The Moonbound Bride

Chapter 12

LYRA

We reached Harlow Mansion, but my mind was elsewhere.

Viktor's gaze.

Unwavering. Intrusive.

I knew I hadn't seen the last of him. Something in my gut told me he would cross my path again. And soon.

The grand doors swung open as Ryder greeted us, relief evident on his face.

"At least you should have called Blade — to say you were staying at the office," he said, his voice laced with concern.

"I know. I'm sorry," Blade responded. "The network went down last night. Couldn't get through."

That was true. He had tried calling Mildred multiple times before bed, but the calls never connected. Could it have been the moon?

Ryder exhaled. "Thank goodness you're unharmed."

"Unharmed?" I echoed, narrowing my eyes.

"Yes. The moon went rogue yesterday. That never happens. The news says some star collided with it, caused the disturbance." Ryder's expression darkened.

I nearly scoffed. Bullsh*t.

Blade and I knew the truth—the moon wasn't reacting to some cosmic accident. It was reacting to us. But how could the rest of the world possibly understand?

"Anyway," Ryder clapped his hands, breaking the tension, "how about some breakfast? You two hungry?"

"Yeah," Blade replied without hesitation. "I had coffee, but I'm still starving."

Of course, he was. A carnivore through and through.

"Great," Ryder said, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "By the way... Grandma isn't happy that you stayed out without telling her."

I stilled.

Mildred.

That woman was controlling. They said Blade was the head of the family, but honestly? It felt like his grandmother was the real force behind it all. If anyone knew the deepest secrets of this house, it was her.

And right now, I had no desire to sit across from her and the rest of the family, pretending to enjoy breakfast while their cold, judgmental stares drained the appetite from me.

But I had no choice.

I had to follow.

We walked toward the breakfast table, but as soon as we arrived, everyone stood up.

Either they'd lost their appetite, or they were throwing a collective tantrum because of Blade and me.

My eyes swept over them. Cowards.

Amelia, of course, was the first to step forward.

"Nice, Blade," she sneered, her voice sharp as ice.

"Staying out all night with your so-called hostage bride." She emphasized the last two words like they were poison on her tongue.

I clenched my fists, but before I could respond, she leaned in, her breath hot and invasive.

"We have no desire to sit and eat with you, Lyra. Not after the little incident in the library yesterday."

Mockery dripped from her words, laced with thinly veiled hatred.

Blade just watched her in silence. No reaction. No defense.

Mildred's voice cut through the air like a blade.

"If you're all done with breakfast, return to your work."

The family began dispersing. No one objected. No one looked back.

I turned to Blade. "Where's Katherine? Why is she never here?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. The way everyone avoided the question said enough.

Before I could press further, Mildred spoke again.

"Lucas, Noah—you two will go to the office today. Blade has done his share."

Lucas looked pissed. It was written all over his face. No surprise there—he was a lazy, nosy scoundrel who preferred taunting people over doing actual work.

I muttered under my breath, "Nosy little—"

Blade caught it. His jaw tightened.

"Not here, Lyra. Not in front of Grandma. No questions in front of her too." He gritted his teeth, warning me in a whisper.

Then, turning to one of the servants, he ordered, "Send our breakfasts to our respective rooms."

Before I could question him, Amelia pounced again.

"Respective?" she scoffed.

She turned to Blade with a cruel smirk, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You spent the night together, and now you can't even eat in the same room? What's the matter, brother dear?"

Blade flung her hand off.

"Shut up, Amelia." His voice was sharp, final.

She huffed but didn't push further.

Why the hell is she still here?

Probably just to taunt us some more.

I had only one word for her.

B*TCH.

★★★

BLADE

I devour my breakfast, barely chewing before swallowing.

Just as I finish, a knock sounds at my door.

"Come in," I say, licking the last crumbs from my fingers.

The door creaks open, and there she stands—Lyra.

She leans against the frame, arms crossed, studying me.

"Ah, you've already eaten?" Her eyes flick to my empty plate.

"So fast," she mutters under her breath.

I smirk. "I am a tiger. What, did you think I chew my food like a human?"

