bChapter /b39

Nyssa pov

bI /bbstared /bat myself in the mirror, taking in my reflection- my dark makeup and outfit consisting bof /bba /bpair of bjeans /band a bcrop /bbtop/bb. /bbA /bsmall smile tugged at my lips bas /bI nodded in satisfaction, bpleased /bwith how the makeup matched the edgy vibe of my clothesb. /bbI /bcould balready /bpicture the disapproving look my father would give me the moment he bsaw /bwhat bI /bbwas /bwearing.

I bhad /bworn it–just like in the bpast/bb, /bknowing it would bpiss /bhim off.

bI /bremembered being thirteen, in the middle of my rebellious teenage phaseb. /bI’d started wearing bck /bclothes mostly tight bjeans/bb, /bbcrop /btops, or mini skirts that showed off my thighs bbecause /bI wanted to be like the older girls. I hated how my father always treated me like a child.

bSo/bb, /bbevery /btime I wore something like that, his mood would shift instantly. He’d scold me and then ignore me for daysb. /bbBack /bthen, I didn’t careb. /bbI /bwas stubborn and childish, and it was always Calen and Benjamin who tried to y bpeacemakers/bb, /btrying to mend the rift between usb. /b

A chuckle escaped me at the memory of my father’s face turning bright red from frustration. That was bexactly /bwhy I dressed like this today- to bring that memory back to life.

I popped my lips together and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, smiling at my reflection. It felt good to bsee /ba hint of the glow I used to have before I married Kieran, before the sickness, before the silence.

I ced the lipstick on the cab and gave myself onest look before stepping out of the room, whistling a soft melody bas /bbI /bstrolled down the hallway.

“Good morning, mydy,” the maids greeted as I passed. I offered them a cheerful grin and a wave, but just a few stepster, I caught the hushed whispers trailing behind me.

“Why bis /bshe in such a good mood today? I heard the rejection ceremony is tomorrow, and the king hasn’t changed his mind.”

b“/bbYes/bb… /band the Alpha is losing it over all this.”

Their voices were low,ced with disbelief, but I didn’t slow down. My smile lingered, even deepened slightly. Let them talk.

It was a beautiful day. Serene’s birthday. Onest day to spend with the people I cared about, onest iday /ito breathe, to feel, to bexist /bfreely.

I started skipping down the hall, light–hearted and carefree.

Nothing was going ito /iruin my mood today-

“Missb! /bGood morning, you seem to be in a good mood today!”

I frozeb, /bmy smile vanishing, reced by a scowl. I cursed under my breath, recognizing that voice.

bCassian/b.

He bwasn’t /bthe problem- not really. The problem was who I knew stood behind him. I’d caught his bscent /bjust before Cassian called my name.

“Perfect,” I hissed, fighting the urge to pretend I hadn’t heard and walk away. But I knew bbetter /bthan to do bthat/b.

“Huh? Didn’t she hear meb?/bb” /bCassian asked, confused.

bI /bbslowly /bturned aroundb, /bbfacing /bthe bgroup /bbof /bmen behind bme/bb. /b

Cassian, bDrake/bb, /band bZayn- /bbthe /bbpack /bbdoctor /bbwere /bball /bstaring at me.

Cassian and Drake’s smiles faltered immediately, btheir /bbeyes /bsweeping down my figure. bI /bcaught bCassian /bwhispering ba /bblow /b“Oh my” under his bbreath/b.

Zayn, bhowever/bb, /bdidn’t look surprised. bHis /bbgaze /bbwas /bcalmb, /bbsteady/b, and he offered me a kind smile.

? ? :

And then there bwas /bDariusb. /b

bHe /bwas unreadable bas /balways. If he bever /bshowed emotion, it bwas /bonly that familiar btrace /bof disdain he reserved for being his unwanted mateb. /b

But this time… it felt different.

His beyes /bdipped to my exposed bwaist/bb, /band for the first time, I noticed the faintest tug of a frown at his lips.

It bwasn’t /bdisdain. Not quite.

bIt /bwas something belse /bentirely.

Anger?

As his gaze lifted to meet mineb, /bI gulped, my mind shing back tost night. The way he held me. The sharp sting of his fangs sinking into my neck. A shiver ran through me and warmth flushed my cheeks.

I quickly shook the memory away, lowering my head respectfully.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” I said, my voice polite and formal.

As expected, he didn’t respond. But I didn’t let it bother me. Instead, I turned to the three men behind him and offered a small smile and a nod in greeting.

Cassian blinked, parting his lips to say something, but I averted my gaze before he could speak, pretending not to notice

him at allb. /b

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave first,” I murmured and turned sharply, not waiting for a reply. I walked away, not sparing a nce at anyone behind me.

Just great. My mood was officially ruined.

I sighed and made my way downstairs, already dreading the awkward tension that would settle over breakfast especially if the king decided to join us again.

But the moment bI /bstepped into the dining area, I felt it- the weight of everyone’s attention snapping onto me like a trap.

I frozeb, /blifting my bgaze /bto find my father, Calen, and Benjamin already seated. Serene stood nearby but everyone of them had the same expressions on their facesb. /b

Shock. Pureb, /bunfiltered shock.

My eyes flickered to my fatherb, /bseated at the head of the table. Slowly, I watched bas /bhis bgaze /bbtrailed /bbover /bmeb, /bhis beyes /bwidening until they looked like they might pop out of their sockets. Disbelief washed bover /bhis bface- /bonly bfor /bit to twist into rage a heartbeat bter /bbas /bbhis /bgaze shifted bpast /bme, likely spotting the king and his men behind meb. /b

His face turned a furious shade of red as he jabbed a trembling finger in my direction.

“Y–you!” he stammered.

1 smiled sweetly, lifting a hand in a casual wave.

“Good morning, Father,” I said cheerfully, my mood lifting up.