Chapter 0057
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0057
He frowned. “What?”
“The stone. You made it glow the right color and everything. You could have cut down on the brightness and the theatrics a bit, I doubt any of them have ever seen an actual moonstone in action. What did you use?”
He blinked at me. “What?”
“The spell,” I said. “What spell did you use?”
The question seemed to catch him off guard. He blinked, the edges of his mouth tensing slightly, and for a moment, he just watched me. Then he leaned back against the door as if my question had somehow betrayed him.
“…why do you assume I did anything?”
I gestured toward him. “You don’t have to play coy. You could just-”
“Why are you so sure that it was me? I didn’t even touch it.” His voice was steady but his gaze sharpened. “Why couldn’t we be true mates?”
I blinked at him, then I laughed. “Theodore, really? I know you’ve read more than that. I’ve seen your library. Between the state of my bond with Lucas, the mark, and whatever spell you’ve cast on me- even if I were ever fated for someone-
“Not someone,” he growled. “Me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s impossible.”
“Says who?”
“Says every authorit
on the subject. I couldn’t recognize a second chance until I’m completely free of my fated.”
Otherwise, a whole lot of people would never be together. Things would be all out of order, and the experts all agreed that the Goddess, for all her whiles, was a much better planner than that. His eyes narrowed slightly. He looked frustrated. Irritated.
“If you’re so sure this isn’t fate, then how do you think I did it?”
“A spell,” I scoffed. “You have magic. You’re trained enough.”
He lost color in his cheeks. He stiffened, and that gave me pause.
Why did he look so shocked that I knew?
“How did you figure it out?”
“The bond-”
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Chapter 005-
+25 BONUS
“There are plenty of magic stones that I could have used.”
I tilted my head, thinking about all things magical stones could do, and nodded.
“Sure. There are.” His jaw dropped open. “But I’m not an idiot.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
I scoffed and gestured to my face. “Your eyes, Theodore. They glow. Seeing you on the battlefield confirmed my suspicions.”
He looked away, his gaze darting from side to side. He looked more and more nervous.
“Is it obvious?”
I blinked. “What?”
“Is it obvious? Are they glowing now? Were they ”
I held up a hand. “Magic isn’t well studied in this country, Theodore. No, it’s not obvious, it could easily be mistaken for wolf light. I don’t think anyone aside from me and whoever you may have told knows.”
He nodded stiffly, but he didn’t seem completely convinced. This fear seemed older, deeper than the fear that had been on his face at dinner.
“Your worries… Do they have to do with your mother?”
He worked his jaw. “She… made it clear that I should never let anyone find out.”
I nodded. “Understandable… did your father know?”
He looked away. “He knew… at the end.”
His tone was so dark that it felt like I would be pulled into the darkness of whatever memory was crossing his mind. I shuddered at the thought. Then, his expression turned suspicious and he looked at me, saying nothing. The air felt heavy with his unspoken question.
“Your secret is safe with me,” I said, meeting his gaze. “We’re in this together, for now, you know?”
He nodded slowly.
“Will you sit and talk with me?”
He licked his lips and nodded, sitting down beside me on the bench.
‘Why is Owen so invested in you finding a mate anyway? It’s painfully clear how much he despises you.”
Theodore’s gaze shifted, growing distant as he considered the question.
“Owen’s fixation…it’s not really about me,” he said slowly. “He couldn’t find his own mate. he
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still hasn’t, and his mother forced him into an aanged bond with
enne he didn’t love to
make him look like a better candidate for king… Hot that it mattered since I have no interest in being king.”
“Does he… have a lover?”
“Probably, but it’s more like a mistress, not a real love interest.”
I nodded. “It doesn’t help that he hates you, and ‘m… a far better candidate for luna queen than his wife.
“Violet”
A sharp knock broke the silence, interrupting hir
“Come in.”
