Page 11 of Blood Marked

She’d expected arrogance, some smug alpha declaration of ownership. But instead… he’d looked just as trapped as she felt. Haunted. Like the mark on his skin was eating him alive from the inside out.

He hadn’t tried to touch her. Hadn’t spoken cruelly. He hadn’t even asked her to play along.

He’d just looked at her like he didn’t know if she was his salvation or his executioner.

She had no idea who she was either.

But it didn’t change anything.

This bond, itviolatedher. Branded her. It stole her choice before she’d ever known she had one.

And she would find a way to break it.

Even if it killed her.

“Do I need to kneel?” she asked dryly as the girl finished lacing her boots.

The servant startled. “W-what?”

“For this little performance. Do they expect me to bow to the Alpha King or just let them inspect the merchandise from a distance?”

The girl’s eyes widened. “I—I don’t know…”

Selene forced a smile, soft but brittle. “Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of experience performing.”

Her father had trained her well. She’d learned to keep her back straight and her voice even while old men argued over treaties. Learned to sit silent while power-drunk officials discussed strategy like it was a chessboard and she was one of the pawns.

But not this time.

Not again.

By the time they led her from the guest quarters, her mask was back in place. Calm. Controlled. Unreadable.

Two guards flanked her, neither speaking.

They passed under archways carved with runes she didn’t recognize, the scent of frost and pine thick in the air. The citadel pulsed with life—servants moving quickly, shifters watching her with narrowed eyes.

Some curious.

Some resentful.

Some hungry.

She kept her gaze forward. Shoulders square. If they wanted to gawk, let them.

Let them see she wouldn’t flinch.

But as she neared the high doors of the court, her pace faltered.

Because she could feel him.

Kael.

Somewhere on the other side of that door. Like a cord pulling taut. Like a tide dragging her closer.

She squared her jaw and stepped into the light.

SIX

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