The feast dragged on longer than Rhea wanted. The hall echoed with forced laughter, clinking goblets, and the low growl of wolves trying to be civil while vampires watched them like prey that had suddenly grown teeth.
Rhea sat beside Elias at the high table, back straight, hands folded in her lap, the white silk dress still flawless despite hours of sitting. She had eaten almost nothing-just picked at bread and sipped water. Every time someone raised a toast to "the new blood bond," she lifted her glass but didn't drink.
She wasn't celebrating. Elias sat beside her like a statue-black velvet coat still immaculate, posture perfect, face calm. But she noticed the small things he did: the way his fingers tightened around his goblet when a vampire elder made a crude joke about "taming the wolf," the way his eyes flicked to her every few minutes as if trying to know if she was offended, lingering longer than necessary on the curve of her neck, the way the silk hugged her waist, the dark hair that had slipped free from its pins and framed her face.
He was handsome-dangerously so-and she hated that she had noticed. She Hated that when she first saw him on the steps, her breath had caught for one stupid second before she locked it down.
She refused to let that show now. When the last guests finally began to leave, Elias stood first. He offered his hand to help her up. But Rhea ignored it. She rose on her own, skirt dragging against the stone floor. He didn't react outwardly. Just turned and walked toward the side doors that led to the private corridors.
She followed him-not because she wanted to, but because the alternative was staying in the hall with drunk pack members and smirking vampires.
They walked in silence down a narrower hallway lit by fewer torches. The air grew cooler, quieter. No servants Nor guards. Just the sound of their footsteps which was weird to her.
Did they trust her to not escape? Elias knew she wouldn't escape because this was for her pack and she cared so much about them so he had made sure to tell the guards and servants to not disturb this part of the palace to make her feel comfortable.
He stopped at a set of double doors carved with intertwined vines and fangs then Pushed one open waiting for her to walk in.
The room beyond was larger than her what she had even imagined-high ceiling, massive four-poster bed draped in dark linens with rose petals scattered ontop, fireplace already lit, two chairs facing it, a low table with wine and two empty goblets.
Windows overlooked the night valley, moonlight spilling across the floor. Oh this was prepared for a wedding night! But it irritated her because she would not be spending any wedding night with this fucking booksucker Elias stepped inside after her closed the door behind her.
Rhea stood just past the threshold, arms crossed with her chin up. "This is the bridal suite," he said. Voice low and husky. "We share it tonight. Tradition." He simply said. She laughed like it was a funny joke. "Tradition. Right. Because everything tonight has been so traditional Mr. bloodsucker." He ignored her remark and removed his coat, draping it over a chair.
Underneath, his shirt was black, sleeves rolled to the forearms, revealing pale skin corded with muscle. He looked at her-taking in the white dress, her figure was so perfect, the fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed since the moment she stepped through the gates.
Fuck... she was gorgeous. "You're beautiful," he said with a low husky voice with send a tremor down her spine. It wasn't even like he was trying to flatter her, he was Just stating facts. Rhea's eyes narrowed.
"Don't."
"Don't what?" "Don't pretend this is anything other than what it is. A treaty. A damn contract. Not a real love marriage. That's all." He stepped closer. He closing the distance enough that she could smell him-his overwhelming masculine scent.
"You think I don't know that?" he asked with narrowed eyes. "I think you're looking at me like you want something more." She replied with crossed arms.
His gaze dropped to her mouth for half a second, then back to her eyes. "I do Rhea!" Fuck... why did he say her name like that. Rhea felt heat crawl up her neck. She hated it. She Hated that her pulse jumped and that he noticed the effect he had on her. She stepped forward instead of back, closing the last gap until they were inches apart.
"Then you're going to be disappointed Mr Husband. I'm not here to play house and I'm not here to warm your bed either. I'm here because my pack is dying and this was the price that was asked from me. So if you think one blood toast and a ring changes anything, you're wrong." Elias stood still in front of her. His eyes stayed locked on hers. "I'm not asking you to pretend."
"Good. Because I won't."she snapped. Silence stretched for a moment. He finally spoke again. "The bed is big enough for both of us. I'll sleep on the chaise though if you prefer." Rhea glanced at the chaise by the fire-narrow and hard-looking. Then at the massive bed.
She lifted her chin higher. "I'll take the bed. You take the chaise." Afterall the bed was softer and she wouldn't be sacrificing her comfort for any bloodsucker. A faint smile touched his lips-gone so fast she almost missed it. "As my wife commands." She bristled. "Don't call me that." "You are that!" "Not in any way that matters."
She shot back angrily. He studied her for a long moment. The firelight catching the sharp line of his jaw and the shadow under his eyes. "You're more than I expected wife," he said. She snorted. "You mean I'm not cowering?" "I mean you're not Really what I pictured when I agreed to this." Rhea turned away and walked to the bed, sitting lazily on the edge. The dress pooled around her like spilled water.
"Good," she said. "Because I'm not here to be your pretty little bride. I'm here to survive. And if you get in my way, I'll make sure you regret it." Elias watched her intently.
Something flickered in his expression-attraction, yes, but also respect for her defiance. Maybe even intrigue. "I believe you will wife," he said. He moved to the chaise, sat, leaned back. Stretched his legs out. Rhea kicked off her shoes, and began unfastening the back of the dress herself. She didn't ask for help nor Did she look at him.
The silk slid down her shoulders, revealing the simple shift underneath-white linen, nothing seductive. She stepped out of the dress, folded it roughly and laid it over a chair.
The amount of relief she felt after removing the dress was insane. Elias watched every movement. He didn't hide it. She met his eyes in the beautiful mirror she walked to across the room to check her face.
"Enjoying the view?" she asked, voice flat. "Yes wife," he answered honestly as he lounged lazily. She turned to face him fully, arms crossed over her chest.
"Then enjoy it from over there. Because nothing else is happening tonight." He nodded once. "Understood." She climbed into the bed, pulled the covers up to her chin and turned her back at him. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, wife." he replied amused.
Mmm she's so strict, it made him so amazed. All he could think about was the day that guard she put up would drop and he would taste the fuck out of her, he'd make sure the tease her mercilessly and remind her how she told him it'd never happen.
The fire crackled as Moonlight shifted across the floor. Rhea stared at the wall, heart thudding violently, her skin still tingled from the way he'd looked at her, Infact she could still feel his gaze on her back, it was scary.
She was his wife but she was defiant. And she was going to stay that way! She wasn't here to be lovey dovey with a blood sucker.
But deep down, in the quiet part of her heart she refused to acknowledge, she knew: he was attracted to her and that was shocking. They had just met! Or was he just a womanizer?