A Lover and A Liar

Like It Was a Plea

"Where are you going, Lina?" The sweet voice of her grandmother made Alina almost burst in tears, but instead she fought them back and planted a forced smile on her face. Not that she could really lie to Granny Margot, she had been the one to rise Alina since she was an infant, after all.

"It's just a short trip to my friend, Granny. She needs me." Occupying herself with the little clothes she had, she didn't look at the old woman's eyes. "I'll be back in a few days, I promise." Alina didn't know how much she would keep that promise. Once she had survived casting a spell on the Prince of the werewolves. A second time, she wasn't so sure about it.

And the thought of never seeing her granny again, once more it made her want to bury her face in her granny's lap and cry until she was tired of it.

But Alina couldn't. Not when this was the only way to protect her, just like she had done when Alina was a child, an orphan.

"Don't make promises you cannot keep, sweet child," Margot said. "What you're doing is dangerous, I know. And I know you. You're fearless just like your mother was, and I pray this won't get you in trouble one day."

Alina couldn't help it, she chuckled softly. It was just like her granny to try and act strict when she was worried about little Alina. Only that little Alina was not little Alina anymore. She was a grown-up witch, and it was her turn to protect the old witch.

Kneeling in front of the wheelchair, Alina took the wrinkled hands in hers and brought them to her lips, kissing them softly. "And my mother has gotten it from you." She smiled, sadly. Now more than ever, she wished to remember anything about her mother. "Don't worry, I know how to protect myself just fine. You've taught me, after all. Just don't forget to take your medications, please. And if you need more gold, go to Madam Lu. I'll repay it to her when I'm back."

This time, it was Granny Margot's eyes that filled up with tears. "If only you didn't have to do all this for me, my sweet child. If only I knew how to still protect you."

Alina gave another small kiss to her hands, shaking her head. "I don't want anything else but you to be better. Healthy." She felt as her grandmother stroked her hair affectionately. "Please, promise me you'll take care of yourself when I'm away. Please."

"You should be the one to promise me that, Lina," the grandmother insisted.

Alina only nodded once, not sure if she could keep this promise as well.

"It's getting late," she said, more to herself as she got up and took the small bag with her belongings in it. "I should go now, my friend... is waiting for me." Saying goodbye was somehow even harder than she had first thought.

Alina turned on her heels, swallowing down some tears.

"Lina, don't forget―"

"I know," she cut her off, not turning to look at the old woman. "I'll be a kind witch. I'll never use dark magic on anyone―"

"Put yourself first." This time, it was her grandmother that cut her off. "Despite everything, despite everyone, always put yourself first, Alina. This is a cruel world. For witches like us, without a coven, we have to do everything to keep ourselves safe. Even dark magic if it needs be."

For a few heartbeats, Alina didn't answer. She didn't know how to. Dark magic had been the one thing her grandmother had strictly forbidden, and rightfully so. They were light witches, the using of dark magic would consume their souls day after day, turn them dark, evil, until they couldn't recognize, even control themselves anymore.

And she had used it. Once... On him.

"I know," Alina only answered. She knew. No one better than her did. "I know, Granny."

There was nothing left to say. With a small smile, she walked out of the front door, leaving her old, small home behind. If she would ever see it again, Alina was not sure anymore.

***

"I got it," she groaned, frustrated. "I'll always bow down to the King, refer him as Your Majesty, never oppose him, talk to Lady Katherine is if she's my best friend, act as if I have known Sir Vincent my entire life. It's not that difficult."

Or Alina wanted to believe so, with everything in her. Because not only she had absolutely no idea of Court manners, but most importantly, she wasn't sure she could put off that many lies at the same time. She had done it once, of course, but it was only for one night. One ball. Now she wasn't sure what Katherine wanted from her, how much time she would spend there, and... how she would face him. After what she had done.

Would she be able to act as if she hadn't orchestrated a big lie in which he still lived in? Was she that good of an actress, that heartless of a woman?

