Chapter 2

On the night of my birthday banquet, the elders of the Holy Court left early. Adrian arrived late, with Celeste on his arm.

Her cheeks were flushed, and a red mark shone at the side of Adrian's throat. Anyone with eyes knew what they had been doing before they came.

In my old life, I would have fallen apart. One was the man I loved, and the other was my sister. I would have asked them how they could hurt me like that.

Now, I only glanced at them and kept talking to the lady beside me.

Adrian saw my eyes pass over the mark and moved Celeste behind him, ready for a scene. He waited, but I gave him nothing.

His face tightened. “Elena, are you pretending to be generous because you're afraid I won't marry you?”

I lifted my glass and said nothing.

“That is fine. I am the future head of House Seraphiel. A man in my position will never belong to one woman. There will be others. If you keep behaving, I may reward you now and then.”

He took a small velvet box from his pocket. Before it reached me, Celeste snatched it with a delighted gasp. “So pretty. Is this the limited moonsilver bracelet from Aurelia? It’s almost impossible to buy.”

Adrian withdrew his hand at once. “You like it?”

Celeste smiled at me. “I cannot take it. It is Elena's birthday gift. I should not steal what belongs to her.”

Her eyes said the opposite.

Adrian did not hesitate. “Take it if you like it. As for her, I can find anything later.” He glanced at me with lazy contempt. “She likes whatever comes from me anyway.”

Laughter rippled through the hall.

An old memory rose before I could stop it. Once, I had visited Skyspire Palace during a storm. Adrian tossed me a cloak because I was soaked. I kept it for years because it carried a trace of his scent. When he caught me holding it, he spat, “You really have no shame.”

Then he told half the Holy Court, and I became another joke.

Thinking of it now, I only felt tired.

I turned to leave. Adrian stepped in front of me and caught my wrist. “What, upset already? Cannot keep pretending?”

I pulled free. “Adrian, show some respect.”

He stared as if I had said something absurd. “Respect? You have been dying to marry me. We will share a bed sooner or later. Why act pure now?”

“Who said I was marrying you?”

The hall went silent. Then laughter exploded.

Adrian laughed the loudest. “Then who are you marrying? Everyone knows you are madly in love with me. Do you expect them to believe you would choose someone else?”

He tilted his head, mockery sharpening his voice. “Besides me, there is only the sixth son. Cassian, the broken-winged one. His wings were shattered in that griffin crash, and he has hidden in the shadow halls ever since. Some say he will never fly again. Some say other things are broken too. What will you do, Elena? Spend your life with an angel who cannot even lift himself into the sky?”

The hall laughed again.

Just then, Cassian Seraphiel appeared at the entrance in a wheeled chair, pushed by an attendant. His face was pale, and his dark cloak covered the ruined line of his wings. The room went quiet for a breath, then the whispers turned sharper.

“A dragon heiress choosing a fallen angel. Now that would be a show.”

I opened my mouth to say I would choose him.

Then I remembered Lord Alaric's warning. “If you have chosen Cassian, keep it quiet until I announce it. Too many people have their eyes on my vaults.”

So I swallowed the words.

Cassian looked at me once. His eyes were calm, but something like disappointment flashed through them.

I understood Lord Alaric's concern. I also understood Cassian's silence. I stopped arguing and let them laugh while I walked away.

On the carriage ride home, Celeste sat beside me and raised her wrist again and again, making the bracelet catch the lamplight.

“Even if you marry Adrian, you will never have his heart,” she said sweetly.

In my last life, she had hidden in Adrian's arms like a frightened dove after I caught them in bed. Adrian protected her as if I were the monster.

This time, I decided to give them exactly what they wanted.