Onyx's Pov:
*The moment we step back into the grand hall, the atmosphere shifts. It's as if Liam, our host, has been waiting for this exact moment. He clicks his glass, the sharp sound cutting through the chatter and drawing every eye in the room. The music obediently fades, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Liam clears his throat, his usual easygoing charm replaced by an unnerving seriousness. He scans the room, his gaze lingering for a fraction of a second on the children playing in the corner before settling back on the crowd.*
"Well, ladies and gentlemen," *he begins, his voice smooth but carrying an undeniable weight,* "you've all been wonderful folks and business partners. I'm sure some of you have started to notice some changes in me... changes I didn't know existed or thought were lost." *He pauses, adjusting his tie, a nervous gesture that seems out of place for him. My own heart begins to pound a frantic rhythm against my ribs. A cold dread seeps into my veins.*
*He clears his throat again, the sound unnaturally loud in the sudden quiet. He gestures with his glass, not towards the adults, but deliberately towards the children. My blood runs cold. My worst fear, the one I'd been pushing down all night, slams into me with the force of a physical blow. The children, who had been playing so innocently a moment before, sense the shift in the room. They stop their game and instinctively huddle closer together, their small faces suddenly wary as they look up at the sea of staring adults.*
*Liam's voice drops, losing its playful edge for something colder, more direct.* "Most of you here know that I'm not just a high-ranking noble man, but I also involve in some... fishy trade," *he jokes, but the laugh that ripples through the guests is loud and carries warmth.* "You people have been the best customers and business allies a man could ask for..."
*He pauses, letting the heavy silence stretch, letting the weight of his words settle. He takes a slow sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving the stunned faces of the crowd. The air is so thick you could cut it with a knife. My own breath catches in my throat, a silent scream building behind my teeth. I can feel Ash's presence beside me, a tense, rigid statue, his gaze fixed on Liam with an intensity that promises violence.*
"But..." *Liam's voice cuts through the tension like a shard of glass.* "...I am sorry to announce that from now henceforth," *he raises his glass again, this time pointing it directly at the huddled children,* "...I am stopping all illegal or species trade."*
*The words hang in the air, a declaration so absolute it seems to suck the oxygen from the room. A collective gasp ripples through the guests, a wave of shock and outrage. The sound is a physical thing, pressing in on me. My mind reels. He can't be serious. This is some kind of twisted joke, a power play. But the look on his face is dead serious. He's not playing.*
*My legs feel like jelly. The world tilts. I stumble back a step, my hand flying out to grip Ash's arm for support, my nails digging into the fabric of his sleeve. I look from Liam's resolute face to the children, who are now staring at him with wide, confused eyes. My heart doesn't just drop; it shatters. The fear I'd been suppressing, the dread that this was all too good to be true, comes rushing back with terrifying force. This is it. The fallout is going to be catastrophic.*
*Liam's voice cuts through the stunned silence, his words tumbling out in a rush, each one more shocking than the last.* "What I am saying is, I won't be capturing or selling any more children. These children you see present will be returned to their rightful families, and will be compensated. And those who don't have families... will be taken to the new orphanage home I just opened, where they will be treated and fed well as they await new... loving families."
*He takes a breath, his gaze sweeping over the incredulous crowd.* "From now on, I will only do legal businesses that won't exploit or harm others. I have some businesses that were already set to start anytime from now, and I hope you folks will patronise me more than you did this one."
*He pauses, letting that sink in, before delivering the final blow.*
*The silence that follows is deafening, a vacuum filled only by the frantic beating of my own heart. Then, it shatters. A low murmur ripples through the crowd, swelling into a cacophony of angry protests and shocked agreements. People are on their feet, shouting, demanding explanations. The atmosphere turns ugly in an instant, the glamour of the party dissolving into raw chaos.*
*Liam, however, remains unfazed. He raises a hand, and the noise subsides slightly.* "Don't worry," *he says, his voice cutting through the din with an unnerving calm.* "All who choose to return the kids will be refunded. And that is only if the child is returned unharmed." *The promise of money seems to placate some of the outrage, but the tension is still palpable, a live wire in the air.*
*My head snaps towards Ash, my eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and dawning horror. A cold knot of betrayal tightens in my stomach. You knew?*
*The question hangs between us, raw and accusing. I search his face, looking for any sign of deception, but I find none. He simply holds my gaze, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. It's a smile that holds a universe of secrets, of plans I was never meant to be a part of until now. He doesn't speak, but the slight nod of his head is all the confirmation I need. The knowledge hits me like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs. He knew. He knew all along.*
*Before I can process this, a cheer erupts from the children. The little ones, who had been watching the adults with wide, fearful eyes, can no longer contain their joy. They break free from their huddle, a wave of small bodies rushing towards Liam. They swarm around him, clinging to his legs, his arms, his fertile waist, their voices a chorus of happy tears and gleeful shouts.* "Thank you, Mr. Liam! Thank you!"*
*The sight is a stark contrast to the venomous arguments breaking out around us. The children's raw, unfiltered joy is a physical thing, washing over the room in waves. One little boy, with dog ears , the one with the perpetually worried look, detaches himself from the group and runs directly to me. He buries his face in the expensive fabric of my gown, his small shoulders shaking with sobs of pure relief.* "Miss, do you hear?" *he mumbles into the fabric.*
"I will finally meet mummy and daddy?" *He looks up at me, his tear-streaked face splitting into a radiant smile, and the tears soaking into my gown are the last thing on my mind.*
*My own eyes well up, a hot, unexpected pricking behind my lids. I kneel down, pulling the small boy into a tight embrace, my own tears finally spilling over.* "Yes, sweetheart," *I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.* "You will."
