Third-Person POV
"What do you mean our rejected mate bond is coming back?" Rebecca demanded, staring at the elderly seer in disbelief. "That’s impossible! Kaden and I rejected each other a long time ago. Our bond was completely broken. How can something that no longer exists suddenly come back?"
"I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to that question yet, Your Majesty," the seer replied.
Rebecca frowned. "What do you mean you don’t have an answer? You’re the one who just told us the bond is returning!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. That is what the ancient spirits revealed to me. However, they did not explain why it is happening or what caused it."
Kaden let out an irritated sigh. "Are you fucking kidding me? First, you tell us we’re trapped in these ridiculous marriages for ninety days, and now you’re telling me that my rejected mate bond with Rebecca is returning, but you don’t know why?"
"I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I understand your frustration, but I cannot give you an explanation without confirming the cause."
"Then go and confirm it!" Kaden snapped. "I don’t want to hear any more nonsense about Rebecca being my mate. I rejected her years ago, and I have no intention of taking her back."
Rebecca immediately turned toward him. "And who told you I wanted you back?"
Kaden glared at her. "Did I say you did?"
"Then stop talking as though I’m begging you to take me back! I have a man who loves me, and I have absolutely no interest in becoming your mate again!"
"Good! Because I don’t want you either!"
"Enough!" Melvin interrupted, stepping between them before their argument could continue. He turned toward the seer. "Is there anything we can do to prevent this bond from returning?"
The elderly man shook his head. "I cannot recommend anything until I understand what is happening, Your Majesty. I need to perform another consultation, but this time, I must examine the ancient records concerning rejected mate bonds and forbidden marriage magic."
"How long will that take?" Rola asked.
"I cannot say for certain, Your Highness. But I promise to investigate as quickly as possible. Once I have confirmed the cause, I will return and explain everything."
Rola studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then I suggest you begin immediately. We have already received enough unpleasant surprises for one day."
"Of course, Your Highness." The seer bowed respectfully before gathering his belongings. Logan instructed two guards to assist him, and a few minutes later, the elderly man left the bedroom.
For a while, nobody said anything. Rebecca remained beside Melvin, still trying to understand how her life had changed so drastically within twenty-four hours. Yesterday, she had been looking forward to spending the rest of her life with Melvin. Today, she was being told that she had to live with Kaden for three months. Worse, the mate bond she had spent years trying to forget was supposedly returning. She couldn’t understand why this was happening to her.
Melvin gently touched her shoulder. "Rebecca."
She looked up at him.
"We should start making arrangements to leave," he said quietly.
Her stomach tightened. "Leave?"
Melvin nodded reluctantly. "You heard what the seer said. We can’t remain here forever, and the sooner we return to our kingdoms, the sooner we can begin finding a way out of this mess."
Rebecca lowered her eyes. She knew he was right, but the thought of separating from him made her chest ache. "Do we really have to do this?" she whispered.
"I wish we didn’t, sweetheart." Melvin took her hand. "But it’s only ninety days. We’ll get through it."
Rebecca wanted to believe him. She really did. But ninety days seemed like an eternity when she was being forced to spend them with the man who had once caused her so much pain.
Across the room, Kaden was speaking quietly with Logan, instructing him to contact security and find out who had cast the spell. However, his attention kept returning to Rola, who was standing beside the window. She had barely spoken since the seer left, and after watching her for a moment, Kaden finally approached.
"Rola," he called gently.
She turned toward him. "Yes?"
"Can we talk?"
Rola hesitated before nodding. Kaden led her toward the other side of the bedroom, away from the others. Once they were alone, he reached for her hand, but she folded her arms instead.
"Rola, sweetheart, please talk to me."
She looked away. "What do you want me to say, Kaden?"
"Anything. You’ve barely said a word since we heard the news."
Rola let out a bitter laugh. "What exactly am I supposed to say? That I’m happy? That I’m perfectly fine with discovering that I married another man and now have to spend three months living with him?"
"Of course not. I know you’re upset."
"Upset?" She turned toward him, her eyes flashing with anger. "Kaden, I was supposed to marry you yesterday! I spent months preparing for our wedding. I imagined what our life would be like, how happy we would be together, and now look at us!"
Kaden remained silent, allowing her to continue.
"And do you know what hurts the most?" she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "I saved myself for you. I wanted my first time to be with the man I loved. I wanted it to be special because I believed I would be sharing that moment with my husband."
