Chapter 4
Thane's POV
I remained standing within the thick bush, hidden but I had a clear view of the open area where two figures sat having breakfast.
My eyes were locked on them, unmoving, and my ears were tuned in to every word of their conversation as it slipped through the soft morning air toward me.
"Look how clumsy you are. You've got it dribbling all over you," Prince Allude said gently, his tone light and teasing as he laughed.
I watched closely as Ava giggled softly in response to his words, her smile glowing with ease and warmth. The sound of her laughter was so familiar to me, yet this one pierced my chest.
Prince Allude leaned forward with a tissue in hand, dabbing carefully at the drop of honey that had stained her dress.
Ava's smile remained on her face, soft and unbothered, as though she was very comfortable in his presence.
My eyes dropped to where his hand met her body, and in that instant, my grip tightened.
I hadn't realized how hard I was holding onto the small metal lighter in my palm until I felt it snap in half, the sharp crack echoing softly in my ears. I hadn't meant to break it, but my strength slipped out of control. Yet again.
"If only she knew just how evil that two-faced Lycan really is," I muttered bitterly to no one but the air around me. "She would be running away from him on her knees if she had to."
I turned away then, unable to watch any longer. I knew that if I stayed even a second more, I might do something reckless or something that would ruin all the plans I had carefully put in place.
This marriage between them… it was never supposed to happen. The pain I endured as I stood back and watched my mate, my destined partner, the one i had waited years for get married to another man, it was unbearable.
Ava wasn't aware of the truth. She didn't know that I was her chosen mate.
That secret was hidden because I had sealed away my Lycan side before coming here I made the choice to lock that part of me away to hide my real identity and because of that, we had never bonded. To her, I was simply human.
I had barely taken one step away when the sound of their voices pulled me back in.
"Are you perfectly fine now to take the journey to my Kingdom? I can't wait to show you your new home," Prince Allude said, his tone warm and innocent on the surface, but I could see right through him.
"Yes, I am. We can make the journey tomorrow. You know the faster, the better," Ava replied with another soft giggle.
My jaw clenched so tightly that my teeth ground together. The muscles in my face ached from the pressure.
"It seems my plan won't be able to hold on for much longer, then," I said under my breath, my voice cold and steady.
I turned and began to walk away. My feet moved over the dried leaves without making a single sound. Not even a crunch.
Ava's POV
"Leave me," I ordered firmly but quietly to the servant who had come over to assist with taking off my dress.
"Ahhh." I let out a small, pain filled scream as the door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the now empty room.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and was met with the image of my eyes sunken and my skin pale.
Pretending to enjoy my new husband's presence every day was hectic, especially his touch, which made my skin crawl like ants running over me.
"It certainly didn't get easier pretending to love his touch," I said with a grim smile, my voice very low as I spoke to myself.
I gazed out the window, watching as nightfall descended, casting a dark shadow over the castle. "I should go out for a walk to clear my mind," I muttered to the empty room, pushing back my chair and standing up.
As I walked down the deserted hallway, the soft glow of lit candles lit my way.
As I stepped into the garden the air was filled with the sweet scent of fresh flowers, and my tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
But my evening was soon disrupted as I picked up a hushed voice some feet away, recognized as Prince Allude's.
"What was he doing in the garden at this time, and who was he talking to?" I wondered, my curiosity going over the roof. I bent down to take off my shoes and crept slowly towards the voice, my heart beating faster with every step.
As Prince Allude came into view, his strong frame stood stiff, giving instructions to a figure hiding in the shadows.
The mysterious person handed him something and then disappeared into the darkness. I took a step forward, my mind fixed on confronting him, but Thane's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"How do you feel, plotting the death of your wife just days after your marriage?" Thane asked, his voice calm and collected as he stepped into the open.
I was frozen in place, shocked by his words. My husband wanted me dead? This can't be true right? Prince Allude had been nothing but nice to me.
"And you must be her secret lover?" Prince Allude sneered, his voice dripping with malice, a large difference to the soft tone I had grown accustomed to the past few days.
"You don't need to know who I am, it's quite useless for someone who would be dying soon," Thane threatenen.
"That should be my line human, you heard what you weren't supposed to and so you would have to vanish without a trace." Prince Allude said coldly, his claws protruding from his fingertips as he struck forward.
My heart was racing as I thought of the fact thag Thane was human and was no match for him.
But before I could intervene, Thane moved with lightning speed, his movements akin to a king with extreme strength and nothing like that of a human.
Prince Allude seemed taken aback as Thane's hand plunged into his chest, digging out his heart with ease.
The red organ was held in Thane's grasp, beating softly as it bled, and Prince Allude remained standing for a few seconds before tumbling to the floor, lifeless.
"Who are you?" I stammered, staring at Thane in awe and fear. His cold blue eyes shone like ice as he gazed back at me, the wind whipping his black hair around his face.
But before I could process what had happened, a sharp pain pierced my chest, like my own heart had been ripped out and was being squeezed. Blood spluttered out of my mouth as the ground rushed towards me, and I blacked out.