The one who was never there

Zayan’s POV

Something was wrong.

I had known it long before the hour was over.

At first, I told myself Mariana was simply taking her time. Perhaps her father had agreed to the peace talk, and the two of them were discussing the terms. Perhaps she was trying to convince him to stand down, just as she had promised me she would. But as the minutes passed, the silence between us became unbearable.

I reached for her through our bond.

Mariana?

Nothing.

I tried again.

Little wolf, can you hear me?

Still nothing.

I could feel her heartbeat faintly. That was the only thing keeping me from storming into the Graham territory immediately. She was alive. I knew that much. But I couldn’t feel her thoughts. I couldn’t sense her emotions. I couldn’t hear the little voice that had become so familiar inside my mind.

My jaw tightened.

It had been more than an hour.

I had given her only a few minutes to speak with her father before she was supposed to signal us. Something was wrong.

“Stay here,” I ordered the soldiers around me. “Keep the army hidden and maintain the perimeter.”

One of the commanders stepped forward. “My Lord—”

“I said stay here.”

He immediately bowed.

I turned toward three of my most trusted warriors. “You three are coming with me.”

Within minutes, we were moving toward the Graham mansion.

I didn’t know what I would find when I got there.

But I knew one thing.

If anyone had hurt my mate, I would make them regret being born.

The gates of the Graham mansion opened the moment they saw us approaching.

The guards stepped aside.

I walked through the courtyard with my three warriors behind me, my hand resting on the sword at my side.

Then Master Graham appeared.

He came out of the mansion with a smile plastered across his face before suddenly dropping into a deep bow.

“Oh, the great Warlord of Frostcrest,” he said. “What an honor. What do we owe your wonderful presence?”

I stared at him.

“Cut the pretense.”

His smile faltered.

“Where is Mariana?”

“Mariana?”

My eyes narrowed.

“What have you done with her?”

“I assure you, Warlord, nothing has happened to my daughter.”

“If you’ve harmed her,” I said quietly, “your blood will be the first thing spilled across this courtyard.”

He immediately raised his hands.

“No, no. She is perfectly safe.”

“Then bring her out.”

“Of course.”He smiled again.”In fact, she has been in my library with me. We were discussing her time in Frostcrest. She was telling me all about your palace.”

I stared at him.

“You and Mariana have been talking?”

“Yes.”

After everything he had done to her?

That didn’t sound like Mariana.But perhaps she had decided to forgive him.

I couldn’t understand it.

Still, I lowered my sword slightly.

“Bring her out.”

Master Graham turned toward the mansion.A few moments later, someone stepped through the doors.

My heart stopped.

Mariana.

She looked exactly like her.Same face,Same hair,Same body and Same eyes.

She walked toward me slowly.

I stared at her.

Something wasn’t right.

I couldn’t feel her.

Not even the slightest whisper through our bond.I couldn’t smell her and that was impossible.

I knew Mariana’s scent better than I knew my own. I knew the way she smelled after waking up, after training, after spending hours in the garden. I knew the scent of her skin when she was nervous, when she was angry, when she was close to me.

This woman smelled wrong.

Not completely different.

Just… empty.

And there was something else.

She was obedient.

Too obedient.

Mariana was never this obedient.

She was my little rebel. She questioned me. Challenged me. Rolled her eyes at me. Argued when she thought I was wrong.

That was exactly why I loved calling her my little wolf.But this woman simply stood there.

Waiting.

I slowly slid my sword back into its sheath.

“Very well,” I said.

Master Graham smiled.

“I hope Mariana has told you everything.” I asked.

“She has,” he replied quickly. “And I will be sending a formal letter apologizing to the mighty Warlord very soon.”

I nodded.

“Good.”

I turned toward the woman.

“Let’s leave.”

“Yes, my lord.”

I stopped.

My eyes narrowed.

My lord?

Mariana had never called me that.

Not once.

She called me Zayan.Sometimes Warlord when she wanted to annoy me.

Sometimes husband.

Sometimes, when she was teasing me, something far worse.

But never my lord.

Still, I didn’t react.

I would play their little game.If they thought they had fooled me, I would let them believe it.

We walked toward the carriage.

Once we reached it, I turned toward her.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

She smiled.

“I am too.”

I studied her face.

“Where’s the necklace I gave you?”

“The necklace?”Her expression immediately changed

“The communicating necklace.”

She hesitated.

“Oh… that.”

“Yes. Where is it?”

