SERAPHINA'S POV
The doctor checks that I'm completely fine an hour later, confirming that my body has successfully accepted the mark.
Apparently, there was a possibility of rejection on my part, a rejection that could have left detrimental damages to Artemis and me, and I was lucky that it was accepted without any hiccups.
I wouldn't call it luck, though.
Every single bit of nature was on my side, ensuring that it would happen and that we'd be tied together forever. The prophecy, my Astria bloodline, wouldn't let me die off so easily.
But I doubt Artemis guessed all of that. He knew the repercussions, and yet he did it.
I can't help but be angry when I think of it and the violation of trust on his own part. I can't help but be enraged that he ignored all the warnings I dropped, all just so he could get what he wanted.
It hurts, and it'd be best if we don't see each other for a few hours, maybe until the ceremony tomorrow.
Yet, when the doctor leaves the room, and I'm all alone, I find myself missing him to the point that it hurts.
So, I get up from my bed, tired of feeling like an invalid, and decide I need some fresh air.
The room I was in is one of the many prepared in case of emergencies at the engagement party venue, with the best pack doctors kept on hold for instances like mine.
I walk out into a large hallway with countless doors leading to possibly other rooms like mine. I walk for a while, stopping at a door when I faintly hear my own name being muttered from the other side.
"Do you think she's okay? Do you think they're treating her right?" a female voice says on the other side, vaguely sounding like Juliet.
But then I assumed both of them would be gone by now. I push through the door slowly, poking my head out of curiosity, hoping it's them and no one else; otherwise, I'd be intruding.
"Jasper, Juliet?" My eyes fall on them, and they're just as shocked as I am, getting up from their chairs and looking at me with amazement.
"Sera!" Juliet screams, running at me first and engulfing me in a bear-tight hug that chokes me out instantly.
Jasper follows behind, hugging me and picking both of us off our feet in the process for a few seconds until he lets us go. Juliet follows, and I can breathe again.
"What are you guys still doing here?" I ask, looking between the two.
A mix of excitement and confusion washes over me, knowing they never left and they're okay.
"We waited when you left with Artemis earlier, and then he got back without you and said you were unconscious, so we were worried, and there's no way we could have gone without knowing if you were okay," Juliet explains immediately, holding my hand in hers with a worried look on her face.
Jasper shares the same sentiment, mixed with fear, knowing firsthand what it means to be around Artemis and his father.
It's understandable why they'd be this scared for me. I mean, coming here and passing out for reasons no one explained to them.
I don't even know how to break the news, if I should at all. If there's a point when it's going to be made known to the entire world only tomorrow.
"I'm fine... just had a little headache," I laugh it off, passing the entire thing off as a headache, stylishly hiding the bruise on my neck with my hair.
Jasper sees it in a flash of a moment, his knowing eyes look at me, but he says nothing about it.
"I knew we shouldn't have come here. Did Artemis do anything to you? You can tell me," Juliet pushes, looking as though if she had the chance, she'd fight him for my sake.
I wouldn't let her, knowing she'd lose before she started, especially after seeing the way he brutalized Lucian earlier. I slowly slide my hand away from her grip, avoiding her eyes out of guilt.
"I don't want to talk about it right now," I say.
A moment of silence passes after, and I can feel both their eyes digging into me with questions I don't think I want to answer right now, for fear of being overwhelmed and losing my self-control.
"Okay," she finally responds with a slight nod, and I let out a sigh of relief.
"Let's head back, I think maybe it's best we left now," Jasper cuts in with a bit of urgency.
He's as tired as the rest of us of being here, where the atmosphere is too thick to breathe in.
They make a move to leave but stop once they notice I'm not following them. I can't, the trajectory of my life has taken a different turn now.
"Actually, on that note, I can't leave with you guys and I need you to tell Olivia that I'm okay and she shouldn't wait up all night," I say in one loop, biting on my lips after.
"Sera... what's going on?" Jasper asks, taking a step towards me.
I can't find the words to respond, the courage to explain myself and how I'm the Alpha king's property now, a pawn in his game I've been unwillingly dragged into.
Yet I don't want to lie about it either.
I search around my mind for something to offer them to calm them before another voice falls into the conversation.
"Sera." I know it's him before I can look up and meet silver eyes that have done nothing but deceive me for three months.
My entire body begins to tremble the second I hear his voice, remembering things I desperately want to forget and never think of again. Jasper, on the other hand, immediately clenches his jaw with hate and anger, turning protective and stepping between us.
And I finally manage to look up and look at him and he looks awful. Two black eyes and the most ugly purple bruise peeking out from under the band-aid on his nose alongside other cuts on his face.
There's more tattered skin than healthy ones on his face, yet he's here.
