23
“Are you comfortable on the bed?” Elias asked that evening. It was his third visit since we arrived at the palace that day. He had me occupy one of the guest rooms at the palace, which was more luxurious than I could have ever imagined.
I patted the mattress, which bounced at the slightest touch. “Comfortable is an understatement, Elias. This is like sleeping on a cloud,” I replied, sinking into the softness of the bed. “By the way, thank you for saving me back there. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened to me if you hadn’t shown up when you did ”
His gaze, as intense as ever, lingered on my face, searching for signs of distress. I shifted on the bed, smoothing the covers nervously.
“You’ve thanked me enough. You don’t need to keep bringing it up.”
“I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly,” I replied, meeting his eyes. “Jester is not easy to deal with. You didn’t just protect me. You made him back down, something I didn’t think was possible.”
Elias smirked slightly, his hand resting on the post of the bed. “Jester’s nothing more than a coward who uses his strength to intimidate. People like him crumble when faced with real power.” His tone softened as his gaze locked on mine. “But I didn’t do it for power, Mauve. I did it because no one has the right to treat you that way. Least
of all him.”
“Still, it feels like you’ve done too much for me already.”
Elias shook his head, his lips curving into a small, wry smile. “You’ve saved my life once, Mauve. Consider this
me evening the score.”
I laughed softly, though the sound came out shakier than I intended. “Evening the score? If that’s true, I still owe
you plenty.
His expression grew serious again, and he stepped back, as if giving me space. “You owe me nothing. But if you ever need anything, just tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
For a moment. I forgot to breathe. Something about the way he said it made my heart pound hard. I nodded,
unsure of what else to say
Elias lingered for a few seconds more before heading toward the door. “Get some rest, Mauve. You’ve had a long day.”
When the door clicked shut behind him, I sank back into the plush bed. But sleep didn’t come, no matter how luxurious the mattress was. My thoughts churned, circling back to Elias again and again. He had protected me, offered me sanctuary, and even played along with my lies to keep Jester at bay.
My wolf stirred restlessly You should tell him.
I chewed on my lip, debating. Finally, I opened the mindlink hesitantly. ‘Elias?
A moment passed before his voice, slightly groggy but alert, responded. ‘You’re still awake?
‘Yes I need to talk to you. Can we meet?
There was a pause before he answered, ‘I’ll meet you in the kitchen
In the royal kitchen, I clutched my mug tightly as I sat across from Elias. His presence was steady and reassuring, even in the quiet of the night.
“Is this about Jester?” he asked.
“No.” I shook my head quickly. “It’s not about him”
His brows furrowed, curiosity flickering in his golden eyes. “Then what is it?”
I hesitated, my grip tightening on the mug. “I’ve been thinking… I want to help you. I’ll agree to pose as your
mate.”
I expected relief or even a triumphant smile. Instead, Elias frowned. His silence made me want to take back my suggestion.
“Why?” he asked. “Are you agreeing because of what I did to cast your mate away?”
“No,” I said firmly. “This has nothing to do with Jester.” I drew in a deep breath, steadying myself. “I’m agreeing because you deserve my help. You’ve been kind to me, patient. You’ve done so much, not just for me, but for your people. Everything you do, even this plan for me to pose as your mate, isn’t for your own gain–it’s for them. To give them hope after everything that’s happened.”
The words tumbled out in a rush, but the more I spoke, the more clarity I found, Elias was everything Jester wasn’t. Where Jester wielded power like a weapon, Elias carried it with purpose. Where Jester demanded submission, Elias offered respect.
My thoughts drifted, and I barely noticed the way Elias’s expression softened. When his arms wrapped around me in a brief but firm hug, I stiffened, then melted into his embrace.
“Thank you,” he murmured. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
The next morning, I barely recognized myself.
Magnolia’s clothes fit me perfectly, though they weren’t something I would have chosen for myself. A team or stylists and makeup artists had worked on me for hours, transforming me into someone I hardly knew. My reflection in the mirror was both familiar and foreign.
For months, I’d felt invisible, a shadow of the person I once was. But now, staring at the polished version of myself, I saw someone else–someone stronger. Someone ready to step into a role far greater than I’d ever imagined.
“You look stunning, Miss Mauve,” one of the stylists said as they finished the final touches.
I wasn’t sure if I believed them, but I couldn’t deny that the transformation was remarkable. Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs, where Elias was waiting.
I made my way downstairs, where Elias was waiting.
When he saw me, he froze. His gaze swept over me, lingering on every detail. For a moment, I thought he might not say anything, but then he stepped forward.
Finally, he reached for my hand, lifting it gently. His lips brushed over my knuckles in a feather–light kiss, his warm breath grazing my skin. “Beautiful”
Heat rose to my cheeks, and for once, I didn’t mind the attention. In that moment, I felt like someone worthy of admiration.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Elias smiled faintly, still holding my hand. “Ready to take on the world, Magnolia?”
I straightened, drawing on the courage I knew I’d need. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
As I stepped forward, I realized something else–this wasn’t just about pretending to be someone else. This was my chance to become something more.
