Rian's POV
Imagine him thinking he can just say he wants to make amends—like that's enough. After everything. After treating me like a damned sex toy and tossing me aside like I was nothing. If he thinks he can waltz back into my life and fix it all with soft words, he's got another thing coming.
He's going to have to try a lot harder than that.
It was another boring day, the kind that stretched endlessly within the palace walls. No visitors. No errands. Just the quiet suffocation of my thoughts and this empty room.
"Let's go out to the garden," Mira said suddenly, breaking the silence.
I let out a long sigh, dragging my eyes away from the ceiling. "I don't want to see him."
It wasn't just about avoiding him—it was the ache in my chest, the twist in my stomach whenever I thought about facing him again. What would I even say if he tried to talk to me? That he'd ruined something in me I hadn't even known was whole?
"Maybe he just wants to make amends, Ri…" Mira said softly.
I turned and gave her a look so sharp she winced.
"You don't know what he did," I growled. "And just because he's the king doesn't mean he gets to treat me like that."
"But… but still—"
"Let's just go to the garden, Mira," I snapped, already pushing off the bed and walking toward the door.
But as my hand touched the knob, the guilt kicked in. I paused, glancing back at her.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," I said, quieter this time.
She smiled gently. "It's fine. I understand you."
"Did you take the cookies?" I asked, trying to shift the mood.
Her face lit up as she nodded. "Of course. How else are we supposed to survive a day in this place without them?"
I let out a small laugh and reached for her hand. We laced our fingers together, and just like that, the tension melted a little.
We stepped out into the sunlit corridor and headed for the garden. The scent of fresh flowers and clean earth welcomed us—but so did something else. Or rather… someone.
Darius.
And Nora.
Standing together under one of the stone arches, talking like there was no tension in the world. My stomach flipped. Mira slowed beside me, but I forced my feet to keep moving.
"Want me, indeed," I muttered under my breath, eyes narrowing.
Mira tugged my sleeve. "We should probably go back…"
"Why should we?" I asked, keeping my voice light but cold.
She nodded toward the pair standing ahead. "The king and… his mistress."
"I see them." I lifted my chin. "But we came here to enjoy ourselves, not to run from anyone."
We continued forward, even as I felt Nora's eyes burn holes into my skin. As we passed them, I dipped a polite curtsey.
"Your Grace," I said coolly.
Mira echoed me, and we didn't stop.
Until—
"Rian."
His voice. Just that one word, and the air changed.
We stopped walking. I didn't turn right away, but I knew he was already walking toward us. When I finally did look, Nora was glaring, her mouth curled in disgust before she spun on her heel and stalked away.
Darius didn't even flinch.
"Let me accompany you," he said, voice soft—like we were strangers meeting for the first time.
"There's no need. I have my friend with me," I replied flatly, gesturing to Mira.
She looked between us, obviously torn. Her eyes wouldn't meet mine.
"I—I'll start going back, Your Grace," she stammered.
"Mira," I said, my tone rising slightly, "we were supposed to go together."
She smiled apologetically, handed me the little tin of cookies, and started walking away.
"I'll see you when you get back, Ri!" she called over her shoulder.
Traitor.
I glared at Darius. He just smiled, calm as ever, like he hadn't shattered me.
"What do you want?" I asked sharply.
"I just want to accompany you."
I scoffed, barely hiding my anger. "I said I don't need it."
I started walking, hoping he'd get the message, but his footsteps followed mine.
"Ria," he tried again.
I stopped and spun toward him. "It's Rian."
There was a brief silence, his eyes searching mine. But I wasn't in the mood to give him softness. Not today.
He sighed, the sound low and frustrated. "I know. I just… I've been trying to find a way to talk to you."
I stopped walking and turned slightly, just enough to look at him out of the corner of my eye. "You had your chance," I said, voice even. "You made it very clear what I meant to you. A toy. A phase."
"That's not true," he murmured.
"Then what is?" I snapped. "Because from where I'm standing, you used me, dismissed me, and now you want to play knight in shining armor?"
He looked genuinely pained, eyes flickering with something I couldn't name. "I made a mistake."
I blinked at him. "A mistake?" The word tasted bitter. "You want forgiveness now?"
His jaw clenched, then relaxed. "No. I don't expect that. But I'm willing to try… to win you back."
His words were soft, hesitant. Real.
For a moment, I stood frozen. My heart betrayed me by skipping, just once, but I clamped down on it. I wouldn't be swayed by a sweet voice or a fleeting promise. Not anymore.
"Good luck with that," I muttered, turning away and walking faster this time. I didn't wait to see if he followed again. I didn't want to.
When I finally made it back to my chamber, Mira was sitting on the edge of the bed, nervously fiddling with a ribbon from one of the throw pillows. She jumped when I walked in.
"I'm back," I said dryly, tossing the uneaten cookies on the table.
"I'm sorry!" she blurted immediately. "He just looked like he really needed to talk to you, and I didn't want to make it awkward—"
"Mira," I interrupted, pretending to glare. "You left me there."
She pouted. "You were fine!"
"I was ambushed," I teased, throwing a pillow at her. She laughed and ducked, catching it mid-air.
"Did he say anything… interesting?"
"Only that he wants to win me back," I muttered, collapsing onto the bed beside her.
"Oof." Mira winced. "That's… unexpected."
I didn't respond. Not because I didn't want to talk, but because I didn't know what to say. A part of me had wanted to hear those words for days. But now that I had… I wasn't sure I believed them.
After a quiet pause, I stood up. "I'm going to the library."
Mira perked up. "Ooh, the one with the ancient books?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I want to read more about that witch lineage—the Signma Merrior. Something about that name keeps… pulling at me."
She stood as well. "You want me to come with you?"
"No, it's fine. I'll go alone."
Mira hesitated but nodded, understanding. "Be careful, Ri."
"I will."
The library was quiet, dustier than usual, but oddly comforting. I moved past the rows of scrolls and shelves, ignoring the ornate chandeliers and ancient rugs. My feet found the corner I had discovered days ago—the one with books so old their spines cracked under a breath of air. And there it was: The Legacy of the Signma Merrior.
I pulled the book down carefully and sat on the bench by the window. The late afternoon sun spilled across the pages like golden ink, catching the embossed symbols. I traced them with a finger, heart oddly steady.
Reading it this time felt different.
There were mentions of bloodlines cursed and blessed, of witches who could shift the tides of fate. And one phrase jumped out at me—"The forgotten child always carries the loudest truth."
A chill spread through me. Forgotten. Cast aside. Like me.
I flipped another page and gasped quietly. A symbol glowed faintly beneath my touch. It pulsed once, soft as breath.
Then I heard it.
A low growl.
In my head.
Familiar and strange all at once.
"You're not weak."
I dropped the book, chest heaving. My hands trembled, my heart pounding against my ribs.
"You were never weak."
It was her. My wolf. No longer buried, no longer silent. Her voice wasn't loud—but it was steady. Fierce.
Tears sprang to my eyes, unbidden. I wiped them away quickly.
"I missed you," I whispered.
" I missed you too Ria" she said