Chapter 66 Confrontation

Chapter 66 Confrontation
King Mavros’ Point of View

It was her. There was no way I could be wrong. She may have managed to mask and conceal her presence, but nothing could hide the bond that tied our souls together, the mate bond forged by the Moon Goddess herself, a connection that could never be fully severed or hidden, no matter how much magic she used.

She actually has the audacity to show up here after five whole years, huh? And worse, she brought another man right into my own territory, under my very roof!

I could not tear my eyes away from the two of them, now dancing together in the middle of the floor, surrounded by all my guests. My fingers tightened around the heavy glass of liquor in my hand, gripping it so hard it was only a matter of time before it shattered completely—only my own will to keep my anger in check kept it from breaking right then and there.

So it was true, after all… She really did betray me while she was staying at the Hundi Pack. Only a few months after she went there, only months after she promised me she would return, she threw everything we had away for someone else.

According to that woman, who claimed to be a mage also from the Hundi Pack, Coriander had gotten pregnant with another man’s child. She even showed me a photograph as proof—proof that the woman I loved more than anything in this world, my own mate, was carrying someone else’s baby.

I wanted to believe it was a lie. I wanted to dismiss it as nothing but vicious gossip. But I trusted what I saw. I was so blinded by rage and heartbreak that day I nearly killed the messenger who brought me the news—only for her to slip away before I could lay my hands on her, leaving me with nothing but the pain and the suspicion that have eaten away at me ever since.

I took another sip of my drink, but my gaze never once strayed from the two of them down below. I stood here on the mezzanine balcony, resting my elbows on the railings, and watched every move they made.

This is not what I should be doing right now. I should not be staring at them, analyzing their every gesture, or letting them occupy my thoughts. My real focus should be on keeping watch, ready to catch that elusive figure known only as Code D—that was the true reason I arranged this gathering in the first place, after all.

“Mavs! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you. What on earth are you doing up here all alone?”

I didn’t even bother turning to look at the speaker. I recognized her voice instantly, no need to see her face to know exactly who it was.

Even as she approached, my eyes remained locked on the dance floor, my mind still torn between the duty I owed my pack and the raging storm of emotions this one woman had stirred up all over again.

“What are you doing here, Debora?” I asked with my voice sharp and cold, stripped of any warmth or welcome.

I felt her hand slide smoothly through the gap and curl around my arm, her fingers resting lightly against my sleeve. I did not bother to shake her off—not yet, but only because I could not be bothered to make the effort, not because I welcomed her touch.

“Thank you so much for inviting me tonight,” she purred, her tone dripping with deliberate sweetness and flirtation. Slowly, she lifted one finger and traced the line of my jaw.

I turned my face slightly away, avoiding her hand completely. “Tsk. Stop it. You weren’t invited. How did you even manage to get past security and enter this hall?” I replied coldly, making it clear that her presence here was neither expected nor desired.

She pouted her lips playfully as if my question had somehow offended her or made me seem like a stranger to her.

“Mavs, you act as if you don’t know me at all!” she said. “Of course I found a way. I simply charmed and seduced your guards!” she said proudly, as if this were the greatest achievement she had ever managed in her entire life.

I immediately pulled my arm away and brushed her hand off. I did not even look at her as I did it, my eyes never leaving the scene below me on the dance floor.

“Disgusting,” I said flatly.

“What—”

I did not let her finish whatever she was about to say. I straightened up immediately, and I stepped away from the railing, then held out the rock glass I had been gripping all this time to one of my trusted men, who stood nearby keeping watch and scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary.

“Where are you going, Mavs?!” Debora called out sharply, but I did not so much as glance back in her direction.

Yes, I know. I should not treat her this coldly, no matter how little patience I have for her. Because no matter how you look at it, no matter how much things have changed or how many years have passed, she is still Debra’s sister, even if I no longer hold any affection for her. But I have moved on from that chapter of my life long ago. I closed that door and locked it behind me. I already have Cor—

The words died right there.

Do I really? How can I say I have her when she walked away from me five years ago? When she left without a word of goodbye and then came back only to stand here in my territory, clinging to another man’s arm?

All the anger, confusion, and old wounds I had buried deep down came rushing back at once. The bond still pulled me toward her, undeniable and fierce, but what was the point of a bond when the person it connected you to had apparently thrown it aside long ago?

The realization hit me harder than any blow ever could, which is that I did not have her. Not anymore. Not in the way I wanted, not in the way I once believed I did. And yet, here she was, turning my carefully ordered world upside down all over again, just by being present.

Before I knew it, I found myself moving down from the balcony and blending into the crowd of guests, my own black mask now covering half my face so I would not be instantly recognized as I moved through the room.

The band had switched to one of the most popular dances of the season—a lively sequence where everyone kept moving, changing partners in a flowing rotation across the floor.

One after another, women and men stepped forward to join me, greeting me warmly, wishing me a happy birthday, and trying to strike up conversation. But I gave not a single reply, not even a polite nod.

My gaze remained locked entirely on Coriander through every shift and turn. I tracked her every movement, never letting her slip from my sight, until the moment finally came when the dance brought us face‑to‑face and she became my partner.

Even with the mask covering half her face, I knew her better than anyone else. I knew the exact shape of her features, the shade of her eyes, and the curve of her lips. I knew every line and contour of her body like the back of my hand. Even though she had managed to veil her presence so completely that I could not sense her energy, there was no doubt in my mind—the woman standing right in front of me was her.

I saw the shock flash clearly in her eyes the moment our gazes met, but she quickly masked it, trying to regain her composure.

She offered a stiff, forced smile. “Y‑You’re Mr. Grimvile, aren’t you? Happy birthd—”

“Stop pretending, Coriander. I know it’s you,” I cut in sharply, my eyes blazing as I held her gaze. We kept moving in time with the music, swaying gently to the rhythm, so no one around us would notice the heavy tension coiling tight between us.

I watched as the false smile vanished from her lips instantly, as if she had been expecting this exact moment all along.

“Don’t get me wrong—I didn’t come here to see you, nor did I come to celebrate your birthday,” she said in a serious tone, which only made me raise an eyebrow.

“Then what exactly are you doing here? Just showing up to dance with your man, is that it?” I replied sharply, my voice hard as I tightened my grip around her waist just enough to let her feel my control.

I saw her wince slightly, but I felt no remorse. Whatever discomfort she was feeling right now was nothing compared to the pain and heartache she had inflicted on me all those years ago.

“L-Let me go! What business is this of yours anyway?!” she snapped back.

My jaw clenched. “Of course it’s my business. Don’t forget—you are standing on my territory right now. I will never allow anyone to cause trouble or act recklessly here, especially not you. And make no mistake: I will not hesitate to strike you down right where you stand if you give me even the slightest reason to do so,” I warned.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that it was time to switch partners again, but I did not let go of Coriander even as she struggled and fought to free herself from my firm grip. The more she tried to pull away, the tighter my hold around her waist became, pressing firmly enough to stop her from moving any further.

More guests were beginning to glance our way, noticing that something was off. Without hesitation, I grabbed her wrist in a strong grasp and pulled her straight through the crowd, leading her out of the main hall.

“Let go of me! What is the matter with you?! Have you lost your mind?!” she snapped, raising her voice in protest, but I paid no attention to her complaints.

Other guests turned to stare as we passed, whispering and exchanging curious looks, but I did not care in the slightest. I needed to speak to this woman, and I would do it by any means necessary.

“Shut up, Coriander. Or I will make you shut up myself,” I warned her once more, and the sharp edge in my tone finally silenced her completely.

You have a lot to explain to me, Coriander. A lot.