Chapter 3 A Goddess' Joke

That was the story, anyway.

"If we're done here," I said, already turning toward the door. "I'd like to go home."

"You will remain in the palace," Kieran said sharply. "Until we figure out what to do about this situation."

I turned back to look at him. "You rejected the bond. You don't get to give me orders."

His jaw clenched. "I'm the Crown Prince."

"And I'm the woman your Goddess chose, so I guess we're both having a bad night." I gave him my best curtsy, which was terrible because nobody had ever taught me how to do it properly. "Your Highness."

I walked out of the Grand Hall with my head held high, even though my hands were shaking. The crowd parted for me like I had the plague. I could feel their eyes on my back, could hear the whispers starting up again.

"Can you believe..."

"...humiliation..."

"...poor thing..."

"...what was the Goddess thinking..."

I made it to the corridor outside before I let myself lean against the wall and take a deep breath.

Okay. That had been a disaster.

But also, kind of hilarious when you thought about it.

Five Alphas had just rejected their fated mate because they thought she was weak. Meanwhile, I could probably kill all of them in their sleep if I wanted to. Which I didn't, because I wasn't a monster, but the option was there.

"Miss Vane?"

I jumped about a foot in the air and spun around to find a young woman in palace servant clothes standing there with a worried expression. She had kind eyes and dark hair pulled back in a bun.

"Sorry!" she said quickly. "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Mira. I've been assigned to... well, they told me to show you to your quarters."

"My quarters?"

"The Prince insisted you stay in the palace tonight. There's a room prepared for you in the east wing."

Of course there was. Because Kieran couldn't just let me leave. That would be too easy.

"Lead the way," I said with a sigh.

Mira seemed nice enough as she guided me through the palace corridors. She kept giving me these sympathetic looks that made me want to crawl out of my skin.

"That was really horrible, what they did to you," she said softly as we climbed a staircase. "In front of everyone like that."

"It's fine."

"It's not fine. They're supposed to be our leaders and they acted like... like..."

"Like I was beneath them?" I supplied. "Because according to everyone in this kingdom, I am."

Mira shook her head firmly. "The Blood Moon chose you. That means something."

"Yeah," I said. "It means the Moon Goddess has a twisted sense of humor."

That got a small laugh out of her, which made me feel a bit better.

The room she took me to was bigger than the entire basement I'd been living in for the past fifteen years. There was an actual bed, not a cot. Windows with real curtains and a real bathroom attached. It was almost obscene.

"I'll bring you something to eat," Mira said. "And some clothes for tomorrow. That dress looks uncomfortable."

"You have no idea," I muttered.

After she left, I stood in the middle of the room and tried to process what had just happened.

I'd been chosen by an ancient prophecy. Check.

Five powerful Alphas had rejected me publicly. Check.

I was now stuck in a palace full of people who thought I was worthless. Check.

And I still had to somehow save the kingdom from the Demon King without revealing that I was actually the most dangerous wolf in Everspire.

Great. Just great.

I went to the window and looked out at the Blood Moon. It was still hanging there, red and ominous, like it was mocking me.

"You picked a great time to choose me," I told it. "Really excellent timing."