Chapter Five

Four days slipped by in a blur.

I barely remembered any of it.

The hushed whispers. The sound of doors closing behind me. The weight of hands adjusting fabric and pinning lace. The way people moved around me like I wasn’t even there, like I was some lifeless doll being dressed for display.

But today—today is real.

Today is my wedding day.

The ivory gown clings to my skin, suffocating. The pristine white mocks me. The heavy jewelry presses against my collarbone, chains disguised as gold and diamonds. My reflection in the mirror is a stranger’s—a girl with hollow eyes and lips that refuse to smile.

A sharp knock at the door makes my stomach twist.

I don’t move.

I don’t speak.

The door opens anyway.

Malakai steps inside, his broad frame filling the space, his blue eyes locking onto me. He doesn’t move for a long moment—just stands there, staring.

Then, quietly, “You look beautiful in the dress.”

A breath shudders out of me, sharp and unsteady.

“Don’t.”

It’s barely a whisper, but it stops him cold.

I don’t dare say more.

Because if I do, if I let another word slip past my lips, my voice will break. And I don’t know if they’d permit me to ruin my makeup with tears.

Malakai exhales slowly, his jaw clenching, his fists curling at his sides.

He’s struggling.

So am I.

The silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating.

Then, barely audible—so soft I almost don’t hear it—

“You know, when we were kids, I always told my parents I was going to marry you.”

A sharp ache lances through my chest.

I squeeze my eyes shut, my fingers gripping the vanity table like it’s the only thing keeping me from collapsing.

“Don’t do this,” I whisper.

“Do what?”

“Say things like that.” My voice wavers. “Not today.”

His throat bobs. His shoulders rise and fall with a heavy breath.

But then, with quiet finality—

“I meant it.”

My heart slams against my ribs.

For the first time, his expression is unguarded. Vulnerable.

But it doesn’t matter.

Because today, I cease to be Riva Walsh.

Today, I become the property of Aarav Rune.

A heavy knock rattles the door. Sharp. Unforgiving.

Cassian.

Malakai’s jaw tightens. His hands twitch at his sides like he’s fighting the urge to do something—anything—but he doesn’t move.

“It’s time,” Cassian’s voice cuts through the air, cold and firm, leaving no room for hesitation.

A lump forms in my throat.

Malakai’s gaze flickers toward the door, then back to me. He looks like he wants to say something—like he wants to stop this. But he doesn’t.

Because he can’t.

Neither of us can.

I force my spine straight, even as my knees threaten to buckle. My hands smooth over the suffocating silk of my gown, trembling slightly.

Malakai watches me, his blue eyes dark and unreadable. And then, just as I reach for the door, his fingers brush against mine.

The slightest touch. A fleeting moment.

But it brands me.

I pull away before I do something reckless. Before I do something I can’t take back.

Cassian knocks again, harder this time. Impatient.

I swallow the ache in my throat and turn the handle.

The door swings open, and Cassian stands there, his expression unreadable. His sharp eyes flick between Malakai and me, something unreadable flashing across his face before it disappears behind cold indifference.

“Let’s go,” he says simply.

There’s no hesitation. No sympathy.

Just the quiet command of a man sealing my fate.

I nod once.

Malakai doesn’t speak as I step past him, doesn’t try to stop me.

But as I walk away, I swear I can still feel the ghost of his touch lingering against my skin.

The hallway is silent except for the soft rustle of my dress as I walk. My steps feel heavy, like I’m being led to my own execution. Cassian walks ahead, his posture stiff, his presence suffocating.

Malakai follows behind. I can feel his eyes on me, but I don’t turn around. If I do, I might not be able to keep moving forward.

We reach the grand doors leading to the ceremony. Beyond them, my future awaits—a future I never chose.

Cassian stops and looks at me. His face is unreadable, but his eyes search mine for something. Doubt? Regret?

He doesn’t find anything.

I refuse to let him.

“Are you ready?” he asks, his voice low.

No.

But I nod anyway.

Cassian pushes the doors open.

A sea of people turns to look at me, their faces blending together in a blur of expensive clothes and forced smiles. The weight of their stares presses down on me, making it harder to breathe.

At the end of the aisle, Aarav stands tall, his dark eyes locked on me. He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t need to.

The music swells, a soft melody meant to sound beautiful, but to me, it’s nothing more than a funeral march.

Cassian gives me a small nod, a silent order to move forward. My fingers clutch the bouquet tighter, the stems digging into my palm, grounding me. My feet feel heavy, like they’re made of stone, but somehow, I take a step. Then another.

I don’t look at the crowd. I don’t search for familiar faces. I keep my gaze locked ahead, on the man waiting for me.

Aarav Rune.

His dark eyes don’t waver, his expression unreadable. He stands tall, composed, like a king waiting to claim what’s his. Because that’s what I am to him. A possession. A prize to be won.

My heartbeat pounds in my ears, drowning out the music, the whispers, everything.

Halfway down the aisle, I feel it.

A stare.

Not Aarav’s.

Not Cassian’s.

Malakai’s.

I don’t turn, but I feel it—burning into my skin, making it harder to breathe. I know what he’s thinking. I know what he wants.

But there’s nothing either of us can do now.

One step. Then another.

And then, suddenly, I’m there.

At the altar.

Aarav extends his hand, palm up, waiting.

For a moment, I hesitate.

Not because I think there’s a way out of this. There isn’t.

But because this is the last moment before everything changes.

Before I become his.

I place my hand in his.

His fingers close over mine—strong, unyielding.

And just like that, it’s done.

I lift my chin, forcing my expression to remain calm, empty, as the officiant begins speaking. The words blur together, meaningless. I don’t even realize it’s time for my vows until Cassian clears his throat softly beside me.

I blink, dragging myself back to the present.

Aarav is watching me, waiting.

Everyone is.

I feel the weight of a hundred stares pressing down on me, waiting for the moment I seal my fate with two simple words.

My mouth is dry. My fingers tremble in Aarav’s grip, but his hold is steady, unyielding.

This is it.

No turning back.

“I do.”

The words slip from my lips, barely above a whisper, but they echo through the room like a gunshot.

The officiant turns to Aarav.

His expression doesn’t change. He doesn’t hesitate.

“I do.”

It’s final.

The officiant smiles. “Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Aarav lifts my veil.

I barely have time to process the moment before he leans in, his lips pressing against mine.

The kiss is firm. Cold. A claim, not a promise.

Applause erupts around us, but I don’t hear it.

I only hear the sound of my heart breaking.