Maya jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest as if she had been running. She sat up quickly, her breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was, the remnants of the dream still clinging to her mind like a thick fog. She pressed her hands to her face, trying to shake off the lingering heat that had seeped into her bones.
The vivid memory of Tay’s touch sent a tingling sensation through her body, and she shivered, not entirely from the cold. Her skin still buzzed where he had touched her, his name branded on her back like a cruel, possessive reminder of what she had become. She tried to steady her breathing, but the pounding in her head from all the crying and lack of proper sleep wouldn’t relent.
Maya slowly opened her eyes, staring up at the ceiling. It felt strange, as if she were in someone else’s body, someone else’s life. Just yesterday, her biggest worry had been the nerves before her 18th birthday celebration and the faint hope and dread that she might find her fated mate. But now, everything has turned upside down. Her life had been ripped apart by the revelation that her soul belonged to a demon, and that she was marked, claimed by him.
The reality of it all weighed on her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her. She wanted to scream, to hit something, anything, to vent the whirlwind of emotions crashing inside her. But instead, she just sat there, staring blankly at the ceiling as the events of the last 24 hours replayed in her mind.
She was pulled from her spiraling thoughts by an urgent need to use the restroom. As she stood up, a chill ran down her spine, and she felt an unusual draft against her back. Confused, she turned to look in the mirror across the room, and what she saw made her freeze in shock.
Her t-shirt was split clean down the middle from behind, the fabric hanging loosely from her shoulders. The sight sent a jolt of fear and disbelief through her. She reached behind her to touch the tattered edges of the shirt, her mind racing as she recalled the dream.
No, this wasn’t just a dream. The sickening realization hit her like a freight train. Tay had actually been there, in her room, someone, and sliced her t-shirt. He had ripped her t-shirt apart, and worse, he had licked the painful markings on her back as if to soothe her, no! to stake his claim on her.
The thought of it made her stomach churn, but even more disturbing was the heat that rose to her cheeks as she remembered the way his touch had made her feel. She had never allowed anyone to get that close to her. No one had ever kissed her, let alone touched her so intimately. And yet, this damn demon had taken those liberties without a second thought, as if he had every right to.
“Ugh!” she growled, clenching her fists in frustration. The rage building up inside her was almost too much to contain. How dare he? How dare he think he could just do whatever he wanted with her?
She was not going to let this slide. Not by a long shot.
She might be bound to him by some ancient, unbreakable contract, but that didn’t mean she was going to roll over and accept her fate without a fight. If Tay thought he could control her, bend her to his will, he was in for a rude awakening.
But first, she needed to clear her head. She needed a plan.
She peeled off the ruined t-shirt and stepped into the shower, hoping the cold water would help cool her anger. As the water cascaded over her, washing away the remnants of the dream, she allowed herself a moment to simply breathe. The burn on her back had subsided, replaced by a dull, throbbing ache, but she ignored it, focusing instead on gathering her thoughts.
Maya couldn’t change what had already happened, but she could decide what to do next. Tay might have the upper hand, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. She was a fighter, and she wasn’t about to let some demon dictate her life.
By the time she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself, a plan was starting to take shape in her mind. It wasn’t much, but it was something to hold onto, a spark of determination in the face of overwhelming odds.
She would fight back. Tay might have claimed her, but she was still her own person. And she would prove it.
As Maya’s stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday, she glanced at the clock and realized it was already lunchtime. The thought of facing everyone again made her heart clench, the sting of betrayal still raw and fresh. But she knew she couldn’t stay holed up in her room forever. Her life had already been upended, but she wasn’t going to let it make her a recluse. Taking a deep breath, she got dressed, steeling herself for the inevitable encounter with her family.
Her heart pounded as she made her way to the dining hall, the long corridor seeming more daunting than ever.
When she pushed open the door to the dining hall, every conversation stopped, and all eyes turned to her. The tension in the room was palpable, but Maya decided to brush it off. If they were going to stare, then so be it. She was done hiding.
