The Moonbound Bride

Chapter 7

LYRA

Sweat forms on my forehead as I freeze in place, as if someone has pinned me to the floor. It feels like I'm trapped in a nightmare, dreaming of a demon. But this isn't a dream. This is real.

Blade is not human. Or maybe-just maybe-this mansion is using some kind of holographic illusion to scare the sh*t out of me. But no. It's real. And unless I touch him, I won't believe it.

Why does he sometimes feel like a normal human, yet in the next moment, something shifts-just for a split second-and he transforms into this... monster? What is he exactly? Should I run? Should I stand my ground?

At this point, I think I just want to understand what's happening to him. But then I see his claws emerging, and terror grips me.

He doesn't approach me. He just stands there. And then-something else begins to change.

Fangs.

I watch, frozen, as he opens his mouth and lets out a deafening roar. The mansion trembles with the sound, its echoes crawling into every corner. A shudder runs down my spine.

I'm married to a monster. A beast. An alien, maybe. He could be anything.

Summoning my courage, I take a step forward, clutching the sides of my dress so tightly my knuckles turn white. His skin is shifting-deep orange streaked with bold black stripes.

He's not just transforming. He's struggling.

The roar, the stripes, the sharp fangs-all of it reminds me of one thing.

A tiger. A human tiger. Is he?

As I inch closer, he doesn't attack. He doesn't move. And then, in the blink of an eye-

"Blade!"

Grandma Mildred's voice cuts through the air.

And just like that, his transformation stops. The stripes fade. His fangs retract. He stands before me, human once more.

It happens so fast, leaving me standing there in stunned silence.

What the f*ck just happened?

First of all-who called me from the cave? And why did Blade react to it when it was meant for me?

Why was it calling me when Blade explicitly told me not to go there?

The questions never stop. They just pile up, and I have no answers at all.

"Grandma," he called out, his voice filled with something I couldn't quite place.

Standing at the top of the stairs, he stared down at her before abruptly pushing past me and rushing toward her.

He hugged her tightly.

She held him just as firmly, pulling him into her embrace.

And then, without a word to me, she led him away.

I stood there, stunned. Too many thoughts crowded my mind, each one more confusing than the last. I didn't have time to make sense of them all.

Still shaken, I turned away and headed straight for my bedroom. But even as I walked, I could hear it-that eerie, cavernous voice calling my name. Haunted. Persistent.

I refused to acknowledge it. Refused to look back.

Shutting the bedroom door behind me, I hurried into the bathroom, desperate for the comfort of a warm shower after everything that had happened today.

As the water cascaded down my body, I closed my eyes, letting the heat seep into my skin. Droplets trickled from my head, down my face, and onto the floor, the steady pitter-patter echoing like rain against my legs.

With my eyes still shut, an image flashed in my mind.

Blade.

His face.

His near transformation.

The way he looked in that moment-half-man, half-beast-was something I would never forget.

★★★

"Here's your dinner, my lady." Edith entered my room, placing the platter of food on the serving table in the middle of the room.

"Why? Isn't dinner happening with everyone tonight?" I asked, surprised.

"We were told that it's already late. You and Blade Sire arrived late from the office, so everyone else has already had their dinner. Yours should be served in your respective bedrooms," Edith replied.

"That's fine. Have you seen Blade around?" I asked, curious.

I have so many things to ask about everything that's been happening. I know he'll push me away this time too, but I'll try. I just hope he's okay after struggling to turn into... something else. Surprisingly, I'm not as scared of him anymore.

"He's in his room, my lady," she replied softly, bowing.

"Okay, then I'll have my dinner with him. Have you served him already?" I asked.

Edith's face paled with terror.

"I'm sorry, but that's not a good idea, my lady," she whispered.

"Why would you say that?" I frowned.

"Because... no one visits Sire at night," she murmured, her voice laced with fear.

"It's fine. He's my husband, and I want to see him. Just bring my platter and come to his room," I instructed firmly.

"I'm afraid that's really not a wise choice, my lady. Please," she pleaded, her hands trembling.

I stepped closer and gently placed a hand on her tense shoulders. "I know what I'm doing, Edith. Just follow me. Don't be afraid. You can walk with me to his door and leave afterward," I reassured her.

She nods, fear evident in her eyes.

★★★

As I approach Blade's room, I spot Amelia already standing outside his door.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"What?" She chuckles in surprise.

"I can't believe this. You're questioning me?" She laughs, almost mockingly.

"Yeah, because I don't trust you," I say bluntly.

I really don't trust this meanie. She reeks of selfishness. What is she doing outside his bedroom when Blade is vulnerable?

"Nah, you really don't want to mess with me, you stupid woman," she sneers, stepping closer.

"Anyway, I don't have time to argue with you. I'm here to have dinner with my husband." I shove past her, making my way to the door.

She stands there, jaw dropped, before scoffing, "Blade is never going to pay attention to you. You're being ridiculous."

Then, with a smirk, she adds, "Go inside at your own risk, darling Lyra," before turning and walking downstairs.

Then why was she here? I don't think Blade is on good terms with her either-just like Noah or Lucas. Was she trying to provoke him? Is Grandma inside with him?

I glance at Edith. "You can leave now."

She gives me a sly smile before walking away.

Taking a deep breath, I brace myself and step toward his bedroom-one that feels more like a monster's den.

Slightly knocking on the door, I stepped inside. Amelia had just come out of the room, so it wasn't fully closed. To my surprise, Blade had already begun eating his dinner.

I stood in the doorway, watching him. When he finally noticed me, I asked, "Can I come in?"

