The vaulted hall was warm with firelight
House Winstor's crest hung proudly above the hearth.
George Winstor had one hand on her shoulder, speaking lowly, his voice a careful blend of pride and caution.
"She's off-limits, Rea," he said with the tone of a man who had repeated himself too many times. "She's betrothed. And that house..." his mouth twisted as if the word itself were sour "...would sooner slaughter you than let her near you."
Rea responded anxiously: "Why do you keep on saying that!! There is nothing going on"
Allegra sipped wine with feline ease. "Calm yourself Rea! Definitely believe you! But my dear, you and Annabella would make a gorgeous pair," she said airily, though the mischief in her eyes was far from casual. "Imagine the children—gods above, they'd be dazzling. Half inferno, half-light"
Rea choked on her wine.
George sighed and patted her back with no small amount of menace. "My lady dearest!! don't give her ideas. and you, Raccoon ...Have one of those children in my home before marriage, and I swear I'll bury you myself."
On the far side of the hall, Arthur stood beside Annabella's father. His eyes, sharp and always greedy, were locked on the interaction between Rea and the Winstors. He sneered.
"Don't worry, Arthur," he said smoothly. "She's no threat to you. That girl...she's their pet. Nothing more. You're the heir to Winstor. The future. They won't throw that away for some bastard Malvolius."
Arthur didn't answer, but his jaw ticked as he watched Rea, watched the way George stood with her like she truly was his own.
And then the doors opened.
Annabella entered.
Hair swept up with elegant pins, skin pale and powdered like porcelain. Her Gown clung too tightly at the waist, the belt cinched higher than usual. And her walk, while graceful, had the faintest hesitance to it. A stiffness in her hips that seemed to barely hide the truth of what happened few hours ago.
Rea blushed as memories of that steamy bath came back to her.
George hit the back of her head as if trying to make her snap out of it.
Arthur crossed the room instantly, kissing her cheek and placing a hand on her waist. Annabella didn't flinch, but her smile was too poised. Her eyes flicked—once—toward Rea. And Rea nearly stepped forward.
Annabella's father nodded in approval at Arthur's touch. "You two make a fine picture," he said.
Rea turned away before her expression could betray her.
Moments later, the bell chimed for dinner, and they gathered at the long table. George sat at the head, flanked by Allegra and Rea on one side, and Annabella's father, Arthur, and Annabella on the other. The tension at the table was immediate.
"So," Allegra said, slicing into her roast duck, "tomorrow marks the final trial. The culmination of your years at the Academy. How thrilling."
Arthur scoffed lightly, eyes sliding to Rea. "Well, thrilling for some. For others, just surviving the day will be an achievement."
Rea didn't rise to it. But her fork did pause, the knife pressed a touch harder against the plate.
George didn't let it slide. "You forget, Arthur, that I personally trained Rea for a time. You'd do well not to underestimate her."
Annabella's father sipped his wine. "She's a stone. Most Malvolius bastards don't even have functioning magic. She's a curiosity, yes. But more to be studied than celebrated."
Allegra leaned forward with a purring smile. "She is a rarity. And rare things, when placed well, become priceless. If married wisely, she could ascend quite far."
Arthur laughed. "Only a marriage with a house as prominent as Annabella's would make that happen."
Annabella, cheeks flushed, dropped her gaze to her plate.
Rea looked up at her sharply, eyes lighting with something wild and half-hopeful
But Annabella's father cut in like a blade. "I would rather slit that girl's throat myself than allow such a disgrace."
Silence.
George slowly put down his fork.
"If you killed her," he said, his voice glacial, "you would have to respond to me for your crime. This means going to war with me. Your liege lord. I raised her. her life and her death belongs to me."
Annabella's father didn't blink. "Then I would lead my clan to its end with a clear conscience. I will not see my daughter sullied. She is my legacy. My most precious possession. I would see our house burn before I hand her to a bastard Malvolius."
George replied cynically. "I hope you are aware that I wouldn't spare any of your kin. Your precious legacy would pay the price of your sin as well."
Annabella's father's voice broke for the first time. George was known for his kindness, but he was also known for being a merciless conqueror. "I never meant to upset you my lord...This would never happen. My daughter would never force her father's hand."
Annabella stood suddenly, pushing her chair back with slow elegance. "Excuse me," she said softly. "I think I need some air."
She turned and left the room
Rea watched her go, hands clenched under the table.
She knew, Annabella would go hide in the gardens.
