Chapter 5

• *I have to do something, I have to something! Think, Joey. No, Astrid!*
• She paced up and down around her room, lost in thoughts. A beep sounded in her phone and she knew it was Princeton even without checking. He had been sending messages about escape plans since yesterday.
• But escaping wasn't part of her plan. She knew Kieran would catch her no matter what. There was a reason why he was the most feared among all and Joey definitely didn't want to know that reason.
• The door opened and Marissa walked in with a troop of girls behind her.
• "Okay," She breathed out, placing her hands on her hips, "What exactly is going on?" She said, making them pause.
• "These are the designers, makeup artists, hairstylist, spa workers...."
• "What do I need them for? My skin and hair is great as it is." She said, touching her skin. It was great, Joey had never seen a smooth and flawless skin like Astrid's in her life.
• "Anyway, you need them. It's your marriage." Marissa argued.
• "Something I'm not even happy about." She whispered underneath her breath and walked into the bathroom. It was obvious that they were going to bath her and all that.
• **...**
• "He said she's going to he one of the mistresses." Jacqueline giggled, as she ate her sandwich.
• "But the agreement was to become a Luna." Gianna retorted.
• "Mom, just leave it as it is. Would you even be happy if Astrid becomes the Luna. Even if she might die young, it still means that she'd wield enough power to kill us before we can say anything." Jacqueline frowned her face. Why was her mother being very disturbed by the fact that Astrid was going to be a lowly mistress?
• "That's true, Jac." Gianna breathed out as she took her seat.
• "Besides, I heard that Kieran is a lion in bed. There's a rumor that some girls have died in the process." Jacqueline whispered and Gianna blinked in surprise.
• "They died?" She asked and Jacqueline nodded.
• "That's why a lot of the court ladies avoid him like a plague, yet you can't escape if he chooses you."
• "Then how has his concubines been surviving? I bet it's just a baseless rumor." Gianna waved it off.
• "Well..." Jacqueline shrugged indifferently, "If it's really true, it's a good thing." She smirked and Gianna sighed lightly, tracing her fingers on the teacup.
• "Do you think they are done yet?" She asked.
• "It's almost three pm." Jacqueline checked her phone. At that moment, Astrid's footsteps were heard as she walked down the stairs, clad in a hot red wedding gown.
• It was armless and tight around the burst, the waist was also very tight, outlining her tiny stomach and then fell out into a long ball, dragging on the floor. Her heels were completely covered.
• Her hair was packed up in a bun, with coiled strands falling from it, beautifying her face to her neck. A chain rested on her neck and Jacqueline's eyes widened when she saw the name 'Kieran' as pendant.
• The same thing was running through Astrid's head, 'Kieran was mad'. He was the one who had prepared everything and had given the workers a specific order. Make her look as beautiful as ever and tell her to wear that chain, else....Else what? Astrid wanted to know. Did he really think she would cower and run away because he had power? No! She was going to stick to him and use him for her vengeance on Shane and after that, decide whether to avenge for Astrid too.
• "Wow, you look....very stunning." Jacqueline said and she smirked lightly.
• "Catch my flower. I hope you look the way I look on your own beloved wedding." She said and rolled her eyes, before walking down the stairs. A car was already awaiting and she just got into it, her parents and sister followed another car.
• It was the hall. That was where the wedding would take place. A veil covered Astrid's head as she walked towards Kieran steadily. He was seated on his throne like a tyrant, his long robes falling over his arms and over the armrest of his throne.
• His legs were spread wide as he relaxed back on his throne, watching the whole scenario uninterestingly. He propped his head on his wrist as he stared at Astrid walking closer to him.
• Astrid wondered if he was going to stay like that till the end. Wasn't he supposed to come down and make them share their vow?
• Kieran signaled to the person beside him and he came closer, his ears close to Kieran.
• "The king has asked you to apologize to his clan, Miss Astrid Reed." He said afterwards and Astrid bit her lips, almost licking the red lipstick off.
• "I apologize...." Her voice croaked, but she went ahead anyway, "for the problems I have caused these past few days. After signing the agreement, I went ahead to try and kill myself. I have brought disgrace to the clan, please pardon me." She ended.
• Whispers were heard throughout the room and Astrid opened her mouth to say something else to pacify them and also try her luck.
• "I hope you all forgive me for my actions and I also promise I will never try that again. As the Luna of this clan..." She gave Kieran a secret look under her veil, "I promise to act diligently and be of great help to all of you." She ended her sentence.
• The hall went quiet as if they had accepted her already and just then, a smile crept ok Kieran's lips as he got down from his throne and walked towards her steadily.
• "Who made you the Luna of my clan?" He asked, his voice thick and loud and sending even silence to the graveyard.
• "Isn't that what I am? After this marriage...."
• "I take you as my youngest mistress, Astrid." He wrapped one hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
• Astrid's breath hitched as she willed her legs to stay in one position. They were hitching to dissappear in a race but she forcefully kept them standing and looked up to match Kieran's gaze.
• "I don't want to be your mistress." She said, "I want to be your Luna."
• "You say one thing and you mean another. How sure am I that you won't run away? Or kill yourself in my palace?" He asked.
• "I swore to your people." She said breathlessly. She was choking and he wasn't even holding her neck, all he did was hold her tightly against his chest and now, she couldn't breath well anymore.
• "I don't believe in promises, Astrid." He said, darkness glinting in his eyeballs, "and that's why we are not taking a vow. It's better you don't promise so when you fail, it wouldn't really count that much." He smirked and released her waist, giving her enough time to catch her breath before he faced the crowd of people.
• "I accept Astrid Reed as my third mistress." He declared.