*My words seem to be a starting gun. The other children, seeing their friend in my arms, forget all decorum and swarm me. They're a whirlwind of small, happy bodies, all talking at once, their voices a joyful, overlapping chorus.*
"Aunty! Aunty!"
"Big Uncle says we're going home!"
"Can u come with us"
"Miss, can you help me pack my toys?"
*They cling to me, their arms wrapping around my neck and waist, pushing me gently but insistently backward. I laugh, a genuine, hiccuping sound, as I try to hug them all at once, my own tears forgotten in their overwhelming, infectious happiness. It's a chaotic, beautiful pile of children and hope, a stark, living monument to the change Liam has just declared.*
*I laugh, a genuine, hiccuping sound, as I try to hug them all at once, my own tears forgotten in their overwhelming, infectious happiness. It's a chaotic, beautiful pile of children and hope, a stark, living monument to the change Liam has just declared. The world of the grand hall—the hushed arguments, the furious whispers, the cold glares from the disgruntled guests—all of it fades into a dull, distant hum. All that matters is the warmth of these small bodies pressed against me, their joy a tangible force.*
*From a safe distance, Ash lets out a low, warm chuckle. He doesn't try to pull me from the pile of children. Instead, he simply stands guard, a silent, imposing figure watching over us with an expression of profound satisfaction. His eyes find mine over the heads of the laughing children, and he gives me a small, reassuring nod. ; he's a witness to a revolution, and he's pleased with how it's unfolding.*
*Liam's voice cuts through the happy chatter of the children, and a hush falls over the room once more. He doesn't even look at them, his focus entirely on the simmering crowd of nobles and merchants. His expression is one of cold, detached finality, the warmth he showed the children gone completely.*
"Now that the sentimental part is over," *he begins, his tone turning sharp and businesslike,* "let's discuss the transition. As I said, refunds will be honoured for returned, unharmed assets. For those of you who... prefer to keep your current inventory," *he lets the ugly word hang in the air, a deliberate provocation,* "...you are free to do so. However, be aware that the names and locations of every child you have purchased are now in the hands of the Law enforcers. They will be conducting random, unannounced wellness checks, from time to time. Any sign of mistreatment, neglect, or..."
*Liam's gaze sweeps over the room, his eyes landing on a few particularly pale faces in the crowd. He allows a thin, humourless smile to touch his lips, a predator acknowledging its prey.*
"...or any deviation from the standards of care I have outlined," *he continues, his voice dropping to a near whisper that nonetheless carries to every corner of the hall,* "...will result in the immediate and permanent seizure of the child. And you," *he points a single finger at the offender,* "...will find yourself on the wrong end of a very public and very ruinous lawsuit. Your noble name will be dragged through the mud, your assets frozen, and your freedom will be forfeit. Consider this your one and only warning."
