Chapter 40

Celia

My hands are clammy and I slowly release Ethan’s arm from my grasp. Just like everyone else inside the banquet hall, I turn and look around, trying to fit in with the crowd despite already knowing that her sudden halt of proceedings is sure to be aimed at me.

“I would love to continue, but there remains just one small…discrepancy between Soren and I that I feel we have to hash out before our marriage is finalized,” her voice, which was once warm, has turned cold and heartless.

She turns back to Soren, who is just as shocked and surprised as the rest of the banquet hall. Bianca slowly opens the distance between them, stepping away and to the front of the stage while Soren remains towards the middle of the platform. A sadistic smile curves her lips upwards and a chill falls over the room.

“For the past five years, Soren contracted a substitute lover to take my place during my absence,” Bianca begins.

Her words are like venom, seeping into my skin. I can only imagine how Soren feels. I turn my gaze to him but his back remains towards me, blocking his face from my field of vision.

“The substitute lover he bought is here tonight! Isn’t that just wonderful? Celia? Where are you?”

Bianca’s words send chills down my spine. I freeze, tears stinging my eyes, threatening to fall down my face, a showcase of my utter devastation. Before I can run away, to slip through the crowd unnoticed, the crowd disperses from all around even. Even Ethan, who I thought was a close friend and someone who could protect me, steps away.

“Ah! There you are Celia!” Bianca cheers with glee. She glides across the stage, now standing on the side that I am on. “Everyone! Give her a round of applause! She has done such a good job being my substitute that Soren invited her tonight! She deserves to say goodbye, right?”

A silence falls over the room. Tears begin to fall down my face, my fists balled at my sides. Embarrassment overtakes my body as all eyes in the room fall onto me. My cheeks heat up and my legs slowly begin to feel like jelly.

My hot tears roll down my cheeks. The droplets reach my lips and I am met with the salty taste of my shame and disgrace. My head drops and I stare at the white marble floor, the light gray lines that run through the hard material mocking me. I watch as my tears fall to the floor, pooling by my feet.

“Go on! Cheer for her! She deserves it everyone! She deserves the praise of knowing where her efforts have taken her!” Bianca states. She begins to clap, her laughs loud enough to fill the room.

The room erupts into maniacal laughter almost instantly. The sounds of their mockery and cruelty fills my ears, making them ring. My hands tremble and I cover my face, wanting to sink into the ground and never get up again.

If I could disappear in this moment, I would. If I could bring myself to run away and escape this place, to disappear across the planet and start all over again, I would.

Slowly, I tilt my chin up, bringing my gaze to the room. People continue to point and laugh, hurling insults in my direction. I do not give them the time of day, though, and instead train my gaze onto Soren, who stares at me with an agonized look on his face.

Pain flashes across his face. Even his eyes are glossy, holding back the tears that I have already allowed to fall. He steps forward, mouth opening as if he is going to say something. I lean forward, ready to accept his help in my desperate time of need.

Soren does nothing.

HE stands there on that stage and closes his mouth, retreating into his spot as Bianca continues to rile up the crowd, mocking me into eternity.

I can hear movement from behind me. I turn to see the Duke holding an item in his hand. It looks like a shell with a translucent line running through the swirl pattern on the side. It is a dark gray with flakes of purple gems scattered throughout it.

The Duke approaches me despite the room mocking me and extends the artifact out. He gestures to a spot on the top, signaling for me to touch it.

What else do I have to lose, right?

I suck in a breath and place the palm of my hand on top of the shell. The once translucent line begins to glow, the artifact humming to itself. A gentle purple color ignites inside the shell, the body slowly warming up.

“The lost princess…” he whispers the words. His eyes shoot open, burning into my face. He takes a step away and faces the entirety of the room. “The lost princess lives!” His voice booms across the banquet hall, immediately silencing the laughs and insults.

Soren

A hushed silence falls over the crowd. My ears perk up at the Duke’s words and I am quick across the stage. My eyes land on Celia, who holds hands with the Duke. All of the oxygen that was once in my lungs has escaped from my body.

Movement catches my attention. I watch as Bianca points at Celia, microphone in hand, screaming, “Get her!”

Chaos erupts inside the banquet hall. I stagger backwards, holding my head as it begins to feel dizzy. I press forward, moving to the edge of the stage where I can see Celia. As the people inside the room run away, their screams and yells being bounced off of the walls, I notice a group of rogue werewolves heading in Celia’s direction.

Celia turns to look at me, our eyes connecting. A heat burns inside my chest, my breaths slowly moving in and out of my lungs. I inhale through my nose as the scent of honeysuckle and storm wind infiltrates my nostrils.

It’s the same smell from the first time Celia used a mind link on me. It is the same smell that indicates our fated bond.

The scent is overwhelming, taking over every single inch of my body. I hold my head, unable to look around as my inner wolf screams and howls to be let out, to go after Celia and to protect her from any harm that may come her way.

I look up and notice that Celia has disappeared from her spot, vanishing among the chaos. I spin around in a circle, desperately trying to find her face among the blurred crowd.

Bianca jumps off of the stage and I follow her. Just as my feet touch the ground, someone bumps into me, spinning me around, furthering the dizzy feeling from before.

The scent of honeysuckle beckons to me, reaching out amidst the chaos, scratching for help. I tear my gaze away from the ground, towering over the crowd, trying to find Celia. I spot her just across the hall, being escorted out by other Lycans.

Suddenly, Bianca is behind her. A silver dagger sits in her hands, the razor sharp tip held up in the air, aimed directly at Celia’s back.