Cinderella Fallen: Twisted Loyalties

Aiera's POV

"With the Moon Goddess and all the deities of the heavens as my witness, I, Aiera Blackstone, hereby reject you Kael Blackstone as my mate and husband."

My cold words cut through the air like a blade, hitting it's target with cruel precision, I stare blankly into space over his shoulder to avoid meeting the gaze of the one I betray this day.

"I also renounce my claim as Luna and the Queen of the Astral Kingdom." My voice rings out loudly over murmurs of outrage that breaks out amongst the pack.

Kael recoils, his face is twisted in a grimace of pain from the breaking of the mate bond that mirrors my own. Except, I don't show my pain, I embrace it. I welcome it.

"It's impossible," Someone shouts,

"how can this happen?" another says.

"You bitch!" Kael's mother, Dowager Queen Katherine, walks up the steps and slaps me. The force of it sends me reeling.

She must have used her powers.

"How could you!" She hisses.

I lift my hand away from my face find it bloodied. Good, I don't deserve anything less.

"Why would you choose today of all days to do this? On the day of your wedding. You waited for this day just to disgrace him. I knew you were to good for my son." She scowls, her eyes flashing fire.

Kael still hasn't said anything. He just stares at me blankly like he can't believe what is happening.

She lifts her hand to strike me again and I welcome it, anything to escape this cold numbness I feel, but it doesn't come.

Kael has restrained her, she struggles in his arms, screaming profanities at me. I welcome each one. By now my veil has already come off. It lies on the floor like a discarded rag, a mockery of what this day has become.

"This is what happens when royalty stoops so low to marry vermin like you." She spits out with malice.

"Tell me, does it give you pleasure to deny my son in the very sacred place you are to be joined to him today. Does it? Answer me!" She screams hysterically. One would think she was the one getting rejected.

I don't blame her reaction though. What I have just done will make Kael a laughing stick. An Alpha King who got rejected by this mate. I can't bring myself to care.

As the yells at me, I don't respond. I just give her a cold look in response.

"He should have rejected you the moment he discovered that garbage like you was his mate." She screams. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought she wasn't the one that arranged all of this. This is her fault as much as it is mine.

"That's enough mother! I'll handle my affairs myself." His voice cuts through the chaos and although he was talking to his mother, everyone else becomes silent.

He hands her over to one of the guards. "Restrain her." He orders firmly. The guard looks like he is not going to do so.

Kael pulls me into his arms, his palm cups my cheek and tears threaten to fall down my cheeks from his gentle touch.

For a moment, I Iean into his warmth, wanting to stay forever in his love but then I remember that I can't. I can't afford to do so.

"Tell me this is not true, my heart. Tell me it's just one of your jokes, hmm?" He is just grasping at straws not. How can this be a joke when we both feel the pain if the broken mate bond?

His ocean blue eyes search mine, looking for.... something, a spark of his mate but he doesn't find anything there. That part of me is gone, or better yet she never existed.

"Are you in trouble? Were you threatened, just tell me. I'll make everything alright." He sounds more urgent now, I hear the desperation in him. It breaks my heart all over again.

I let the numbness take over me again, glaring coldly at him I step out of his arms.

"It is not a joke, I already renounced my ties with you. I have nothing else to say to you." I snap, like talking to him is tedious.

He reaches for me again and this time, I step away.

"Tell me, is this about ruling? I already told you, if you don't want to be involved in the matters of state then you won't." Oh, my kind, sweet, Kael. He is so ignorant.

Meanwhile, his mother is still yelling profanities at me. Her resentment for me brings me back to reality. I channel that hate and scowl at him.

"How foolish are you Kael, don't you know when someone has played you for a fool? Why do you insist on grovelling and begging. It's quite unbecoming, especially for a king." I sniff haughtily.

His mother breaks free of the soldiers hold on her and pushes her son away, this time dragging me to the floor and straddling me.

She brings out her claws, lashing at me repeatedly, tearing into my flesh like butter. The crowd cheers her on.

Like before, I don't fight back. No, I welcome the pain. She doesn't stay on me long enough though.

The guests cheer as the dowager Queen batters and abuses my body.

"I said, that's enough mother. Even you have no right to harmsm my Luna and the Queen of this kingdom. I will lock you up if I have too." He snaps at her while tearing her off my body.

I close my eyes, the pain of the shattered bond threatening to tear me apart. How could he still love me? How could he still defend me after everything? My chest tightens but it's too late to go back now. I don't have a choice either way.

"It's over for us Kael, don't question this. Just let me go." I respond coldly.

"No! Never! Look, I don't know what is going on but I do know that I love you. We will get through this together." I swallow, it takes the greatest control I have to reign in the tears that cloud my vision.

I didn't want to resort to this but it seems it is the only way. I reach down beneath my dress and bring out the dagger that is strapped to my thigh, remove it from it's sheath and point it at him.

"Not. One. Step.Closer."