(AMARI'S POV)
He pulled me further down the corridor into an empty hallway and shoved me against the wall. He still held my wrists. His painful grip didn't loosen. Not even as tears spilled down my cheeks.
"P-please. I don't understand," I managed to say. My voice sounded tiny. So weak. So scared.
Is this the man who killed Luc? Is he an evil twin?
The dark eyes that stared at me looked like they were getting angrier with every movement I made.
Then he reached out to my face, and I winced as he grabbed my chin.
"You will understand me soon, you dumb sludge!" he growled angrily, his hot breath fanning my face. "Your younger sister isn't at the ground floor reception like you think. I have her, and I will kill her if you don't do what I say."
My body turned to ice, and my lips started to wobble.
"Please. I'll do anything," I begged.
"Shut up and stop crying!" he yelled at me. I tightened my lips but couldn't stop crying. He grabbed my chin. "I won't repeat myself to you. There's no one like Luc Black. I assumed that name to deceive you. My name is Talon Blackwood. Of the Blackwood family." He laughed, and his thumb traced my lower lip. "I'm sure even your pit of a village knows the King's family."
I felt numb. If I was not in such a difficult position, then I would have given my skin a hard pinch.
Of course I knew the Blackwood family. No soul didn't.
But never in my life did I ever imagine I would come a hundred miles to a Blackwood.
"Good, because it's important for the next thing I want to say," Talon said, and then he snorted in disgust because my tears had soaked his hand. His eyes turned back to me. Cruel. Angry.
"You are actually married to Lucian Blackwood. My uncle. The Lycan King." And then he added with a shrug, "Who is dead now, by the way."
I had stopped feeling anything but fear, but now a strong wave of anxiety passed over me. I was too drained to react. Too exhausted to even make a sound.
I had given up.
And all that finality came from the name Lucian Blackwood. The Lycan King. It did not matter that he was dead. All that mattered was that I was tied to his name.
Surely, I was finished.
The shrill sound of a phone ringing brought me back to the hospital hallway. Talon released me with urgency as he picked up his phone call.
"Yes, Ma." He sounded polite, and it reminded me of how he had deceived me.
"I'm in front of his room," Talon said, and then after a nod, he ended the call.
He turned back to me, and I unconsciously pushed myself back against the wall in fear. He grabbed me roughly to himself, and I cried out.
"Shut the fuck up!" he commanded. I sealed my lips while the sobs bubbled inside me. "Now this is what you will say. Lucian Blackwood met you three days ago while he came to inspect a project at your village. He fell in love with you and married you. He promised to come back for you by the weekend but died before that. Anything more or less, anyone notices you're lying, then you can bury your sister with your husband."
A cry broke out of my mouth, remembering my sister and wondering how she was doing.
"Now let's go." He pulled me to walk beside him. "Better act normal," he warned. I immediately smoothed my dress with my shaky hands and proceeded to clean my face, but he stopped me.
"You are mourning your husband after all, right?" he said, and a grin stretched on his face for a moment. My heart drummed in my chest. He had looked like that after we exchanged vows. But now he looked like a monster.
I kept my head straight, practicing composure, trying not to focus on my environment.
Talon made us stop close to a door.
"Rudina dies the moment you slip," he warned and moved some feet away. I hugged my arms around myself while he paced around.
Just barely a few minutes after, the sound of fast-approaching steps made me jerk my head up.
"Talon! Talon! Where is he? Oh my goodness!" A young woman wearing a matching pink head in et and a thick robe ran towards us crying.
"May, please put yourself together," Talon said, more responsible than affectionate.
"No. Tell me he is not dead. He can't be dead," May cried out uncontrollably.
"May, get a hold of yourself!" A cold voice sliced the air at once, and May's cries reduced to sobs.
The woman who had just spoken had straight shoulder-length black hair. Her puffy eyes were almond-shaped, a sharp brown that matched her strict face. She was dressed in elegant grey silk and wore a simple gold wristwatch on her wrist.
Her eyes pierced straight at me, and I swear, it was like all my soul left my body. My hand clutched tightly to the ends of my veil, holding on for dear life.
"Who is this?" she asked, her eyes going over me.
Talon turned to me like he only just remembered I was standing there.
"Now that is one crazy story," he said and ran his fingers through his hair.
The sobbing May had stopped crying and was looking inquisitively at me. I wanted to speak, but my lips felt heavy.
"She claims to be Lucian's wife. Says they got married yesterday," he said carelessly.
The woman with the icy stare looked shocked at first, and then her eyes went over me before landing with disgust. She started walking towards me, and the hallway felt like it was getting smaller. I wanted to disappear, to melt. To be anywhere but here. She stood right in front of me, and my lips wobbled just before her hand landed hard and steady on my cheek.
I staggered back with a yelp, but Talon caught me quickly.
"Neoma!" May gasped.
"What?" the mean woman demanded and then turned to me. "How dare you want to milk the king's death? What stinking hole did you dirty wolf come out from? You look worse than an orphaned omega!" she spat at me with disgust.
"Mother," Talon said as he hurriedly steadied me.
Mother?
"She is actually married to him. She showed me the certificate. She has it, and it's original," he explained quickly.
"What nonsense are you—"
"Good evening," someone interrupted, and we all turned to a doctor who had a confused look on his face.
Neoma rushed to him.
"How did you let the king die?" she demanded angrily.
"Lady Neoma, forgive us, but… the king is not dead," the doctor announced, his guilty look now clearer. "He was wrongly pronounced dead due to logical reasons, and we will take responsibility for the damages. We apologize."
The air in the room stilled.
"H-h-he is—"
"What?" Talon demanded, interrupting his mother.
"He is alive?" Neoma pressed forward, and I saw the tears gather in her eyes.
"Yes, the king is alive," the doctor said and chuckled nervously. "In fact, he has demanded to see his wife."