"Good afternoon," she greeted, her voice steady as she took her usual seat at the table. The silence stretched for a moment before everyone returned the greeting, though the atmosphere remained thick with unspoken words. Maya could feel her parents’ gaze on her, filled with concern and perhaps guilt, but she chose to ignore it for now. She wasn’t ready to confront them again, not yet.
Instead, she focused on Axel, who was sitting across from her. He flashed her a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with the familiar playful energy that she had always loved. "How are you... auntie?" he teased, drawing out the word ‘auntie’ with a smirk.
Maya rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Under the table, she kicked him lightly, a not-so-ladylike gesture that made Axel burst out laughing. His laughter was a welcome relief from the tension, and she was grateful for his lightheartedness. For a moment, it almost felt like things were normal.
Just then, the door opened again, and her brother Kaian entered, followed by his new mate, Rebecca. They greeted everyone, and Kaian announced, “I invited Rebecca to join us for lunch.”
Rebecca blushed and smiled nervously, greeting everyone at the table. Maya noted the way Rebecca’s eyes flickered towards Kaian with a mix of affection and uncertainty, clearly still adjusting to her new role in the family and to the shock that she was mated to the Crown Prince himself.
As they all started to eat, a light conversation struck up among those present, the earlier tension slowly beginning to dissipate. Maya picked at her food, only half-listening as her thoughts drifted back to the events of the night before.
After a few exchanges around the table, Rebecca, perhaps in an effort to be friendly and include Maya, turned to her with a sincere smile. “Maya, I hope you’re feeling better after the fainting of yesterday. I know how it is to be nervous, especially with big events like yesterday. If you ever need help or just someone to talk to, don’t hesitate. I know that we don’t know each other, but I hope that we could change this.”
The room froze in awkward silence, everyone’s gaze flickering between Maya and Rebecca. The air thickened with tension again, as Rebecca remained blissfully unaware that she had stumbled into a sensitive topic.
Maya looked at Rebecca, noticing the sincerity in her expression. For a moment, she was tempted to lash out, to let her frustration and anger spill over. But she caught herself, knowing that Rebecca meant well and was only trying to help, unaware of the last night drama. Forcing a polite smile, she replied, “No worries, Rebecca. Thank you for the offer. I’ll keep that in mind.”
The tension eased slightly as the conversation moved on, but the unease lingered in the back of Maya’s mind.
As the meal continued, Maya kept her focus on Axel’s jokes and banter, using his jokes as a buffer against the storm of emotions brewing inside her.
As the meal progressed, Maya noticed her brother Kaian glancing in her direction several times, his eyes filled with concern. He tried to catch her gaze, his expression silently asking if she was okay. She forced herself to smile at him, though it felt more like a grimace. The effort of keeping up appearances was exhausting, but she didn’t want to worry him more than he already was. Kaian had always been protective of her, and even though things were complicated now, she appreciated that he still cared.
When lunch finally ended, and everyone began to rise from the table, Maya hoped to slip away unnoticed, but her father’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Maya," King Kai said, his tone firm yet gentle, "can we talk in my office? Please. It’s important."
Maya felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She had known this conversation was inevitable, but that didn’t make it any easier. She met her father’s eyes and nodded, her voice steady as she replied, "Sure, Father. Let's go."
As they made their way through the corridors, the tension between them was palpable. The reality of the situation weighed heavily on Maya, and despite her anger and sadness, she knew that her parents were the only ones who could provide her with more details about the contract, about Tay, and about what might come next. She needed answers, and even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear them, she knew she had no choice.
The walk to her father’s office felt longer than usual, the air thick with unspoken words. Maya’s mind raced with questions, fears, and a tiny sliver of hope. She just wanted to find any way out of this mess, any possible ray of hope that could change her fate.
When they reached the office, Kai opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Maya stepped inside, her heart pounding as she took a seat in front of the large wooden desk that had always seemed imposing. Her mother, Elena, followed them in, her expression still etched with worry and sadness.
Kai closed the door behind them, shutting out the world outside.
"Maya," her father began, his voice heavy with the weight of what he was about to say, "I know how difficult this must be for you. I can only imagine the betrayal and confusion you’re feeling right now."
Maya held his gaze, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I need to know everything," she said, her voice firm.