Chapter 94
The sun rose over the palace. Golden light came through the tall windows. The halls were already busy. Servants carried trays of breakfast. Flowers were brought in for the wedding decorations. The air smelled like fresh bread and roses.
Aurora woke slowly. Her eyes were red from crying. The nightmare still sat heavy in her chest. She sat up. Kairo was not beside her. He must have left early.
She washed her face. Put on a simple dress. White with blue flowers. She looked in the mirror. She looked tired. But she tried to smile.
She walked to the dining room for breakfast.
Kairo was there. He sat at the head of the table. The queen sat beside him. Two elders were there too. They talked about the wedding.
Kairo saw her. He stood up. Smiled. But his smile looked tight.
“Good morning, Aurora.”
Aurora sat beside him. “Good morning.”
He took her hand under the table. Squeezed it. But his eyes looked different. Worried. Suspicious.
The queen said, “We are speeding up the preparations. The wedding will be in eight days now. Not ten. The pack is ready. The village is ready.”
Aurora nodded. “Okay.”
Kairo said, “Yes. Faster is better.”
Aurora felt something off. Kairo’s voice was sharp. Not soft like usual.
After breakfast, the queen and elders left to talk about music and food.
Kairo stayed with Aurora.
He looked at her. “Last night… the nightmare. You screamed loud. The guards heard.”
Aurora said, “I’m sorry. It was just a dream.”
Kairo said, “I know. But it worried me.”
Aurora said, “I’m fine now.”
Kairo looked away for a second. Then back at her.
“That guard… the one who came in first. Hardin.”
Aurora’s heart jumped. “Yes?”
Kairo said, “He ran in before I did. He held you. Called you a different name. Rhianna.”
Aurora looked down. “It was nothing. He just… heard me scream.”
Kairo’s jaw tightened. “He is new. I don’t know him. I don’t trust him near you.”
Aurora said, “He is just a guard.”
Kairo said, “No. He looks at you too much. He acts like he knows you. I don’t like it.”
Aurora felt her cheeks warm. “Kairo…”
Kairo stood up. Called two guards who stood at the door.
The guards came in. Bowed.
Kairo said, “Put an eye on that guard. Hardin. The new one with dark hair. Watch him every minute. Report to me if he goes near Lady Aurora. If he talks to her. If he looks at her too long.”
The guards nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Kairo said, “He is not to be alone with her. Ever.”
The guards bowed again. Left.
Aurora said, “Kairo… he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Kairo looked at her. “I am protecting you. The wedding is soon. I don’t want problems.”
Aurora said, “Okay.”
But inside she felt bad. Hardin was not a danger. He was… something else.
Kairo took her hand. “I love you. I want everything perfect.”
Aurora nodded. “I know.”
Kairo said, “The preparations will be faster now. The dress fitting today. The vow writing tomorrow. The full moon is close. We will be married soon.”
Aurora smiled small. “Yes.”
Kairo kissed her forehead. “I will see you at lunch. Rest now.”
He left.
Aurora sat alone in the dining room.
She thought about Hardin.
He came first last night.
He held her first.
He calmed her first.
Kairo came second.
But Kairo was her fiancé. Her future.
Hardin was a guard. A stranger.
But her heart did not feel that way.
She stood up. Walked to the window. Looked out.
Guards stood in the yard. She saw Hardin. He stood far away. Two other guards watched him. Close. Like they followed him.
Aurora’s heart hurt.
Kairo did not trust him.
But she did.
She did not know why.
But she did.
She turned away from the window.
The wedding preparations continued.
But now everything felt different.
Hardin was watched.
Aurora was confused.
And the ache in her heart grew bigger.