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Chapter 4: Lyra

We take carriages to the shores that surround my father’s land. I have a carriage to myself allowing me time to gather my thoughts. I watch the scenery change from deep forests to rocky hills. The beach is just beyond this bumpy road and I can smell the salty air before the ride smoothes out to the resistance of wheels on sand. The Ryeok Clans ship, large and illuminated with golden light is the only thing seen on the dark waters. A vassal helps me down once the carriage stops.

“Please wait here, Miss.” He says and the carriage rolls away towards the farthest end of the ship. I walk closer to the water’s edge and remove my shoes. Sand squishes between my toes and I stare out over the dark horizon. I hadn’t smelled the salty air in so long, nor felt the brisk breeze against my skin. Ever since we were banished to the outlands, I had to take solace in the large lake beyond the manor. This sight is more welcome than the grand ship just a few yards away from me.

“Are you a fan of the ocean?” I turn and see Chan-Il standing beside me. The glow of his eyes stares out at the black abyss as though he can see for miles. The scent of his pheromones mixes with the breeze from the sea and I want nothing more than to wrap myself in the fragrance.

“I did when I was younger. I’m not so sure how I feel about it now.” I say honestly. I look towards the glow of the ship and I can see Chan-Yung and Ha-Rae whispering beneath one of the palm trees. They cast glances at Chan-Il and me every so often. I take a few steps aside to put some distance between us. I made sure not to go too far lest I lose his scent to the breeze.

“The sea in Gwandeong is inviting. It’s not too hot in the summer, nor too cold in winter. I hope that you can find your love for the sea again.” He turns those glistening eyes to me and I allow myself a brief moment to get lost in his gaze. My wolf stirs and pushes against my soul, begging to connect with this man. I ignore her.

“I hope for the same,” I respond in a surprisingly calm voice. We gaze at each other for a long moment. I am unsure if he does not wish to look away, or if I refuse to. I take in that steady glow of yellow as though I can burn it into my memory.

“Are you having a nice chat?” The voice is mocking with a hint of anger. Whatever spell Chan-Il and I are under is broken and we turn to see Chan-Yung standing there. His hands are behind his back and he has an unsettling angelic smile on his face.

“It was merely that,” Chan-Il responds, stepping away from me. I had not realized how close we had gotten. I make a mental note to watch myself when he is around. I have made a terrible habit of drifting towards him.

“Hmm…well, if you don’t mind, I would like to take my bride to the suite. She must be tired.” Chan-Yung takes my hand in his and whisks me away before Chan-Il can respond. I take a single look back at Chan-Il’s lonely figure in the darkness before turning my gaze to the brightly lit windows of the ship.

I knew it was grand from a distance, but it is marvelous up close. It is made of a metal I have never seen before and painted the brightest white. It stands at least two stories tall. Steam billows from three chimney stacks and the crest of the Ryeok Clan, two white wolves with crystal blue eyes and intertwined tails surrounded by laurel leaves, adorn the side of the ship. Their flag flaps in the wind on both ends and armed guards are positioned in various places from stern to starboard.

Chan-Yung leads me to the ramp to board and I cast one look at my homeland. My family, nor my father’s people were permitted to see me off. All formalities had been dealt with at the ceremony. I fight the sudden wave of grief that surges into my gut and blink away the tears that try to take me under. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Suddenly, howls erupt from the distant treeline. I know those howls. I joined those howls many times. It was my family. Each one is distinct in its chorus. I could hear my mother’s wispy chord and my father’s booming bass. My sisters, sound similar, but slightly different in their high octaves. My stepfather, not as booming as my father’s, but just as impressive.

The tears fall in rivers. I cup my hands around my mouth and scream into the night, “I love you all!” The howls stop and the silence that follows is full of the scents of my pack. They sent their love to me the only way they knew how, and that was enough to comfort me.

I turn away from the last thing my loved ones gave me and walk with more confidence onto the ship. The atmosphere is very different here. Everyone is busy doing something. The crew rushes about doing various jobs from tying ropes, to mopping the deck. Maids and stewards pass with arms loaded with laundry, trays of food and tea, or documents.

Chan-Yung keeps me against his side as we traverse the bustle. We walk until we reach a narrow passageway with stairs leading up. He moves his hand from my waist and takes my hand instead. We walk slowly up the steps and enter a long hallway lined with doors. We go for the double doors at the very end of the corridor and he gestures for me to go in first.

I am skeptical of his intentions, but surely he won’t try to ravish me before we are officially joined together in Gwandeong. I turn the golden knob and enter a sweet-smelling darkness. My eyes adjust and take in a large canopy bed, plush carpet, and armchairs in front of a fireplace. Light suddenly fills the room jolting me. I blink away the colorful dots in my vision and look around the room.

The color scheme is jarring, but the more I take in, the more intricate and beautiful it becomes. The carpet is a deep crimson and stretches the length of the room. The furniture is rich, and white with golden embroidery. There are tables set about the room with lamps glowing with a light too bright to be candles.

The fireplace is alabaster with intricately carved wolves staring at me with familiar pale blue eyes from their perches beside the grate. Their muzzles are snapped firmly shut and they sit on their haunches in silent attention. Above the mantle is the Ryeok Clan insignia carved in marble and protruding from the stone like a burn.

