Riley’s POV
We move into a dimr part of the building, and the air feels heavier the farther we go. The lights are fewer here, the walls darker.
My heart is drumming loudly in my ears, so loud I’m scared they can hear it. Cane, Caden, and Gunnar walk ahead of like they already know every shadow in this place. I follow closely, my steps careful, my fingers curling into the fabric of my dress.
There are more guards here. A lot more.
They stand straighter than the others, their faces blank, their eyes sharp. As we pass, they bow slightly to the three Alphas.
We stop in front of a massive door made of dark wood and tal. It looks old. Powerful.
From behind the door, I hear low grunts.
My stomach tightens instantly.
I swallow hard.
Caden raises his hand and knocks once.
The grunts stop imdiately.
Silence.
Then a deep voice speaks from inside.
"Co in."
Caden pushes the door open.
The room we step into is large, but dimly lit. The light crackling at the side is the main source of light, casting shadows across the walls. The sll of sex hits next, strong and uncomfortable.
The room feels private in a way that makes my skin crawl.
Sebastian is standing near a table when we enter.
He straightens slowly and turns toward us.
My chest tightens the mont our eyes et.
He looks exactly how he sounded earlier. Tall. Broad. Dominating. His presence alone feels like pressure on my lungs. His hair is dark and streaked slightly with gray, his face sharp and unreadable.
His eyes lands on , and sothing dark flickers there.
"So," he says calmly, his voice deep and steady. "You ca to see with my son’s?"
Caden steps forward slightly. "Sebastian"
Sebastian lifts a hand, stopping him.
"No," he says without looking away from . "This is between her and ."
My pulse jumps.
Cane and Caden hesitate, then step back reluctantly, positioning themselves behind but close enough that I can feel them.
Sebastian’s gaze travels slowly over , from my face to my dress, then back to my eyes.
"You have way too much nerves for a human," he says flatly. "Asking to see after everything."
I lift my chin. My hands are shaking, but I keep them at my sides.
"I needed answers," I say. "And I won’t get them hiding behind your sons."
His lips curve into a slow, cold smile.
"Bold," he says. "Or foolish."
"Maybe both," I reply, my voice steady despite the fear running through . "But you don’t get to decide my life without speaking to first."
He lets out a short laugh.
"You think this is a negotiation?" Sebastian asks. "You walked into my territory, tried to marry my sons, and brought chaos with you."
"I didn’t try to marry anyone," I snap. "I was dragged here against my will."
His eyes harden.
"You are married already," he says. "That alone makes you unacceptable."
"My marriage is none of your business," I say quickly. "And neither is my past."
Sebastian steps closer.bThe aura feels tighter instantly.
"You made it my business the mont you stepped into Obsidian Veil," he says coldly. "You belong to another Alpha. You bore his child."
My breath catches painfully.
"That child is dead," he continues without rcy. "And by your own failure."
My vision blurs.
"That’s not true," I whisper. "You don’t know what happened, you don’t listen to one side of the story."
"I know enough," he says sharply. "Enough to know you bring weakness, scandal, and danger."
I feel sothing snap inside .
"You talk about weakness," I say, my voice rising. "But you hide behind power and threats. You’d rather kill than face the truth, won’t you?"
Sebastian’s eyes flash.
"You think I enjoy this?" he growls. "You think I don’t see what you are?"
"What am I?" I ask.
He steps closer until he’s towering over .
"You are a liability," he says calmly. "A human woman with no place here. And I will not allow my sons to destroy everything for you."
I clench my fists.
"Your sons chose this," I say. "Not ."
"They are blinded," Sebastian snaps. "And you are the reason."
Cane shifts behind . "Father, enough."
Sebastian turns his head slightly. "Stay out of this."
He looks back at .
"You should leave," he says. "Go back to your husband. Crawl back to the life you ca from."
My chest tightens at the ntion of Ethan.
"I won’t go back to soone like Ethan Forlorn Vaelkor," I say.
Sebastian raises a brow."Do you think you have a choice?"
"I do," I say firmly. "And threatening with death won’t change that."
He laughs again, darker this ti.
"You heard about the Rite," he says. "Good. Fear is healthy."
"That rite is murder," I snap. "And you know it."
"It is tradition," he replies coldly. "And traditions exist to protect what matters."
I inhale shakily.
"I lost my child. I lost my ho. I lost my dignity. And now you want to take my life too just to make a point so that I don’t get to marry your son’s?"
Sebastian doesn’t respond imdiately.
"You raised sons who are willing to defy you," I continue. "That didn’t co from nowhere. Maybe you should ask yourself why."
The room goes deadly quiet. Sebastian’s jaw tightens."You are dangerously close to crossing a line Riley Grayson," he warns.
"I already crossed it when you humiliated in front of everyone," I say. "When you let them call nas. When you reduced to nothing."
He stares at , his expression unreadable.
"You are stronger than you look," he admits slowly. "But strength does not change reality."
"Reality changes whether you like it or not," I reply. "Your sons won’t give up. And you know it."
A flicker of sothing dark passes through his eyes.
"That is exactly why this ends now," he says. "Either they renounce their bloodlines, or you face the Rite."
I feel my stomach drop again.
"I won’t let them lose everything for ," I whisper.
"Then you already know your answer," Sebastian says.
I straighten.
"No," I say. "I know yours."
He frowns slightly."You know mine?" He asks, cracking up in a fit of laughter.
I nod and then say the one word that burned the entire room"I accept to perform the Rite Of The Borrowed Moon for Sixty days"
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