The Three Who Chose Me

Josie

I stared at my reflection in the tall mirror, fingers twisting nervously around the soft fabric of my dress. The room smelled faintly of lavender and sandalwood, a calming scent I suspected had been chosen on purpose.

Lilith, the new maid assigned to me—by Varen himself, apparently—moved quietly behind me, smoothing out the hem of my skirt with gentle efficiency. She didn’t talk much, and I liked that. There was a quiet confidence to her presence, and although I didn’t know why Varen had replaced the last maid—what was her name again?—I found I didn’t care.

Lilith was better. She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t linger with pity in her eyes. She didn’t stare too long at the mark on my neck or the silence in my voice.

"Thank you," I murmured when she handed me a pair of delicate gloves, a final touch to the soft chocolate colored dress she had helped me into.

She dipped her head, her dark eyes glinting with something unreadable. "You look beautiful, miss. He’ll be waiting."

I tried not to fidget as I stepped out of the room. My heels clicked against the wooden floors, my nerves clawing up my throat. Please don’t let this be outside, I begged whatever force was listening. I couldn’t handle open spaces tonight. Not with so many lies pressing against my lungs, not when every breath felt stolen.

I didn’t want to lie to him. Not to Varen. But I couldn’t tell him the truth either.

Four guards fell into step beside me the second I crossed the threshold of the main house, surrounding me like a silent wall of muscle and fur. Their uniforms bore the insignia of the Blackfall Pack, but none of them said a word as we walked through the forest path leading to the other side of the estate.

I could hear music before I saw the lights—soft, melodic strings that danced gently through the trees like they were leading me to something sacred. I slowed, my heart skipping like a child’s, and wondered if this was all really for me.

Me?