ARTEMIS' POV
I've wasted more time than necessary dealing with accidents that keep occurring since the banquet began.
I've managed to find a solution for each of them with haste so I can finally get back to Sera and continue from where we left off, assuming she's still waiting for me after taking so much time.
I adjust the neckline of my shirt, already feeling uncomfortable from the tie that feels as though it's choking me. I can't wait to ditch this place with Sera.
I don't care if the entire building burns down while I'm away; all that matters right now is finding her and leaving this place.
However, once I make a turn, my path is suddenly blocked by the last people I'm expecting to see tonight: Kamila and Alpha Gideon of Wildheart.
He smiles widely the moment he sees me, turning fully toward my direction, almost as if he was waiting for me here.
"Good evening, Prince Artemis," he greets formally, taking a slight bow with just his head.
"Hello, Alpha Wildheart," I nod at him, absentmindedly staring toward Kamila.
She has her face turned away despite her entire body facing me, hiding just her face, though I can still see it from the sides. I haven't seen her in a while, and she seems paler than the last time, her skin almost as white as ash, with her eyes sunken in, almost as if she's sick.
I want to ask her if she's okay, but the words don't leave my mouth. Was the break up that bad on her?
"Apologies for taking a bit of your time. It's been quite a long time since I've had the honor of speaking to the future of our kingdom," Alpha Gideon speaks.
"Yes, I agree it has. Why don't I arrange a proper meeting in the coming weeks when I'm not bothered by school and all? But for now, I hope you don't mind, but I have a place to be right now," I say curtly, bow slightly, and step aside to walk past him again.
Only he steps in my way, blocking me from where I need to be, making it too obvious that the first time hadn't been a mistake.
I pause, meeting his eyes with a bit of annoyance now, ticked off by the old geezer who can't seem to get the message and leave me alone.
He ignores the subtle hint to excuse me and continues smiling ear to ear while gesturing toward his daughter.
"Kamila here would like to offer you a formal apology for being a thorn in your side for the past few months, your highness," he says out of nowhere.
Just like that, Kamila steps right to his side like a robot, bowing to me - something she's never done.
"I apologize for my misconduct in the past, Artemis. I promise to support you better in the future."
I feel uncomfortable with the apology from her, especially when it's not something she'd usually do, and when she was the victim most of the time when we were together.
Was this her father's doing?
"Uhm... this is hardly necessary, Kamila; we already talked, and I admitted that I was to blame for most of it."
"That's nonsense, dear boy," Gideon butts in, forcing my attention his way. "You are a royal and, therefore, you can do absolutely no wrong. I blame myself for not bringing up my child properly, leading to the unfortunate end of your mate bond."
I'm this close to losing my patience, which is already running thin when I look at him again.
It's as if he isn't listening to any of the words I'm saying; it all goes in one ear and comes out the other.
"Like I said, I was at fault, and us ending it had nothing to do with your questionable beliefs about raising your daughter, Gideon. Do not misquote me," I spell it out more clearly, articulating each word.
"I apologize. You are right, and thankfully, due to the fact that there's no real issue between you two to be resolved, things between the both of you should continue to sail smoothly."
I pause at the next words that leave his mouth, taking a menacing step closer to him with my eyes reduced to slits.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
I'm genuinely curious and yet hoping to goddess he isn't insinuating what I think he is. He doesn't say anything again, only that obnoxious smile that he offers relentlessly.
"Kamila?" I turn to her, and her face darts in the other direction, pursing her lips and furrowing her brows.
She doesn't give me an answer, refusing to speak with me while this man is here. This is the wrong time to decide not to say anything, the wrong time to offer up silence as a response after throwing such vague words in the air like that.
"What I'm talking about is the renewal of your bonds, your highness," he finally responds again, and I'm taken aback.
Suddenly, he looks like nothing but a suicidal lunatic standing in front of me, spouting only nonsense.
For a brief moment, the thought of ripping his head off flashes across my mind, followed by the thrill of how good it'd be to lynch the damn thing off.
Then maybe this conversation will end.
"What?" I respond instead, as calmly as I can.
"My apologies, did you not know?" He suddenly fakes a frown, furrowing his brows almost as if he's upset on my behalf.
