CHAPTER 62

Ariana’s POV

I stood in the center of the room, my eyes locked on the small ceramic vase that sat on the table.

"Focus."

I inhaled deeply, steadying my thoughts. Slowly, I reached out my hand, though I knew by now that physical movement wasn’t necessary. My mind was the force. The power.

The vase trembled slightly. Its edges quivered as I pushed the energy outward, willing it to lift.

"Up."

It inched from the table, wobbling unsteadily in the air. The satisfaction was short-lived, however. My concentration broke the second doubt crept in. The vase clattered back down, thankfully unbroken.

I groaned in frustration, running a hand through my hair. It had been like this all morning. Some attempts worked, others failed miserably. It was as if the power wanted to obey me, but I still lacked the finesse to control it.

“Again,” I muttered under my breath.

But just as I prepared to try once more, the clock on the wall reminded me that I didn’t have the luxury of wasting time. With a resigned sigh, I headed for the bathroom.

The warm water from my bath did little to ease the tension in my muscles. I washed away the morning’s frustration, reminding myself that I had a bigger goal today. One that required patience and precision.

By the time I stepped out, I was determined.

I carefully chose a fitted emerald green dress that hugged my figure perfectly, the silky material flowing elegantly around my legs. My hair cascaded down my back in loose waves, and a touch of makeup highlighted my features. I needed to look flawless. I needed to play the part.

After one last glance in the mirror, I left my room and made my way to the dining room.

Damien was already seated at the large mahogany table, his back straight, and his expression unreadable as he silently ate. But I could still sense the storm lingering beneath the surface — the remnants of his anger from yesterday.

And beside him, as expected, was Seline.

The golden-haired woman flashed a bright smile the moment she saw me, but I wasn’t foolish enough to believe it was genuine. The envy that radiated from her was like a thick fog. No matter how hard she tried to conceal it, I could see it in the way her fingers gripped the edge of her glass just a little too tightly.

But I had a role to play.

“Good morning,” I greeted softly, my voice laced with just the right amount of sweetness.

Damien barely glanced up, though I noticed the stiffness in his shoulders. "Still moody."

Perfect.

I moved closer, letting the silence linger just long enough to build anticipation. Then, with a practiced, apologetic tone, I spoke.

“Damien,” I began, lowering my gaze slightly. “I’m sorry for how I acted yesterday. I shouldn’t have made you feel like you were deceived.

That wasn’t my intention.” I bit my lip, making sure my remorse looked convincing. “I was wrong. And I regret it.”

He said nothing at first, though I could see the slight shift in his expression.

“You’ve been forgiven,” he finally said, his voice firm but void of warmth.

That was enough.

Smiling softly, I stepped behind him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders in a gentle hug. I could feel the tension in his body, but he didn’t push me away. Another small victory.

“Well,” Seline’s voice chimed in, too cheerful to be genuine. “It’s good to see you two working things out. You really deserve each other.”

The words dripped with fake sincerity, but the jealousy beneath them was almost palpable. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, maintaining my innocent facade.

“Thank you, Seline,” I replied sweetly. “I’m sure you understand how important it is to keep the peace.”

She gave a tight smile in return, though the flicker of resentment in her green eyes didn’t go unnoticed.

With the mood slightly shifted in my favor, I decided it was time.

“There’s something else I wanted to ask, Damien,” I said, straightening and returning to my seat. “I want to start going to the training grounds.” Damien frowned, clearly caught off guard. “Training grounds? Why?”

“I want to learn how to fight.”

“You don’t need to,” he said almost immediately. “You’ll always have guards to protect you. You’re safe here.”

“But I don’t want to rely on guards,” I countered gently. “I want to be stronger. To stand beside you, not behind you. Isn’t that what a Luna should be?”

Damien’s jaw tightened, the conflict clear in his eyes. He liked the idea of control — the knowledge that I was under his protection. But he also wanted to maintain the illusion of a perfect relationship. Refusing my request outright would only make him appear unreasonable.

“So you have agreed to be my wife?”

“Haven’t you started the arrangement?”

After a tense pause, he finally spoke.

“Fine,” he said slowly. “But the guards will follow you. I’m not risking your safety.”

