The Moonbound Bride

Chapter 5

LYRA

There was pin-drop silence. I looked around, observing everyone’s reactions. Breaking the quiet, I continued, “Please serve the food.”

A servant stepped forward, bowed, and began serving.

“PLEASE?!” Margaret mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I didn’t respond and remained silent at the table. She already seemed like a vamp to me—her fixated gaze and sharp tone screamed it.

As we all began eating, Lucas turned to Blade. “Now that you have your own wife by your side, brother, I don’t think it’s much of a problem for you.”

Why wouldn’t it be a problem for him? Both Noah and Lucas had already brought up the same thing.

Summoning all my courage, I finally interrupted. “Can I ask all of you why I’m here?” My gaze swept around the table in a slow circle.

Blade’s fork clattered onto his plate beside me. When I turned to look at him, his glare sent a clear message: Why did you ask that?

But I didn’t care. I never bothered him—I just wanted answers.

I had hoped Grandma Mildred would respond, but she wasn’t paying attention. Maybe she’s all sweet talk after all. Still, I couldn’t afford to lose my composure. I had no idea what this family of monsters might do to me or my parents, so I forced myself to stay polite.

“I’m sorry, Lyra, but I’m afraid we can’t answer that right now,” Vincent finally spoke.

“Why? I just want to know,” I blurted out impulsively.

“So desperate, like a bird trying to free itself from its cage. Ooh, I like it,” Lucas chimed in, amusement lacing his voice.

Why is he being such a b*tch? What did I ever do to him?

“Hmmm… don’t you like that, Lucas dear?” Margaret mused, inspecting her nails as she sipped her morning tea.

I didn’t feel like eating. The table was filled with food—French toast, cream and cheese, coffee, tea—but none of it appealed to me.

“Can you stop it, Margaret?” Elowen, Blade’s beautiful mother, intervened with a scolding tone. She was stunning—the most attractive person in the house.

“You always do this to me, sister-in-law. Marrying my brother is such a bother to you, isn’t it?” Margaret shot back, her words dripping with bitterness.

What in the name of family drama…

Meanwhile, Blade placed a medium-sized croissant on my plate.

“Eat,” he ordered, locking eyes with me in an intense glare.

I quickly took a small bite.

But I couldn’t let this conversation end here. Gathering my nerve, I spoke again.

“Anyway, just so you all know—now that I’m here, I’d like to clarify that I don’t have a knack for hallucinations. And I did see someone near my window last night.”

I said it all in one breath.

“It’s normal, darling! We all see someone in this house every other day. Nothing to be afraid of—you’ll get used to it,” Margaret interrupted again. She and Lucas exchanged glances before smiling at each other.

I wondered if anyone in this family was the one that I did see the last night.

“I can guide my daughter-in-law just fine, Margaret. No need for your help,” Blade’s mother interjected.

“I wasn’t helping. I was threatening.”

“Enough, the two of you! Please be good at the table at least.” Grandma suddenly yelled, cutting them off.

On the other hand, I suddenly realized something—it had slipped my mind that everyone in this house was wearing orange. In fact, the entire theme of the house was black and orange.

“What did you see?” Elowen asked, turning to me.

“Just a dark figure,” I replied.

“It could be monkeys. There are plenty of them in this area,” she said sweetly.

At this point, it was hard to tell who was genuinely kind and who was just pretending. I didn’t want to trust anyone.

I glanced at Blade. While we were all talking, he had already finished his meal. He stood up and announced, “I need to go to the office. I’ll catch up with y’all later.” And with that, he turned to leave.

Wait, what? He’s leaving me alone in this house? With people like them?

I instinctively reached out and grabbed his hand.

He looked back at me.

“Woohoo!” Noah interjected, smirking. “Holding hands and all, huh?”

“Stay out of this, Noah. It’s between me and her,” Blade warned.

“Or what?” Noah stood up too, clearly challenging him.

“You gonna bite me and suck up my blood?” Noah taunted.

Blade remained calm, though I could tell it wasn’t easy. Instead, he shoved me aside, making me stumble into the chair.

“Leave me. I told you—you’re not my wife. So act like it,” he said coldly.

I shot up, my anger boiling over. I couldn’t control it anymore.

“And I told you that I don’t want to be your wife! Did you forget? You married me—and now you’re throwing tantrums? Leaving me alone in this house, when I’ve spoken the most to you?” I snapped.

“Just stay here. Nobody’s going to eat you up,” he replied, his voice calmer now, as if my anger had finally made him back down.

“Or we actually can… Did you forget, brother?” Amelia sneered. Of course, I thought. She’s been quiet for way too long.

Eat me? What are they? Predators or what?

“Eat your own breakfast, Amelia!” Zoe suddenly spoke up. It seemed she and Amelia weren’t on good terms.

“Brother, why don’t you take her to the office with you?” Zoe suggested sweetly. She seemed like the youngest one here.

“Thanks, Zoe, but no. I won’t go to the office today. There’s not much work anyway,” he said, his tone noticeably softer toward her. Maybe she was his favorite sister—she certainly gave off that vibe.

He dismissed himself and headed upstairs to his room. I watched him go.

What am I supposed to do now? Talk to them? None of them seemed like the talking type.

I shifted my gaze to Amelia, who was munching on an apple, smirking at me.

B*tch. I already hate her.