The moment dessert was cleared and the guests scattered from the hall, Rea slipped through the side
The Winstor gardens stretched vast and silent beyond the arching doorway, moonlight bathing the roses and high hedges.
Rea found her near the pool, arms wrapped tightly around her waist, staring into the water.
"Annabella," Rea said softly, already closing the distance.
Annabella didn't turn.
"Don't."
But Rea reached for her anyway, long fingers brushing over her hip. "He had no right to speak to you like that. To say—"
"You had no right," she snapped, stepping forward and away from her touch. "None of this should've happened. You were reckless, Rea. You always are."
What! I am sorry...i sneaked into the bath... that was for real a little dumb" Rea admitted, voice low and raw. "But the thing that happened between his grumpiness and your dad... I was as shocked as you are. Your dad really shouldn't bring out conqueror Georgie..."
Oh really! Lives are at stake because of us! The least we could do is be smart about this she spun around, furious. Nobody deserves to die because you can't keep it in your pants."
Rea took another step forward.
"Well... you kinda make it easy for me to keep it out of my pants"
Annabella's face flushed with rage. "You're such a dog!"
Rea didn't flinch. "You didn't say no earlier."
"I'm saying it now," she hissed, backing into the hedge. "Go Away."
Rea's hands caught her wrists, pulling her gently forward even as she resisted. Their mouths were close, her breath hot against Annabella's lips.
"You say that... but you tremble like you want me."
Annabella's breathing stuttered. Her resolve frayed like silk under flame. Their lips met, bruising and desperate, and for a second, it all burned again.
Until—
CRACK.
Arthur.
Rage rolled off him in waves as he shoved Rea hard to the ground.
"You think you can just take her?" he shouted, storming forward again.
Rea was up before he could reach her. "And you think she actually wants you?"
They collided in a whirlwind of fists and curses, raw magic beginning to crackle in the grass beneath their feet.
Annabella stood there, trembling, watching them brawl like drunken wolves in heat.
And then she snapped.
She didn't scream. She didn't raise her hand.
She simply released it.
A spell made of pheromones, of her essence, her magic. The air shifted, thickened. The fight halted mid-blow.
Both Rea and Arthur stiffened, eyes glazed instantly.
Like obedient hounds, they followed her as she walked away from the pool, down a rose-lined path to the far end of the garden. When they were far enough, she turned. A flick of her fingers sent them to their knees, immobilized. Another snap, silence. They couldn't speak. Couldn't even grunt.
Annabella stood before them, arms folded, face flushed with fury and humiliation.
"I am the one talking now."
Both blinked at her.
"You two are absolutely ridiculous. Fighting like boys in the schoolyard. Gods, you're so annoying."
Rea made a muffled sound of objection.
"Oh hush."
She pointed at Rea.
"You first. You think Arthur touching me is some sort of betrayal? He's my fiancé, Rea. He has the right to kiss me. We exchange a kiss. It's a tradition."
Rea's eyes widened in protest, her mouth moving uselessly behind the spell.
Arthur stood straighter than before, proud of her.
Annabella whirled to Arthur. "And you."
Arthur flinched even under the spell.
"You've known me long enough to realize I detest you. You're a walking ego with a sword and a bloodline. You only want my body. Even now, under a spell, I can feel how lewd your thoughts are. It's like standing in a steam bath full of slime!"
Arthur's eyes flew open in indignation, body vibrating with muffled growls.
"And yes," she said, voice rising as she turned back to Rea, "I love Rea. We've been intimate a couple of times. Yes, I've broken my own rules. But Rea... you won't stop chasing me like a dog in heat. Gods, you clearly don't know how to stop!"
Rea tried to shake her head. Her wrists strained slightly against the invisible bind.
"I've barely had my sexual awakening," Annabella hissed. "And already you've pounced like it's mating season. You touch me, kiss me, whisper in my ear and I can't say no. You know exactly how to make me break."
Arthur looked at Rea.
Rea looked at Arthur.
They couldn't believe such words came out of her
And then both turned to Annabella again—wide-eyed, confused, spellbound and utterly dumb.
Annabella groaned and rubbed her temples. "You're the same. All of you. Lust, fury, violence. Gods, you're just male beings. Why do I even bother?"
She spun on her heel and walked off, muttering something about neutering them both.
The moment she stepped beyond the arbor, the spell dissolved.
Arthur gasped for breath.
Rea slumped to the grass.
They sat there for a long moment in stunned silence, the moon above them cold and unsympathetic.
"…She said she loves me," Rea muttered eventually, still dazed.
Arthur growled. "She said she can't stand me."