The whispers started as soon as she entered the court. They were quiet at first—soft, like the rustling of leaves in the wind. But the moment Aurelia stepped onto the polished marble floors of the throne room, they grew louder. She could hear their words—softening, weakening, taming.
Her jaw clenched. They were talking about Kaelen. She could feel their eyes on her, the judgment in their gazes, as if she were nothing more than a possession to be measured.
Kaelen, standing tall at the far end of the room, watched the spectacle unfold. His silver eyes glinted with amusement, but Aurelia wasn't fooled. He was still her captor. The collar around her neck ached, a constant reminder of how little control she truly had.
"You're looking well, Aurelia," he called out smoothly, his voice carrying through the court.
Aurelia didn't answer immediately. She didn't want to. But she had no choice. Not here, not now. The court would expect her to respond. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze as she stepped forward.
"Let's get this over with," she muttered, low enough that only Kaelen and a few of the closest courtiers could hear.
He chuckled, low and deep, as he motioned for her to come closer. "Do not test me in front of my court. I will not tolerate disobedience."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed. She didn't respond to his command, though her body screamed to break free, to flee, to find some shred of independence. But she stayed in line, stepping forward as the murmurs around her continued.
She could feel their eyes—every single one of them, from the highest lords to the lowest servants—measuring her like she was nothing but a prize. She could hear the disapproving glances, the judgment in their eyes, though none of them dared to speak directly to her.
When she reached the foot of the throne, Kaelen's eyes flicked over her, cold and calculating. His lips curved upward in a faint smirk, but there was no warmth in it.
"Bow," he said softly, his voice carrying the command.
Aurelia stood her ground, staring at him with fire in her gaze. She wasn't going to bow—not in front of these people, not for him. The tension crackled in the air like a thunderstorm waiting to strike. For a brief moment, the entire room held its breath.
The court fell silent, all eyes on her as she remained perfectly still, unflinching. Kaelen didn't move. He didn't raise a hand, didn't try to force her into submission. He simply watched her with that same unreadable expression.
"Do you think you can stare me down, Aurelia?" he asked, his voice suddenly quieter, but the challenge was clear in his tone.
Aurelia didn't answer. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and held his gaze. If he wanted a show of strength, she would give it to him.
She didn't bow. Not one inch.
A slow smile spread across Kaelen's face, something dangerous and calculating hidden beneath the surface. "She's got fire," he said, loud enough for the whole room to hear. "Perhaps too much for her own good."
The court shifted uncomfortably, some of the nobles exchanging glances. Some were intrigued, others were skeptical. No one quite knew what to make of her—least of all Aurelia herself. She wasn't his pet, no matter what anyone said. But the collar around her neck, the humiliation of being paraded in front of these people, burned like a branding iron on her soul.
Kaelen leaned back in his throne, his eyes still locked on hers. "You're not like the others. I'll give you that. You have spirit." His tone wasn't kind, but there was an odd sense of approval there.
Aurelia couldn't decide if she liked it or not. The words were loaded with something else—something deeper than praise. Something dangerous. She could feel her wolf stirring beneath the collar, the burn of it curling at the edges of her consciousness.
"You're not my master," she snapped, her voice sharp. "And I'm not your pet."
The room seemed to hold its breath again. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. The whispers grew louder, and the eyes on her shifted from judgment to curiosity. Some faces were hard to read, but there was one—an older woman, sitting near the back—who looked almost… impressed.
Kaelen's lips twitched at the edges. "Oh, I know you're not my pet," he said with a sly grin. "But you'll learn to follow my rules."
"Or what?" Aurelia shot back, her chin held high. "You'll break me like you've broken so many others?"
Kaelen's expression darkened for the briefest of moments before he recovered. He stood slowly, towering over her, the room suddenly feeling smaller, colder. He didn't touch her, but the air seemed to vibrate with the weight of his presence.
"No," Kaelen said quietly, almost to himself. "I won't break you. Not yet." He paused, letting the words hang in the air like a challenge. "But I'll make you bend. You'll see."
Aurelia's heart raced at the promise, and she wasn't sure if it was fear or something else that twisted in her chest. She didn't want to bend—not to him, not to anyone—but she wasn't stupid enough to think she could win this fight now.
She turned away, her shoulders stiff, walking toward the side of the room where the servants stood. Kaelen didn't stop her. The court's whispers followed her like a shadow, and for a moment, Aurelia felt the weight of every single eye upon her.
As she passed the court, the eyes of those nobles burned with judgment and curiosity. Some of them looked at her like she was a curiosity, something to be watched and evaluated. Others were more scornful. But there was one face, in the corner of her vision, that made her pause. It was the older woman, the one who had watched her earlier. She gave a slight nod, an almost imperceptible movement, but it felt like an invitation.
Aurelia's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know what it meant, but the woman's gaze felt oddly comforting. She quickly turned her head away, focusing on the cold stone floor beneath her feet.
After a long moment, Kaelen's voice cut through the tension, making her stop in her tracks.
"Aurelia," he said, his tone lighter now, almost teasing. "My chambers. Tonight. Don't make me repeat myself."
The command was sharp, and for a moment, Aurelia wanted to retort. But she held back. This wasn't the time for defiance. Not yet.
She simply nodded and walked away.