Kieran straightened up, and I could see the political calculations happening behind his golden eyes. The Crown Prince was handsome in that annoying way where you wanted to punch him but also maybe stare at him for a while. Sharp cheekbones, perfect hair, it was the type of confidence that came from being told you were special since birth. "I agree with Alpha Shadowmere," he announced. "I cannot take a mate who would weaken the royal bloodline. I also reject this bond."
Two down.
The crowd was in an uproar now. This had never happened before. Nobody rejected a mate chosen by the Blood Moon itself.
Theron shrugged his massive shoulders. "She'd be a liability in battle. Can't have that. I reject the bond too."
Three.
Cassian tilted his head, still studying me like I was a particularly interesting bug. "You're all being hasty," he said, but then he looked at the other Alphas and seemed to realize he was outnumbered. His silver eyes went cold. "But I won't be bound to someone who can't even channel basic magic. I reject this bond as well."
Four for four.
Everyone looked at Darius, who sighed like we were all inconveniencing him terribly. "Well, I'm not going to be the only one stuck with her," he said, examining his nails again. "I reject the bond. No offense, sweetheart, but you're just not memorable enough for me."
And there it was.
All five of my supposed fated mates had rejected me in front of the entire kingdom.
The High Priestess looked like she was about to have a stroke. "This is... this is unprecedented. The prophecy..."
"The prophecy can go to hell," Kieran said coldly. He turned to address the crowd. "The Moon Goddess has made an error. These things happen. We'll petition for a new ceremony next year with a more... suitable candidate."
A more suitable candidate. Right.
I should have felt something. Heartbreak, maybe. Devastation. The mate bond rejection was supposed to be agonizing.
Instead, I just felt... tired.
And maybe a little bit amused, which was probably a sign that something was wrong with me.
Because the thing was, these five Alphas had no idea who they'd just rejected. None of them knew that the "wolfless orphan" standing in front of them had more power in her little finger than they had in their entire bodies. They didn't know that I'd been training since I was eight years old. They didn't know about the scars hidden under this ridiculous dress, or the blood on my hands, or the secrets I carried.
But sure. I was just a forgettable a wolfless orphan.
"Well," I said, and my voice came out steady even though I was screaming internally. "I guess that settles that."
Kieran blinked, apparently surprised I could speak. "You're taking this rather well."
I smiled at him. It wasn't a nice smile. "Oh, I'm devastated. Truly. However will I cope with being rejected by five Alphas who can't even be bothered to look at me before deciding I'm not good enough?"
His eyes narrowed. "Watch your tone."
"Or what?" I asked sweetly. "You'll reject me again? Too late."
Theron made a sound that might have been a laugh or a growl. It was hard to tell with him.
The High Priestess cleared her throat. "The prophecy remains, regardless of your rejections. The Void is growing stronger. The Demon King will rise. And according to the sacred texts, only the woman chosen by the Blood Moon can stop him."
"Then find another woman," Zane said flatly.
"The Blood Moon chose her," the High Priestess insisted, gesturing at me. "Lysandra Vane is the one."
"Lysandra Vane is a nobody," Darius said dismissively.
And wasn't that the truth? At least, the truth as far as they knew.
Lysandra Vane, orphan. Taken in by the Blackwater family out of the "goodness of their hearts." Living in their basement. Doing their dirty work. Just invisible, forgettable and worthless.
