Chapter 13

LYRA

The hotel ballroom looked like something straight out of a billionaire’s fever dream. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, waiters moved through the crowd with silver trays, and every other person seemed to be wearing enough jewelry to pay for a house.

I walked beside Zade in a deep emerald dress with a high collar that covered the crescent-shaped mark on my neck. My heels were killing me already, but I kept my expression pleasant as we entered the ballroom.

The conversations around us dipped, then picked up again in whispers.

“That’s him. The Cursed Devil.”

“And the woman beside him must be his mate.”

“I still don’t understand what he sees in her.”

I kept my smile in place. Seriously? If people wanted to talk about me, the least they could do was come up with something original. Still, I wasn’t about to give anyone a reason to call me rude. I’d spent enough time being judged by people who knew absolutely nothing about me.

Zade’s hand rested near my waist as he guided me through the crowd.

He introduced me to a few wealthy business owners and pack leaders, each of whom offered congratulations that sounded more like questions in disguise.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lyra,” one woman said, looking me over. “You must be adjusting to quite a different life.”

“I’m getting used to it,” I replied with a polite smile.

Her eyes flicked toward Zade. “I imagine being mated to someone so powerful comes with its own challenges.”

“Every relationship does,” I said.

She gave a small laugh, unsure what to make of that, before turning her attention to Zade.

I could practically feel the questions people wanted to ask. Was our bond real? Was I after his money? What did the Cursed Devil see in me?

Apparently, being someone’s fated mate meant becoming public property overnight.

A group of men approached Zade before I could get another sip of champagne. They were discussing an urgent problem with an international pack alliance, and from their expressions, it wasn’t something they could put off until tomorrow.

Zade turned to me. “I need to handle this.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

“Stay where my security team can see you.”

I smiled sweetly. “Yes, Alpha.”

His expression told me he knew exactly what I was doing.

“Lyra.”

“What? I’m agreeing with you.”

He gave me a warning look before following the men toward the other side of the ballroom.

The second he was gone, I let out a quiet breath. Finally, a little space to myself. I moved toward a quieter corner near the tall windows, hoping to enjoy my drink without feeling like I was on display.

“Lyra, isn’t it?”

I turned to find a tall man dressed in white approaching me. His silver hair caught the light, and his violet eyes stood out against his calm, handsome face. He carried himself with the kind of confidence that suggested he rarely needed to introduce himself twice.

“Prince Caspian,” he said, offering a courteous smile. “Nephew to the Supreme Alpha.”

That explained the confidence.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” I replied.

“Please, Caspian is fine.” His eyes remained on me. “Are you enjoying the gala?”

“It’s a lovely event. Everyone has been very welcoming.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “Even with your life changing so dramatically after the courtroom hearing?”

I kept my expression steady, though the comment caught my attention. “Things have certainly been eventful lately.”

“I can imagine. Becoming Zade Vane’s fated mate would turn anyone’s world upside down.”

Before I could ask what, exactly, he knew about me, his champagne glass tipped. A splash of pale gold soaked the front of my dress.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” he said. “That was careless of me.”

“It’s all right,” I replied, though I wasn’t thrilled about the stain. “Accidents happen.”

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a white handkerchief. “Let me help. Champagne can leave a stubborn mark.”

Caspian carefully dabbed at the champagne stain while I held the front of my dress away from my skin, hoping to keep the wet fabric from sticking to me.

“Thank you for helping,” I said politely. “I’m afraid this dress wasn’t made for champagne baths.”

He let out a quiet laugh. “I owe you a replacement, then.”

“That won’t be necessary. These things happen.”

As he reached for another part of the stain, his fingers brushed the edge of my collar. The fabric shifted, exposing a small section of the crescent-shaped birthmark near my collarbone.

His hand stopped.

I noticed the sudden change in him almost immediately. The easy smile disappeared from his face, and his violet eyes fixed on the mark. He looked so startled that I instinctively pulled my collar back into place.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

I waited, expecting him to explain, but his attention kept returning to the spot I’d covered. Whatever he’d seen, it clearly caught him off guard.

“Prince Caspian?” I prompted, keeping my voice calm.

He lowered the handkerchief slowly. The confidence he’d carried since approaching me was gone, replaced by an expression I couldn’t quite read. He looked less like a prince making polite conversation and more like someone who’d just seen a ghost.

I started to feel uncomfortable. “Is there a problem with my dress?”

“No.” His answer came quickly, but he still seemed distracted.

I wasn’t sure what to make of him. Maybe he recognized the birthmark from somewhere. I’d carried it for as long as I could remember, but nobody had ever reacted to it like this.

Across the ballroom, Zade finished speaking with the men from the international alliance. His attention shifted toward me, and he noticed Caspian standing close beside me. Even from a distance, I could tell he was watching us now.

Before Zade could make his way over, Caspian leaned closer, lowering his voice so the people around us wouldn’t hear.

“Where did you get that mark?” he whispered.

His face had gone pale, and there was no mistaking the shock in his eyes.

“That’s the lost crest of the Royal Valerius family.”