Chapter 5

~CASSIAN~

I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was her, the girl I had glimpsed earlier while entering the Kingdom. I couldn't get her out of my head.

And now she stood before me as my bride?

A dark amusement formed in my chest. Had she truly tried to run away to escape marrying me?

This was the Varkas princess? The first daughter of Alpha King Kairos Varkas himself?

When I'd first seen her, she had been dressed like a common servant. A clever little disguise, perhaps to try to escape this marriage.

"Lord Cassian," the Alpha King's voice echoed. "It is my pleasure to have you here with us today."

I barely spared him a glance.

"Spare me the greetings Kairos," I said flatly. "I came only for the girl."

Gasps spread throughout the ballroom. I could feel their shock, their outrage at the way I spoke to their beloved king.

It only made the corner of my mouth twitch with dark satisfaction. He may rule these lands, but to me he was nothing more than an enemy wearing a crown.

This marriage was no peace treaty, it was my opening for revenge. The council could call it unity all they wanted. I accepted their demand for one reason only: to get close enough to destroy the Varkas bloodline once and for all.

Revenge for what they had done to my family would taste sweeter than any false alliance.

I felt the weight of dozens of eyes on me, mostly women, staring with open hunger or wide-eyed disbelief.

What had they expected? Some battle-scarred beast?

"What kind of in-laws would we be if we did not offer you food and drink?" the King continued, refusing to be dismissed so easily. "At least stay for a few minutes to eat. My kitchen has prepared a feast for you to enjoy."

My hand tightened into a fist at my side at the word in-laws.

We would never be family. The very thought made me sick. I hated every last one of them.

My gaze finally settled on the girl again. The spoiled little princess presented like a prize.

Yet something about her still felt. . .off. Like she didn't quite belong in all that jewelry and expensive wedding dress.

Ignoring the King entirely, I strode forward until I stood directly in front of her.

She kept her eyes lowered, refusing to look at me.

"What is your name?" I demand, voice low.

She hesitated, then whispered so softly I almost missed it, "Aurora."

Aurora.

The name for some reason had a strange effect on me. I'd never met a girl with that name before and I liked it on her.

A sharp pull tugged deep in my chest, making my instincts explode with unease. I didn't like it. Not one bit.

"It is time to leave, Aurora," I say, already reaching for her.

"Wait a minute," the King interrupted again, stepping closer. "The council's orders are quite clear. This agreement must be sealed with a kiss between the both of you. It is important that a connection grows. . .and leads the way to heirs that will unite our families and stop the bloodshed once and for all."

Aurora gasped, her wide eyes finally lifting to meet mine. She clearly hadn't known about this particular rule.

I had known, but in all of the chaos, it had slipped my mind.

Every pair of eyes was now locked on us. They wanted a show.

I sneered at the King. "Are you the council's puppet? Do you always follow every command like a trained puppy?"

His jaw tightened. I had struck a nerve, and the satisfaction was immediate.

"You are also bound by—"

Fuck this.

Before he could finish, I moved.

My arm wrapped around Aurora's waist, pulling her against my chest in one smooth motion.

She stiffened, but I didn't give her time to pull away. I dipped my head and captured her lips with mine.

It was meant to be nothing more than a quick, performative seal to get things moving.

But the moment our lips touched, something inside me snapped.

She tasted like some sort of forbidden honey, sweet and warm and far too intoxicating.

A low growl vibrated in my chest as the kiss deepened without my permission.

My hand tightened possessively on her waist, fingers digging into the softness of her gown as I pulled her even closer.

I heard the gasps through the crowd, but I ignored them completely.

My tongue traced her lips, demanding entry. When she parted them on a startled breath, I pushed inside, tasting her fully.

A soft, stifled whimper escaped her throat and it shot straight through me like lightning. The sound only fueled the fire raging in my blood. I wanted more. Needed more. My free hand rose to cup the back of her neck, tilting her head to deepen the kiss further, devouring her like a man starved.

Her body trembled against mine, small hands instinctively clutching at my shoulders. Whether to push me away or hold on, I didn't know, and at that moment, I didn't care.

Another louder gasp echoed somewhere behind us. Then another.

Still, I didn't stop.

The world around us faded into nothing. There was only the heat of her mouth, the faint scent of roses clinging to her skin, and the little sounds she made as I claimed her in front of everyone.

Finally, a loud, deliberate clearing of a throat cut through the room.

The King.

I pulled back slowly, reluctantly, my lips brushing hers one last time before I released her.

Aurora's cheeks were flushed a deep color, her lips swollen and glistening. Her breathing came in uneven bursts as she stared up at me with wide, dazed eyes.

I met the Alpha King's furious gaze with a slow, arrogant smirk, my arm still loosely around Aurora's waist.

"Consider the agreement sealed," I said, voice hoarse with lingering hunger.

Then, without another word, I turned and began guiding my new bride toward the exit, the weight of a hundred stunned stares burning into our backs.