"...I asked my maids to bring her both something to eat and drink twice, but she declined. I can’t force her." Alaina’s lower lip quivered lightly as she looked from Keenan to the High Priestess.

The two maids nodded in agreement even though no one asked them. They moved closer to the bed, mirroring the same sad expression as Alaina as they handed the items to the High Priestess.

"Does that answer your question, Your Holiness?" Keenan asked. His tone was drab; he showed no concern about whether she ate.

Celeste did not reply to the question. Rather, she turned her attention to Maya who still lay unmoving on the bed. Her blood had soaked into her dress where Celeste placed her wrist.

The High Priestess took her hand, carefully cleaning the cut before wrapping her wrist with the clean bandage. It wasn’t a deep cut, and if she had a wolf, it would have healed already. But because Maya didn’t, she needed some assistance to speed up the healing.

After she was done, Celeste stepped away from the bed and turned to Keenan. She looked like she was about to say something about the situation but changed her mind. Instead, she said, "The ceremony is over. I shall take my leave, Alpha Keenan."

Keenan lazily lifted his gaze from the bed to meet her stare. He was unfazed by the accusations he saw in them rather he was irritated. High Priestesses were known for their impartiality, yet Maya had managed to win the priestess onto her side with barely any interaction.

The corner of his lips twitched, and he grabbed the side of his head. It was almost impressive how she could manage such, but Keenan didn’t fault the High Priestess. He too once believed the act.

"Your Holiness need not be in such a hurry," he replied with a stiff smile. "You only arrived last night."

Celeste met his eyes with her shoulders high, and Alpha Keenan squinted as their eyes met. Though he was unfazed by her unsaid accusations, it didn’t reduce the intensity of her gaze.

"My job here is done," Celeste replied, straightening her sleeves. "She should wake up soon. Make sure she is fed this time."

Keenan shrugged. "I can’t force her if she doesn’t want to eat."

Celeste looked at Keenan with disappointment before glancing at Maya, who was sleeping peacefully. As worried as she was, this was all she was allowed to do. She couldn’t meddle anymore.

She whispered a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess to protect Maya, then turned away and exited the room.

"Alaina," Keenan called without looking at her. "Escort Her Holiness and make sure she lacks nothing for her trip back to the capital," Keenan ordered.

Alaina let out a gasp and glanced at the maids who were still in the room. "Someone else can—"

Keenan jerked his head in her direction, his green eyes blazing, silencing whatever complaints she might have.

"Yes, Alpha." She bowed and withdrew, taking the maids with her.

The door made a loud sound that Keenan barely heard as he sat down next to the bed, staring at the sleeping woman. He should leave. He had no business here anymore.

She stirred as if wary of his gaze and turned her face in the opposite direction. She wasn’t awake yet, but she was still looking away from him.

A flash of memory appeared in his vision. He was sitting in one of the cells of Vilhelm’s dungeons while she stretched out a gloved hand to his chest through the bars separating them. Her fingers were lathered with an oily substance.

Ointment, she said.

This was not a lie, for he could smell the mint and herbal mixture, and even now he could still smell it, like everything else in that dark dungeon and in the shadowy mines.

Her expression was soft as she spoke to him from the other side of the bars. Her voice was sad, almost like she could feel his pain and wanted to make it better. She didn’t look at him as she urged him to use the ointment, but he could clearly see her expression.

He leaned in before he could think about it. Perhaps if he had thought about it just a little, he would have realized. If only he had waited a moment, he might have smelled the wolfsbane hidden in the mix of her scent, the ointment, and the damp dungeons.

But he didn’t.

Her hand felt cool through the lace gloves; it was soothing on his wounds. Keenan hated that he remembered that clearly. If her hands didn’t feel so cool, perhaps he would have noticed the burning in his chest faster.

The pain was excruciating. It was like he had been set on fire. Her reaction, however, was a stellar performance he never forgot. If he weren’t in the room, he would believe she had nothing to do with why he was screaming his lungs out on the dirty floor of the dungeons.

He winced as his chest flared, as if reacting to the memory. The pain wasn’t as excruciating as that day, but it was a constant reminder. Keenan ground his teeth; it made a sharp snapping sound as his teeth slammed together. He grabbed the arm of the chair and took a deep breath.

There was no reason to get angry. The ceremony was over. They were bound as mates, legally as well. He had unhindered access to get his pound of flesh. He leaned back in the seat and stared hard at her.

The door of his bedroom suddenly opened again, and Alaina stepped into the room. "Her Holiness has left the town."

"Very well," Keenan said without glancing at her.

Alaina’s hands formed fists beside her as she tightly grabbed the hem of her dress. She stepped closer, cautiously.

"She shouldn’t be in your room, Alpha Keenan."

"Go give Asher a helping hand."

Alaina looked exasperated, she stepped closer again, her expression desperate. "This is all an act. You should know that better than anyone. She could have eaten, but no, she’d rather make a scene."

Asher, Theo, and Alaina knew to some extent the cruelty Keenan had gone through at the hands of the Olstens. The first month after the war was brutal for all of them. Asher and Theo still wouldn’t set foot in the gold mine. But they had seen it through because they had each other.

"As I said, Alaina, it’s irrelevant what tactics she tries to employ. It’s too late now."

Alaina’s jaw tightened, and a dark look passed across her face. "I will take her to her room."

"Go help, Asher. Don’t make me repeat myself."

"What about you?" Alaina asked, her voice softening, hoping she would be able to linger with the change of subject.

He scoffed. "Your worry is almost insulting, Alaina."

"I apologize, Alpha Keenan. I just can’t help it. I am just so worried. We know exactly what they are capable of. Who knows what she and her father are plotting?"

Keenan’s eyes darkened. There was truth in Alaina’s words. Though he had gotten what he wanted, there was no doubt that this was a little too easy.

She had gone along with him, and now the wedding was done. Even if he had the Alpha King on his side, Vilhelm was not the sort of man to surrender so easily. There was bound to be resistance.

What could the evil old man be plotting?

Keenan glanced at the bed again. Whatever the plan was, Maya would play a role in it. She was, after all, her father’s precious daughter. She didn’t even leave their estate without him. There was no way Vilhelm would hand her to him without some retaliation.

However, whatever the retaliation was, it didn’t matter. Keenan had no plans to let go of her for any reason. He sneered. He hoped the High Alpha would make the wrong move so that he wouldn’t have to hold back while humiliating him.

"It doesn’t matter, Alaina. On your way out, send a message to the cook to bring food to my chambers."

Alaina’s eyes widened, and she looked from Keenan to Maya. His orders didn’t match the look in his eyes. If he hated her, he would let her starve. He would throw her into the mines where she belonged, yet here she was on his bed.

It had only taken her faking unconsciousness to get there. Alaina had never been invited to his room, she only entered when accompanying the maids during cleaning.

Yet here is the woman you hate most in the world, lying on your bed!

Alaina took a deep breath. Getting angry wouldn’t serve her; she had learned that early enough, and with Alpha Keenan, it was best to do as he wanted. He didn’t appreciate doggedness.

"Yes, Alpha." She bowed and exited the room.

Keenan didn’t even raise his head to look at her as she left. Rather, his gaze remained on Maya.