My heart is pounding as I finally gaze at the bed. It is big enough to fit my entire family comfortably with room to spar. The canopy curtains are silky and sheer. The thick duvet is white with crimson stitching. The pillows look inviting and I am reminded how tired I am. A soft chuckle makes me turn around to look at Chan-Yung watching me from the doorway. I had not realized I had stepped into the room. My heels sink into the carpet as though it will swallow me. I feel my face heat up and walk back to stand in front of him. He reaches towards me and tucks a loose curly behind my ear.

“This is our room. No need to be shy. Explore.” He says softly and motions for me to go in further. I give him a skeptical look not sure if I should trust the invitation, but my fatigue and curiosity win out. I walk over to the bed and sit down gently. The mattress sags beneath my weight and the duvet is as soft as it looks. A smile spreads across my face as I am reminded of the large bed and soft sheets of my childhood. The wool mattress, scratchy blanket, and thin pillows of the manor don’t even begin to compare to this. The rich scent of the room is also comforting. I reach over to the lamp on the bedside table and lift the paper-thin cover. A small, glass bowl casts a golden glow and I reach to touch it. Chan-Yung grabs my wrist and stops me.

“Just because it’s not fire, doesn’t mean it’s not hot,” Chan-Yung says, adjusting the cover back over the light.

“What is that?” I ask.

He gives me a stunned look which changes to realization, “Ah, I forgot your lands are cut off from the modern world. These types of things must be new to you.” He chuckles removing the cover completely. “This is called electricity and that is a lightbulb.”

“Lightbulb?” I ask.

“Yes. It is similar to a candle, except you don’t need fire to light it. You just have to flip that switch by the door.” He gestures to a small white fixture in the wall and I see a small knob turned upwards. I rise to my feet and go over to it. I reach out to touch the smooth switch and hesitate. I glance at Chan-Yung and he nods with an amused look. I gently touch the switch and flip it down.

The room goes dark and I let out a small yelp of surprise. I hear him laughing in the darkness and I fumble for the switch. I find it and flip it on. The room lights up again and he sits on the bed with one long leg crossed over the other. He is bent over and wiping tears from his eyes. My face heats up. I sit beside him, leaving a little space between us.

“Wow. It’s not every day someone is intrigued by the idea of electricity. Your clan should think about opening its borders to the outside world. There are a lot of inventions to make everyday life easier.” He closes the gap between us and I feel his heat on my arm. He leans close and whispers, “There are things more interesting than electricity, Issa.” An unpleasant shiver runs down my spine and before I can react he has me pinned to the bed. My arms are over my head and my legs are on either side of his waist. He leans over me with a smirk and a glint in his eyes.

“Please, don’t do this,” I beg. “We are not officially wed. The gods wouldn’t…”

“If the gods want to interfere, let them. As of today, you are mine.” He growls the last word into my ear and I feel his teeth sink into my shoulder. I gasp in pain and my scream is lost in my throat. I writhe under him and try to summon any strength I have left to escape. The change from earlier coupled with my fatigue and emotional exhaustion makes me unable to summon the power I need to push him away. His tongue snakes out and licks the blood from my shoulder. I feel wetness spread beneath me on the duvet and into the fabric of my dress. I whimper pathetically as I kick and thrash.

“Stop! Please stop!” I cry. Hot tears stream down my face and glide into my ears. My wolf whimpers within me, too afraid to burst forth and put up a fight. Every ounce of resolve I had upon entering this room is crushed by fear and pain. I feel his leg glide up between my thighs and grind into my panties. My lower lips are pressed together from the pressure he is applying and my lower region throbs with a mix of pain and pleasure. I feel myself soaking my underwear and I am pissed at how easily I can be aroused in this situation. This man is about to r**e me and my primal instincts are urging me to mate.

He pulls his face from my shoulder and looks down at me. My blood stains his lips and his eyes glow with need. His canines are sharp and crimson-coated. He takes panting breaths as his scent pushes out the smell of incense and fills the room. His pheromones are sharp and unpleasant.

“Chan-Yung…” I whimper. His lips are inches from mine and I cannot turn my head away.

“S…sir?” We both turn to the door and a woman dressed in a black tailored suit and apron stands there. She is young and looks terrified. Her small frame shivers where she stands and her hazel eyes are cloudy with unshed tears. In her arms is a pile of fabric and a letter balanced on top.

Chan-Yung rises off of me slowly and slides off the bed. I take that moment to scurry away from him and huddle against the headboard. He walks over to the girl, places one arm on the door frame, and leans over her. His silver hair spills forward and brushes her skin slightly. She lets out a small yelp but stands her ground.

“What?” He says in a low, dangerous voice.

“For…forgive me, but the Master has told me to come and prepare the young miss for dinner.” Her voice trembles with each word. He runs impatient hands through his hair and lets out a growl of frustration. He steps aside and motions for the girl to approach me.

She wastes no time putting distance between him and herself. She stands beside the bed and looks at me. She gives me a smile that is a mix of pity and kindness. “Hello, Ma’am. I’m Lyra. I’ll be your assistant from today on. Will you come with me to the bath?” She holds her hand out to me and I take it instantly. I can tell she is human from the moment our skin touches, but there is a subtle power to her that I cannot place. We walk to the door and stop in front of Chan-Yung. He leans there with his arms crossed and lust still in his eyes. Lyra bows to him and before I can cross the threshold, he grabs my wrist.

Chan-Yung whispers seductively, “I guess the gods want us to wait. But don’t think this is the end of it.” He licks my neck and I shudder. He chuckles, “See you at dinner, My Love.”