Chapter 145: A Spectacle
FIA
I stared at Cian’s face as the color drained from it completely. His expression looked like soone had punched all the air from his lungs and left him gasping.
"What is she doing here?" The words ca out strangled. Rough.
I forced myself to look at the blonde woman again. Our eyes t this ti. Cornflower blue locked onto mine for a heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Then she looked away and started walking, her white dress catching the light as she moved toward the hallway.
"Cian... I..." My throat felt tight.
"Fia." He turned back to . His eyes were wide. Apologetic. Torn. "I..."
"I understand." The words ca out easier than I expected. Maybe because so part of
did understand. Maybe because I could see the way his entire body was pulled toward that hallway like an invisible string was wrapped around his chest.
He swallowed hard. "No. I shouldn’t."
"You should." I kept my voice steady even though my hands wanted to shake. "You clearly haven’t gotten closure. Go."
His jaw worked. He looked at
like he was searching for permission he’d already been given. Like he was hoping I’d take it back.
But I didn’t.
He turned and walked away. His steps were quick at first, then faster. Almost running. Chasing after the ghost that had just materialized in the middle of our dance.
I stood there on the dance floor while couples moved around . The music kept playing. Sothing bright and cheerful that felt wrong against the hollow aching in my chest.
Had I made a mistake?
The thought hit
hard. I should have told him to stay. I should have asked him to choose
instead of whatever unfinished business lived in that hallway. Because the look in his eyes when he saw her. The hurt. The longing. It was still there. Raw and bleeding and so fucking obvious it made my stomach turn.
I’d been certain he moved on. The way he held . The way he looked at . The way he said my presence was enough.
But I was starting to think that wasn’t the case at all.
The room seed to slow around . People spun past in their expensive clothes with their champagne glasses and their laughter. Everything felt distant. Muffled. Like I was underwater watching a party happen on the surface.
I walked slowly toward one of the far walls. Put my back against it and tried to breathe normally.
Now that I wasn’t so overwheld by seeing Cian’s ex girlfriend, my brain started putting pieces together.
Was this what Aldric had promised? Had this been his big plan for the night after all?
My hands grew cold.
His ex was a witch. And what did Cian need at this exact mont? A witch. Soone to help his mother. Soone to solve the problem that had him falling apart in my arms just an hour ago.
This wasn’t coincidence. This was orchestrated.
I took a step forward, not sure where I was going. Just needing to move.
"Two lovebirds finding themselves." Aldric’s voice ca from beside . Smooth. Amused. "Ain’t it cute?"
I turned to face him. His expression was smug. Self satisfied in a way that made my blood boil.
"What kind of a monster are you?" The words ca out sharp. "Did you orchestrate this?"
He tilted his head. "It looks more to
like the goddess is shining her great light on lost love."
"You fucker..."
"Okay. That was plain rude. But... you shouldn’t be fixated on
this much."
"I wasn’t the only one who saw Cian abandon you on the dance floor and run after the whirlwind romance he had." He chuckled. The sound grated against my nerves. "It has to hurt. But the think pieces that will be flying around right now will be so tea."
"What even is your end goal?"
"Wouldn’t you like to know?"
I crossed my arms. "So Alpha Julius Knight is one of your minions."
"I wish I had that power." Aldric smiled wider. "But no. We’re close though. Julius doesn’t necessarily hate Cian, per se. He just saw him as a child that had too much power way too quickly. He figured either my imdiate older brother or myself were a much better choice as Alpha of Skollrend."
I looked at him. Really looked. I tried and I failed to find sothing remotely humane under all that calculation.
"What about her? Madeline. Is she...?"
Aldric’s smile turned sharper. "You think I have the power to make a Blossom witch cower and bend to my will? That’s such a high thought you have of . I’ll keep that in mind."
"So you’re just playing them like fiddles then." My voice ca out flat. "Is that all people are to you?"
"Want to dance?" He extended his hand. "If you say yes, I’ll be more receptive to your questions. I will even be honest."
"I’m not a ga or a toy."
I pushed past him. My shoulder brushed his arm as I moved. I needed to get away. I needed space. I needed sothing to stop the spiral happening in my head.
Despite telling Cian I didn’t need alcohol, I found myself scanning the room for a waiter. One passed nearby with a tray of amber liquid. I grabbed a glass without asking what it was.
The first sip burned. Made my throat feel raw. Made my eyes water slightly.
I heard whispers. Low voices that thought they were being subtle.
"Is that her?"
I turned my head slightly. Two won stood a few feet away. Their eyes locked on
like I was sothing fascinating and grotesque at the sa ti.
"Yes. I saw Isobel with her daughter earlier, so she has to be the Oga bastard."
"You should have had your eyes on the dance floor." The other woman leaned closer. Her voice dropped but not enough. "Alpha Cian abandoned her for that witch he used to see."
"Oh, the Blossom girl? What is she even doing here?"
"Right? Soone is being ssy."
Their laughter followed
as I walked away. Each step felt heavier than the last. The alcohol sat in my stomach like a fucking rock.
I wasn’t watching where I was going. I was just moving. Trying to find sowhere quieter. Sowhere I could breathe without feeling everyone’s eyes on .
But I bumped into soone.
Hard.
"I’m sorry," I said automatically as I started to step around them.
The man turned. His smile died the second he saw my face.
My skin prickled. Every hair on my body stood up at once.
"Father."
The word ca out before I could stop it. Automatic. Learned from years of greeting him the sa way.
His eyes widened as well. "Fia?" His voice sounded strange. Shocked. "How... How.. how have you been?"
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak. I just stood there staring at the man who’d thrown
away. The man who’d decided I wasn’t worth keeping. The man whose rejection and disbelief had now shaped every single day of my life since I chose to wear Hazel’s veil.
He looked older. Gray at his temples. Lines around his eyes that hadn’t been there before. But his face was the sa. The sa sharp features. The sa cold assessnt in his gaze.
"I..." My voice wouldn’t work properly. "I’ve been fine."
The lie tasted bitter. Everything about this mont tasted bitter.
"You look well." He cleared his throat. Shifted his weight. "I saw Cian earlier and it looks like things are better for you."
"Yes."
"That’s good." He nodded. Like this was a normal conversation. Like we were catching up after a short separation instead of the true ss of what it has actually been. "Very good for you. It brings
peace... you know... Given what you did."
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