Eleanor's Pov
His kiss is consuming, blooming with sheer passion and hate as he presses his lips against mine with a ferocity that sends chills down my spine. The familiar scent of agarwood floods my senses as his tongue teases my tightly closed lips, urging me to open up and give him access.
Reina is reeling in excitement at this contact, begging to be marked and claimed. His lips are warm, mingling with a pleasant taste. My body almost betrays me, yearning for him, but my mind snaps back to reality-this is the man who has taken everything I love away from me.
My eyes snap open, and I bite down hard on his lower lip, feeling the sharp rush of victory as the metallic scent of blood fills my mouth and nostrils. He pulls away, his eyes gleaming with rage as blood drips from his lip. I had made him bleed. Again.
"We're to exchange the rings before a kiss, dear husband," I sneer, a chuckle escaping as I spit out his blood and retract my fangs.
Perseus says nothing as his wound quickly seals itself, and he licks the blood from his lip.
Our guests shift uncomfortably, some coughing or adjusting their seats as they watch the scene unfold. I can tell they are stunned that Perseus hasn't used this opportunity to snap my neck in public and march off to the nearest pack to find another werewolf princess.
Every pack has at least one girl of marriageable age, but he chose a young widow. Despite my blatant defiance showing that I am unfit to be the Luna of the Lycans, he still wants me.
This wedding, as I have been told, is to benefit my pack, to seal a peace treaty, to secure an alliance, and to withdraw the Lycan troops. How did he solidify his agreements with other packs? With money, slaves, and other valuables, from what I've gathered.
It can only mean that I am an indispensable asset to this man. For whatever reason, he couldn't kill me, and that fact is what I would use to my advantage.
Perseus's right-hand man steps forward, presenting the rings. They are remarkable and vastly different from my previous wedding ring. Silver, with intricate designs of rose thorns, petals, and a moon symbol. Beside my wedding ring sits an engagement ring-a cushion-shaped diamond sparkling in the light.
The next hurdle of this ceremony comes: taking off my former wedding ring. I sigh as I slip it off my finger, handing it to Marina with the silent promise that I would put it back on the second I finish this bastard off. Tobias' ring remains on my chest, and for now, that is enough.
Perseus's expression is now cold, stark, and devoid of emotion as he takes the ring and slips it onto my finger. I do the same for him. I try to pull my hands away, but he holds them tightly, gazing deeply into my eyes with his clear blue ones, as though he is staring into my soul.
"By this token and by blood, I bind you both until de-"
Perseus interrupts the priest, "No one's dying."
Well, you are, beloved. Sooner than you can expect.
"Y-yes," the priest chuckles nervously, adjusting his glasses.
"We are bound in life, in the afterlife, and in whatever life comes after that. Nothing-be it death, war, or sickness-would part us. We'll be together until the end of time," Perseus articulates, each word hitting me like a bomb as his tone is coated with sincerity. It's a promise he seems intent on keeping with the last drop of his blood.
"Certainly. I bind you both. You're now husband and wife," the priest declares. "You may now seal this union with a kiss."
Perseus doesn't lean in this time but takes my hand and gently kisses my knuckles, his eyes fixed on me. My stomach flips in disgust, and I pull my hand away. "I presume we're done here. I have to change. Permit me to leave," I mutter, breaking eye contact.
Without a word from him, I walk away from the altar, Marina quick on my heels. A ripple of murmured discussions fills the crowd as I exit, but I don't look back. The realization that I am now married to another man feels too heavy to carry.
To avoid the brunch my father is holding to celebrate the wedding, I spend the rest of the day helping the maids pack my bags. We are meant to leave for Bloodthorn-Perseus's pack-this evening. I secure my wedding ring in a case and lock it in my trunk.
Once finished packing, the soldiers enter to transport my things to the carriage. While they work, I gaze out from my balcony. It will be a while before I see this place again. Saying goodbye before felt temporary; I hoped to return home once Tobias was made Alpha, but now, I'm not so sure.
"Your Grace, the Alpha is here to see you," Marina informs me.
Without turning to look at her, I clear my throat. "Tell him to leave."
"He's here with Beta Darius," she adds, tightening my grip on the railing. I cannot stand the sight of my father, but I must speak with Tobias's father to make him understand that this is not my will, but the will of the man who has betrayed him.
"Let them in," I sigh dismissively.
The door opens, and Marina bows in greeting as my father and father-in-law enter. She departs to give us space to converse.
"Eleanor, my dear," my father begins, walking toward the balcony.
"What do you want, Father?" I snap, standing resolute beside the railing.
My father takes a step forward, his expression taut. "You should really tone down this new arrogant act; it doesn't suit you. You don't want to get on your husband's bad side."
"My husband is dead," I laugh bitterly. "That man you just married me to is yours."
"Do you think I wanted this? Only a madman would wish his only daughter married off to Perseus Cage."
"It doesn't look like it. You seem absolutely thrilled to throw me to that monster," I accuse.
"Eleanor, please, listen to your father," my father-in-law pleads.
"He betrayed Tobias! Tobias died for this pack-"
"And we are trying to get him the justice he deserves," my father replies through gritted teeth, then nudges Beta Darius to close the door behind us swiftly. "Believe me, I would have countered the second I heard that Perseus killed our men and, of course, Tobias. No pack would join forces with us because they're all under him. Perseus handed us the tool to destroy him when he asked for your hand."
My father-in-law completes his words, "We need an insider-someone to dismantle his defenses from the inside and let us through. We need you, Eleanor. We need you to kill Perseus Cage."