I froze outside the ornate doors of the gathering hall, my hand trembling around the receipt of the all expense paid trip to Maldives . I had spent months saving for, believing it to be the perfect gift for Kael—a symbol of my loyalty and love. It was just a simple trip, something any normal woman would give to a man who meant the world to her. I hadn’t imagined it would be the last thing I’d offer him before everything fell apart.
I had hoped it would make him smile, maybe even appreciate the effort I had put into it. But now, standing there, it felt meaningless.
“Kael, come on,” a voice interrupted my thoughts. It was James— Kael's friend I hadn't seen in years. His laughter sent a shiver down my spine. “Does she even know you were planning on claiming Selene?”
Claim Selene? What did that even mean?
Kael’s voice followed, tinged with annoyance. “She doesn’t need to know anything about it.”
But the words echoed in my mind like a distant drumbeat. Claim Selene? Who was Selene? And why would Kael refer to her that way? I had no idea what was going on, but something in my gut told me it wasn’t good.
Jame’s laughter rang through the hall again. “Come on, Kael. You’re not really going to let her stay here, are you? The whole thing was a joke from the start, wasn’t it?”
“ What do you think would happen if her brother finds out what you are doing with her ?” Another voice asks.
I didn’t hear Kael’s response, because something inside me snapped. I couldn’t stay there any longer. I felt dizzy, the walls closing in, as the voices blurred into a hum. All I could focus on was the way Kael spoke about me and him knowing my brother.Who told him?
I stumbled back toward the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I barely noticed the envelope slipping from my hands, falling to the floor with a light thud as I reached the exit.
I ran.
Later That Night
I barely registered the passage of time before I found myself in my room, leaning against the door. My body ached with exhaustion, but my mind was running a thousand miles an hour. What had I just overheard? Who was Selene, and why had Kael talked about her like that?
I thought about how he had always been so distant, so controlled. Was I just another thing for him to play with? Just something to pass the time until Selene returned?
The thought made my stomach churn, but I couldn’t let myself believe it. No, I had to be wrong. Kael loved me, didn’t he?
The door creaked open, and Kael’s familiar scent—musky and warm—filled the room.
“Talia?” His voice was soft, but it carried an edge. “What happened? Why did you not come again?”
I barely turned to look at him, unable to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry. I could not get off work.”
He stepped closer, his shadow looming over me. “You’ve been working too hard. Let’s go to the dinner tomorrow, and we can talk then. Maybe it’ll help clear your mind.”
His words, once comforting, now felt like empty promises. He hadn’t even noticed. He hadn’t even asked what had really happened. He didn’t know that everything had changed.
“I’m not hungry,” I said softly, looking down at the floor, avoiding his gaze.
“You should eat. I don’t like seeing you like this.”
I could hear the concern in his voice, but it wasn’t enough to cover the emptiness that was creeping into my soul. It was all falling apart, and Kael had no idea.
I wanted to say so much, but instead, I just nodded.
The Next Evening
The grand hall was filled with an air of celebration. The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses barely registered in my mind. Kael was by my side, but I felt like I was in a dream, detached from everything around me. Selene stood across the room, her eyes meeting mine for just a moment before she looked away, her lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. I didn’t understand why it made my heart race, or why it made me feel like I was standing at the edge of something I wasn’t supposed to see.
Kael noticed me staring and took my hand gently. “Don’t worry about her,” he said with a smile. “She’s just a part of the past now.”
I tried to believe him, but something in my chest wouldn’t let me.
I excused myself to the hallway, needing a moment alone to clear my head. But before I could step away, I heard Selene’s voice, smooth and dripping with something that made my skin prickle.
“You know,” she said, her voice coming from the shadows, “he’ll never choose you over me. He never will.”
My throat tightened as I turned to face her. “What do you mean?”
“Kael belongs with me,” she replied coldly. “And you’re just his little distraction.”
Her words hit harder than any slap could. I wanted to scream, to shout, but instead, I stood there frozen. I couldn’t even comprehend the reality of what she was saying. How did she know? Why was she so sure?
“I never wanted this for you, Talia,” Selene said softly, her tone almost pitying. “But if you continue to stay, you’ll only be hurt more. Kael will always come back to me.”
My heart sank, the weight of her words nearly too much to bear. I didn’t want to believe her, but deep down, I could feel it. She was right.
