Tatia
The sun had barely pierced the grimy windows when a heavy knock came at the door.. I rushed downstairs, my heart already pounding, to find Father at the door with the same envoy from last night. The man held a rolled parchment, sealed with the Thornveil crest, its wax gleaming like fresh blood.
"Garrick Duskbane," the envoy said, thrusting the document forward. "Here's the contract. Once you sign it, tbere is no going back and your daughter comes with me. Make yohr decision quickly. The ritual awaits."
Father's hand trembled as he took the quill from the table. "It's all there? All the debts cleared? Five years, no more?"
"Precisely." He replied then looked at me. "Tatia, pack light. The Alpha will provide everything you need at the castle."
I swallowed hard and glanced at my mother in the doorway. The twins clung to her skirts, with their eyes wide and looking scared. "Father, wait."
He didn't look up, just continued scratching his name across the page. "It's done, Tatia."
The ink dried too fast, and the seal broke with a snap. The envoy nodded. "The carriage is outside. Say your goodbyes."
I knelt first to Lira and Kael, pulling them into my arms. Their small bodies shook against me. "Hey, listen," I whispered, forcing my voice steady. "I'll be back before you know it, okay? Five years flies by. You keep practicing those charms I taught you, okay? Keep Mama safe."
Lira grabbed my skirts with tears pouring down her face in rivers. "Please don't go, Tati."
I knelt, cupping her face. "I'll come back, cookie. Five years, that's all. We'll count the days together, okay?"
She sniffled, then buried her face in my shoulder. "But who'll sing us to sleep, Tati? Promise you'll write."
"Every moon," I said, kissing her forehead. "I promise."
Kael gripped my hand, his voice muffled. "Don't let the wolves hurt you, Tati. You're stronger than them."
I hugged him tighter as my throat closed. "I know. And you're the bravest little witch I know. Be sure to take care of each other."
Mother stepped forward then, her steps were slow with hand on the banister for support. I stood and wrapped her in my arms, feeling her sharp bones under the thin gown. "Mama," I murmured, tears hot on my cheeks. "You rest. Use the money for the healer. Get better."
She cupped my face, as her eyes glistened. "My girl. You're giving us everything. Be careful with your magic. Hold it close."
"I will." I pressed my lips to her cheek, tasting salt. "I love you. All of you."
Father cleared his throat, awkward and gruff. "Enough. The envoy is waiting."
I pulled back, wiped my eyes, and grabbed the small satchel by the door. Just a few vials, a change of clothes and my hidden spellbook were tucked inside. The twins waved as I stepped out, their sobs following me to the carriage. Mother leaned on Father, who stood rigid, not meeting my gaze.
The envoy helped me in, his grip firm on my elbow. "The Alpha expects perfection. Do not disappoint."
The door shut, wheels crunching gravel as we pulled away. I pressed my face to the window, watching the manor shrink, my family's figures blurring into the distance. My chest ached so hard it made it hard to breathe.
Inside the carriage, the envoy sat across from me, unfolding a scroll of his own. "Listen well, Tatia. Your duties start now. As Alpha Droko's mate, you'll stand by his side in council, bear his heirs, and submit to the pack's ways without any questions. And absolutely no defiance."
I nodded, staring at my hands. "And the ritual?"
He leaned forward. "It's done to bind you properly. The purity test will be done first, and your chastity will be proven by the elders' spell. A silver chalice will be hung overhead and enchanted to reveal truth. If you're untouched, it glows white but if you're impure, it glows jet black. The the obedience test is next, with the commands from the Alpha himself. The final rite is… intimate, but necessary for the pack's trust. Fail any, and the bond breaks before it forms and you're discarded."
Untouched.
The word hung heavy in the air. Untouched. I wasn't untouched. At least not anymore. Three years ago, under a harvest moon, I'd given myself to a stranger. A charming out-of-towner with eyes like midnight and a laugh that warmed me from the inside.
The carriage jolted over a rut, and the memory flooded in.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'd snuck out that night, restless and feeking like the manor's walls were closing in. The village fair buzzed with lights and music, strangers from afar mingling with locals. That's where I saw him, leaning against a tent pole, his dark hair tousled, and a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Lost?" he'd asked, holding out a goblet of spiced wine.
I took it, curious. "Just wandering around. I'm Tatia. I live in this town. You?"
"Lucien," he said, bowing slightly. "From the shadowed vales. And you, Tatia, look like you need an adventure."
We talked for hours, his stories pulling me in. He joked about the merchants' bad deals, stories from his land, and mimicked a pompous lord until I laughed so hard my sides hurt. He was funny and light in a way our grim life never allowed. When he asked me to dance, I didn't hesitate.
His hands on my waist were gentle as he guided me through the crowd. "You're graceful," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Like you've got secrets worth keeping."
