LOGINAt that moment, the insinuation that Emilia was Mason's romantic love actually sounded good to him. The idea settled in his mind quickly, fitting into place like a puzzle piece he hadn't known was missing. His expression didn't change, his face remaining carefully neutral, but behind his eyes, his mind was working rapidly.This could work. This narrative, this story of him being in love with Emilia, it could serve as the perfect cover. At least they could use it to hide her real identity from Alexander, who Mason could clearly see standing in the front of the crowd with that unreadable expression on his face. The man hadn't bowed, hadn't shown proper respect, and stood out like a sore thumb among all the other guests who remained in various states of deference.Mason's eyes found Alexander easily, cataloguing the details of his appearance. The expensive suit that was now wrinkled and sweat stained. The way his jaw was clenched so tight it had to be painful. The fists at his sides, knu
"Thank you for celebrating with us," Mason announced, his voice carrying across the ballroom with authority that demanded attention. "The princess isn't feeling well."The statement was simple and direct, a polite dismissal that made it clear the evening was coming to an end. Mason's tone left no room for argument or questions. His posture remained protective, one hand still resting on the back of Emilia's throne, his body angled slightly toward her as if ready to shield her from any threat.While Mason spoke, Mia looked around the ballroom with that same confused expression still etched on her face. Her eyes darted from person to person, seeking some kind of explanation or validation for what she was experiencing. Emilia, sitting on that throne like she belonged there, made no sense to her. Her world had been turned completely upside down in the span of minutes, and she was struggling to find her footing.The guests remained in their bowed positions, though some had started to straig
Mia's face was a study in confusion. Her brows were drawn together so tightly they nearly met in the middle, creating deep furrows across her forehead. Her mouth hung slightly open, lips moving soundlessly as if trying to form questions she couldn't quite articulate. Her eyes darted between Emilia and the two men flanking her, trying to piece together what was happening, how these strangers had come to Emilia's defense, and who they were.The confusion wasn't unique to Mia. It rippled through the entire ballroom like a wave. Guests who had managed to pull themselves to their feet stood swaying slightly, their faces reflecting the same bewilderment. Some rubbed at their eyes as if they could clear away what they were seeing and make it make sense. Others leaned toward their companions, whispering urgent questions that no one seemed able to answer.Alexander's expression mirrored the confusion around him, though his was tinged with something darker. His jaw was clenched tight, muscles j
Alexander tried his best to move his body toward the direction of the voice. His neck strained as he attempted to turn his head, muscles trembling with the effort. His feet tried to pivot, to shift his position so he could see who had spoken, but his body refused to fully cooperate. The command to kneel was still pulling at him, still trying to drag him down to the marble floor.Before he could manage more than a slight turn, another voice spoke up from the same general area."And I lent her some of mine too," the second voice said, carrying the same authority as the first but with a slightly different tone which was more cheerful than the first. At that moment, two men walked into view from the back of the ballroom. They moved side by side, their steps perfectly synchronized, weaving through the kneeling bodies with practiced ease. Mason and Julian walked toward the throne with their heads held high and their postures radiating confidence and power. They were both dressed impeccabl
The way Alexander said the words struck Emilia like a physical blow. There was something in his tone, something bitter and resentful, that made it sound like discovering she was the lycan princess was a bad thing. Not a revelation or a surprise or even something neutral, but something negative. Something that complicated his plans or threatened his ambitions.Emilia's eyes widened a bit as she zeroed in on him. She looked at Alexander properly for the first time since sitting on the throne, really studied his face. His expression was twisted with pain from resisting the command, yes, but there was something else there too. Something calculating in his eyes despite the physical agony he was enduring.And suddenly, like pieces of a puzzle clicking into place, Emilia remembered.It had been just a few days ago. Mason and Julian had asked to see the contract marriage document that Emilia had signed with Alexander four years ago. She'd retrieved it from where she'd kept it hidden all this
As soon as the words left Emilia's lips, something changed in the air. It was like an invisible wave had swept through the ballroom, a force so powerful and absolute that resistance seemed impossible. The power in Emilia's command wasn't a request or a suggestion. It was a fundamental law of reality that had to be obeyed.Each of the guests went to their knees one after the other, their bodies dropping like dominoes in a carefully arranged pattern. It started with those closest to the throne and rippled outward through the crowd. There was no grace in the movement, no dignity. They fell like puppets with their strings cut, like robots being controlled by a remote control device that had just been activated.The sounds of bodies hitting the marble floor filled the ballroom. Knees struck stone with dull thuds that echoed off the high ceilings. Expensive fabric rustled and tore as people collapsed in their formal wear. Several guests cried out in surprise or pain, the sound quickly muffl







