Mia’s POV

I wiped the side of my cheek where Kaiden had kissed me, I couldn’t stand being touched without permission.

The nerve.

A moment later, a maid led me down the left corridor toward the guest chambers. I let her talk about gowns, fragrances, and what shoes matched the banquet theme but I barely responded. I had too many thoughts racing through my head, none of them fashionable.

I was in enemy territory, betrothed to a stranger, and surrounded by wolves that smiled with their teeth too wide.

As the maid fixed my hair, I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked like a clown in a princess costume.

The banquet had already started when I arrived.

The moment I stepped in, the attention shifted towards me. Just slightly but then they went bacl to their usual business.

I spotted Lucien first, already in conversation with an elder I vaguely recognized. His white hair caught the light like snow, and even in stillness, he looked like he was calculating ten steps ahead.

Then suddenly i felt a pull and my wolf stirred.

“Finally.”

That voice. Urgh

Orion appeared at my side like he’d been waiting for hours.

“You took your time,” he said, offering me a goblet of wine.

“I didn’t ask for this,” I said, waving it off.

“You don’t ask for many things, do you?” He leaned in. “But you sure do take over when you arrive.”

“You always this chatty?” I asked.

“Only when I’m bored. Or interested.”

I started to turn away, but he stepped in front of me.

“I get it,” he said. “You’re the serious type. Always planning an escape route. But don’t worry, Princess. I’m not here to kill you.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

“Is it not?”

His grin made me want to slap him. Or kiss him. Maybe both.

Whatever that feeling was, I didn’t like it.

Before I could think too long about it, I brushed past him. “Try not to choke on your own ego.”

Orion chuckled behind me. “No promises.”

I didn’t stop until I reached the far side of the hall where Lucien was standing with a glass of white wine and a knowing look.

“Rough start?” he asked.

“Is it that obvious?”

He clinked his glass against mine, even though I didn’t raise it and said, “Come. Let’s escape before someone decides to introduce us to the council of boredom.”

I followed.

The hallway was quieter, and Lucien walked like a man who owned every inch of it. I stayed one step behind, watching his posture and the careful way he didn’t look too proud, but definitely wasn’t humble.

We stopped at the moonlit palace garden.

Lucien leaned against the marble railing and looked at me like he was trying to read between my thoughts.

“You didn’t come here by choice, did you?”

“I came because I had to.”

He nodded. “So did I. My father can be... persuasive.”

“You don’t like him?”

Lucien laughed once, quietly. “Let’s say I understand him. But I don’t follow him.”

He stepped closer.

“I’m not Kaiden,” he said. “And I don’t care about titles or contracts. But I do care about you.”

“That’s fast,” I said, raising a brow.

“I’m fast with the right people.”

“And you think I’m one of them?”

“I think you’re the only one.”

He didn’t ask for permission this time. He leaned in and kissed me.

And for a second, I kissed him back.

Maybe I told myself it was just a strategy. Maybe I just didn’t want to feel alone.

But when I finally pulled away, he was still watching me, his fingers tracing my cheek.

“You should go,” I said.

Lucien smiled slowly. “Already counting the regrets?”

“No,” I muttered. “Just wondering how far I’ve already fallen.”

He took a step back, graceful as ever. “Then let’s fall together.”

I walked away before I could answer that. But before I took three steps, Lucien held me and pulled me back. His lips crashing into mine.

Was this Idiot crazy? I thought to myself as I let him kiss me.

I wanted to punch him in the gut but with all the stress, a little bit of fun won’t be so bad.

I kissed him back.

Lucien saw the opportunity and deepened the kiss, his hand sliding around my waist like it belonged there. I didn’t stop him. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the exhaustion from pretending to be the perfect political bride but I let myself melt into the moment.

His mouth trailed to my jaw, then down to the curve of my neck. I tensed feeling shivers down my spine.

“Lucien,” I said softly.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t get used to this.”

He chuckled into my skin. “Too late.”

I rolled my eyes and shoved him off gently, adjusting the front of my dress and clearing my throat. “That’s enough of a scandal for one night.”

“Shame,” he said, grinning like a man who’d already won. “I was just getting started.”

“You’re not as charming as you think.”

“I don’t have to be,” he said. “You’re already curious.”

I hated that he was right.

I turned to walk away again, ignoring the smirk I could still feel on his face. My lips tingled and my thoughts raced. I had just made a political marriage arrangement, and here I was, flirting and making out with someone who wasn’t my soon-to-be husband.

Brilliant move, Mia.

Still, as I stepped back into the hall and glanced once over my shoulder, Lucien was still there watching me.

I muttered to myself, “What’s the worst that could possibly happen?”

I should’ve known better than to ask.