Chapter Four

Nora's Pov

Hearing his name raised a bitch inside of me, I was happy to know my child was alive, but finding out Samael was alive and breathing?? I couldn't take that.

I wouldn't let him walk all over me with the mindset of killing my child.

I took a deep breath and turned away, went back to the room and Alex watched as I shut the door behind.

“Open up, Nora. Where do you expect me to sleep?” He yelled right behind the door with a firm voice.

“I don't know, I just want to be alone” I said, covering myself with the sheets.

I couldn't escape the night, it was like the same night I spent out the palace doors, locked out because I refused to kill my baby. Every part of that moment ached me and I pressed my dress, till I tore it out.

My eyes closed gently, with tears streaming down my face, and I slept till the sun came up.

The light filtered into the room, it appeared my curtains were drawn up, and I opened the door to find something to put in my stomach. A nice morning grape would do. I took them and returned to the room.

Alexander walked into the room with his usual commanding presence, dressed in a crisp suit. He glanced at me, his piercing gaze unreadable as always.

“The party is today, out on the other side of the road and I've arranged everything” he said abruptly.

I turned to him, frowning. “I didn't know it'd be so soon. Why would I go to something like that? I'm not allowing anyone in, thanks.”

“Because you’re my Luna.” he replied without missing a beat. “That’s reason enough. How come you don't know your duty anymore?”

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. “Take your mistress instead. She's always clinging to you anyways. I don't want to be involved in your affairs.”

His lips curved into a smirk. “Are you jealous?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why would I be jealous of a peasant acting like a pest?”

Just as the words left my mouth, Stella, the blonde woman who seemed to always be lurking around him, appeared in the doorway. Her eyes flared with anger as she stormed into the room.

“Alexander!” she exclaimed, her voice shrill. “You’re just going to stand there and let your rude wife insult me like that?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Stella, stop acting like a child. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Her mouth fell open in shock, her face flushing red. “Excuse me?”

“If you have any shame,” he continued coldly, “you’ll leave now and stop making a scene.”

Stella’s expression twisted with anger and humiliation. Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

I couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto my face. Watching her stomp away like that was unexpectedly satisfying.

“What are you smiling about?” Alexander asked, his tone laced with irritation.

“Nothing,” I said lightly, standing up and moving toward the desk where a strange, glowing screen sat. One of the maids had shown me how to use it earlier, and I had been trying to learn more about this world ever since.

I sat down and tapped at the buttons searching for anything I could find about the Castro Kingdom. I needed to understand how and why my palace, my home, was being destroyed.

Hours passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon. I barely noticed until Alexander walked in again, his gaze fixed on me.

“Why are you still on that thing?” he asked, his voice sharp. “You’ve been glued to it all day.”

“I’m learning,” I said, quickly minimizing the screen to hide what I’d been researching.

He walked over, leaning against the desk and studying me. “Learning what? You’ve been acting strange since you woke up. Hiding things. Insulting people. I have to admit, this feisty version of you is… surprising.”

I ignored his remark, focusing instead on the tension in his voice. He wasn’t here just to comment on my behavior.

“Whatever it is,” he continued, straightening up, “you can put it aside. You’re going to the party tonight, whether you like it or not.”

I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. “I told you, I’m not going anywhere.”

His jaw tightened, his tone growing colder. “You don’t have a choice. I’m not going to let Samael mock me because my wife refuses to show up at a simple choosing ceremony. Get your act together.”

Samael. The room seemed to tilt for a moment as the memories flooded back, the betrayal, the dagger, my father’s death.

“Samael?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “He’s going to be there?”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I've told you, the one who's trying to fight me for this position I've held even before I was born? Yes! You know this more than anyone. What is wrong with you?”

I quickly shook my head, forcing my expression to remain neutral. “You might want to take a deep breath,” I said softly.

But inside, my mind was racing. Samael was here. If there was any chance he was the same man who betrayed me, I had to know. I just couldn't keep it in, it was impossible to. I wouldn't let him live.

“I’ll go,” I said suddenly, with a firm voice.

He looked surprised but didn’t question me. “You will?”

“Yes,” I said, my gaze unwavering. “I found a bracelet I’d like to have. There'd be somewhere I could get jewelry, right?”

He studied me for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t pull any stunts.”

Without warning, he reached down and lifted me from the bed.

“Put me down!” I snapped, squirming in his arms.

He smirked as he carried me across the room. “You’re going to get ready, whether you like it or not.”

He walked to the dressing room and set me down just outside the door. I straightened my dress, glaring at him.

“I was going to get ready anyway,” I hissed, brushing past him.

“Good,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

As I stepped into the dressing room, I took a deep breath. It was my chance to confront the man who had destroyed everything I loved, the man who had betrayed me in the worst way possible.

If Samael truly was the one I remembered, then tonight, I would find out the truth.