All Chapters of Marked by Fate: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Aiden’s PovThe council meeting was adjourned and I was very relieved to call it a day. My dad, the king, hadn’t even shown up at all and he was always the one to close the meeting. That alone was strange. No matter how tired or busy he was, he never missed council meetings. It was really unlike him. I asked about him and his guards said he wasn’t feeling too well, that he was a bit sick. It still didn’t sit right with me. Something was a bit off.After the meeting I was supposed to go straight to see Rose. She must’ve been expecting me, but I also needed to check up on my dad. I couldn’t ignore the fact that he was absent today at the meeting.I headed straight to his chambers and as I got closer, his guards opened the door without me even asking or knocking. When I got inside his room, he was lying on his bed, looking very weak, even weaker than I had expected him to be. The healer had just finished attending to him. As I walked towards him, the healer gave a slight bow and walked

Rose’s PovTwo maids were standing close by, whispering and gossiping to each other. Their voices were so heavy that I could hear them.“Rose is such a seductress,” One of them sneered. “I heard she’s Aiden’s sex slave, that's why he doesn’t want to let her go.”My steps froze, my heart skipping violently. Sex slave? Where did they even hear something like that?The second maid snickered. “I heard the same thing. They even said she used magic on him. That’s why he’s so drawn to her. She promised to be his mistress in exchange for protection.” My whole body went cold as my hands began to tremble while I clutched the rail. So that was the rumor they were now spreading in the palace. That I bewitched him? That I sold myself to him like some cheap thing? I honestly felt sick. My chest ached badly as if a knife was stabbing it deep inside.So this was how they saw me. No wonder no one even tried to stand up for me after proving myself.I’ve had enough of this humiliation and shaming. At

Rose’s PovAiden had been away for some days now. He said he had to travel to attend to some Pack business because they were still investigating the case of Rogues attacking the pack. Though it made sense because he was next in line to be the king, but, his absence left an empty space in my heart. I had already gotten used to his presence and him watching out for me all the time. It seemed like he had been away for years.Fortunately, Ivy had kept me busy. She had taught me so many sparring techniques that I didn’t even know existed. At least, I was not completely alone. She was not just smart in words but also very skilled in fighting. She moved very fast and sharp as if she had been trained her entire life. She also taught me some combat and karate moves, and patiently showed how to balance my feet. I never imagined that she was that good. Though she was a senior warrior, maybe that was why she had so much strength and moves.Those training sessions with her kept me sane while I w

Rose’s PovI ran as fast as my legs could carry me and thank the moon goddess, I was able to escape that strange experience yesterday. When I remembered it, my heart still beat very fast, but I was safe, at least.The day was so bright that the golden roofs of the palace were sparkling like the sun. Today was completely different from other days. The whole palace was full of joy and noise and was lively. Trumpets and drums sounded all over the palace. It was not just music or chants but celebration. I peeked through my window and my breath almost stopped because of what I saw. There were beautiful dancers dressed in resplendent royal colors, spinning around, their feet dancing and stamping to the beats and very high note of the flute. They danced to the rhythm of the beat. They moved so gracefully and flexibly. I saw colors and banners flying in the wind like waves in the ocean. It was even louder at the village square. Different entertainers were performing tricks that looked too

Rose’s PovMy fists were clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. As I tried to hold myself together, my body kept trembling. My chest rose and fell very fast with quick and uneven breath. With the way my throat was tight, I felt that if I had tried to open my mouth, a scream would definitely tear out. I had been stripped of my dignity, once again, in front of everyone.“You heard her,” Luna Eva’s sharp voice rang out, cold and proud. “Let the ceremony continue.”The way her command echoed across the hall was just like magic. It felt like nothing had ever happened. The drums started to beat even louder and faster. I was almost unable to concentrate. The dancers moved with a greater energy as their colorful clothes spinned in circles, under the fading light. The people clapped and cheered as their applause rose into the air. Everything flowed again and it just felt like the humiliation I had faced was a little interruption that was not important. And then Luna Eva shove