Chapter 2

Aurora's POV

The next day, I went to the herb shop in Twilight Market.

The owner was an elderly elf woman. Her counter overflowed with magical herbs. I picked out lavender oil and moongrass incense—both helped with migraines. For Draven.

If I was marrying him, I might as well be prepared. The rumors said chronic pain had tortured him for years.

I'd just paid and stepped outside when someone gasped dramatically.

"Well, well, well—look who's HERE!"

Seraphine clung to Kelvin's arm, grinning smugly. "Sister said she'd NEVER be Kelvin's slave, but here she is buying him gifts. Amazing performance, sister."

I froze. This WAS Kelvin's favorite shop for incense.

Damn it.

Kelvin stared at the bag in my hands. "Finally coming to your senses. Since you're willing to grovel, I'll forget about yesterday. Come on, let's go sign that slave contract."

He paused, eyeing my purchase with distaste. "Wrong scent though. I don't like moongrass. Go exchange it for dragonblood cedar."

I rolled my eyes. "This is for my FIANCÉ. None of your business."

Kelvin sneered. "You're actually going through with marrying Draven? That psycho's a savage. You think you'll last one night?"

"That's between me and him."

"Between you and—?" Rage flashed across Kelvin's face. "Keep this up and the slave offer's OFF the table. Then you can wait for Draven to rip you apart."

Seraphine's eyes lit up. She pointed at a shop across the street selling enchanted shackles. "Kelvin, look—that place has collars for slaves."

Her voice turned saccharine. "No one's stupid enough to actually marry that MONSTER. Unless... sister found someone better? That's why she's acting so cocky?"

"Maybe you should teach her some manners now, before she does something truly stupid. We're just trying to help her, aren't we?"

Rage contorted Kelvin's face.

"You're right." He waved over two guards. "Take her inside. Put a collar on her. Time she learned her place."

"Don't you FUCKING dare—"

Before I could finish, the guards grabbed my arms and hauled me into the shop.

Inside was dim, reeking of blood. A punishment platform stood in the center, surrounded by enchanted shackles—some carved with runes, others lined with barbs.

A collared slave was being whipped. The runes on his collar glowed with each strike as he screamed. Barbs lined the inner edge—every time he struggled, they sank deeper into his neck.

Kelvin hesitated for half a second, then let the guards drag me forward.

Seraphine followed. Her fingers dug into my arm like steel clamps. That fragile act? Completely gone.

"Don't be scared, sister," she whispered in my ear. "I'll help you pick something PRETTY."

Her gaze swept the shop, landing on a silver collar covered in wicked spikes. Runes crawled across its surface—supposedly once locked on, the wearer experienced constant agony.

"This one." Seraphine picked it up with a smile. "Perfect for a HIGH-LEVEL mage like you."

I fought with everything I had. Just as she moved to lock it around my neck, I unleashed my magic.

Silver-white light exploded outward. Magic filled the room like a shockwave.

Seraphine took the full force. It launched her backward into the wall.

She slumped to the floor. A shallow burn marked her arm—barely red. Not even bleeding.

But Seraphine clutched it like she'd been stabbed, sobbing. "Kelvin—I was just trying to HELP and she tried to KILL me!"

Kelvin's face went black.

Dragon fire erupted from his hands.

"AH—"

Flames slashed across my body. I went down hard. Dragon fire burned a hundred times hotter than normal flames, searing through skin to bone.

He kicked me toward the punishment platform. My hands slammed onto the burning rune-stones. Pain exploded through my body. I bit down hard but still shook violently.

I'd barely pulled my hands free when something cracked across my face.

"SMACK—"

Kelvin backhanded me.

My head whipped sideways. Blood spilled from my split lip.

He looked at me like I was trash. "Aurora Vale, you're DISGUSTING. Seraphine's been defending you, and THIS is how you repay her? Apologize. NOW."

I clutched my burning face and dragged my head up.

Across the room, Seraphine pressed against Kelvin's chest. He gently stroked that barely-visible mark on her arm, looking at her like she was dying. My burns, my blood—he didn't even SEE them.

I looked at them—and burst out laughing.

"Apologize?" I wiped blood from my mouth. "Kelvin, you'd better pray to every god you know that Draven NEVER finds out about today. Because when he does—"

I bared my teeth in a bloody smile. "He'll tear your head off your shoulders."