---- Chapter 8 No.8 Aria POV: The shock in the ballroom was a tangible thing, a heavy silence that pressed in on all sides. Kaelen and Silas stared, their faces masks of disbelief. This was not part of their plan. Kaelen was the first to move. He strode forward, pushing through the stunned guests until he was standing in front of me and Damien "Aria, stop this," he said, his voice low and urgent, meant only for me. "Is this because of the diamond? | was wrong. | admit it. Just come with me now. We can go before the elders, complete the Marking ceremony tonight. Just stop this foolishness." The Marking. The sacred bite that would permanently bond us, soul to soul. The thought of his teeth on my skin now made me feel sick. Before | could answer, Silas stepped forward as well, his eyes filled with a desperate, wounded light. "If you wanted to make a point, Aria, if you just wanted to make him jealous... why not choose me? | would have gladly been your pawn!" A few guests murmured in sympathy for Silas, the supposedly devoted, spurned admirer. ---- A cold, mirthless smile touched my lips. | looked at Silas, my gaze unwavering. "Do you really love me so much, Silas?" "More than my own life," he declared, his voice ringing with passion. It was a flawless performance. "Is that so?" | asked softly. "Then perhaps you can explain why, just last month, | overheard you boasting to the other warriors. You said, and | quote, 'That time | took a hit for her from that rogue? All for show. A little scar to make sure she'd always feel indebted to me.' Does that sound like love to you, Silas?" The color drained from his face. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. "Oh, but there's more," | continued, my voice gaining strength. | pulled out a small, crystalline shard-a memory crystal. "This records Mind-Link conversations. Let's all have a listen, shall we?" | activated it. Silas's voice, cool and dismissive, filled the air. She is the Alpha's daughter, after all. But I'll admit, a girl like Lyra... she makes a man feel needed. The crowd gasped. The man who had just professed his undying love had been mocking me behind my back. "Your performance of devotion is nauseating," | said, my voice dripping with contempt. Silas staggered back as if | had struck him. Before he could even attempt a defense, Damien stepped forward and drove ---- his fist into Silas's jaw. The sound was a sickening crack. Silas crumpled to the floor. "No one," Damien growled, standing over him like a vengeful god, "insults my future Luna in my presence." "Luna," Kaelen repeated the word, his voice tight. The sound of it, applied to me with another man, seemed to cause him physical pain. He turned his desperate gaze back to me. "Aria, please. Don't throw everything away. | will marry you. | will be a good mate. | will protect you. | promise." His promises were ashes in my mouth. He spoke of being a mate, but his every action had proven he didn't know the first thing about what that sacred bond meant.