CHAPTER 4 — The Announcement

Kaia’s POV

Weeks went by after that night that Draven marked me.

And somehow things started getting even stranger.

I still had the mark on my neck.

I wore as many scarves or high collared dresses as I could, but I could still feel it burning softly against my skin every day. I would touch it carefully and remember how Draven looked at me that night.

Otherwise, a sense of guilt would come right after.

None of it was mine.

Not the mark.

Not the palace.

Not him.

All of this was supposed to be Selene's.

After she fully recovered from her injury, the transition was rather subtle.

No ceremony.

No discussion.

One morning I suddenly woke up in my room and Mom said, “It's time.”

That night, Selene went back to the palace, as though nothing had transpired.

And I went back to my former life.

Now the only thing different was that I wore a hidden sign under my clothing, and memories I could never talk about.

I initially believed that Draven would see at once.

He must have known that the woman standing next to him could not be the same as the one he had before.

But days passed.

Then weeks.

And nothing happened.

The royal guards did not come to accuse us of lying.

There were no word from the palace.

Everything continued normally.

Well, at least for all of you except me.

When Selene had taken up residence in the palace, she started visiting home on a regular basis. Each visit was more lavish than the previous.

Expensive furs.

Jewelry boxes.

Gold coins.

Rare perfumes.

She used to bring home gifts from the royal estate and place them on the table in the dining hall.

Every time my parents looked at her, she was the best thing this family had ever had.

One evening, Mother praised, saying that Selene looked beautiful every time she came back, seeing a diamond bracelet she wore.

Selene smirked proudly. “The palace stylists are much better than the servants here.”

Father laughed a loud laugh at that.At that, Father laughed loudly.

I served wine to them, as if I were a servant in my own house, but no one knew it.

I was no longer included in their discussions.

Not that they ever did, anyway.

Yet, I could see something was shifting in the family.

Greed.

It became increasingly worse each day.

Initially, Selene only received gifts from Draven or the palace servants.

Then gradually… more things began to emerge.

Items without explanation.

Jewellery with royal inscriptions.

There are obviously decorative items that are worth millions of dollars.

My parents were increasingly excited every time.

There was one night at dinner, when Selene came with another velvet box.

Mother gasped loudly as soon as she opened it.

Several gold bracelets with emerald stones were found inside.

“Selene…” Mother whispered. “They are treasures of the kingdom.”

Selene proudly sat down at the table. “Not anymore.”

Father frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, I've already sold the original set,” she said breezily as she grabbed her glass of wine. “These were replacements kept in one of the rooms in the palace.”

My stomach clenched up right away!

“You were selling palace jewels? Before I could stop myself I asked.

Selene was already looking upset. “Relax.”

“That’s dangerous.”

Father sighed heavily. “Here we go again.”

I peeked between them and was nervous. “If the palace finds out that the king's things are going missing—”

“No,” Selene interrupted confidently.

“He didn't know that.”

Selene rolled her eyes. “So why do you always seem to be like the world is coming to an end?”

“This is serious,” I said quietly. It's the royal family's problem.”

Mother slammed her fork down hard.

“Enough.”

I took a deep breath and stood in silence.

Helena looked at me with icy coldness. “You sound jealous.”

My chest constricted painfully.

“I’m not jealous.”

“Stop being such a brat,” she said. “This family is finally getting a good name and a lot of money from your sister.”

Honor.

The word almost had me laughing out loud.

This situation was based on a lie.

But I stayed quiet.

Like always.

Selene sat back with pride in her chair. “When the Luna is finally replaced by Draven, things will be even easier.”

Father nodded thoughtfully. The Blackthorn fortune is enough to ensure our family's future for generations to come.

Mother smiled excitedly. “Think if the impact we can make when Selene is Luna.”

I lowered my gaze to my untouched food.

I've been feeling weird for weeks now.

Tired all the time.

Dizzy.

Some smells suddenly made me sick.

Initially I thought it was due to stress.

However, the thoughtfulness had increased recently.

In the morning particularly.

I quickly grabbed my water glass as the television in the dining hall went on.

The typical program was not displayed.

A royal emergency announcement symbol displayed on the screen.

The entire group sitting around the table stood up.

The royal broadcaster was seen in the scene moments later, looking nervous.

Tonight's scheduled program is interrupted to bring you royal news.

There was a quiet in the dining hall.

I felt my heart beat oddly.

The broadcaster continued.

“Alpha Draven Blackthorn refused to accept Luna Cassandra Blackthorn in public in front of the royal council earlier today during an official council meeting.”

Mother gasped loudly.

Father was about to get up from his chair.

Selene’s eyes widened in shock.

The broadcaster continued to talk.

The Alpha King plans to officially crown his new concubine as the Luna of the Blackthorn kingdom, according to palace sources.

The room went up in flames in no time.

“Oh my God,” whispered Mother excitedly.

Father looked stunned. “A Luna…”

Selene slowly rose from her chair, in disbelief.

“A Luna,” she whispered again.

Then she suddenly started to laugh.

I'm going to be Luna.

Mother ran to her at once. “Selene—”

“No,” Selene said excitedly. “Can you grasp the meaning of this? I’ll be the greatest of all the noblewomen in the kingdom.”

Father was in a frenzy of excitement. “The Ravencrest family is going to be untouchable.”

Selene grinned proudly. “I knew that Draven would end up picking me over Cassandra.”

Some of their voices began to merge around me in a loud manner.

However, the moment had come when the room seemed to be different.

Too warm.

I blinked slowly.

My eyes went a bit fuzzy.

I slowly lifted my hand to my edge of the table.

Something was wrong.

I heard some voices around me getting quiet.

Distant.

Mother was still chatting excitedly.

“I will become the luna’s mother!”

Father added, “This changes everything—”

Selene laughed again. “I’ll finally become—”

The room was spinning crazily.

I grabbed my head feebly.

I started to breathe irregularly.

“Kaia?” someone said, far far away.

I tried standing.

But my legs suddenly gave out beneath me.

Everything tilted sideways.

My last memory is of mother yelling at me in frustration before l fell on the floor.