*The threat lands with the finality of a gavel. A wave of palpable fear washes over the guests, their earlier outrage crumbling under the weight of Liam's cold, calculated power. The whispers die down, replaced by a heavy, suffocating silence. No one dares to speak, to move, to even breathe too loudly. They are trapped, caught between the rock of Liam's new legal empire and the hard place of their own dark pasts.*
*I finally manage to extricate myself from the children's embrace, their joyful energy now a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. I take Ash's offered arm, my legs still a little unsteady. My mind is reeling. This isn't just a change of heart; it's a hostile takeover. Liam isn't just leaving the business; he's burning the entire industry to the ground, and using the children as the accelerant.*
*The questions crash through my mind, one after another, a dizzying cascade of worries about Glizz. Does this mean she's free? Why isn't she here? Does she have a family to go back to? The most terrifying thought of all surfaces: will she leave me?*
*The image of her bright, curious eyes and her quiet loyalty flashes in my mind, and a sharp pang of loss seizes my heart. What about the raven woman? Will she just... let her go? Or will Glizz be sent to that new orphanage, lost in a sea of other children? My head is throbbing, the noise of the hall fading into a dull roar.*
*I'm so lost in my thoughts that I almost miss Ash's subtle gesture. He gives my waist a gentle, reassuring squeeze, a silent anchor in the storm of my panic. Then he steps forward slightly, placing himself between me and the tense crowd, a silent barrier. He turns his head and smiles at me, a small, knowing curve of his lips.*
*My gaze shifts from Ash's reassuring smile to Liam, who is now holding out a hand to me. His invitation hangs in the air, simple yet commanding. I glance back at Ash, seeking one last confirmation. He gives me a single, sharp nod, his expression unreadable but his posture telling me to go.*
*Steeling myself, I take a slow step forward, then another, my movements deliberate as I navigate through the sea of stunned, angry, and fearful faces. Their whispered stories and venomous glances feel like physical blows, but I keep my head high, my eyes fixed on Liam.*
*Liam's words land like a stone in a still pond, sending ripples of shock through the silent hall. He calls me an inspiration, credits me with showing him kindness. The sheer audacity of it leaves me breathless, my hand flying to my mouth. My mind reels, searching for a reason he would say such a thing, a reason to shield me from the fallout I can already feel brewing.*
*The shout from the crowd shatters the moment.* "Isn't she one of the slaves you brought and an unknown creature, at that?" *The words are a splash of ice water, instantly breaking the spell. Every eye in the hall swivels to me, and the stares are no longer just angry or fearful—they are now laced with contempt and suspicion. I can feel the weight of their judgment, a palpable force pushing me back.From the corner of my eye, I see Liam's hands clench into tight fists at his sides.*
*Liam's voice cuts through the stunned silence, smooth and polished as he gestures to me.* "Ladies and gentlemen," *he begins, his tone shifting from the cold businessman to something far more public and performative,* "I owe these changes to this lady. She inspired me to change, she inspired the best in me to come out, showed me the meaning of kindness in this cruel world."
*His words hang in the air, so unexpected and so... grand that I can't help but gasp. A flush of heat creeps up my neck as all eyes in the hall turn to me. I feel a sudden, dizzying pressure, the weight of his public declaration settling upon my shoulders. What is he doing?*
*Liam takes a deep breath, the air hissing through his teeth. He doesn't flinch from the accusation, his voice dropping to a deceptively calm level that cuts through the murmurs of the crowd.* "She was a slave, yes. I won't argue with that. And yes, her species is unknown to us."
*He pauses, letting the weight of those admissions settle. The hall is so quiet you could hear a pin drop, every single guest leaning forward, their faces a mixture of outrage and morbid curiosity.* "But that doesn't matter because..." *He reaches into the pocket of his impeccably tailored jacket, and my heart stops. He pulls out a small, black velvet box. With a flick of his thumb, the lid clicks open, revealing a ring of breathtaking beauty. A delicate band of platinum, set with a cluster of flawless, sparkling diamonds that catch the light and seem to hold their own tiny galaxies.*
*The world seems to slow down, the collective gasp from the hall fading into a distant, muffled roar. I can only stare, frozen in place, as Liam goes down on one knee. The polished marble floor is cold and hard beneath him, a stark contrast to the raw, vulnerable emotion in his eyes. He holds the small, black velvet box up to me, the ring inside a constellation of diamonds that seems to pulse with its own captured light.*
*His voice, when it comes, is no longer the smooth, controlled tone of the strong Eurasian lynx i know. It's shaky, stripped of all pretense, and raw with emotion.* "It doesn't matter because on this beautiful evening, I am asking her to make me the happiest beast man alive and be my wife." *The words hang in the air, a proposal in the middle of a scandal, a declaration of love in a room full of enemies. I can feel the weight of a hundred pairs of eyes on me, but I can only see him, kneeling there, offering me his entire world.*
