega marks, Beta marks, and even a few Gamma ones. Cute little bite marks with some glowing patterns or sometimes a little shimmer. But mine? Oh no. Mine looked like it crawled straight out of a dark prophecy.  Of course. Because why would my life ever be normal? I was, after all, a human slave with the shittiest luck in the whole damn world and now mated to the so-called Cursed Prince. 

Layla was no normal being! I smirked to myself. 

When I walked back into the servant quarters, every single head turned towards me. Even the lowest-ranked omega washing socks paused to stare at my neck like I was some celebrity.

Rumour travels fast. Apparently, even the fleas knew it by now: I. Layla,  The Fat Chick,  was mated to the Cursed Prince.

Speaking of the prince… Every time I thought about him or that kiss, my knees tried to commit mutiny. I didn’t know if it was the mate bond or the fact that he looked like sin wrapped in royal silk, but that kiss… Goddess. It was too intense to name and too warm to forget.

And those red eyes? People said they were terrifying. Idiots. They looked like rubies, my favourite gemstone and also the only stone I might actually lick if nobody was watching, because it looked like cherry candy, my favourite kind.

There was a knock at my door.

Someone. Knocked. On. My Door.

When did that start happening? Yesterday, people threw trash at me. Today, people knock politely? Was I dreaming? Did I die?

“Miss Layla?” An omega woman bowed. “Gamma Lance is calling for you.”

Excuse me? Me? Miss Layla?

Did I fall into a portal?

As I followed her, the mixed-bloods glared at me with pure jealousy, and the omegas walked like I suddenly owned the corridor.

What in the rotten potatoes was happening?

When we reached Gamma Lance’s office, I noticed Gamma Ben’s disgusting chair was empty. Good. That shitass was gone.

The omegas whispered that he got transferred to House Ashbourne because his mate was someone of high status. House Ashbourne was the dukedom.  They were Betas by blood, nobles by rank, and the Queen herself was an Ashbourne. The Head of every household is given the rank of Alpha, Alpha-Duke in the case of House Ashbourne, which is the highest noble title in the kingdom. 

So now my criminal Gamma Ben, who had bullied me all my life, was off living the good life under a Duke.

I couldn’t even take revenge.

Goddess, why do you hate me personally?

Gamma Lance cleared his throat. “You will be transferred to the fourth floor. Macey will show you your new room. You are the mate of the Prince now. Don’t cause trouble. Don’t get arrogant either. You are marked, not wed. Don’t expect to be treated like a princess yet. But you won’t be serving anymore. You may choose one mixed-blood and one omega to serve you.”

“Yes, Gamma,” I said quickly. I wasn’t stupid. My life was finally improving, and I wasn’t going to pick a fight. I knew I wasn’t princess material. I had nothing to offer the prince, like no noble alliance, or wealth or anything. The soldiers even said he could still marry a noblewoman, and she wouldn’t die because the curse would kill me instead. The curse was applicable to a mate only. A mate and wife can be separate individuals as well. 

Stupid nobles. Always finding loopholes like rats in a pantry.

My new room made my jaw drop.  I’d slept next to garbage piles for years. Now I had a soft mattress that hugged me like it loved me. I threw myself onto it and grinned like a maniac.

There were fruits too. I devoured them all, letting grape juice drip down my chin like I was some vampire dripping with blood. Life was good. 

A knock came again, and Daisy walked in.

I jumped up to hug her, but she bowed.

“Miss Layla.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked her straight. 

“Gamma Lance said you chose me as your… servant.” Daisy bowed deeper. “Thank you for the honor—”

“Oh shut up,” I rolled my eyes. “I chose you because you’re my best friend, dumbass. We suffered together, we rise together. If life is finally giving us a break, we’re taking it with both hands. No lies. No power games. Trust me.”

She squinted at me suspiciously, because trust was something we learned only through trauma and stolen bread.

“I swear,” I put a hand over my chest. “If I lie, may my heart explode and I die on the spot.”

Finally, she smiled.

We collapsed on the bed, laughing, eating fruits and acting like idiots who discovered happiness for the very first time.

“How is the prince?” Daisy whispered. “Is he scary?”

“Opposite,” I said proudly.

“Really?”

“He is tall and strong and brave and handsome… and his red eyes look like candies. I just wanna chew them and swallow them.” I answered her truthfully. 

“EWW!” Daisy gagged.

“I wanted to show you something,” Daisy suddenly said. “Something strange happened when I ran from the fire… I think I can do this.”

“What—?”

Suddenly, my butt lifted.

My WHOLE body lifted.

“What the FUCK—?!” I screamed, floating like a fat balloon in a storm.

Daisy stood there, glowing gold.

I stared at her, eyes wide. “You… you… you HAVE MAGIC?!”

I was so shocked I forgot to breathe.

“I think so?” Daisy squeaked. And as she panicked, I drifted backwards, farther and farther toward the window.

I yelled in panic, “DAISY STOP! Don’t come closer. When you come near me, I go further!”

She didn’t understand. Because panic. Because chaos. Because us.

And then I was out the window.

Outside.

FOURTH. FLOOR.

“I HAVEN’T EVEN SLEPT WITH MY MATE YET!” I shouted to the goddess. “YOU CAN’T KILL ME NOW! YOU SHOWED ME CANDY AND DIDN’T LET ME TASTE IT?!”

“Layla!” Daisy cried. “I can’t hold you anymore! You are too heavy!”

“DON’T YOU DARE DROP ME! If I fall, I’ll be buried seven feet deep just from impact! No shovel needed!”

And then,  of course,  I fell.

“Goddess,” I screamed, “YOU ARE MEAN AND RUDE!”