I was always nervous that for some reason, he would start looking around too much and find the potion.
Once he asked about the bitter scent in my room. I lied to him it was the new tea Jennie had been bringing to me. He didn’t ask about it anymore.
But he did ask about the cat.
“I don’t know where it came from,” I told him one night, trying to sound innocent. “I came back from the library one day and it was just here.” I ran my hand over the cat’s fluffy fur and the cat stretched under my touch. “I didn’t send him away because I enjoy the company.”
Though he frowned looking at the cat, Lark let that subject go.
Unlike when fae from other courts came into the fortress for a diplomatic dinner, and Lark wanted me to join him. I begged him not to go, telling him I wasn’t feeling well, but he wouldn’t have it.
“You’re my wife, and you’ll be my mate. You have to be there. It’s non-negotiable,” he insisted, his tone not leaving room for arguments.
And that was how I ended up in a black gown with a tight corset and flowy skirt, and a long slit along my right leg. My long white-blonde hair was pinned behind my head, so the gown’s deep V showed off my bare back. The gown was beautiful, but I felt naked, exposed, paraded like a pretty piece of jewelry.
Lark waited for me behind the closed doors to the main hall. The diplomats were all inside and he wanted to make a grand entrance. He held my hand in his and when the doors opened and we stepped inside, I felt like this was our second wedding.
Though this time I was wearing black. Could it be my funeral?
As I expected, Lark walked slowly, turning me this way and that way, showing off his trophy wife. I plastered a weak smile on my lips and just went with it.
Soon, this would all be over. Soon, I would kill him and that would be the end of this farce.
After greetings, where I met several fae from all the courts in the fae realm—except for frost fae—Lark directed us all to the dining room, where a feast had been prepared.
I sat beside Lark at the head of the table, while the others took the many chairs along the table. No one sat on the other end of the table.
Dinner progressed as expected: boring as the fae talk about politics and lowly humans, and other races. Some were appalled that they had to come to the human world to meet with Lark, others were stunned the prince was still living here.
To be honest, I was too.
As a show to his guests, Lark reached to me and put his hand over my leg, slipping his hand around my thigh, dangerously close to my groin.
I squirmed as far as I could in my chair, but he closed his hand around my thigh, digging his fingers into my skin. I swallowed the yelp that threatened to escape.
All around us, the fae continued with their conversation, though their eyes shifted from our faces to Lark’s touch.
His hand hiked up, and just before it went too far, I crossed my legs and turned my body to the side, reaching for my wine goblet with too much fanfare. Lark had to drop his hand.
The guests noticed my move but didn’t say anything.
To his credit, Lark tried to keep going as normal, but his pride was hurt.
A minute later, he shot up. “Excuse us,” he said through gritted teeth. He pulled me behind him across the dining room and into the hallway. He let go of my hand and turned his furious eyes to me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I lifted my chin. “We may be married, but I’m not yours.”
“You are mine,” he hissed. “You will be mine. You better start realizing and soon, because when the Moon Period is over in another week, you will be mine.”
A chill ran down my spine.
Not if I killed you first, you scumbag.
I didn’t say anything, because if I opened my mouth, I would say things that would only put me in more trouble.
Lark glared at me. “You’re dismissed. Go back to your chambers.”
This time, I was glad to obey him. I simply turned around and marched along the hallway, going back to my bedroom.
Soon, I would be free from this place. Free from him.
12
Wyatt
From a distance, we watched the