I can sneak into the wedding. Or maybe just barge in. I don’t even know who he is marrying or why. Then I remember the conversation Nicholas had with Daisy.
“Why is he getting married?” I ask quietly.
Nicholas lets out a sigh through his nose, his nostrils flaring.
“She wants him to take over the throne.” He finally speaks. His voice low and agitated.
“What would marrying do? I still don’t understand all of this.”
“He is a shifter. Shifters get first rights to the throne. If he marries that puts him up for first dibs. If Isla can’t run the show anymore, he will take it over. Sandra probably has a plan to make her disappear.” His lack of emotion confuses me. Would he mind Isla gone?
“You think she would do that? And what about what he wants?” I gasp.
He gives a shrug and a little chuckle.
“You get told to do a lot of things in the family you don’t necessarily want to do. That was a big reason I left. I got tired of the bullshit. This person says you have to do this, this person says you have to be here at this time. Everything was planned. I couldn’t even take a walk without messing up my busy schedule. I hated it. Malik is very much like me in that aspect. He hates being told what to do and when to do it.” He looks over at me for a half a second before focusing back on the road again. “You are a good match for him.”
“Do you really think so?” I whisper, the self doubt still trying to take hold.
“Oh yeah. He needs someone just like you. Someone not in the family. Someone not used to all of that so he doesn’t have expectations. He just wants to be and you give that sense that you want that too. He can be an ass sometimes though, so just give him a little bit of a break.” He nudges me with his elbow and I smile at him.
“I’ll try.”
We pull over by the stables, the garages from earlier pass us before he comes to a stop. I hesitate getting out, my plan is still all a mess. I need to find my sister first and foremost. I hope she is in the stables. Nicholas reaches over and gives my hand a pat.
“I need to take care of a few things but I’m planning on crashing the wedding. Meet me at the chapel in an hour?” Holy shit. We really are doing this.
“Deal. See you then.” I smile and hop out, headed to the stables. A new determination fills me knowing that Nicholas has my back. I open the bond, reaching out for Malik. Immediately a surge fills the bond and I gasp, holding against the stable as I work through the emotions. Fuck, this was a lot. Anger, fury, worry, concern. I try to breathe through the emotions, pushing them away until finally the only one left was worry.
I’m coming.
I send, hoping he hears me. I make my way through the stables, looking up at our favorite spot in the hayloft.
“Lyra?” I yell and soon her head pops out from the ladder. A huge smile crosses her face before she frowns.
“Finally, my Goddess, took you forever. Get up here, we have a lot to talk about.” She disappears back in the hay loft and I climb the ladder hesitantly. The smell of hay sends a comforting feeling over me as I climb the shoddy ladder. We really should replace this thing since we are the only ones who use it. FinallyI get up and look around as Josh and Kacie sit beside Lyra. I sit down on a hay bale and cross my arms.
“What is this a fucking intervention?” I shoot at her but she just shakes her head.
“So, Malik. He is getting married in an hour.” She says calmly. I feel my face go bright red and look at my hands.
“There is a lot to unpack there, but we are a thing.” I look up at her and she smiles.
“I know. I can see it all over your face. You are in love. So let’s crash this fucking wedding!” She shouts, standing up. Josh laughs beside me, standing up and pulling me into a hug.
“I’m still pissed he picked you over me but I guess I can help out.” He whispers in my ear and I hug him back. I pull away and look at the three of them.
“Are you sure you want to help me with this?” I whisper. Lyra walks over to me, taking my hand in hers and nods.
“We got you. Now, let’s go get some outfits so we fit in. Once we get there Josh, Kacie and I can open the door and let you in. Then you go get your man.” Lyra squeals.
I can’t help but laugh. A few days ago this would seem like a ridiculous fantasy but now I know deep in my gut, he is the one for me.
MALIK
I wake the next morning with a mixture of emotions. I need to keep Celeste safe. I need to figure out a way to get out of this marriage. I will go through with it until the end and refuse to say I do. What will my mother do? Kill me for refusing? If I don’t say it then technically we wouldn’t be married. I get up, looking at my wrists that ache from the cuffs.
I go into the bathroom and run cold water over the raw skin, hissing at the feeling. Morgan comes in, knocking on the door before dangling the keys in front of me.
