☾☾SASKIA☽☽“Tell your guards to drop their weapons, or I will not be held responsible for whatever may happen next.” Alpha Aniyah spits in an undeniable portrayal of rage.The A-train of my gown flutters as I launch myself down the porch between the erring guards and one of the rulers of Tonnar. I’m surprised to see her here.From what I’ve observed, Cillian has had no resolve in mending whatever relationship Guttenbrieg still had with the smaller pack since they were aided by Mikael months ago. However, as I no longer am privy to the diplomatic affairs of the pack, I have yet to learn where they currently stand.All I can tell is Aniyah is on the verge of ripping into the neck of the guard behind me. I risk a look at the one who’s offended her, hidden in the shield of bodies, and it takes a second for me to move out of the Alpha’s range. She can tear his head off for all I care.My lips are tucked in a thin line as I stumble slightly to the side, leaving Absalon exposed. “Throwing me
☾☾SASKIA☽☽Cillian smirks. I know he can sense my distress. Tasting the tartness of my fears and torment wouldn’t be too difficult. I’m nearly doubled over by its anguish. “Why do you ask, bridéach?”“I want to know!” I snap, irritation rising. He merely raises an eyebrow at me. The warning is there, without a doubt. He doesn’t enjoy my shouting. “I need to know,” I say more gently, clenching my fists by my side.“Return to your positions, all of you!” He barks, and a few guards startle before scurrying off to their posts.Absalon, who’s been weirdly silent for a while, finally expresses himself. “I plan to take my leave now, Alpha Cillian.” To me, he grins as if he recently won a million dollars in cash. “I am sorry I will not be present for the announcement of your engagement this evening, Luna. If it should be any solace, I hope to send someone in my place.”“Thanks,” I say with nothing short of disdain coating my profession of gratitude. In the spirit of being dramatic as always,
TW: Mentions of suicide☾☾SASKIA☽☽He has a stubble now—wiry blond hairs that feel coarse when he pushes his face into the crook of my shoulder. I try not to show displeasure at how they graze my skin. My fingers knot in the silky strands of his hair, trying not to rip them off his scalp. Ironically, he prefers when I tug hard enough while he forces his kiss on me.He thinks I'm his doll now. I walk when he says to. Talk when he says to. Smile when he says to. He thinks he has full control. I am supposed to obey him. My opinions do not matter—he's made that clear. Apparently, he's my one true love; he claims I belong to him. I've never belonged to anyone. I'm no man's property. I don't think he's realised that.He forces me to dress to his taste. But I think he simply wishes to humiliate me. I don't know where he finds the bright eyesores that always have budding patterns scattered on them. Perhaps he is trying to make me seem more cheerful than I am. It's all part of the story he's s
☾☾SASKIA☽☽“I shall pretend I did not hear that, brídeach.” His tone is jovial, nearly trivial, but when he stares at me, the deathly flames of a furnace rage and lick at my skin. I tamp down the shiver rearing its head up. “You must be tired; thus, the gibberish, mo ghrá. Perhaps, you’ve gone insane because you’ve had no sedation yet. As so, I shall forgive you for your sin.”His warning should make me clamp my teeth on my tongue, but I reason that there’s no benefit when I’ve already started digging my grave. The most he can do is kill me. And who cares if he does? It’d be his mercy to me. I’d finally die, and, by the goddess’s grace, maybe I’d be lucky enough to be with Mikael in the afterlife.“I am not insane, Alpha. I’m perfectly in control of my senses when I say that I can’t marry you.”Cillian rises, cloak wiping the floor as he sutures the gap between us. “So, your senses aren’t lost when ye stand against me before officials of my pack, woman?”I summon up my courage to conf
☾☾SASKIA☽☽My cheeks soak up heat as my anger revs like an engine being fired. "I'm not sure what you want me to say, Alpha. It's not like I can change your mind when it's set on doing anything." I murmur, annoyance sharpening my tone."You grow more insolent by the day." He remarks as if awestruck. I wish he'd be less shocked because this is the beginning of more surprises to come. I have hundreds of presents to give. They come in boxes that I've wrapped myself. "Lucky for you, I've myself an important guest to entertain. He's one good friend of mine. I've no time to teach you how to wield yer tongue better. Sit and make yourself presentable. He comes."As if on a director's cue, Absalon strolls into the room. I might have slumped in my seat from a heart attack if I wasn't only in my twenties. Seriously, of all people to show up, I don't know why he's here.Why in the world is Cillian friends with a wizard when he already has a witch at his beck and call—Rose, or whatever her name is
One word. "Why?""Do you truly expect I give you that tidbit for free, Princess?" He is back to calling me by my former title, and I've not had this strong an urge to use my fists so much that it physically hurts in such a long time. Well, except when it comes to Cillian, of course. "I am not so generous, you see."I grit my teeth, everything but in the mood for his foolishness. "Do or don't. I don't give a shit."Absalon grins in that way that would enrage even the sincerest pacifist on the planet. "Why are you so angry, Luna? I merely asked for an incentive. You do know I could make an interesting revelation to your fiancé once I return to his company based on how you treat me, Princess...""Go to hell, Absalon. Tell Cillian if you want. I never kept it a secret. I have done all he has required of me, and I've not betrayed him once. He knows that and is sure of where I stand with him." I bluff while my pulse sprints at the speed of a cheetah after its mark—save for the reality that
TW: Mentions of suicide☾☾SASKIA☽☽Absalon sighs mournfully before yielding to my request. “I’ve cast a magical illusion on us so our conversation does not impress on the mind of any eavesdropper. If they were indeed curious about the details, they’d only hear what I want them to.” His lips droop downward as he summons a frown. I tune out, in the middle of deciding his magic skill is quite valuable. I should look forward to learning it soon. Casting illusions? That has a lot of value.Absalon continues with his admonishment as if I care. “I shouldn’t be the first to point out that Cillian’s men follow you in the shadows, or am I?”“I already know that.” I snap, tired of his propensity to treat me like an infant, incapable of doing anything on my own or perfectly. It’s tiring. I know what I’m doing, and I have my plans.Cillian is going to pay for killing my husband.“Make no mistake, Absalon. I am not indebted to you. You can tell Cillian whatever you want. Though... I am convinced yo
☾☾SASKIA☽☽Their vibrant chatter grows in volume as they near the community house. Laughter punctuates the air, blaring cackling sounds that make me wish for a similar, genuine camaraderie. It stops once they sense I’m near. The loud noise tapers off into low whispers as they come into view.“Thank you all for coming!” I greet cheerfully, pushing past the entrance I’ve been waiting at. It’s imperative that I welcome them warmly. For my plans to work, I need them to see me as a harmless Luna who cares for her people. I want them to know I have nothing but what I’ve been given. I need them to give me more. To offer me their love and devotion even if they hadn’t planned on it before.“Luna!” A voice exclaims though it sounds more like a gasp than the former. I identify it as Aretha’s, and I’m particularly pleased she’s here. It’s been too long since I last saw her. I suspect it’s Cillian’s work.He’s been obsessed with isolating me from those I previously had good relationships with. Are