PH

o the

the Alpha, my soon-to-be h

s annoyingly good-looking, the kind of man who doesn't hav

is piercing grey eyes lock onto mine, and it feels like he's looking straight through me.

eeps over me from head to

sno

ound someth

head and laugh now, Alpha. Let's see if you're

remony

rward and speaks about unity. About how this marriage is m

pay any a

nd I take turns pressing our thumbs onto th

it's time

I was told to say. Words about lo

own, I kno

ean a sin

neve

t Grey

t, we finally arrive at Grey

thing like

wild because they were animals. I believed it.

s, factories... even tall streetlights and paved roads. High-tech

e each other, laughing, just like human children. If I didn't kno

ld. The kind of cold th

he edge of the city. He introduces himself as Caelum and

easily for my liking, especially when every other

d suspicion. Like I broke into their wor

dn't cho

re to play happy wife, t

and hallways like a cheerful tour guide. He shows me my bedroom, th

is somew

nd out what the Alpha knows, what he did to Natali

Caelum mentions, his voice

ha's study. Now that sounds

inside?" I ask, kee

Sorry. Only the Alpha

oor, noting the simple

le, already making a not

the hallway when Cael

thing?" His tone is

ah

rase people's memorie

It's one of the natural g

e I've just told him magic

y it on you?" I tease

ickly covering his

He's too easy and a lit

and he hurries to

nt to know about witches," he

e met who actually cares to kn

ht witches were ki

o ask what he means by that when a guard

you in the dining hall," h

" Caelum murmurs b

ard down the hall, tryi

oor to the dining hal

formal clothes and now wears a plain black shirt, but even in something that simple, he

eart starts to beat faster for no good reason. I quickly remind myself that

I settle in, my eyes fall on the meal spread between us, a full feast, like

d stays alert. This is enemy ter

humans even after your te

and annoyingly deep. I glance up at him. Seriousl

d check on me," I mu

oman I was marrying,

red to show up to any of

my aide

too busy?" I

a small n

what, if

s he speaks, he slowly undoes the cufflinks on his sleeves, like I'm not even worth his

th fal

insult me

g slightly forward. "Is that

yes unreadable. "I don't ass

d you see?" I challe

human. Playing house in

it. "At least I wasn't hiding beh

hat's more mockery than mirth. "You're fei

s dead then," I

ace, like my words somehow entertain

t afraid to

w and assessing. "Good. You

row. "Is that a

ching for his glas

s he takes a slo

s. My eyes drift just for a second to the thick veins runnin

s, this time mor

even touched his food? That can only mean one thing: he's trying to poiso

y, tilting my head a littl

et challenge flickeri

he bride must watch her husband eat bef

out, setting his glass down.

I'm a witch. I can't just throw aw

like he's trying to figure me out

switching it with his. "Eat," I comman

oon down and refuse. But then, without a word,

thing happens. No choking, no collapsin

e-the wine. Th

ch it out of his hand and switch it with

htly, as if to speak, but no words come. The hesitation in his

e glass and

h

the food, confuse

ps the back of my neck and

to mine in a kiss that's anything but gentle. His lips part mine with shocking

ggle, pushing at his chest, but he doesn't let go, not

he bites gently on my lower lip

rmurs, wearing that same devilish smi