41
LYRIC
“Why would he do this to me?” I whimpered against father’s chest. “I thought we had a deal. I thought he wanted this.”
The humiliation was crippling. Twice, I tried to end this deal, but he wouldn’t let me. Did he only push it this far just to humiliate me? Was I cursed?
“Jaris?” I heard Luna Isolde call.
Sniffling, I lifted my face off father’s chest for a look, and there he was, striding into the hall with a look of cold detachment.
My face remained pale as I watched him. He did come. After three excruciating hours? After all the guests had left!
“Jaris, where have you been?” Luna Isolde asked in a cutting whisper when he reached her side. But Jaris walked past her without sparing her a glance.
He didn’t spare me a glance either as he walked down the aisle, stopping in front of the altar.
The Priestess must have been informed of his arrival, because she stepped out again, taking her place at the altar.
I’d stopped whimpering, but my tears were still flowing. Was this a joke?
“Lyric Harper. Please,” The Priestess pointed to the spot where I was to stand before Jaris.
But my body was stone cold. I could hardly even blink.
“Lyric. Come on.” Father stood up, pulling me along with him.
I didn’t even have the strength to take my bouquet along. It was a miracle I was able to walk without falling.
My makeup was already ruined by my tears, no doubt.
Everything was ruined!
I was taken to the altar to stand before Jaris. His face was stone cold, like the part of him I despised. He wouldn’t even look at me. At that point, he looked like he’d rather be listening to the sound of nails scraping against a chalkboard than be here with me.
“What happened?” My voice was barely above a whisper, the pain still evident. “We’ve been waiting… for three hours.”
He still wouldn’t look at me. The expression on his face terrified me, just as much as it wounded me. What was wrong with him!?
My lips quivered as I glared at him. He hurt me. Abandoned me. Yet he had the nerves to stand here and act all grumpy!? Oh, really?
It was even more painful that I couldn’t do anything about it. He was the only one with the right to terminate the contract. All I could do was stand her and take all the bullshit he offered.
The Priestess started the process.
I dropped my teary gaze to the floor, praying for the strength not to break down in front of him. But who was I kidding? I was already a weeping mess.
After a long procedure and proclamations, Jaris and I were mated.
She retrieved a jar of ribbon and guided us into knotting it.
“Congratulations, Jaris Dreadmoor and Lyric Dreadmoor. Henceforth, you are both one.”
The very few people in the hall clapped. But even I could notice how sad it was.
Who would’ve thought that this very day that I looked up to would turn out to be the worst day of my life?
******
“You have to say something!” I said in a near–cry as I ran after Jaris who had stormed out of the hall as soon as the Priestess joined us
“You can’t just leave like nothing happened!”
He stopped walking, taking a while longer than necessary to turn to me.
His eyes were so cold, devoid of any warmth or of days.
Successfully unlocked!
man that had made me blush in the last couple
“Let’s get one thing straight, Lyric Harper,” he started toward me, so intimidating. I stood my ground, forcing myself not to retreat. “I only came here ‘cause you’re a necessity. Because I need you for something. But know this—you’re to stay as far away from me as possible. I’ll have nothing to do with you. And hopefully, the year runs quickly so we can put an end to
this.”
41
What? Tears streaked my cheeks.
“How can you say this?” I asked when he turned around. “I thought we were… I thought we were good.” My voice broke at the last word.
I hadn’t felt pain this deep in a long time.
He looked at me again, his eyes not any warmer.
“I should’ve known you were all the same.” He stared down at me in a degrading manner.
What did that mean by that? What in hell did I do?
“Stay away from me.” He added and left, going into his car.
I remained there, sobs wracking my shoulders as I watched the car drive off.
He was gone. He hated me. But what exactly did I do to deserve this?
“Hey, Lyric.” Jace tapped me from behind.
I turned and fell into his arms, letting my tears run free. “I didn’t do anything. I don’t deserve this.” “Sshh. It’s okay. It’s fine.” He cooed, stroking my hair.
MARTA
Marta kept looking around as she met with Zarek a short distance from the temple.
“How can you come here? What if someone sees us?” She asked with a snarl, her eyes darting around.
“Well, that would be your problem, not mine. If you hadn’t ignored my calls earlier, I wouldn’t be here,” Alpha Zarek gritted the words. He was pissed. “What happened? I told you I loved playing fair!”
Marta rolled her eyes. “Well, it was fair, wasn’t it? She willingly followed you to the room.”
“Yet, she kept moaning the name of another! She thought I was Jaris. Can you explain that?”
“Please, I’m really not in the mood for this. You got what you wanted. As for me, I’m the one at a loss here because they still got mated!”
Zarek roughly seized her wrist, making it hurt.
“What’re you doing? Let me go!”
They were in the dark. No one could see them.
“You ruined my plans, you know that? I wanted her to fall for me. That was how I wanted to win the game! When you told me you could help, I thought you had something good up your sleeves. You told me you wouldn’t use any of your grandmother’s…”
“No. I told you I was only going to help you play fair. She willingly kissed you and went along with you. What game can be fairer than that?”
Zarek released her hand, but the rage in his eyes remained.
He felt deceived. The potion was meant to hypnotize and make her see the face of the man she loved. He was a bit surprised that Lyric loved Jaris that much.
“At least, tell me you slept with her. Give me something good to help with this mood,” Marta said with pain in her eyes. “You’re sick if you think I’d sleep with a woman while she’s moaning the name of another.”
“Ugh!” She grunted in frustration. “I hate this! I shouldn’t have helped you if I had known, since you’re so ungrateful.” She stepped toward him, meeting his gaze with defiance. “This should be the last time you contact me. You and I, our business is over. Don’t get me in trouble because, well, you’d be in trouble too.”
She turned on her hell and walked away, fury bubbling within her core.
In the end, she failed Lyric and Jaris still got mated. Her grandmother was going to kill her.
口
Subscribed
7 Likes
2/2