I knew that was coming.

“That’s fair,” I nodded, feigning understanding. “Thank you, Damien.”

He gave a curt nod, but I could tell he was still uneasy.

Seline, on the other hand, looked anything but pleased. Her smile was thin, and though she said nothing, I could see the irritation simmering beneath her carefully composed mask.

\----

The sun shone high above the training grounds, casting a golden hue over the open field. Warriors moved in practiced formations, their powerful strikes sending echoes through the crisp air. The clanging of weapons and the steady thud of fists against training dummies surrounded me, but I remained still.

Dressed in the appropriate training attire — fitted dark pants and a simple black tank top — I felt strangely out of place. My hair was tied back, strands still falling loosely around my face. The guards Damien had assigned stood a short distance away, watching like hawks. I was certain they’d report back every single move I made.

But none of that mattered. I wasn’t here for them. I was here for myself.

“Are you sure about this?”

I turned at the familiar voice. Elara approached me.

“I’m sure,” I replied firmly.

Elara’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Why? Damien may have agreed, but you know this isn’t something he supports. You’ll be under constant watch.”

“I know,” I said softly. “But I need this.”

She took another step closer, lowering her voice. “Ariana, is this really about protecting yourself?”

I hesitated. There was no hiding from Elara. She could read me like an open book. But I couldn’t tell her everything. Not yet.

“It’s part of it,” I answered, my voice steady. “I want to be strong enough to defend myself if I ever need to.” I swallowed, the weight of my true intentions pressing against my chest. "And to protect Lycus. To help him break the curse."

The thought alone stirred something fierce within me. Lycus had been suffering under the burden of a fate he never deserved. And if I could become strong enough to stand by his side, to fight for him — then maybe I could help free him.

But that wasn’t something I could explain to Elara.

She sighed, her gaze softening. “I just worry, Ariana. You don’t owe Damien anything. You don’t have to prove yourself to him.”

“This isn’t about proving anything to Damien,” I replied firmly. “It’s about proving something to myself.”

Elara studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. “If this is truly what you want, then I’ll support you. But be careful. Don’t let him manipulate this.”

“I won’t.”

Her eyes lingered on me, as if trying to search for the secrets I wasn’t saying. But eventually, she stepped back, her expression filled with reluctant understanding.

“Good luck. I will be watching from the sides.” she said softly before turning away.

\-----

By the time I returned to my room, the ache in my muscles was unbearable. Every step sent a dull throb through my legs, a reminder of the hours I’d spent pushing my body to its limits. The training had been brutal — far more intense than I’d anticipated — but I refused to complain.

This pain meant progress.

The guards followed me at a distance, their presence lingering like an unwelcome shadow. But once I reached my door, they took their posts in the hallway, leaving me with a sliver of privacy.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, relishing the familiar comfort of my space. The air was still, the curtains partially drawn, allowing golden light to spill across the room. But as I moved further in, an unsettling feeling crept over me.

My first thought was Elara, but I quickly dismissed it. Elara would never enter my room without reason, and if she had, she would’ve told me.

This was different.

The faint scent lingering in the air wasn’t hers. It wasn’t even Selena’s, though I couldn’t deny the possibility had crossed my mind. The woman was practically dripping with envy. If anyone would try to rattle me, it would be her.

But this wasn’t her doing.

I scanned the room, my eyes narrowing as I searched for anything out of place. And then I saw it.

The pillow on my bed.

It had shifted, barely noticeable to anyone who wasn’t looking closely.

But I remembered exactly how I left it this morning. Now, it was slightly askew — like someone had moved it.

Cautiously, I stepped closer. My heart thudded with each step.

I reached down, my fingers trembling slightly as I lifted the pillow.

A folded note lay beneath it. The paper was crisp, almost too clean, as though it had been placed there deliberately.

My breath caught.

"Who could have left this? And how did they get inside without anyone noticing?"

I hesitated for a moment before carefully unfolding it. The ink was dark and bold, the handwriting elegant but unfamiliar.

The words were simple. But they sent a chill through my spine.

"I KNOW THE POWERS YOU POSSESS, AND I CAN HELP YOU UNLOCK THEM ALL."