Nova frowns. “He’s told me women might be brought here…for him to choose a wife.” Her voice is cautious, fragile. “Actually, you told me that too.”

Mother smiles, but the chill behind it makes the air drop a few degrees. “No, dear. Not that.”

Nova’s breath catches. “Then what?”

And just like that, the moment I’ve been dreading is here.

I shifted in my seat, my shoulders stiff as though the chair itself were trying to hold me hostage. I hated this—the sensation of being trapped, especially by my own mother. Every instinct told me to bolt, to put this conversation off until tomorrow, or the day after that… maybe forever. But her sharp eyes had already cornered me, and Nova stood there, completely unaware of the storm that was about to break over her.

“Cassain,” my mother prompted, her voice carrying that smooth authority that left no room for hesitation. “Go on. This is your news to tell, not mine.”

There’s no escape. No clever sidestep. I have to say it.

I swallowed hard. The words refused to come easily, sticking like shards in my throat. “It… looks like my mother won’t be needing your services anymore.”

Nova’s brows shot up, confusion flashing in her eyes. “Wait—what?”

I rubbed the back of my neck, grimacing. This was already going badly. “I mean—there’s something else. We’d like to offer you… a different kind of position.”

Her brows knit together, confusion flashing across her features. “Wait—what do you mean?”

My mother’s silence was deafening, forcing me to spit it out. I rub the back of my neck, grimacing. “I’ve made some mistakes, Nova. Mistakes that have put you in a vulnerable position.”

“Just say it,” my mother snaps, her eyes narrowing.

Nova instinctively takes a step back, her body tense. “What’s going on?”

I exhale slowly. “Too many people know who you are. They know how much you mean to me. That makes you a target.”

Her eyes widen, flicking to my mother for reassurance. But Lucia remains silent, unmoved. She’s not here to comfort—she’s here to execute a plan.

Her lips parted, shock breaking into her features. “A target? From who?”

“From everyone who wants to exploit me,” I answered tightly. My tone was clipped, controlled, even though every muscle inside me felt like it was coiling too tightly. “Enemies outside the borders. Opportunists inside. You’re vulnerable because of me.”

The panic in her eyes clawed at me, and she looked desperately toward my mother. But Lucia had no intention of saving her from this reality.

“Have there been threats?” she asks, urgency creeping into her voice.

“Not yet,” I admit. “But we expect them. You’re too close to me, and that makes you vulnerable.”

Her gaze darted around the room, as though searching for a crack in the walls that could promise escape. “But I’m safe here… right?”

I hesitated. Closing my eyes for a breath, I finally said it. “Safe—only to a point. Which is why…” My throat felt raw. “…I want you to be my mistress.”

Her silence was crushing.

When I opened my eyes again, she stood there frozen, her hands limp at her sides, her lips parted in disbelief, she’s staring at me like I’ve shattered something sacred. Her mouth is parted, her expression frozen in disbelief.

“Your what?” she whispered.

I step forward, gently taking her hands. They’re cold and limp, her body still locked in shock. “The title changes everything. It gives you protection. Guards posted inside and outside the manor. It places you at my side publicly—at meals, at events, at night. If people believe you share my space, it limits anyone from daring to try to touch you.”

“I don’t understand…” she faltered, eyes flicking between my face and my mother’s.

Lucia intervened then, her voice unusually gentle as she smoothed a lock of hair away from Nova’s cheek. “Listen, dear. It’s more than just protection—it’s survival. Both male and female alphas often marry for advantage, not love. 

So they keep someone close, someone trusted, someone who has a title. Mistresses have always been safeguarded. It’s an unspoken law—political upheaval rarely touches them.”

Nova wrenched her hands back, her whole body trembling. “What if I say no?”

The words sliced straight through me. My chest tightened with dread.

“Well, why would you refuse?” Lucia countered smoothly.

“Because…” Nova voice shook. She looked straight at me, her eyes blazing with hurt. “Cassain and I aren’t—romantically involved. He’s my best friend.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay composed. “What happens behind closed doors means nothing. It’s just a title. Nothing more. You’re not obligated to—” I stopped, wincing at my own choice of words. “…to be anything you don’t want to be.”

Her shoulders sagged, and she exhaled in relief. That relief stung more than I wanted to admit.

“But,” my mother added sharply, “appearances matter. To keep you safe, the illusion must hold in public. If it crumbles, you become a bigger target.”

I shoot her a glare. This isn’t the time for cold logic.

Nova wrapped her arms tightly around herself, shrinking into her own protection. “So what—you’re saying I can never marry?”

“Of course you can,” Lucia replies, squeezing her hand. “If you find someone, we’ll dissolve the title and let you go. This is temporary—just for as long as you choose to stay close to Cassain.”

We haven’t talked about her future in a long time. I’d always assumed she’d stay. That she’d never leave. That was my mistake.

Nova pulls away from Lucia, stepping back. “I can’t…”

And then she bolted. One second she was with us, the next she was gone—slipping through the door and fleeing like the very walls of the room were collapsing around her.

“Nova!” I called, already starting after her.

But my mother’s hand shot out, gripping my arm like iron. “Give her space,” she says. “But not too much. You need to convince her.”

“She was horrified,” I say, pointing toward the door. “I won’t pressure her.”

“You don’t need to,” Lucia replies, her voice sharp. “But if she refuses, I’ll have her relocated. New name, new life, far from here.”

I stare at her, stunned. She’s always been ruthless, but this? This is cruel.

“Mother…”

“You’ll never see her again,” she says coldly. “Do you understand?”

My jaw clenches, the weight of her words pressing down on me.

My jaw clenched, teeth grinding against the words I couldn’t speak. I had no choice. “Fine,” I muttered at last, the bitterness thick in my throat. “I’ll talk to her.”