She steps closer, sitting beside me. "That means... you must eat humans too."

I roll my eyes. "Are you here just to bother me?" I push up from my chair, heading toward my closet.

"C'mon, tell me. I have noticed how many times you've pounced on me." Her tone is teasing, but I hear the curiosity underneath.

I rifle through my clothes, searching for something clean. The shirt from yesterday still reeks of coffee.

"I don't eat humans," I say, pulling out a black shirt. "But I do drink their blood." I glance over my shoulder, gauging her reaction.

She stiffens slightly. "So... no human flesh?"

"No." I chuckle. "But I require human blood weekly to survive."

Her throat bobs. "And where do you get that from?"

I smirk. "What, you think I go on a murder spree every week?"

She doesn't answer.

I sigh. "Grandma provides it."

She processes that, her gaze dark and thoughtful.

I watch her, waiting for whatever theory she's piecing together.

Finally, she murmurs, "That means your family—"

I cut her off. "Don't start searching for clues, Lyra." My voice lowers, a warning.

She meets my eyes, defiant. "You might not be my meal, but my family can be."

Her jaw tightens.

She grins, triumphant. "That means I was right—they're predators."

Am I revealing too much?

No one has ever spoken to me this freely, without fear. She's the first. And for some reason, I keep answering her.

But I shouldn't forget—she was brought here for a reason. Once I get back what I've lost, this marriage, this—whatever it is—will end.

And I will forget her.

"Not all of them," I admit.

Her expression sharpens. "Amelia is, I know she is. And Grandma—"

"That's enough." I grab her arm, pulling her toward the door.

She resists. "One last question. Please."

"I need to change. Get out."

She smirks. "Oh, come on. I've already seen you naked once. Remember?"

My grip tightens.

"Don't try me, Lyra."

The teasing in her eyes vanishes. Her smirk fades.

She remembers what happened this morning.

And just like that, she finally quiets down.

"Please, Blade. I need to know about that dream I had." Lyra's voice is firm, her eyes pleading. She resists as I try to push her away.

"Are you a royal tiger?"

Too many damn questions. My brain spins.

"Just tell me everything. I know I can't run, anyway."

I exhale sharply. "I think I've been getting too friendly with you, which I shouldn't have." My voice drops, cold and firm. "Trust me, Lyra. You are not safe here, so stop acting like you are."

She swallows but doesn't back down. "I know that," she says. "But please, just tell me about my parents. It's been days—I haven't seen them. Just once. Please."

I hesitate.

"I can't tell you anything right now," I say finally. "But... Grandma said you'll be meeting them within the next day or two."

"What?" Her face lights up, and before I can stop her, she twirls in excitement.

I watch her in disbelief.

"And... do they get to stay here? With me?" she asks, voice filled with hope.

My patience snaps.

With a low growl, I grab her shoulders, shove her out of my room, and slam the door shut.

Leaning against it, I exhale, pressing my palm to my forehead.

She still doesn't shut up.

"I'll offer you my blood for a day—please, just tell me—"

I slam my fist against the door. "Get lost, Lyra!"

Silence.

Then, after a long moment, I hear her footsteps retreating down the hall.

I close my eyes.

She really doesn't understand, does she?

★★★

LYRA

Night creeps over the Harlow Mansion.

Another night. Another day survived in this eerie house.

I sit on my bed, staring at the dark corners of my room, waiting—again—for that mysterious figure to appear.

Blade hasn't left his room all day. Or maybe he did, but how would I know? I haven't stepped out either. There's nothing to do. No novels to write. No distractions. Just this suffocating boredom.

But despite it all, my heart hums with quiet happiness. Blade told me they're coming. My parents. I can't wait to see them, to tell them everything.

But then—

A thought strikes me like a cold blade to the chest.

If they're coming to meet me... then they must already know I'm here. They must know this family trapped me.

Do they know I'm married?

My stomach twists.

Too many questions. Too many unknowns.

I take a deep breath, forcing my mind to piece things together. No—they wouldn't know where I am. That much is clear.

I was supposed to be on my way to Sydney, researching for my next novel. I remember being on the plane. And then—

Nothing.