I sat at the table, eating everything on my plate. A sudden surge of anger and hunger rushed through me.

This house was interesting in its mystery, but boring with all the drama. The rich and their lifestyles were so hard to understand.

As I ate in small bites, I counted the family members while they continued their gossip, chatter, and passive-aggressive disses. That’s when I noticed—Katherine, Blade’s stepmother, wasn’t at the table.

Do they not include her in the family? Or does she not live with them? But Edith told me there were thirteen members in the family—so why wasn’t she here?

“I heard Lady Katherine is part of the family. I wonder why she didn’t join us,” I said, practically inviting my own death.

“You have a curious mind, don’t you? And who told you about Katherine?” Ryder spoke for the first time in what felt like ages.

I didn’t want Edith to get in trouble, so I lied. “Blade told me.”

“Blade would never tell you about her. You’re lying,” Amelia snapped.

“It’s fine, Amelia. No need to fret,” Ryder said calmly.

I shrugged. “I was just curious. It’s fine if I don’t get an answer.” I pursed my lips, trying not to push too hard.

That’s when my eyes landed on the framed pictures hanging in the dining hall—portraits of each family member with their names written beneath them.

“Actually, I came to know from these pictures,” I said, pointing. “That’s why I was curious.”

“Stay away from all that, Lyra. It’s none of your business. Just enjoy your life here,” Elowen said—her tone polite, but really just telling me to shut up.

Why is this family so strange and impossible to figure out? There were too many gaps, too many inconsistencies.

After breakfast, I simply nodded at Elowen and left for my room. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to, but I just followed Blade’s footsteps.

“You are not allowed to leave, woman!” Lucas suddenly stopped me.

“We all get up in unison,” he announced.

So I sat back down, calmly waiting for all of them to finish.

It took nearly half an hour.

★★★

Walking to the bedroom felt like an eternity. There were so many things I still had to figure out, and just thinking about it made me feel like I was going crazy.

Can’t run.

Can’t talk to anyone.

Can’t get answers.

I’m doomed.

“Hey, woman.”

A voice called from behind me as I made my way up the staircase.

It was Lucas.

“My name is Lyra. You can call me that,” I said, not bothering to look back.

“Spare me your sh*t. You’re just a hostage in this house,” he said flatly.

I turned to face him, folding my arms. “Excuse me, but have you seen me? Don’t talk to me like that.”

He smirked. “Trust me, once you find out why you’re here—why we brought you here—all that ego of yours will be crushed.”

Why is he being so hateful?

“Listen, Lucas. I know you people have some bigger purpose for keeping me here. But I’m also determined to find answers. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s none of your business.”

“How do you know that?” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “How can you be so sure?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I just am.”

He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Well, I don’t want to, but… I could help you.”

“Stay away! I don’t need your help.” I shoved him back.

“Don’t trust me?”

I scoffed. “How could I? I barely know you.”

Lucas chuckled. “Fair enough. But if you do need help, you know where to find me. Just remember—nothing’s for free.”

“Just go away. I’m not interested.” I spun around and sprinted up the stairs.

But as I reached my bedroom door and glanced back, Lucas was still standing there—watching me.

His gaze was unreadable. Perverted, maybe. Indefinable. Unfathomable.

And it sent a chill down my spine.

★★★

Lucas seemed like the clever one—the one I had to be most careful of. He wasn’t easy to read, and he was too clingy. There was something dangerous in his eyes when he spoke to me.

What do these people actually want from me?

It had been two freaking days, and I still had no clue. I was attending wedding receptions, parties—playing along with their charade—but the only thing missing was answers.

I sat on my bed, thinking. What am I supposed to do all day? Should I ask if I can work on my novel? Surely, they’d allow that much freedom, right?

I needed to ask Blade. He was still home, after all. And he clearly didn’t want to take me to his office.

Did Zoe know anything? Who’s innocent in all this? Who’s the mastermind? The mystery only deepened.

I decided to find Blade. Asking the servants where his room was, I was met with wary looks—and warnings not to go there.

But this was my chance. I needed to ask him what I was supposed to do here.

I knocked on his door before swinging it open. Manners!

But the room was empty.

I stepped inside, glancing around. The place was massive. I walked toward the balcony and found myself staring at another section of the mansion’s exterior. Beyond the estate gates, a massive board loomed with the name “The Harlow's” boldly displayed. The area was surrounded by dense trees, adding to the eerie isolation of the place.

Then, suddenly—I heard the sound of running water.

The shower.

Blade?

I hesitated before stepping closer. The bathroom door was slightly ajar. It wasn’t locked.

I knocked. No answer.

I pushed it open just enough to peek inside—

—and froze.

Blade stood there. Naked.

His drenched skin glistened under the water. I immediately tried to turn away, to leave, but then—

He turned toward me.

And that’s when I saw it.

Dark spots marred his face, just below his nose. His skin had taken on a strange hue—yellowish-orange, with black stripes forming in between.

My breath hitched.

What… is he?

Then, he growled. A deep, low rumbling sound.

Followed by a slow purring.

I stood frozen in place.

His gaze locked onto mine. And then, in a voice that had dropped two full octaves, he snarled—

“Don’t just stand there. RUN!”

My body reacted before my mind did.

I bolted from the room, sprinting to mine, slamming the door shut, and locking it tight.

The world spun around me.

What the hell had I just seen?