My heart raced. "Maybe I do."
Later, away from the lights, in a quiet grove, he kissed me. Soft at first, his lips brushing mine. I leaned in, wanting more. His fingers traced my jaw, then down my neck, slowly. "Tatia," he whispered breathlessly, "Tell me to stop."
"Don't ever stop," I breathed.
He spread his jacket down on the moss and laid me down on top of it, then his body covered mine with care. Clothes were slipped away, piece by piece, his feather-light touches exploring every curve. His mouth followed, kissing my lips, my collarbone, and then my breasts, drawing soft gasps from me. "You're beautiful," he said, as his mouth met my nipples and his tongue started flicking back and forth.
I arched into him, my hands in his hair drawing him closer, enjoying every wave of pleasure. He parted my thighs gently and just before he'd entered me, he paused and looked deep into my eyes. "Are you sure?"
I answered with a deep kiss and used my very own hands to put his head at my entrance. He pushed in slowly, inch by inch, pausing to let me adjust. "Like this? Tell me what you need, Tatia."
"More," I moaned, as I wrapped my legs around him. When he finally entered me fully, it was with a tenderness that made me cry out, half in pain and half in wonder. He kissed away my tears.
We moved together, a rhythm building, passionate and deep. His pace quickened just enough, thrusts hitting spots that made stars burst behind my eyes. I wrapped my leps around his waist as he moved inside me, gasps breaking from my lips, pleasure cresting like waves against the shore. His mouth never left me, whispering my name, tasting my magic as if it belonged to him. I clung even harder, completely lost in the tenderness of his touch and the way he kissed me through every wave, drawing out my pleasure until I shattered, crying his name.
Still, he didn't stop. He kept going and going until the world narrowed to only the heat of his skin and the gentle insistence of his touch.
"So sweet. So mine." he murdered against my neck.
With that, another wave of release tore through me, so strong I thought I might shatter, my body and soul unraveling beneath his touch. He followed soon after, burying his face in my neck, a low groan escaping as he spilled inside me.
Even after he was done, he remained still inside, and just held me, stroking my hair and murmuring all sorts of promises I was foolish enough to believe.
We lay there after, tangled and spent, his fingers still stroking my hair. We stayed that way for hours as we talked about everything and nothing. The night was perfect but dawn came all too soon.
"I'll come back for you, Tati." He promised just before he left. Then he vanished like smoke, leaving me aching and in love with a ghost.
He never did.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The carriage rocked again, snapping me back. My cheeks burned. That night had been everything a girl could dream of. It was soft and addictive and amazing and perfect. But now that magical night would be my doom.
"How does the spell work exactly?" I asked the envoy, trying to keep voice steady despite the panic.
He shrugged. "It's old magic. I'm not really sure how it works. What I do know for sure is it doesn't lie. But your father assured me you're pure so you shouldn't have anything to worry about."
I turned to the window, my mind racing. I could use my witchcraft could counter it... probably. Maybe weave a veil spell, to cloak my past and make the chalice see what wasn't there. But it needed precision and herbs I didn't have.
Instead, I'll focus on illusion. I'll bind the truth in shadows, just long enough for the glow.
The castle loomed as we crested the hill, stone towers piercing the sky, and banners snapping in the wind. Guards nodded the envoy through the gates, and we stopped in a courtyard bustling with wolves, their eyes curious on me.
A servant woman approached and bent in a low curtsey. "Welcome, lady Tatia. This way to your chambers."
As she led me up winding stairs, the envoy trailing bellowed. "Thirty minutes to freshen up. The ritual begins at the hour."
My room was lavish, a far cry from home. Silk drapes, a massive bed, a basin of steaming water. As soon as the door clicked shut, I dropped my satchel quickly and pulled out the spellbook. With my hands shaking, I flipped to the veil section then sank to my knees, pulling chalk from my bundle. My hands shook as I drew sigils across the floor, whispering incantations so old the words burned my tongue.
One to mask my scent. Another to cloud the Elders' senses. A third, untested, to veil the truth of my body. Each one drained me, leaving me trembling, sweat dampening my brow.
"Shadow bind," I whispered, gathering a candle from the table. I pricked ny finger until a little drop of blood formed. I chanted low, weaving the words. "Cloak the past, veil the mark, let truth sleep in the dark."
The air hummed, magic coiling around me like mist.
"Shadow bind, Cloak the past, veil the mark, let truth sleep in the dark." I kept chanting until I felt a faint tingle on my skin as it settled.
Wether it would hold against pack magic though, I couldn't tell. Only one way to find out.
I splashed water on my face and changed into the simple white gown left for me. The fabric clung to me like a second skin.
Just then a knock sounded at the door. "It's time."