Just waking up here. In Harlow Mansion.

A chill runs down my spine.

My parents have no idea what they're about to walk into.

I only hope they can handle the shock.

But why can't I get Viktor out of my mind?

Tomorrow, I have to go back to the office with Blade. I just hope I don't run into him again. His gaze—it was wrong. Predatory. As if he was waiting for the right moment. As if he could... do something to me.

A shiver runs down my spine.

Forget it, Lyra.

Just then, a whisper outside my door makes me snap to attention.

I press my ear against the wood, holding my breath.

"Thank you. We already moved the Primordial Book from the house. It's good that it's no longer here."

Elowen's voice.

"Don't talk here, Elowen. This is her room." Vincent's sharp hiss follows.

Then—footsteps fading into silence.

The Primordial Book... it's gone?

That makes everything so much harder. If it's not in the house, then where?

Before I can think further, a sound scrapes against the glass behind me.

Something is crawling at my window.

My stomach tightens. Slowly, I turn.

The figure is there.

It lingers this time, watching me with nothing—no eyes, no face—yet I feel its gaze.

My breath catches as it inches closer, its form shifting in the shadows. Then—

It tries to get in.

I stumble backward, my heart hammering as it presses against the windowpane. Its clawed fingers scrape uselessly at the glass. Again and again. Trying.

But it can't. The closed window keeps it out.

It doesn't stop. It grows more frantic, slamming its hands against the barrier, desperate now.

My pulse is a wild drumbeat in my ears.

Move, Lyra! Do something!

I raise a trembling fist and bang on the glass.

A silver light bursts from my forehead, glowing right between my brows.

The same light from my dream.

The same light I saw before I touched Blade in his tiger form.

The figure freezes.

Then—without a sound—it vanishes.

I gasp, slumping against the windowpane. My fingers clutch the fabric of my nightgown, gripping it so tight I nearly tear it. I crouch on the floor, trying to calm my racing mind.

Why did it come for me like that?

And what the hell is this power inside me?

The wall clock chimed. Past one already?

It felt like an alarm, reminding me to sleep—to be ready to leave with Blade in the morning. I didn't want another scene like yesterday.

And I knew he'd drag me along if I refused.

Besides, I couldn't ignore the one thing holding me back from resistance—he was letting me see my parents.

So I had no choice. I had to obey.

Yet, no matter how much I tossed and turned, sleep refused to come.

Viktor.

The figure at my window.

The Primordial Book—gone.

My parents.

Excitement and unease tangled in my chest, keeping me awake.

But eventually, the moonlight bathed me in its silver glow, and my heavy eyelids drifted shut.

I needed rest.

No more dreams. Please, no more dreams tonight.

But the moment my mind surrendered to sleep, I found myself there again.

The same dream.

Blade. His tiger form. The villa.

The silver glow radiating from my forehead, spreading through the darkened forest.

Blade, illuminated the villa, what a divine creature in the night.

Why am I seeing this again?

But this time, something is different.

Someone else is here.

I turn—and my breath catches.

Viktor.

Blade and I are playing near the edge of a cliff—he moves like a massive feline, playful and untamed. And then... Viktor approaches.

But instead of fear, I feel a rush of joy.

I run to him, throwing my arms around him.

"You're late to the party!" I laugh.

Blade shifts back into his human form. He smiles and embraces Viktor too.

I freeze.

Aren't they rivals?

Then why—

Before I can process it, something else shifts in the dream.

A lion emerges from the shadows, baring its fangs.

Viktor moves like a phantom—faster than my eyes can follow.

With one strike, he slashes it apart.

The beast crumbles in pieces at our feet.

And yet... he doesn't turn his blade on Blade.

I toss in my sleep, my forehead wrinkling in confusion.

"Are you safe, Lyra?" Viktor's voice is soft but firm.

"I am, my dear friend."

Friend?

What?

The dream shatters.

I jolt awake, my breath uneven.

The early morning sunlight floods my room, chasing away the last echoes of sleep.

Yet the weight of the dream lingers.

I press a hand to my chest, swallowing hard.

Viktor was my... friend?