Chapter 12 You want the truth?
KANE
I stood in the shadows, watching as Catherine sat with my mother. I watched how her delicate fingers scribbled something on parchment.
They were outside in the garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers. My mate was here, just within reach, yet something gnawed at me. A primal need to claim her, to keep her close, warred with the fear that I could destroy her.
I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm. My mother’s voice floated over to me, cheerful and full of excitement as she guided Catherine through the process of sending invitations to dignitaries across the realm. Invitations for a mating ceremony she really wanted to happen.
Catherine’s head was bent over her work and the sunlight shined on her golden hair in such a way that it took my breath away. She was so beautiful, so fragile.
And yet, here she was, preparing for a ceremony as if everything between us was settled. As if she wasn’t trapped in this.
Unable to stay back any longer, I strode toward them, to join in whatever fun they were having.
“Is this what you’re planning now?” I asked, my voice harsher than intended as I approached them. “Invitations?”
Catherine’s head snapped up at the sound of my voice, her eyes widening slightly before she quickly masked her expression. My mother smiled serenely.
“Kane, dear, we’re simply planning for the ceremony. It needs to be perfect. This is an important event, after all.”
I shot her a look.
“We don’t need to invite the entire realm into the castle. This is private.”
Catherine stiffened, her gaze narrowing in suspicion. She glanced between my mother and me before speaking.
“Why does it need to be private, Kane? Are you worried about what people might say? Or is it because you don’t want anyone finding out about how you brought me here?”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“I don’t care about what others think,” I said slowly. “This is between us. It has nothing to do with outsiders.”
Catherine folded her arms across her chest, not backing down.
“Then why are you hiding it? If this is so important, why not let the world see it? Unless there’s something you don’t want them to know.”
My jaw clenched, and I felt the familiar surge of anger rise up, my beast prowling just beneath the surface. But I forced it down, knowing that losing control now would only confirm her suspicions.
“There’s nothing to hide,” I growled, stepping closer. “But I won’t have people poking around in my affairs. I won’t let them turn our mating into a spectacle.”
Catherine held my gaze, her expression unreadable. She wasn’t convinced, not yet.
Before she could press further, my mother stepped in with a bright smile, trying to diffuse the tension.
“Kane, darling, Catherine is right. This ceremony should be shared with the world. It’s not just about the two of you, it’s about solidifying your place together as rulers. People need to see that.”
I shook my head, unwilling to budge. “No. It’s going to be private.”
“Is it because you don’t want anyone finding out about the others before me?”
Catherine’s comment caught me off guard.
Her voice was sharp, but the look in her eyes was what hit me the hardest, fear. For a second, I stood there, frozen, her words echoing in my head. How much did she know? How could she know?
The memories came flooding back. Memories of the other women, the mates who had come before her, their faces blurred but their deaths vivid.
I’d failed them. My curse had consumed them, taken their lives one by one. Was she accusing me of hiding that from her? And why did she have that look in her eyes, like she was afraid of me?
I clenched my fists, trying to bury the rage that was building. My beast stirred, furious and hurt that our mate would look at us with such distrust, such fear.
"Who told you that?" I growled, taking a step closer. My voice was low, dangerous despite that I tried to hold myself back.
Catherine met my gaze, not backing down.
"No one had to tell me. I can see it. There’s something you’re not saying, something you’re hiding. Why are you so desperate to keep this quiet?"
Her words stung, but not as much as the accusation behind them. Desperate? Hiding? I was protecting her. From myself. From what I was capable of.
"You're wrong," I said through gritted teeth. "This isn’t about hiding anything. You don’t understand..."
"Then explain it to me, Kane," she cut in, her tone icy. "Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you're afraid of something. Like there's something more to this than just wanting privacy."
My heart pounded in my chest, the beast inside me clawing to get out. She didn’t understand. How could she? The weight of the curse, the lives I had ruined, all because of the blood that ran through my veins.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
In one swift motion, I reached for the stack of invitations Catherine had been working on. Before she could react, I tore them apart, the sound of ripping paper filling the air.
Pieces of parchment fluttered to the ground like dead leaves as I glared at her, breathing heavily.
"You want to know the truth, Catherine?" I spat. "Fine. We’ll mate tonight. No more ceremonies, no more games. We’ll do it the way it’s meant to be done."
Her eyes widened in shock, her lips parting as if she wanted to protest, but no words came out.
I could see the fear return together with confusion. I hated myself for it, for making her feel this way. But I couldn’t stop. The beast was too close to the surface now, pushing me, demanding I claim her, mark her, make her mine once and for all.
But I turned away, storming off before I could say or do something worse.