“I… I lost it.”

“Lost it?”

“Yes. In the carriage on the way here.”

I stared at her.

“You lost it?”

She nodded quickly.

“I didn’t think it was important anyway. My father would never hurt me, so there was no reason for me to use it.”

My blood went cold.

There had never been a necklace.

There was no necklace.

Mariana and I communicated through our bond.There was nothing physical to lose.

How can you lose something that never existed?That was when everything fell into place.

This wasn’t Mariana.

I smiled calmly.

“Of course.”

She looked relieved.

“We should leave now.”

“Yes.”

I opened the carriage door.

“Get inside.”

She did.

I waited until she was seated before pretending to remember something.

“Oh.”

She looked up.

“What is it?”

“I forgot something.”

Her face tightened.

“We should go. My father might change his mind.”

I smiled.

“You’re right.”

Then I leaned closer.“Do you remember what we discussed before you came here?”

She hesitated.

“Yes.”

“Good.”I studied her carefully.”I’ll be back very soon. Wait here, little obedient girl.”

She smiled.

“Yes, my lord.”

I turned away.

The moment my back was toward her, the smile disappeared from my face.

I signaled my guards.

“Stay with her.”

Then I walked back toward the mansion.

I pulled a dark cloak over myself before entering through the side of the estate.

My warriors followed silently.

We avoided the library where Master Graham was waiting and slipped through the servants’ corridors.

A maid appeared around the corner.

One of my warriors caught her before she could scream and pulled her into a dark alcove.

“Where is Mariana?”

The maid trembled.

“I—I don’t know—”

“You have one chance.”The warrior’s blade touched her throat.“Tell us.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“The dungeon.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“They took Lady Mariana to the dungeon.”

“When?”

“After she arrived. Lady Wren and Master Graham… they—”

“Why?”

The maid swallowed.

“She is supposed to be married to Nicholas in a few days as a punishment.”

My blood ran cold.

“Take us there.”

She nodded quickly.We followed her through the mansion.The closer we got to the dungeon, the stronger the scent became.

Mariana.

I knew it instantly.

I broke into a run.

When I reached the dungeon door, I could hear crying.

“Mariana!”I unlocked the door and rushed inside.She was sitting against the wall, her clothes disheveled, tears streaking her face.

The moment she saw me, she ran toward me.

“Zayan!”

I caught her.

I lifted her into my arms, holding her tightly against my chest.

“What have they done to you?”

She buried her face against me.

“I tried to call you but I couldn’t reach you.”

“I know, little wolf.”I kissed the top of her head.“But I’m here now.”

I carried her out of the dungeon.Then I gave my warriors a signal.

“Bring me the other one.”

They immediately understood.Within minutes, the Graham mansion was surrounded.

The guards who had been stationed around the estate were disarmed before they even understood what was happening.

And the woman who looked exactly like Mariana was dragged from the carriage.

Wren.

I knew it now.

She was brought upstairs with her hands bound.

I carried Mariana with me toward the library.Then I kicked the doors open.

Master Graham turned around,His expression changed when he saw me.

“Warlord?”He looked toward the woman who had been brought in beside me.

Then toward Mariana in my arms.

His face went pale.

“What…?”

I placed Mariana carefully on her feet but kept one arm around her waist.

Wren stood on the opposite side, trembling.Master Graham looked between them.

“You—”I stepped forward.”Explain.”

His eyes darted toward Wren.

“What is the meaning of this?”I pointed toward her.”How did you make another woman look exactly like my mate?”

Master Graham scoffed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Black magic.”

His expression hardened.

“You should be careful with your accusations, Warlord.”

“Black magic is forbidden in this land.”

“You have no proof.”

I smiled coldly.

“Then explain the two women standing in front of me.”

His face tightened.

“Perhaps you are simply confused.”

“I’m not.” I stepped closer.“I know my mate’s scent. I know her heartbeat. I know her voice. I know how she thinks. That woman was never Mariana.”

Wren’s face paled.

Master Graham looked between us.

“You think you’re so clever.”

“I know I am.”

He suddenly straightened.

“You may have discovered the trick, Warlord.”His eyes darkened.”But perhaps you’ve forgotten something.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

He smiled.

“You came back here without your army.”

My warriors immediately reached for their weapons.

Master Graham’s smile widened.

“This is the part where I kill you myself.”

I slowly drew my sword.

Mariana’s hand tightened around my arm and for the first time that night, Master Graham’s smile faltered.