Bride Of The Beast

Realization

The silence after the door slammed was heavy.

I stayed on the floor, my fingers tracing the rug where Eilís had been standing. My skin still felt hot. That rush of his emotions had left me hollow, like a fire had blown through me and left only ash.

He was blocking it.

Every time I thought he was being cold or distant, he was actually straining to give me space. He was fighting his own nature just so I wouldn't be scared.

And I had called him ashamed.

I dragged myself up and looked in the mirror. Lady Raven looked back—red lips, pale skin, a delicate thing in a gold dress. I looked at the silk padding hiding my chest and felt sick.

I reached back and started ripping at the tiny buttons. Each one I popped felt like a stitch being pulled from a wound. The dress fell to my feet in a gold heap. I stripped off the padding and the corset until I was just me.

I grabbed a plain linen shirt from my trunk. The rough fabric felt better than the silk.

I walked to the balcony and pushed the doors open. The cold air hit me hard. I leaned against the stone, looking at the dark woods. Somewhere out there, Eilís was running. Or hating himself for letting me see the truth.

I made sure you didn't feel obligated to do anything because of the bond.

His words wouldn't stop looping in my head. He didn't want a mate forced by a tether. He wanted a choice.

I thought of Kiya’s smile and how she held his arm. She was a wolf. She wouldn't need him to block anything. She was what he was supposed to have.

A soft knock at the door made me jump.

"Raven?” his voice was somber, not his usual cheerful tone. I quickly went back into the room and picked up my nightwear.

“Can I come in?”

“Yes.” I answered, rushing to put it on.

Denis pushed the door open but stayed by the threshold. He looked at me, then at the gold dress lying in a heap on the floor.

“I saw Eilís leave,” he said quietly. “Are you okay?”

I didn't look at him. I just stared at the discarded gold silk. “I’m fine, Denis. He’s just… blowing off steam.” What else was I supposed to say?

“Raven.” Denis finally stepped inside, closing the door softly. “I’ve known him since we were pups. I have never seen him look the way he did tonight when he walked out of this room.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I felt small standing there in my plain nightwear.

Could I tell him? Could I trust him? What could it hurt?

“You were right to ask if we were mates.”

Denis’s eyes widened. “What!”

“No, that came out wrong, we are mates, I mean he marked me.” He still looked shocked.

I blew out a breath. “What I meant was that you were right about being doubtful cause we weren't behaving like mates. He's been blocking the bond," I whispered.

"He told me he's been holding it back so I wouldn't feel forced. He's been doing it this whole time."

Denis let out a long, low whistle. He leaned against the doorframe, his face turning serious. "The i***t. No wonder he’s been so on edge. Blocking a mate-bond that strong... It's like trying to hold back a landslide with your bare hands. It would be pure agony, Raven."

"I didn't know," I said, my voice cracking. "I thought he was just cold. I spent the whole night thinking he was ashamed of me."

"I don't think he's ashamed," Denis said. "I think he's just trying to be what he thinks a human girl needs. He doesn't want to scare you.”

His words would have lifted my spirits if I were actually that girl. But as I stood there in my thin shirt, my pulse jumping, I realized the irony. Eilís was paralyzing himself to protect a phantom—a fragile human girl who didn't exist. He was fighting a war for a lie, and it was killing him.

Even if I couldn't be the woman he wanted, I wouldn't be the weight that broke him.

My eyes flickered back to Denis, who was just staring at me. “What exactly is a prince's mate supposed to do?”

Denis gasped, his eyes brightening. “You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to ask that.”

*****

“A prince’s mate is supposed to be the one person he doesn’t have to lie to,” Denis said, finally dropping the mystery act. “But in this court? She’s the one who keeps the wolves from his throat. While he’s playing the soldier and the prince, she’s the one watching the shadows.”

I gripped the back of a chair. “You mean politics.”

“I mean survival,” Denis corrected. “Eilís is a fighter, but he’s blunt. He hates games. That’s why the Council is winning. They’re whispers and ink; he’s just claws and honor. He’s spent so much time trying to keep you ‘innocent’ and ‘safe’ that he’s left his flank wide open.”

I looked at the gold dress on the floor

Up until now, I’d been wearing it like a victim, waiting for the next disaster.

“Especially now that Lord Arden and some of the nobles are using your mating as an excuse to commit treason.”

“What?”

“We're even hearing rumors of humans trying to use the opportunity for various things, and Eilis has been trying to keep it under wraps, so this is the perfect time to step up and help.”

“He’s exhausted,” I said, the realization hitting me. “He’s blocking the bond, fighting the Council, and trying to pretend everything is fine. He’s doing it all alone.”

“Exactly,” Denis said. “If you want to unburden him, stop being the girl who needs to be saved. Be the girl they’re afraid to talk about behind closed doors.

You’re the only one who can get close to the nobles without them drawing their swords. You hear things. You see things.”

“If you can handle the vipers in the ballroom, he can focus on not losing his mind to the wolf. Give him one less front to fight on.”

“He doesn’t want me involved,” I said.

“Then don’t tell him,” Denis shrugged. “The best shield is the one you don’t even know is there.”

I nodded slowly. The guilt was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp focus.

“Tell me about the Council,” I said, my voice finally steady.

Denis smiled, and for once, it wasn't a nice look. “Now we’re talking.”