Meg
I didn’t want to wake up or face reality yet, so I lay on the soft bed that smelled of too many chemicals, pretending to still be asleep. Because in my dreams, Roman had chased me up the stairs last night and demanded we leave this place, refusing to let me marry another.
Groaning, I buried my face in the pillow.
I needed to lay off the romance novels.
And I really needed a plan to untangle the web I’d somehow landed in. If Roman didn’t live here, if we wouldn’t be seeing each other every day, the moonsickness might kick in.
It was a safety feature of our mating rituals. Nature’s way of ensuring love had a chance to bloom before we accepted or rejected the bond.
But Roman was a human. A good little soldier that worked for the councilwoman. I didn’t think he’d be able to go against their plans even if he wanted to.
This was bad. So freaking bad.
Let’s just kidnap him and go, my wolf said.
True, he was a bigger guy. But he couldn’t be that heavy. With my shifter strength, I could…
No.
Please don’t, my wolf sighed, already knowing where my thought spiral was leading.
Because we couldn’t just abandon the mission. I was here for a reason—to appease the gods by bringing two different cultures together through marriage before they woke and forced us under their rule again.
I wished I could talk to Morrigan. A part of me wondered if this had always been the plan. She wanted sacrifice, right? Was I supposed to sacrifice my happiness and future mate for the good of the world?
All these thoughts were giving me a headache.
Or maybe it’s the beginning stages of moonsickness…
I threw off the blankets as my heart started to race along with my thoughts. It was time to get up. To do something. Anything.
I needed answers.
I should pray.
Pray to who?
Morrigan, I guess. She got me into this mess.
“Morrigan,” I whispered, not sure how to call her. Was I supposed to kneel? My feet touched the floor, but I couldn’t bring myself to my knees.
“Can we talk?” I asked the goddess, feeling stupidly foolish for speaking to myself.
No answer.
I tried again, louder this time. “I really need you.”
“Good morning, Citizen. The time is six thirty-eight a.m.,” a female voice said.
“Oh my gods, who are you?” I screamed, claws extending as I whirled around and came face to face with a woman.
“The weather today is slightly warmer than normal, but it’s no cause for concern. Your government will take care of you.” The woman’s smile was plastered across her wrinkle-free face and a long red braid hung down her back. Not a hair or muscle moved.
I leaned closer, sniffing.
She has no smell.
Neither did the goddess, but I could sense Morrigan’s presence when she was around. This woman was… strange.
“It seems you haven’t logged into the system.
If you’ll update your credentials, I can scan your email and socials to give you important message highlights or tailor news to your preferences.
” Her blue eyes didn’t blink. “In major world news this morning, Alaina Boressmen released her hit single “Iconic” and it is currently topping the charts.”
“What is this?” I sheathed my claws, passing my fingers through the woman, and was met with only air.
Magic, my wolf whispered.
I think she’s a movie. I tried to understand the blur of light behind her, coming from the glass window above the fake fireplace.
“Another headline brings exciting rumors of Councilwoman Troy’s son getting married to a mysterious bride from the toxic wastelands.” The woman continued to smile.
I pointed to my chest. “That’s me.”
“If you’d like to view the articles in depth, please log in with your credentials or update your paid streaming services.” The glass behind her flashed with a bunch of light boxes.
I leaned closer, coming nose to nose with the woman who didn’t smell like anything. “What are you saying?”
“I can turn the volume up,” she said. “Commute times are as follows…” Her voice grew louder with each word. “Jefferson Avenue is experiencing a twenty-minute—”
I clapped my hands over my ears as the woman’s voice seemed to fill the room and looked for the remote control like we had on Uncle Jareth’s TV.
Turn it off, my wolf growled.
I’m trying, I growled back.
I sensed more than heard the knock at the door and gave up my futile search for the remote.
“Good morning, Miss Meg.” Katrina stood in the hall. “I heard you were awake. Is there anything you need?”
“How do we turn it down?” I asked with my fingers plugging my ears.
Katrina smiled. “Alice, lower your volume, please.”
“Of course.” The fake woman’s voice grew quieter. “Maddison Avenue is clear this morning,” she whispered.
“That’s enough.” Katrina winked.
I unplugged my ears, wincing when I realized I must’ve woken up the whole house. “How do we turn her off?”
“Alice, off,” Katrina said.
The room behind me went blissfully dark and silent again, all except for that continuous humming noise I was learning made up the pulse of the house.
“Thank you,” I breathed out the words.
Katrina frowned. “Your teeth.”
I clasped my hand over my mouth, embarrassed that I hadn’t yet brushed them this morning, when I felt the tips of my fangs.
“Oops.” I grinned as they retracted, hoping I hadn’t scared the poor woman all over again. “They come out when my wolf gets anxious. I have a feeling that’ll happen a lot while I’m here.”
“Might I suggest you find a way to hide them? The citizens are more accepting than in years prior, but there is still real bias and fear of mutants. Not that you’re a mutant,” she hurried to add.
I decided not to take offense at what she said, since she was the closest thing to a friend I had in this house and I still wanted more book recommendations. “I’ll take all the advice I can get, and thanks for saving me from Alice.”
Katrina nodded, trying not to smile. “Of course, is there anything else you need?”
To get out of here. To go back to my pack.
My wolf raised her paw. I’ll take Roman’s address.
“I’ll be fine, I should just…”
Katrina tensed. The sound of heels clacked across the marble floors below the staircase.
“Is my future daughter-in-law awake?” Helen’s voice drifted up toward us as the front door opened.
“I am.” I swallowed back what I wanted to say, still not sure how to get out of this mess.
Or if it was even possible.
It didn’t seem like any gods were listening or coming to my aid.
“Good. Alice has your itinerary for the day. Try not to be late for any event.” Helen’s voice grew distant as the front door shut, but I could still make it out with my shifter hearing. “This is going to be a shit show.”
Katrina’s smile brightened. “Would you like me to help you run through the itinerary?”
I nodded as my wolf started to pace.
“Alice, please relay the details sent to Miss Meg from the councilwoman,” Katrina said.
Alice clicked back on and smiled her fake smile.
“Dress shopping with Justus Troy at nine a.m. followed by reservations for lunch at the Horston Kitchens at noon. There will be a brief time for a staged photo op with the newly engaged couple, and then return to the manor at two p.m. Dinner promptly at six.”
“Shopping should be fun.” Katrina was already moving toward the closet. “Let’s find you something comfortable to wear to the store.”
I sank onto the edge of the unmade bed. Shopping. Yay.
But that wasn’t what worried me most.
A whole day with the councilwoman’s son. The drunk asshole that hated me. The person who was best friends with Roman.
The man I was supposed to marry, who was not my fated mate.