Chapter 19 A DAY OUT.
Venessa’s POV.
The sun was too bright for a morning that felt so dark.
I woke up and the first thing I felt was the ache between my legs. It was a constant reminder of the way Dante had looked at me—like I was a feast and he was a starving man. But the second thing I felt was the coldness of the empty bed.
He had left me last night for another woman.
“You will be my mistress.”
I sat up, my jaw tight.
I wasn't going to cry. I was done with tears. I told myself even as I fought hard to blink back tears.
I grabbed a simple sweater and jeans, dressing quickly.
I needed to get out of this room. It smelled too much like him, like cedar and a night full of lies.
I walked down to the breakfast hall, hoping to find some coffee and some peace. Instead, I found Celine.
She was sitting at a long table, stabbing a piece of melon with a fork. She looked up and her green eyes went wide.
"Whoa," she said, putting her fork down. "You look like you’re ready to punch a wall. Or my brother."
"Both," I said, sitting across from her. I poured myself a cup of black coffee. "He’s an arrogant, selfish jerk."
Celine leaned back, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, I guess the 'wedding night' didn't go well?"
"He told me I'm his mistress," I snapped. "He said he has a real Queen coming and I’m just…there. A warm body."
Celine’s smile dropped.
She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Dante has a big mouth. He says things to push people away before they can get too close. It’s a defense thing."
"I don't care if it's a defense," I said. "It's cruel."
"It is," Celine agreed. "But forget him for today. You need a break from this depressing castle. Let’s go out. Just us girls."
Celine didn't take no for an answer. Half an hour later, we were in her bright red sports car, flying down the mountain roads.
She was the only person who used a car in a kingdom that depended on Carriages.
She drove like a crazy person, but I liked it.
The wind was hitting my face, blowing away the scent of Dante’s sheets. For the first time since I woke up, I felt like I could breathe.
"Where are we going?" I asked, looking at the trees zooming past.
"To the village," Celine said. "There’s a small shop that sells the best chocolate in the North. And then, we’re going to look at some clothes that aren't black or grey. You need some color in your life, Venessa."
The village was beautiful. It looked like something out of a storybook.
People stopped and bowed when they saw Celine, but she just waved them off with a laugh.
"Don't mind them," she whispered to me. "They think I'm a goddess. I just like the attention."
We spent the afternoon eating sweets and walking through small boutiques.
Celine was funny. She told me stories about Dante when they were kids—how he once tried to howl at the moon and fell into a pond, or how he was secretly afraid of spiders.
"He's not a cruel man, Venessa," Celine said as we sat at a small cafe. "He’s just a man who has been told he's a monster since he was five years old. After a while, you start to believe it."
"He treats me like I’m nothing," I said, looking at my coffee.
"He treats you like you’re a threat," Celine corrected. "Because you’re his mate. Because you have power over him that no one else has. That scares him more than any war."
We were walking back to the car, carrying bags of chocolate and a few new dresses, when a carriage stopped in the middle of the street.
It was black and gold. Expensive.
The door opened and Natasha stepped out.
She looked perfect. Her black hair was pinned back, and her red dress was tight enough to show every curve. She looked at me, and her eyes turned distasteful.
"Celine," Natasha called. "I didn't know you were babysitting the werewolf today."
Celine stepped forward, "She’s the Queen, Natasha. And I’m not babysitting. I’m hanging out with my sister-in-law. Something you’ll never be."
Natasha’s face twisted in anger for a split second.
Then she looked at me. She saw the marks on my neck that my hair hadn't quite covered.
Her smile came back, but it was mocking .
"He told you, didn't he?" Natasha whispered, stepping closer to me. "He told you that you’re just a placeholder? He’s mine, Venessa. He always has been. When the time comes, he’ll throw you away like trash."
"He told me plenty of things," I said, meeting her gaze. I didn't flinch. "But he’s the one who was in my bed last night. Not yours."
Celine let out a loud "Ooh!" and laughed.
Natasha looked like she wanted to slap me. "Enjoy him while you can. The North doesn't keep weak things alive for long. And you? You're the weakest thing I've ever seen."
She got back into her carriage and rode off.
The drive back to the castle was a lot quieter. Celine kept looking at me.
"You did good back there," she said. "Natasha is a snake. She has been trying to get Dante to mark her for years. She thinks she can use him to get to the throne."
"Why does he keep her around?" I asked.
Celine sighed. "She has connections. And she knows things about the Lycan history that we need. But don't worry about her. Worry about Dante."
"Why?"
"Because he's getting worse," Celine said, her voice dropping. "The moon is almost full. He’s going to be on edge. He might say things that hurt, or he might stay away entirely. Just... don't go looking for him tonight, Venessa."
"Why does everyone keep telling me to be mindful of my husband’?" I asked, frustrated.
"Because the things he does in the dark aren't for you to see," Celine said. She pulled the car up to the castle gates. "Go to your room. Lock the door. And stay there."
And I remembered everything from my dream. Was he really suffering just like that?
No way. It was only a sick dream.
My mother was alive not some sick person who rose from the dead. Dante was here too.
I got out of the car, my heart heavy.
I went up to the massive suite and put the bags down.
The room was empty. No Dante. No warmth.
I looked at the chocolate Celine had bought me and i suddenly didn’t feel like eating them alone.
I sat on the bed and waited. I waited for the sun to go down. I waited for the sound of his boots in the hall.
But as the clock ticked toward midnight, I realized he wasn't coming back. Not tonight.
I stood up and walked to the window. In the distance, I saw a light in the High Tower.
Celine told me to stay in my room. Dante told me to stay out of his way.
But I was tired of being told what to do.