Chapter 6

LYRA'S POV:

I was dreaming of sunshine. Caelus was a small pup, chasing butterflies in a field of wildflowers behind the manor. Kaelen was there, his arms wrapped around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. His scent was pure, just pine and winter storm, untainted by the cheap perfume of another woman. In the dream, he whispered, "Forever, Lyra. Just you and me."

I woke up to pain. A dull throb in my head, a sharp, searing fire where the horse's hoof had connected.

The first voice I heard was his. Kaelen's.

"Use the finest elven herbs. I don't want a single scar on her face. She is the Luna. Her beauty must remain perfect."

His words weren't born of concern for my pain, but of pride in his possession. I was a beautiful object he owned, and he didn't want it scratched.

I kept my eyes closed, listening.

A soft, feminine sob came from the other side of the bed. "It's all my fault, Alpha. I was clumsy. I startled her mare. I am so, so sorry."

Seraphina.

Kaelen's voice softened into a low, comforting rumble. "Hush now. It was an accident. Hunting is dangerous; injuries happen. You are my chosen mate. I won't let anyone blame you."

My chosen mate. He said it again. The words didn't even cause a flicker of pain anymore. They were just a fact, like the sky being blue or silver being poison.

"Is she going to be okay?" It was Caelus's small voice, laced with worry. Not for me. "Did Seraphina get hurt when she fell?"

"I'm fine, little cub," Seraphina cooed. "Your father is taking good care of me."

"I'm going to check on your injuries tonight," Kaelen said, a flirtatious note in his voice. "Personally."

I felt a wave of nausea.

A familiar ping echoed in my mind. It was my mother.

"Lyra, what have you done now? The whole pack is talking about how you bullied poor Seraphina at the hunt."

I didn't open my eyes. I just sent the thought back, my mental voice flat and tired. "She ran into me. On purpose."

"Don't be ridiculous," my mother snapped back. "She wouldn't hurt a fly. She's a sweet girl. You need to learn to be more forgiving. She's part of the family now."

The link went silent.

A few minutes later, the others left, and Kaelen sat on the edge of my bed. He took my hand. His touch felt alien.

"Lyra, my love, you gave us all a scare." He tried to sound loving, but I could hear the annoyance underneath. This was an inconvenience for him.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. Really looked at him. The handsome face, the powerful jaw, the eyes that used to be my entire world. Now, they were just the eyes of a stranger.

"Kaelen," I said, my voice raspy. "I want you to do something for me."

He leaned in, eager. "Anything, Lyra. Anything."

"Make Seraphina leave," I said, my voice steady. "Send her away. Out of our lives. Forever."

"No," he blurted out instantly, a reflex. His eyes widened as he realized what he'd said. "I mean-Lyra, it's not that simple. She's bonded with Caelus, the pack elders-"

I cut him off with a small, brittle laugh. "I'm joking."

He looked relieved. "Oh. For a moment, I-"

"Could you get me something?" I asked, changing the subject. "The honey cakes from the bakery in the village. The ones with the frosted tops. They were always my favorite."

His face lit up, grateful for an easy task, a simple way to show his "devotion." "Of course. I'll go myself. I'll be right back."

He left. When he returned with the small, white box, I was sitting up in bed. He handed it to me with a triumphant smile.

I took one of the cakes. It smelled just as I remembered-sweet honey and warm dough. I took a single bite.

The taste hadn't changed. But the man who brought it to me had. The sweetness turned to ash in my mouth.

I set the half-eaten cake down. The last flicker of warmth I felt for him, the last echo of the love that had defined my entire life, froze over and died.

Now, all that was left was ice.

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