He nodded. He looked so tired, like everything that had happened earlier had already drained him. On top of that, he had spent the entire day in his office, dealing with the press conference and other business matters. It was obvious he was exhausted.

"Why are you here at this hour?" he asked, setting his fork elegantly on the plate.

"I wanted to have dinner with you," I said, fiddling with my fingers.

"No way. I've already started, and I don't meet anyone at this hour," he rejected my proposal outright.

"I won't bother you. I just... I know what you must have gone through."

He chuckled. "Huh! You know nothing, Lyra."

"Just go and have your dinner. That's it." He didn't even look at me as he continued eating.

I hesitated before speaking again. "See, I just really need to know what's going on. I'm sorry-I know you get pissed when I ask-but it's about time you tell me. So far, I know you're not human. Hiding anything from me won't work."

He paused for a moment, then smirked. "You know I'm not human, yet you're still here? What kind of bravery is that?" He laughed, still eating.

"This bravery means nothing when it comes to finding my parents. And when it comes to knowing why you married me."

I continued while he ate. "Is this something I'm supposed to help you with? This struggle of yours? I saw how you were tossing and turning earlier when it was happening to you."

"That's not a bother, Lyra. That's just who I am."

"I don't understand," I frowned, studying him closely as I sat on his bed.

"If I'm not that, then I'm nothing," he said before continuing his meal.

He's definitely avoiding giving me a real answer. But he's forced to now-I've seen him transform twice. I don't want to push too hard, but what does he mean by that?

Does he mean that part of him can never be separated from him? Or that his real self exists only in that form?

"I see you haven't eaten anything. Just go to your room and have your food. Don't bother me anymore. Let me rest," he said, finishing his meal and standing up.

I didn't argue and turned to leave, but he suddenly called after me.

"Lyra."

I turned back to face him.

"Look, one day, you'll find out why I married you. It won't stay a mystery forever. And as for your parents, they're safe. Now, please, don't bother me anymore. If I turn into what I was earlier today, I won't spare you. And that's a guarantee." His voice was firm, but quieter this time.

I met his gaze. "You won't do anything to me," I said. "If you would have, you would've done it earlier when you were turning."

Then I walked away, glancing back at him as I did. He was deep in thought, realizing that, yes-he hadn't harmed me. Not at all.

And that was why I'd had the confidence to come here and talk to him.

Closing the door behind me, I took my food trolley out of his room. I was hungry, but since my plan hadn't worked, I decided to eat in my own room.

Tonight, I hoped I would sleep as well as I had yesterday.

After washing up, I lay down, waiting to see if the figure would appear again. But it didn't.

So I shut my eyes and let sleep take me, without thinking too much.

★★★

Morning was overwhelming again with breakfast with the family. The same drama and playful roasting continued. But this time, I managed to be on time-not early, not late.

Everyone was at the table again today, except for Katherine.

Her absence was another mystery. Was she even in the house? Or did she simply refuse to come out to eat? I didn't bother asking this time, reminding myself that I had plans to visit the library today.

At least I'd get to do something for myself while staying in this mansion.

Blade is smart. Allowing me to continue writing is his way of showing that he doesn't control me-that he's a good husband. It's all part of his carefully planned act to show the media and be in their good books. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let me step out of my room at all.

As soon as Blade slipped into his car to head to the office, I took my chance. I needed to ask the servants for directions to the library.

Blade must have forgotten that he promised me yesterday. And I wanted to go alone-without any family member tagging along. I trust no one. If they saw me, I knew I'd get an unnecessary no thrown my way.

I usually try to avoid Lucas, Amelia, and even Noah, but they weren't around. They had all disappeared into their rooms.

I wondered what they actually did for a living-if anything-or if they simply thrived off Blade's and his father's money.

In the kitchen, I found Edith, working hard as she kneaded dough for today's lunch.

I approached her quietly and asked for directions to the library.

★★★

The route to the library was damn confusing. I got lost-twice. But eventually, I found my way.

Massive iron doors loomed before me, encapsulating the library's exterior. Beautiful, ancient patterns were carved all over them, intricate and mesmerizing.

I pushed the doors open and was immediately overwhelmed. Books-countless books-stacked like towering anthills. The library was a perfect square, its walls lined with shelves packed tightly with thin and thick books alike, layered upon one another. They piled up neatly, nearly reaching the ceiling. A winding staircase stood in the center, leading to the upper levels. The place was vast.

I searched for hours, combing through shelves for anything useful. I found several books that seemed promising and gathered them into my arms-though the weight was almost too much for me to carry.

Then, something caught my eye.

A book, sitting slightly apart from the others. Its cover shimmered with gold and silver, adorned with vintage carvings that made it stand out. My curiosity flared, and I quickly moved toward it.

The book felt old. Very old. Like it had been sitting here for centuries. Maybe the oldest book in the entire library. It was thick, worn, yet somehow still sturdy and intact.

As soon as I touched it, a strange sensation crawled over my skin-like an electric current running down my neck.

I hesitated but turned to the first page, where its title was inscribed:

"The Primordial Book."

What is this about?

My curiosity burned.

Flipping through its pages, I skimmed over eerie words and symbols. Mentions of the Blood Moon, Sacrifice, Castle, Kingdom-and then, something that made my breath hitch.

Tiger fangs. Tiger King.

My fingers trembled as I traced the words. My pulse quickened.

Did this book hold secrets about this house? About Blade?

I swallowed hard, whispering the words under my breath.

"Tiger King?"

And I wondered to myself-what exactly had I just discovered?