She swallowed before continuing. "But instead, I gave my first time to Melvin. I slept with another man, believing he was you. And now I’m supposed to accept that he’s my husband for the next ninety days?"
"Rola..."
"No, Kaden, let me finish." She shook her head angrily. "I’m not blaming Melvin. He was deceived just as much as I was. But someone took away my right to choose, and I don’t even know who did it! How am I supposed to be okay with that?"
Kaden stepped closer and gently took her hands. "Look at me, sweetheart."
Rola reluctantly raised her eyes.
"I don’t care whether I was your first man or not," he said firmly. "That’s not why I wanted to marry you. I wanted to marry you because I love you, Rola. And nothing that happened yesterday has changed that."
Her eyes filled with tears. "But I wanted it to be you, Kaden."
"I know." He pulled her into his arms. "Believe me, I wanted that too. But none of this was your fault. You didn’t choose Melvin, and he didn’t choose you. Someone deceived all of us."
Rola finally wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest. Kaden held her tightly, gently stroking her white hair.
"First time or no first time, you’re still the woman I love," he whispered. "And when these ninety days are over, we’ll get married properly. I promise you that."
Rola remained silent for a moment before looking up at him. "And what if something happens during those ninety days?"
Kaden frowned. "What do you mean?"
"What if whoever cast the spell has something else planned? The seer already said the wedding swap was only part of their plan. We don’t even know what they want from us."
Kaden tightened his arms around her. "Then we’ll find whoever did this before they get the chance to carry out the rest of their plan."
Rola sighed. "I hope so."
Kaden gently brushed a strand of white hair away from her face. "Listen to me carefully. I know Melvin is a good man, and I don’t believe he’ll deliberately hurt you. But if he ever mistreats you or makes you uncomfortable in any way, I want you to send for me immediately."
Rola looked at him as he continued. "I don’t care whether it’s morning or midnight. If you need me, I’ll come. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "Okay."
"Promise me."
"I promise, Kaden."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead before pulling her into another embrace. For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Meanwhile, Melvin had finished speaking with Rebecca and was waiting near the door. He glanced toward Kaden and Rola, giving them a moment to finish their conversation before turning back toward Rebecca.
"Sweetheart, I have to go."
Rebecca immediately shook her head. "Melvin, please..."
He took both her hands. "Rebecca, look at me. This isn’t goodbye forever. It’s only ninety days."
"I know, but..." Her voice cracked. "I don’t want to go back to his palace. Not after everything that happened there."
Melvin’s expression softened. "I know you don’t, and if there were another way, I would never allow you to go through this. But we have to be careful. I won’t risk your life by going against the seer’s warning."
Rebecca lowered her head, struggling to hold back her tears, but Melvin gently lifted her chin.
"Listen, nothing has changed between us. You’re still the woman I love, Rebecca. A magical marriage doesn’t change that."
She nodded slowly.
"And you don’t have to pretend to love Kaden just because you’re legally married to him. You don’t owe him anything beyond what is necessary to keep both of you alive."
Rebecca managed a small smile. "I love you, Melvin."
"I love you too, sweetheart." He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly for several moments before reluctantly releasing her.
"Call me whenever you need anything," he whispered. "And if Kaden gives you any trouble, let me know."
Rebecca nodded. "I will."
Melvin kissed her forehead before stepping away. By then, Kaden and Rola had finished their conversation. Rola approached Melvin, her expression composed despite the sadness in her eyes.
"Are we leaving?" she asked.
Melvin nodded. "Yes. My people are already making arrangements for our departure."
Rola glanced toward Kaden one last time. He gave her a reassuring nod, and she returned it before turning toward the door.
Melvin looked back at Rebecca. "Take care of yourself, sweetheart."
"You too," she whispered.
He hesitated for another moment before finally walking out of the bedroom, and Rola followed him.
Rebecca remained where she was, watching until the door closed behind them. She couldn’t believe it. Just yesterday, she had been preparing to begin her married life with Melvin. Now he was leaving with another woman, while she was expected to return to the palace of the man who had once rejected her.
She slowly turned toward Kaden. "I can’t believe this," she muttered, shaking her head. "I seriously can’t believe I’m going back to your palace after everything that happened between us."
Kaden didn’t respond, making Rebecca frown.
"Kaden, are you even listening to me?"
He glanced at her briefly before turning toward Logan, who was standing near the door.
"Logan."
"Yes, Alpha?"
"Get the private jet ready. We’re leaving."