Chapter 2

SYLVIA 

They didn't wait for me to respond before dragging me away. 

“W-wait. I can explain.” I tried begging but they refused to listen and everyone was already snickering and making fun of me. 

I turned my head in Willow's direction, begging for her to help me but she turned her head away, covering her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her smile. 

I then looked up where the royal family sat and my eyes collided with his. 

The King was staring at me and his dark eyes were not happy. A shiver ran down my spine. 

He got up and moved towards the door and the rest of the royal family followed. 

I was going to be in a lot of trouble. I could even lose my head. 

Tears pooled in my eyes and streaked down my face. 

“I swear, I wouldn't cause a scene anymore but please… let me go.” 

They didn't listen and just pulled me harder, making me slip over my own clothes and a loud rip filled the air. 

I paused and stiffened my body so they had a hard time dragging me and just stopped. I then slowly looked down in horror to find that my gown had ripped by the side. 

I stared at the rip and back at the men and then back at the rip again. More tears fell from my eyes and soon I was a crying mess but they didn't seem affected by it. 

“I can't deal with this anymore.” One of them said through gritted teeth and then hurled me over his shoulder before taking me through the palace doors to the meeting room that I had heard so much about but never been in. 

The room was huge and there was a higher area just like in the arena, designated for the royal family. 

The man threw me roughly to the floor, and my hands scratched against the surface, peeling and bleeding slightly. I also grazed my knee and whined as I felt the bruises forming. 

I was a mess. My hair was a mess, my clothes were torn and now, I had bruises on my body. 

“Announcing, the royal family!”

The guard who had hurled me over his shoulder earlier stepped forward and pushed my head further down to the ground. 

“Show some respect to your king.” He seethed and I began to shake in fear of the judgment that was going to be given to me for disrupting the ceremony. 

“Leave her.” A thick voice boomed in the room, making me shiver. 

The guard slowly removed his hand from my head and stepped back. 

“Rise, child.” A soft, feminine voice followed which I guessed belonged to the Queen. 

I stood up and stared at her. She was… she was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on. 

She had long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and her bright green eyes only held warmth. The light blue dress she was in only made her more of an angel, coupled with her wonderful smile. 

“T-thank you, my queen.” I bowed slightly and then, I turned to him. 

The reason I was called up here and the determination of my fate. 

His hands were gripping the handrest tightly, and I was sure that if he did any more, it would shatter into pieces. 

“You!” 

“Honey, you need to calm down.” The Queen rubbed his back, trying to calm him down but it wasn't working. His frown only got deeper. 

“Tell me! What is your name?” He barked and I flinched backwards, almost falling on my behind. 

“M-my name i-is Sylvia.” I stammered in response. 

The door behind the royal family opened again but I didn't pay any mind to it because fear had held me to the ground. 

“Father, I told you this was unnecessary. She's just a girl that–” the voice paused and curiosity made me turn to face the direction it came from. 

Standing there was the prince. He had the same green eyes as his mother's but he had the dark hair of his father. He was the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on and for some reason, my entire body got warm and I felt a tingle run down my spine. 

He took a step forward, grabbing the railing that divided us. He then turned sharply to the stairs and almost bolted down to reach me. 

Once he stood in front of me, I could see that distance wasn't doing justice to how fine he was. 

“You.” 

He grabbed my hand in his and raised it to his heart. 

“Crypian, what are you doing? This isn't the time to flirt with some lowlife mad girl!” His father yelled at him but he didn't listen. 

“Mate.” He growled and his eyes darkened to Forest green. 

The guards gasped in shock from behind me and surprise was evidently written on his parents' faces. 

“What did you just say?” His father said, getting up from his seat and slamming his hand on the long table in front of him. 

Crypian turned sharply to his father with a frown on his face. “She is my mate.” 

He rolled up his sleeve and showed him the mark on his arm. It was exactly like mine, except it was complete and mine wasn't. 

Wait—

Did I just hear him right? His words finally registered in my brain. 

I was his mate? I was going to be the princess consort? Again, I was his mate? 

It felt like the entire world had frozen. Was this a dream? 

I slapped myself with my other hand, trying to wake myself up but I didn't. 

I raised my hand to hit myself again when he gently grabbed it and looked at me with a hint of sadness in his eyes. 

“Please… don't hurt yourself. I don't want to see you hurt.” 

He spread my palms and slowly massaged them, but the friction and the cuts from earlier made me wince. 

He frowned and stared at my palms, finally noticing the cuts. 

“Who did this to you?” His entire expression darkened. 

I didn't mean to, but my eyes moved in the direction of the guard that did who was now extremely pale. 

“He did this?” The prince said, his voice deepening in anger. 

In the blink of an eye, a sword moved in the air and the head of the guard was on the ground, rolling towards my feet with blood everywhere and bile instantly rose up my throat. 

I couldn't hold it back and I vomited all over the prince's shoes.