Chapter 6 : Cassian leaned back , eyes flicking toward Celeste . " Serve us some pastries ." 81 55 vouchers Her smile didn't falter , but I saw the twitch in her fingers as she reached for the tray . This was a future Luna who had been reduced to serving snacks . I didn't miss the way her eyes darted to Father , waiting for him to step in . He didn't . I watched her place the platter between us , each motion stiff . She'd prepared the wine , now the food . What next ? Sweep the floors ? How could Cassian casually embarrass Celeste ? Did he not know that she was set on marrying the Alpha King ? Yet a part of me could not help the small sense of satisfaction blooming inside me . Was he doing this because of me ? No. How could I even think of something so absurd ? Cassian reached for a pastry and took a slow bite , chewing like he hadn't just humiliated Celeste in her own home . Crumbs clung to his lower lip . He licked them away with ease , then turned his attention to me . My gaze stayed low , but I could feel Celeste's stare scorching the side of my face . Then , without looking at her , he extended the half - eaten pastry toward me . " Eat , " he ordered . I hesitated for half a second . Then nodded and leaned in , my lips brushing the spot where his fingers had held the edge . I took a bite , tasting honey and heat and something far more dangerous beneath it all . His eyes didn't leave me . " Good girl ," he murmured , his voice just above a whisper . Something in my stomach twisted . Not from fear . From something worse . Something I didn't want to name . " The Fang Demons will be marching next week , " Father said , cutting into the tension like it wasn't even there . Cassian didn't look at him . He reached for another pastry . " Talking about demons on my wedding night , " he muttered as he brushed the crumbs from his fingers . " How festive . " " My lord , if the Fang Demons move , Nightfall will be the first to fall , " Father said , his voice 11:02 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 6 tighter now . " We're positioned directly in their path . " 81 55 vouchers Cassian finally met his gaze . " A third of my army will be stationed here , " he said . " Let them come ." Father faltered . I felt it . It was the way his shoulders shifted slightly , like the answer wasn't what he expected . Or maybe it was too generous . Was he expecting him to leave a third of his army ? Why would Cassian offer so much so easily ? One would wonder why the Lord of the North would suddenly leave his army in the south . But then again , these are the things that I wouldn't be able to understand . I glanced at him . He didn't even look interested in the conversation . He was back to reaching for another pastry , lips stained faintly with wine . Celeste sat back down quietly , trying to regain her composure . But I could see it now . Cassian wasn't just making a point . He was taking control of the room , piece by piece . First with the wine . Then with the pastries . Now with the war . And I was sitting right beside him , silent , watching it all unfold . " The war doesn't interest me nearly as much as my new bride , " he said . I froze . My head snapped toward him . What was he saying ? Then he added , " I've reviewed the dowry you prepared . It's rather modest for the eldest daughter of an Alpha , don't you think ? " My mouth went dry . Dowry ? Why is he talking about a Dowry ? " My lord ... " Father began . Cassian didn't even let him finish . " The dowry , " he said coolly . " Was prepared by your Luna , my bride's own mother , was it not ? " There was something about the way he said it , something that reminded me of the words that my own mother said the other night . He turned his head slowly . " If I didn't know better , I'd think it was meant for a servant ." His gaze sharpened . " Are you certain I'm marrying your daughter , Alpha Collin ? " Father stiffened . " Are you suggesting I'd lie to the crown ? " Cassian's eyes glinted . " Did you ? " " Preposterous ! " Father snapped . " I would never endanger my pack with such deceit ." 11:02 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 6 : 81 55 vouchers " Then summon your Luna , " Cassian said , voice like a blade drawn in the dark . " I'd like to speak with her directly . " It wasn't a request . It was a command . And in that moment , I realized something unsettling . My father might've ruled Nightfall with authority . But Cassian Valemont ? Cassian didn't rule . He conquered . The room immediately tensed . I heard the quick intake of breath from Father . Celeste shifted in her seat . Even the servants at the edge of the room stilled . " My lord , " Father said quickly . " If the dowry feels lacking , we can add to it , whatever you need . There's no need to involve- " " I asked for the Luna , " Cassian said , louder this time , like he was daring someone to defy him . " Unless you're saying your wife sent me an insult on purpose ." " No , of course not . I'll call her at once . " Panic flickered in Father's eyes . He gestured for the servants to call mother . Seeing this , Cassian leaned back , looking far too amused for someone supposedly offended . His gaze slid to me briefly , then away , as if I wasn't the topic at all , just the excuse . " Tell me ," he added offhandedly . " If Lady Celeste were the one marrying into royalty ... would her dowry be the same ? " No one answered . We all knew the truth . And so did he . If it was Celeste , they would probably empty the whole treasury . It didn't take long before Mother entered . She gave a quick bow . " My lord , I heard you had concerns about the dowry . I- " Cassian rose before she could finish . " I'm not interested in excuses . " The room fell silent . What is he doing now ? He stepped forward . " My consort will receive what she's due , I expect a full inventory of the dowry before we depart tomorrow . If anything is missing... " He let the words hang . He didn't have to finish it as everyone inside the room knew what he meant . He would raise hell . Then he extended a hand toward me . " I'm tired . We'll be going to our quarters now . " My lips parted , but no sound came . I have never met anyone so viscous and yet so confident that no one else in the room would dare say a word against him . Despite this , I rose and placed my hand in his . We had barely taken a few steps when a servant moved to lead the way . Cassian halted . 11:02 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 6 " My bride will take me to our rooms , " he said . That was all it took . : 81 55 vouchers The servant froze , bowed quickly , and stepped aside without a word . The others followed , retreating like shadows at dusk . We left the study in silence . I led him through the hallways , past the council wing and through a door I had only seen opened once in my life . The guest quarters for visiting royalty and war generals . I wasn't supposed to be here . Wolfless girls weren't even allowed near this hall , let alone through its doors . But now ... I was the bride . His bride . The latch clicked as I shut the door behind us . I turned slowly , taking it in . The room was enormous - bigger than my father's chambers . A fireplace already crackled to life in the corner . There was a private living room , velvet chairs surrounding a table carved with the Nightfall crest . A curtained window opened to a view of the east gardens . A polished oak bar gleamed beneath a wall of crystal bottles . The bathroom was visible through an arch- massive tub , gilded fixtures . And at the center of it all , the bed . Four - posted . Drenched in silver linens . The kind of softness you'd expect in a fairytale . I stood there frozen for a second too long . Cassian shrugged off his outer garment - some kind of military cloak , black with red northern embroidery near the collar . It hit the floor without ceremony . Underneath , he wore a dark shirt , slightly damp at the collar , sleeves rolled to his forearms like he hadn't even bothered dressing for court . He didn't speak . Just walked past me and lowered himself into the nearest chair like he owned the room . One arm draped lazily over the backrest . He looked at me - not directly , at least . " Wine , " he said , without looking up . I nodded and turned toward the bar , keeping my steps light . I didn't want to make a sound . The bar was fully stocked , red , white , aged blends from the far coasts . I didn't know what he preferred , so I chose the strongest one I could recognize and poured it into the nearest glass . When I turned around , he was already watching me . I crossed the room and held it out . He took it without a word but didn't drink right away He just let the rim of the glass hover 11:02 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 6 near his mouth as he looked at me . Like he was trying to decide what to do next . Slowly , I met his gaze . " You're not shaking , " he finally said . I didn't answer . I didn't trust my voice . Then his eyes drifted downward . " Remove your clothes . " 田 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!