Did she even have another choice, when she had seen the countless pair of eyes that belonged to the wolves that had surrounded her small, innocent house?

One mistake, and Alina would find her grandmother dead. She was sure no one was joking around about it, as cruel and sick as it was.

"And if you do something, anything, that might make the King doubt your presence and your intentions, you know what will happen, right?" The man's voice―whose she didn't know the name still―was rough and brutal, and a shiver ran down her spine involuntary.

She swallowed down hard. "I do." Alina hated being scared, being threatened, especially by wolves, but she had no other choice. All she could do was nod, repeat the words after him, and agree to everything he said; everything his Lady had ordered him.

They traveled all day long, and slept only a few hours at night, in an old inn that for her annoyance, resembled the one Alina worked in as if the same had made them both, no matter they were inside the Kingdom of the Wolves now.

The next morning, she woke up with a rough knock against the wooden door, one that made her jump off her bed abruptly.

"What do you want?" she asked, sounding the opposite of scared.

"Wake up, witch, I will not wait you finish your beauty sleep!" The voice was becoming more hateful as the hours went by. "And get ready, we're not that far away from the Court."

With a sigh, Alina decided to finally open the door. It was no use being stubborn, not when she couldn't go back to sleeping anymore.

His nose scrunched when his eyes moved up and down her. "Wear this," he ordered, leaving a big gown on her hands. "But take a bath first. You stink."

Alina rolled her eyes, containing herself from casting a small spell in him, probably to cut his tongue so he would just stop talking. "This thing is big, why do I have to wear it?" she complained.

"Do you think you'll meet the King wearing that?" The wolf looked at her old dress in disgust. "You're supposed to be a noble Lady. And do something about those hair. Tie them up, or I don't know. Anything but that."

Slamming the door in his face, she cursed under her breath. Bloody wolf! There was nothing wrong with her hair. Sure, they were a bit messy, and untamed. But that didn't make her less than those noble ladies that spent half of their days in front of their mirrors, right?

Alina sighed. Why was she worrying about this right now when she had a million more things she had to worry about?

However, all thoughts left her mind when she got inside the bathtub, the warm water calming her worries away, at least for a few minutes. Because as soon as she managed to put that big gown on, the reality washed over her like cold water.

Not because she did not look pretty. With the gorgeous light violet gown, that made her brown chocolate skin pop out, and her hair in a low elegant bun, she looked prettier than ever.

But this wasn't her. This was a facade, a complete lie, another sin she had do willingly make for the sake of whatever she had to say to herself to not feel the weight of it on her shoulders.

But nothing justified it, Alina knew that.

She knew that when she was inside the gates, in front of the castle she remembered so well, yet it felt like a lifetime ago she had been in there. It was still that beautiful. Still that mysterious.

"This is the last warn, witch. If you tell anything to anyone―"

"You'll mind-link the wolves to get rid of my grandmother in the worst way possible, I know." Alina was tired of hearing it.

Getting out of the pretty carriage, that was more like a small house on its own, she took a deep breath to try and calm her racing heart.

I have no other choice, she kept telling herself.

"This way, my Lady," the man told her when they noticed a few curious eyes on her. He took her hand on his, to lead her through the stairs, inside the castle. A few servants bowed down to her, and Alina fought the urge to tell them it was not necessary. To tell them she was just like them.

This was just so overwhelming. The surroundings, the people, the pretense, and she had been inside here only for a few minutes. Even making a small talk with a few ladies was difficult. It came natural to them, but all Alina wanted to do was run away from there as fast as she could.

Suddenly, as if in slow motion, all ladies and servants around her bowed down and it took Alina a long, long second to realize someone had stopped in front of her, that some emerald eyes were looking down on her in curiosity, and something that felt like confusion.

But confused was the last thing Alina felt like.

She knew, her body, her whole being knew her soul belonged to the one man in front of her.

Her soulmate.

"Julian," Alina whispered his name like it was a plea.