*The air in the hall is thick enough to choke on. A hundred pairs of eyes are locked onto me, waiting for my reaction, for my humiliation. The whispers have started again, a venomous undercurrent of disbelief and scorn.* "Does he mean it?" "Look at her, she's just a slave." "It's a joke, a cruel joke." *The words are like tiny knives, but they can't reach me. I'm trapped in a bubble, and all I can see is Liam, on one knee, his eyes pleading with me.*
*My own voice, when I finally find it, is a mere whisper, trembling but clear.* "Liam... what are you doing?" *The question is for him, and for myself. Is this madness? Is this a brilliant, desperate ploy to protect me, or has the weight of his crimes finally broken him? My mind races, but my heart... my heart is a traitor, thumping a wild, hopeful rhythm against my ribs.*
*The world narrows to a single point of focus: the ring and the man holding it up to me. The questions assault me in a dizzying torrent, each one more terrifying than the last. Was I ready to marry a beast man, a lynx? The thought is so alien, so far from the life I thought I would have. To forsake my father, after everything... the memory of my confession, of his rejection, a fresh wound. How could I marry the man who, in a way, was responsible for my capture? Who bought me?*
*But then, another image flashes in my mind—the children. Their bright, hopeful faces. If I say no, what happens to them? Will Liam's newfound resolve crumble without my acceptance? Will he revert to the cold, ruthless businessman, and what would that mean for the children he just promised to protect? The weight of their potential futures rests on this single, impossible moment. And then there's the terrifying, aching question of my own heart.*
*The silence is a physical thing, pressing in from all sides. I can feel the weight of every gaze, the judgment, the curiosity, the sheer, unadulterated shock. They are all waiting for me to break, to crumble under the pressure, to reject this absurd proposal and expose the farce for what it is. But I can't move. I can't speak. My mind is a battlefield, and I'm losing the war.*
*Liam's eyes search my face, his own expression a mask of vulnerability. He's waiting, too. Waiting for me to either shatter his heart completely or... something else. I look from his pleading eyes to the ring,*
*Before I can stop it, before my mind can catch up with the storm of emotions, the word slips out. It's barely a whisper, but in the suffocating silence of the hall, it lands like a thunderclap.* "Yes."
*Liam's eyes widen, a flicker of pure, unadulterated joy lighting them up, but it's quickly followed by disbelief. His voice is a choked whisper.* "Really?" *I nod, unable to form any other coherent thought. The simple, stupid, word has sealed my fate.*
*He rises in one fluid motion, his arms wrapping around me in a crushing embrace. He lifts me off my feet, spinning me slightly, his laughter a sound of pure, unbridled triumph. For a moment, I'm caught in his happiness, the scent of his expensive cologne filling my senses. And then, like a cold blade through the warmth, I remember Ash.*
*Liam's triumphant voice cuts through the haze in my mind.* "She said yes! She said yes!" *The applause that follows is a wave of sound, but it feels distant, muffled, as if I'm underwater. I can feel the pressure of Liam's arm still around my waist, a heavy, possessive weight that pins me in place.*
*My world narrows to a single point: Ash. Across the room, the raw anguish in his eyes has curdled into something cold and hard. His expression is a mask of ice, but I can see the fury simmering just beneath the surface. The muscle in his jaw ticks, a silent, violent tremor. Then, he moves, his hand aiming for his dagger It's a small, deliberate motion, but it sends a chill down my spine.,*
*Just as Ash's hand moves toward his dagger, a flash of claret silk cuts through the space between us. The girl from earlier—the one with the calculating eyes—steps forward, her hand darting out to intertwine her fingers with Ash's. She speaks in a loud, clear voice, dripping with false sweetness, ensuring I can hear every word, but not so loud for Liam to hear* "Oh, well, that's that, then. Your Godess is taken by another and no longer available, Unlike us single ladies." *She gives a little laugh, a sound like tinkling ice, and her eyes flicker with open invitation toward Ash.*
*The effect is instantaneous. Ash recoils from her touch as if she's burned him, a low growl escaping his throat. He wrenches his hand away, his entire body shaking with a barely contained rage. Without a backward glance at the girl, he pushes through the crowd, his movements sharp and jerky. He stops before us, his gaze fixed on a point just over Liam's shoulder, anywhere but on me.*
*The air is thick with unspoken words as Ash stops before us. His jaw is tight, his knuckles white where he's clenched his fists at his sides. He avoids my gaze completely, his eyes fixed on some point over Liam's shoulder. His voice, when it comes, is strained, the words forced out through gritted teeth.*"Congratulations, Liam." *The words are flat, devoid of any warmth. They hang in the air for a moment, a final, bitter punctuation on the evening's events. Then, with a sharp, almost violent turn, he pivots on his heel and walks away, his back ramrod straight.*
*The girl in the claret dress watches him go, a sly, triumphant smile playing on her lips. She gives me one last, dismissive glance—a look that says 'I won'—before she and her friends scurry after him, their hurried footsteps echoing the finality of the moment.*