Playlist: Sia - Chandelier
"He will make you happy, Luna," he said with a grin that reached both ears. "He is an honorable man. Strong. Loyal." He gave her a playful nudge and laughed heartily.
Luna nodded, eyes carefully cast downward. "I will speak to Mother about the arrangements."
"Of course!" Magnus clapped his hands together, already imagining the celebrations. "Smile, my darling. Someday you will truly grasp that in doing your duty, you can also find happiness."
She forced a small smile, but it barely curled at the corners of her lips. Happiness? She wasn't even sure she knew what that meant anymore.
*****
Queen Ravena heard the news before Luna could even make it out of the throne room. No one knew how. Probably one of her invisible informants—aka the kitchen maid who doubled as a gossip courier.
By the time Luna reached the royal living quarters, Queen Ravena had already gone into full wedding-planner mode. She was surrounded by wedding magazines. Her eyes sparkled with more energy than a full moon on solstice night.
"My baby is finally getting married!" she shrieked, hugging Luna so hard she nearly cracked a rib. "I need to start working on the guest list."
Luna barely got a word in. Ravena was already listing flowers. 'There would be live music of course.' She talked so fast Luna's head spun.
"Mother, I—"
"Hush, darling. This is the most important day of your life, and your skin is not going to glow with that stress line on your forehead."
Luna nodded numbly, heart quietly cracking under the weight of her choices.
"I promise you, darling, this will be the most memorable event of your life!"
Luna bit back a bitter laugh. Oh, it would be memorable all right. The day she locked her heart in a gilded cage and tossed away the key. "Mum… you don't have to," she said quietly. "Neither I nor Kyllian are this excited about getting married."
"Nonsense." Ravena waved a hand. "Marrying you is the highest honor Kyllian will ever get. You are the princess."
Luna managed not to roll her eyes. "Mum… please. Just a quiet occasion. Please."
Ravena blinked, as though Luna had suggested she elope with a toad. "A quiet occasion? Luna, sweetheart, you're a princess. Do you understand the significance of this union? Alphas all over the kingdom will attend. The Sorcerer Supreme will officiate. The Vampire Royalty will…"
At that, Luna nearly choked on her own spit. Her heart stuttered. "V-Vampire Royalty?" she echoed.
"Well of course, dear," Ravena said.
Luna's stomach turned over and threatened to spill itself onto the elaborate velvet rug beneath her feet. Damien would be there. At her wedding. Watching her vow herself to another man. Oh boy. She could taste disaster already forming on her tongue.
*****
Prince Damien stood in the war room before a large map of the borderlands, struggling to concentrate. He'd been summoned to discuss the kingdom's outer defenses with King Magnus and a few of the councilmen, but every time he opened his mouth, his mind betrayed him.
Luna was getting married. Confirmed.
To the glorified golden retriever known as Alpha Kyllian Rykers.
She hadn't been bluffing when she said she would choose duty. No, Luna went ahead and put duty in a fucking wedding dress and was about to mail out invitations. She didn't even try to fight for them. For him. He had waited centuries. Centuries for a mate. For her. And just like that, she shoved him out because of what he was.
Just as if the King had tapped into the misery echoing through Damien's skull, he said with that jovial baritone of his, "You will be around for my daughter's wedding, right?"
Damien blinked, caught in the act of daydreaming about setting the wedding venue on fire just to make a point. "Uh… maybe," he replied, attempting a neutral tone but failing spectacularly. "I'll be leaving tomorrow. But I'll check my schedule when the date is announced."
King Magnus beamed, completely oblivious to the emotional civil war going on behind Damien's eyes. "Good… good. I'll also send an invitation to your father. He has to be there."
Damien nodded, though his heart was elsewhere.
*****
Alpha Kyllian Rykers drove into his territory. He was mentally running through everything he had to do before Luna arrived: prepare the guest wing, meet with his beta.
But his feet barely made it past the entryway before he was tackled by Talon.
"We have a problem," Talon announced with all the grace of a man used to problems and absolutely thriving in them.
"I'd be shocked if we didn't." Kyllian shoved him off with a grunt. "I leave you for four days, Talon. You never disappoint."
Talon gave a wolfish grin, not the least bit offended. "Not my doing this time, promise. Although I am thoroughly enjoying it."
Kyllian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What is it now?"
"Remember all those women you swore up and down you never made any promises to?"
Kyllian frowned. "Yes…?"
"Well, news of your upcoming marriage is spreading faster than wildfire. And guess what? Five of them have dropped by today alone. And one's still here."
Kyllian's stomach dropped.
Talon smirked, positively thriving. "Your favorite's waiting for you. Jane."
Kyllian let out a noise somewhere between a growl and a groan. "Of course she is." He brushed past Talon.
Leaning casually against the bar was Jane. Her long legs were crossed, and she nursed a glass of whiskey.
"Hello, Alpha." She didn't even look up as she spoke.
"Jane! Long time no see." Kyllian plastered on a smile so tight it could've snapped off his face. His jaw twitched under the pressure of a thousand regrets. If he had known marriage was going to be shoved down his throat, he might've taken a vow of celibacy or at least stopped being a part-time manwhore a few moons earlier.
Jane stood at the bar in that off-shoulder black number that looked more like a suggestion than a dress. Her eyes sparkled. "Welcome back."
@Lindsey_Tennyson: I see you. Thanks for believing in me.