"You... what do you want?" Jasper grabs his collar, man-handling him despite how terrible he looks right now, yet Lucian doesn't flinch.
"I overheard that you weren't fine... I wanted to see if you were okay," he continues talking to me despite the human-sized wall blocking us, and bile rises in my gut.
My hands are shaking, and I have to remind myself to stay calm. There's no point in trembling or being affected by him anymore.
He can't hurt me again.
"Cut the bullshit, Lucian, you lying bastard - you don't care if she's okay. You don't care if she falls off a building or gets run over by a car," Jasper spits angrily in his face, seething and possibly getting ready to give his own round of a beat-down, which at this point would be a punishable offence.
"I don't believe I was talking to you, dwindle-dumb," Lucian snaps at him in a snide voice, glaring back at the boy in front of him.
I watch Jasper's anger grow, watch him consider being punched for throwing a blow right now, and deciding it would be worth it before I gather my courage and walk in, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Relax, Jasper, I can handle this."
Jasper looks at me with a frown, possibly thinking I don't trust him enough to handle it. I do, but a part of me knows I need to do this myself, so Lucian's betrayal will mean nothing more to me.
"What do you want?"
He wears a smile instantly, the same smile he's always worn that's charmed me, weakened my heart towards him, deceived me. Not anymore.
I frown at it.
"Like I said, I came to make sure that you're okay."
It's his sick way of wanting to taunt me, after the big reveal tonight.
"Yeah, I heard that, but what do you really want?"
The smile drops. A frown replaces it, one that seems almost annoyed. Of course, there's no need to hide his true disgusting nature from me.
"Let me guess, Sera, you hate me now. It's amusing, really. You put so much faith in that charming, sweet, pretty boy, believing he could make you feel things your precious boyfriend never could. And now, faced with the bitter reality that he never really liked you, that perhaps his every move was a game and you were only collateral damage, you're wounded. It's quite the melodrama, fitting for someone as naive as you. I mean, I've always thought you were - always thought it every time you cried and whined about the oh, so horrific life you have. Goddess, you were almost too easy, Sera," he dares to laugh. "Yet, here I am, still showing concern, dragging myself here despite the pain from Artemis' attack. Call it the force of habit. And it's rather unfair, don't you think, to treat me with such coldness when all I've shown is care? Especially considering I'm the one who has always been there for you - way longer than your brute of a boyfriend-"
My hand moves before I can stop it, and it comes crashing with brutal force onto his stupid face. Yes, I slapped him, and I'd do it again if only to permanently wipe off that smug, deceitful smile from his face.
Sure, he had me fooled - but that's nothing to be proud of when it only means that he was a real turd. It only tells of how evil he could be, taking advantage of my genuine emotions, of every genuine moment I've opened up to him.
It might make me stupid, but it sure as hell makes him a monster.
And now that I can see him for what he truly is, now that I realize he's just like every other cowardly monster hiding under appearances, I feel almost bad for him, for the pitiful life he really has to live.
The audacity to stand here right now and try to gaslight me into feeling something for him again.
"Lucian, your little performance is laughable. You think playing the wounded wolf will win you any sympathy? Please. You're nothing more than a sad, delusional dog who thought he could manipulate me with his pathetic charades. Well, guess what? I'm not the naive girl you took me for. And as for mentioning Artemis' name? Don't. It's a privilege far beyond your reach, and don't delude yourself into thinking you ever stood a chance in his shadow. That's why you've always chased after his spots, because deep down, you knew he was better - much better than you'd ever be. So, here's my parting gift to you - a reality check. You've always been a small epilogue in my story, and now, that epilogue is closed. Forever. I've outgrown your games, and frankly, your existence is just a pitiful reminder of how low some can stoop. Good riddance, Lucian. May your life be as insignificant as your lies."
He scoffs, taken aback by my harsh rebuttal, like he really wasn't expecting me to cut him off because I found out he was lying to me this entire time.
"Look, I might not like you romantically like I claimed to, but are you sure you'd be okay losing me? You might think that I'm the worst of your nightmares, but wait till Artemis perfectly breaks your heart - maybe then you'd realize what it means to have a lesser evil."
Now I laugh, a light chuckle. I wonder why I was ever scared of facing him again, why I ever let myself be affected by it for a second in the first place.
"Goodbye, Lucian," I say, putting an end to the conversation, and he looks wounded.
"Walk away, pretty boy," Juliet yells from behind Jasper, cheering me on and booing him off.
He turns around to leave, not being able to handle the embarrassment on his own, and I watch him leave until I can't see him again.
"You okay?" Jasper asks.
I look up at him and smile, genuinely for the first time in hours.
"Yeah, I am."