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Noah

"She's here," one of the guards announced, waiting for a nod from me and when he got it, he stepped aside.

I knew just who was coming to visit and I wondered what she wanted to see me for, it was easy to guess what she would say but I guess I just had to hear it.

"It's good to see you again." She spoke with a soft voice that announced her presence, making me look up from the map in front of me.

I'd been engrossed in maps since the moment I decided that separating the 'power couple' was all I needed to get effective results.

"To what do I owe this visit, Tiara?" I replied, making sure my voice relayed to her that I was clearly not pleased or excited by her visit.

"I-- I thought.." she trailed off, her expression changing to one filled with confusion. 

"I delivered the package, is this the reward I get?" She asked, her voice soaring with anger even though she fought to keep it low.

We both knew what the package meant or who the package was rather, she was referring to Aria, who was either cooling off in one of the cells or was burning up in there.

I let out a scoff at her words. 

"No, but you will get it soon. Guards! Seize her!" I ordered and a handful of guards rushed in at the same time and grabbed her hands tightly, standing before me and waiting for any additional order from me.

"Why are you doing this? You gave me your word. We made a deal." Tiara's voice broke as she cried out.

Of course, we made a deal, a one-sided deal. I never made a deal with anyone...

"It was a deal, sure," I said, nodding my head in reasoning with the sides of my lips tipped downward.

"But it was a one-sided deal, I never made a deal with you and never will." I spat my irritation for her evident in my voice.

Tiara shook her head as if trying to deny my words or the reality that she was not getting her curse broken anytime soon.

She'd made a deal with me to break her curse and to her, it was an easy card to play to get answers after searching for a long time but to me, it was just another opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

"You deceived me" Her voice was barely above a whisper as the tears that had been fighting their way out finally prevailed.

"Did you really think I was going to break your curse?" I asked, trying to stifle laughter.

"I wasn't, I never was. You're mine now, you will remain here till I figure out what to do with you. I could use your vast travel experiences to crack codes and sort issues out or I might end your life for fun." I inhaled deeply, pocketing my hands.

"Take her away," I ordered the guards who did as they were instructed immediately. 

All sober expressions were now gone from her face and the only thing that was on her face was the hatred she had for me and a look that was capable of killing me if looks could kill.

Shaking my head, I turned some liquor from a bottle into an empty glass on the side of the table, I imagined how things could've happened differently, how I would've gotten what I wanted if only Aria yielded.

How easy it would've been for everyone.

"What are you doing Noah? You're my father's right-hand man and the only person on my side, I can't do this with you." Aria had said one day when I tried to kiss her.

She couldn't even bring herself to consider having anything to do with me. Even though her rejection hurt, it didn't hurt like it did when she decided to be with Connor. 

I'd accepted to be the mate that abandoned her, I was okay being the father to her son, I did everything a father would, and never did I complain one day even though the pack members had other options.

I stood by her and even fought for her in times when necessary but the one thing I needed from her, she refused to give to me.

"Don't you think it's better if we come together as one... you know... as a family, one family" I replied, hoping that she would like the idea and it would lead to something good, for me. For my intentions of becoming powerful. But she declined, and from that moment onward, the hate I had for her skyrocketed. 

I'd have been gentle with her and used her powers slowly while treating her like my mate, but she didn't want that so I had to take it by whatever means I could.

If only I could control her, if only her powers would let me control her back then... with a deep breath, I shut my eyes shook my head and gulped down the remaining contents of the liquor.

This was no time for regrets or mercy.

I dropped the glass cup on the table and walked out of the throne room, with guards following behind me, I marched to the dungeon. 

I didn't want to be seen by her, not yet. So I walked into the darkness, staring at what was supposed to be Aria's cell, I wondered, with different emotions cursing through me, how Aria would look after all these times.

I'd always known her as a princess, not some prisoner.

There was a calming hum coming from her cell and I figured that it had to be her, either calming her son or calming herself down.

Taking another walk, this time out of the dungeon to my room.

"Get me ready in a way she won't be able to recognize me," I instructed, standing and staring at the mirror opposite me.

The middle-aged female who was about to get to work paused when I raised my hand.

"Wait, I need a fine-tuning device to amplify my voice. I need it to be set up in the speaker room with little speakers that will be set up in the dungeon. She will not know I'm the one speaking, it will be more fun that way." The guards who were standing my by door nodded and got to work.

After making sure that my word had been passed, I turned to the maid.

"Go on."

The maid went on placing different outfits on me and whenever I'd let out an expression of displeasure or dissatisfaction, she'd quickly take it off my chest and place another.

When I couldn't take it anymore, I snatched the outfit she held and ordered her to get the hell out.

After she'd gone, I inhaled deeply and looked at the filled wardrobe behind me and the pile of clothes before me.

If I wanted to hide my identity before Aria, I needed to be creative. Wearing a suit would sell me out by the shape of my legs or walking style or build. 

I wasn't so sure she'd memorize details like that but I couldn't take chances.

After sweeping through the closet, I picked out a black robe my eyes fell on and I was pleased when it covered every inch of my skin.

I also wore a mask and a hat and almost walked out of the room when I remembered that I had forgotten the most important thing that would give me away-- my scent.

Quickly, I gulped down the pill that was supposed to kill my scent for some minutes, before walking out of the door.

Walking into the dungeon, this time, the lights were turned on and it was as though they blinded her eyes, she strained her eyes and even made to shield her eyes from the bright light like a vampire.

I took in her features, her fair, beautiful skin was now pale and stained with dirt. She looked so malnourished like she hadn't eaten well in years.

Her formerly plump cheeks had now dried up a little and her eyes were inside their sockets more than usual.

She finally settled with the lights and finally noticed my presence, she fixed her gaze on me, not looking away, not flinching, not saying anything or asking any questions and I suddenly felt bare.

I suddenly felt like she knew I was the one behind her struggles, I felt like she knew I was the orchestrator and I was behind the cover of the heavy dark robe and face mask.

And I didn't know if it was because I wasn't prepared enough to see her again or if it was because she reminded me of her father, I felt... something.

Maybe it was the sight of her at her lowest, maybe it was seeing her face again after all these while, it had to be... there had to be an explanation for what I felt that was different from what I'm thinking...