THE LORD AND HIS RAVEN

Mating ceremony

I still had not wrapped my mind around what was going on, when I noticed some ladies all lined up, coming from far behind. Ren moved out of the way, moving me as he did. At the same time, positioning himself in a way that he blocked me from everyone else. I don’t know why he did that, but I could not be more grateful.

The ladies walked past us, each classy, elegant, beautiful in their own way, all dressed magnificently. But what intrigued me most was the identical mask they had. It looked just like the one that I was made to wear.

“Join them…” Ren whispered when the line was coming to an end and I froze. I was dressed like a maid. The only difference here, was my gown was somehow shorter than normal and the hands were made to fall off my shoulders, making my breast stand out a lot more. It didn’t even cover the tattoo on my thighs, yet…

I snapped my gaze back to Prince Logan and found him staring. His lips stretched into a wonderful smile and cold ran down my spine.

“No no no…” I shook my head.

“Join the line.” Ren repeated when the last girl came up. But I didn’t move. Phineas let out a low growl that sent cold running down my spine. I quickly joined the line and nervously made my way to the front as the other girls. And loud cheering and whistling followed.

When it died down, the king entered.

“Today, you will either find your other half, your fated mate or a concubine to warm your bed. You will either find yourself a harem or a wealthy family who will change the status of your family or make your family line stronger. Either way, the moon goddess has already blessed today. And may she bless your union.”

Cheers and applause rose. And my heart skipped as I quickly realised what was happening. I was like a lamb about to be slaughtered. I was going to be sold, taken up like a stupid property to do with as please.

“I need to get away.” My thoughts screamed as I turned around to leave. But guards in armour immediately blocked my path. Frightened, I paused and looked around. There were eyes on me now, and it was not the gaze of admiration or cheerfulness. They all looked displeased. I swallowed and turned my gaze to the corner of the hall, where the king and prince sat. Logan’s expression was different too, only more scary. The smile on his lips and eyes had disappeared into a very grim look. And within those eyes, there was a warning. One, that had me rooted to the spot I stood and sent a trembling down my spine.

“Do not dare.”

I turned back to where I stood and the hall cheered, while a girl beside me scoffed. They must be proud to be made into possessions that could be put on display and sold off to whoever wanted them. What kind of world was this? It seemed like something out of a book. Yet, the pain that was began to throb underneath my feet was a reminder of that dreadful night. The scars on my back and the fact that I was dressed like a s*x slave about to be sold out was yet another reason to believe that this world was very much possible and I was living in it.

“The ceremony will begin….” Someone yelled gloriously and the cheers around the hall rose to the very roof. I looked at the other girls, the smile on their lips and the way their shoulders stood proudly.

I had to get out of there. So many things had happened so far in my life, but I could not be a s*x slave to anyone. I was sure I would take my life if that were to ever happen.

That thought had not ended when a loud bang pierced the air, shutting everyone up and filling the excited room with a sudden gloom.

We all turned to the door. The large double handed door that had only been shut a few moments ago. It had been slammed open and a man dressed in shiny black armour stepped in.

Unlike the others around dressed in red and matching uniform, he looked different. The complete opposite, in both style, colour and demeanour. He looked dangerous, rogue and frightening. Gasps filled the air, and the cheerfulness of the hall turned into sour whispers and murmurs and what I thought to be fright. They knew what was happening and whatever it was, wasn’t good.

“Good…” I breathed a sigh of relief. At least, it would delay what was about to happen.

“It can’t be..” a lady beside me murmured frightfully. I frowned and turned my attention back to the door. More gasp rose when the shadow of a man cast against the floor and a chilly wind blew across the room, leaving goosebumps all over my skin. I crossed my arms over my chest, to ward off the cold. But it didn’t seem to matter. Because even when the wind stopped, the air remained chill.

The silhouette of a man came into my line of sight and almost immediately the armoured man gave way. The hall turned silent and everyone looked on, with paleness and a certain fill in the air. It was contagious, my heart started racing.

Then the man came to view and I frowned. He was nothing like the armoured man, he looked normal, absolutely no one to be scared of dressed in black and a black robe that hid his face from view.

“That…murderer…is here…..”

“Oh heavens, save me from getting picked by him.” Some girls whispered in fear. And my frown deepened.

“He killed his wife and former mate.”

“He has been exiled and banned from entering the white gate, how is he here?” The whispers rose and more rose.

“A rogue can’t possibly participate…”

“He should have been killed rather than exiled.”

The more the murmurings rose, the more my heart raced. Just when I thought nothing could be worse than being sold. It turned out that it could turn worse if the cloaked man wanted me. Even his own people were scared of him.

“Ender………” a loud voice suddenly boomed into the air, shutting everyone up instantly. We all turned to the direction the voice came from, to find the king standing on his feet, and glaring hard at the cloaked figure.

“Why are you here?” His voice boomed coldly, wickedly. It reminded me of Logan.

“Father…” Logan immediately got up on his feet. His voice was a lot calmer and that smile back on his face.

“We have no rule forbidding him from being here…” He entered.

“He won’t be taking any of our women. That mistake won’t be made anymore. He can only watch and that shouldn’t be a problem for anyone, should it?” He added.

The king said nothing at the beginning, but his words seemed to have reached his ears, so he sighed and settled down.

“Everyone, ignore the bastard. The ceremony will go on.” He announced. There were no cheers this time. It seemed the presence of the cloaked figure had drained it all. But there was some sort of relief in the air.

I turned back to the cloak figure, not sure what to make of what was happening, when I noticed him taking off his cloak. My heart skipped at the sight of his black wavy hair. He handed his cloak over to the black armoured man and suddenly snapped his gaze to me almost like he could feel me. My heart stopped. And a strange warmth enveloped me, like a soothing kiss, saying “I AM HERE NOW.”