KANE
Even as a child, I had been well aware of the fact that my new stepfather didn’t love my mother.
Though the King of Wega had always treated us well, and Margaret neverined about hisck
of attention or kindness, it wasn’t difficult to tell that he didn’t share any affection toward her. Truthfully,
Asher’s father had only married Margaret because she had been histe wife’s maid. After Selene
Collins’ death, the king was desperate to learn any and all information he could about the queen, and
he saw his union with my mother as an opportunity.
He asked Margaret to tell him everything about thete queen: how she hadughed, how she would
smile, the things that brought her happiness. Every single detail about her. Selene was the only subject
of their conversations, and while my mother didn’t outwardly protest or refuse him, it bothered her
greatly.
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She had told me once that she believed the king was just trapped in his regret. He regretted that he
had neglected his beautiful and beloved wife. He was remorseful and told my mother once in a drunken
stupor that life felt unbearable after Selene’s death.
Despite the king’s words and actions, Margaret was fully convinced things would change. She believed
that if she tried hard enough, she could help Asher’s father forget Selene.
But it was nothing more than a delusion in her mind.
Things didn’t improve, not in the slightest.
One day, I had even heard the king ask Margaret to imitate Selene.
I didn’t remember what I had wanted that day, but I had overheard the conversation when I was
roaming the halls of Merliscire in search of my mother. I had been searching high and low, and when I
arrived in the corridor near their room, I heard voices filtering out. I froze for a moment and then quietly
crept toward the room until I was just outside of it. I crouched down low to ensure I wasn’t detected and
held my breath as I listened in.
Their conversation was nothing noteworthy until the king asked my mother to speak like Selene. It
wasn’t a typical order, more like a plea, and when he spoke the words out loud, Margaret hadughed,
thinking it was a joke. The moment she hadughed, the king’s demeanor changed and his pleas
turned into amand. He told her that as her king, he was giving amand and she had to obey.
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Margaret had done as she was told and obeyed, though she was ashamed to do so. When her
imitation didn’t meet the king’s standards he berated her and told her she was a terrible actress.
“I thought you knew Selene the best,” he snarled at her. “That’s why I married you, Margaret. But it
seems like I made a mistake.”
He left the room soon after and Margaret broke into tears. Thankfully, the king hadn’t seen me as he
rushed out into the corridor, and once he was gone, I ran in tofort my mom.
As I looked at Kiara, I found it hard to speak. What I wanted to say wasn’t going to do me any good, nor
her. I wanted to say that marriage without love often leads to something tragic and horrible.
It was true, considering how Margaret and the king had ended. And it was the deepest secret I held in
my heart. I would never find the courage to confess to my brother that Margaret had beenplicit in
killing his father. She had once confessed to me that she had put an end to thete king’s life using
some sort of chronic poison, and while killing was never the answer, I couldn’t me her for wanting an
escape from the cruelty.
Kiara waited patiently for my answer, as if it was going to decide her future for her, and when I didn’t
speak, she reached out toward me and gently touched my arm.
“Kane?” she asked softly as her lovely eyes stared into mine.
I snapped out of my daze at once.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I’m just a little distracted. I don’t know, Kiara. I wish I had an answer, but I
don’t have one for you.”
The light in her eyes diminished and her gaze dropped at once.
“That’s fine,” she said quickly, and then she nodded her head. “It was st upid of me to ask, of course.
You’ve never been married so you wouldn’t know.
She nced at the window again and then sighed.
“I appreciate your honesty, Kane,” she said. “In the past… suitors would say without hesitation that they
were madly in love with me, as if they thought I was too slow- witted to know they were lying. But I’m
not. I know most of those men were liars. They only wanted me because I’m the Alpha’s daughter.
Their sights were only set on power and acent wife.”
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“You shouldn’t demean yourself,” I said softly as I tried to make sense of her words. “Kiara, you’re
clever and kind… you deserve so much more than a man who would underappreciate you.”
“Thank you for saying that,” Kiara replied, and she gave me a small smile. “I was happy when you said
you wanted to marry me. I had heard about you from cousins and friends who came to visit Anemond
at festivals. You’re even more charming than the stories I’ve heard.”
She stopped suddenly and then rose from her chair.
“But I don’t think we should get married,” she said, and then she nodded her head. “Thank you for your
time, Kane. I hope you have a pleasant night.”
Before I could utter a word, the Alpha’s daughter turned and started to walk out of the room. I jumped
up from my seat and immediately followed her.
“Kiara-” I called out, but she nced behind her and stopped in ce.
“If we hadn’t met under such a circumstance, would you have ever considered marrying me?” she
wondered as her eyes trailed over me. My lips parted, but before I could give her an answer, she
continued. “I think Darwin might be the better choice for me. He might be a bit too old, but I know his
love for me is real. He’s been here for me longer than anyone else and he’s loyal to my father. He
would respect me and treat me well. Perhaps it would be better for me to marry him instead.”
A lump formed in my throat and I wanted to say something, but again, Kiara stopped me, this time
holding her hand up.
“I’m not like my father,” she said. “I know the king of Wega is in trouble, and I believe Sky Pride
should do their duty and support the king. Even if I marry Darwin, I will persuade him to help you,
Kane.”
“I don’t think he would,” I countered before I lost the courage to do so. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea
for you to marry him.”
Silence hung in the air as my voice disappeared. I hadn’t meant to blurt out thest sentence, but it fell
out of me before I could stop it. I didn’t think she should marry that fool of a Hand, but I couldn’t figure
out a good reason to give her. I didn’t want to deceive her and tell her that I loved her or promise her a
perfect marriage. It would also be cruel to say that I distrusted Darwin and knew she wouldn’t be happy
with him without being able to offer her something better.
But it was true.
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I wanted better for her.
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She was kind, smart, and beautiful. She didn’t deserve to settle like she thought she did.
Before I could say something more, abrupt knocks on the door cut through the silence, and then the
door opened.
One of the soldiers who had been appointed to watch over Roxy stood on the other side.
“Pardon the intrusion, Lord Kane,” the soldier said in a panicked voice. “The sorceress has escaped.”