Fucking bastard.
I'm gnashing my teeth, biting my lip to hold myself back from attacking him and spilling his blood over recently mopped and waxed floors.
Kamila stands between us now, finally deciding to say something and look me in the eye, only her blue eyes seem dead as they stare into mine.
"After much thought, I decided it was stupid of me to agree to breaking up. We are mates after all, and so we must stick together," she says, reciting the words from her head.
"That's not what we agreed on, Kamila!" I yell, feeling my anger simmer violently, and grab onto both her shoulders, shaking her aggressively.
How dare she go back on her word and betray me now? After I pleaded with her, begged to put an end to this. After Sera and I have gotten so close to the happiness we've envisioned together.
"You must calm yourself, Prince. My daughter made a foolish mistake, but it's not proper to take your anger out on a lady," he butts in again, seeming to be her perfect mouthpiece every single time I try to confront her.
I can perfectly see through his games, through this elaborate scheme of his to tie me down to his daughter, rise to power with the relationship he's formed with my own family.
The glint of greed in his eyes.
"With all due respect, Alpha, my relationship solely concerns Kamila and me, and we had an agreement. She doesn't want this either," I snap back at him.
"Is that true, dear?" He turns the question to Kamila.
Our eyes meet, and I send a warning-don't you dare.
She stares back at me blankly before responding.
"No, father, I love him."
My hands slump from her shoulders, and I take steps back, scoffing at the pair. Of course, I should have known. It wouldn't be that easy.
She wouldn't just let me be free of her.
"I guess that clears the misunderstanding," Gideon says with content, rubbing his palms together, pleased.
I face him with raw rage and contempt, letting him know just who he's messing with and that only his title holds me back from doing what I really want to do.
"Alpha Gideon, you've made a big mistake today, deciding to make me your enemy."
"I wonder what you mean when, rather than enemies, we've only recently become in-laws."
He chuckles wholeheartedly, being the only one laughing between the three of us. The word is vague, a gesture, maybe of how long he expects me to be with his daughter, but something doesn't sit right with me anymore.
Why is Kamila suddenly going back on her words? Why go through the stress of meeting me when he could have let Kamila break the news on her own? Why say the word in-law with so much passion?
I need answers, and I sure as hell won't be getting them from these two. I walk past them, roughly brushing shoulders with Alpha Gideon.
This time he doesn't stop me from walking away. He seems to have perfectly achieved his goal of pissing me off, so there's no need to anymore.
I'm walking briskly towards the balcony, and when I get there, she's nowhere to be seen. So, I turn towards the main hall where everyone else is, hoping she'd be there with Jasper and Olivia.
I walk fast until I'm sprinting, praying to the goddess that running into that bastard will be the only terrible thing I have to endure for the night.
By the time I get to the door, it's awfully quiet, and pulling it open, everyone else seems to be focusing on the center of the room where Father is making his announcement.
My eyes, however, search for someone else, and almost instantly, I spot her, right next to Jasper and Olivia. It gives me instant relief seeing her again and without a scratch.
That's right, as long as I have her, it will all be fine. We can find some other way to handle Kamila.
"...celebrate the precious engagement between my son and heir, Prince Artemis Sinclair, and his precious mate, Kamila Wildheart!"
The crowd explodes with applause, and I freeze in place from utter shock and pure disbelief. I didn't hear that right...
No way!
I watch her features turn horrified, see how the news affects her, breaks her. But it's all a lie. I'm not engaged to anyone.
I want to tell her, scream her name, and hold her right now, but I'm held back before I can, pulled out of the doorway by a set of hands.
"What is the meaning of this?" I yell, fighting off the first person holding me back before my arm is grabbed again.
I'm surrounded by four men holding me down, stopping me from getting to Sera and clearing the misunderstanding. I almost break free until a rag is pressed against my nose, and I breathe in whatever concoction it is against my will.
Suddenly, my vision is blurry, and my muscles weaken. Footsteps echo, and someone stands in front of me with a wide smile I had just seen seconds ago.
"Let me go, you bastard," I slur.
"I hope you are in a better mood when we speak again, son-in-law."