The man's gaze turned to Wish, his expression unreadable. His eyes swept over her outfit, lingering on her exposed midriff and bare shoulders.
Wish moved slowly toward the long sofa. She sat down carefully at the far end—as far from the stranger as possible without being outright rude.
"Good morning," she murmured.
Lord Kavan's lips curved into a polite smile. It didn't reach his eyes. "Good morning, Miss Wish. I've heard quite a bit about you."
Her blood turned to ice. Oh no. This is about the video. Do they want to kill me?
Her mother laughed, a high, brittle sound. "Lord Kavan has come with some very exciting news for our family."
Exciting. Her mother's voice trembled. Wish's hands clenched in her lap. She glanced at Vish, but her sister stared at the floor. What is going on?
Her mother wrung her hands. "Lord Kavan, the Moon Guardian, is here because of you."
Wish blinked. "Because of me?"
Her mother's smile wavered. "He is… interested in you. He wishes for your hand in marriage."
Silence crashed down. Wish sat frozen. She turned to Lord Kavan, confusion on her face. "What is a Guardian of the Moon? Are you one of the deities? The moon deity?" If he is one of the deities, this might be a blessing. My ticket to a good life.
Her father cleared his throat. "The Guardian oversees the sacred archives and lunar temples. He preserves knowledge, keeps the records, manages the festivals. He is the keeper of divine law, the high judge. He is second only to the deities in authority and wealth."
Okay, so not a deity, and here I was thinking a deity took an interest in me.
Her father shifted in his seat. Vish stared at her lap. Her mother's smile was painted on with shaking hands.
Lord Kavan leaned forward, his movements smooth. "You see, Miss Wish, I saw you. I thought you are a very rare type. A woman who knows her worth and isn't afraid to declare it publicly." His gaze settled on her, assessing. "Confidence is rare."
Wish's mother laughed nervously. "Yes, Wish has always been… spirited."
"Spirited." Lord Kavan repeated the word slowly. "Indeed." He set his tea cup down with a soft clink.
"I'll be direct. I am looking for a mate. After seeing your… performance, I believe you would make an interesting addition to my household."
The room went deathly silent. Wish's heart pounded. "Addition?"
"I already have two mates," he continued smoothly. "Both wonderful. But a third would complete my family. You have spirit. Fire. Curves."
His eyes traveled down her body again. It made her skin crawl. "Everything a man could want. I will give you anything. You'll be under my protection. Your family's status will rise. No one will touch you."
Wish shook her head slowly. No one will touch me? No one but the plot. The plot will kill me if I don't find a deity's protection. I am doomed until I mate a deity.
She folded her arms across her chest. "I politely turn down your offer. It's a fair deal, but no."
Lord Kavan's eyebrows rose. "Being a third mate for the Moon Guardian isn't bad. You should be grateful I considered you."
Anger bubbled up in Wish's chest. She felt punched. "You want me to be your third mate!"
"Precisely." He smiled, leaning back. "Your family would be well compensated. I'm wealthy. Your parents would never work again."
Wish's gaze snapped to her mother, who looked away. Her father was silent. Neither defended her.
"No. I am not doing this," Wish declared.
Vish looked up, her voice a whisper. "Denying him has consequences."
Her mother leaned forward desperately. "You wanted a mate! He gave you a deal! It's better than nothing! He's wealthy! Anyone would be happy!"
"You've been drowning in stress," her father added, pleading. "This will be good for you. You will have a rich husband isn't that what every girlyour age wants?"
Wish looked between them, her heart sinking. "Dad, Mom, I know you're worried. About my marriage, your reputation, my future. This won't help me. This won't fix anything."
Kavan's expression hardened. "Do you know what you're turning down? What you're walking away from, especially since you aren't someone men go for?"
The words hit like a slap. "I don't care." Wish stood up abruptly. "I'm not interested."
Something cold flickered in his eyes. "Think about it before making hasty decisions."
"I don't need to think." Wish's hands clenched into fists. Her whole body trembled. "I won't be anyone's third mate. Or second. Or even first if I don't choose him!"
Lord Kavan rose slowly. His voice dropped, dark and threatening. "You think you have choices? A woman like you—viral for making a fool of herself—should be thanking me on her knees for looking her way."
Wish's vision went red. "What did you say?"
"You heard me." His smile turned cruel. "You're desperate, overweight, and you humiliated yourself. I'm offering you dignity, and you throw it back like a spoiled child?"
"That's it!" Wish lunged, her hand raised to slap him.
Vish grabbed her from behind, arms wrapping tight around her waist. "Wish, no! Stop!"
"Let me go!" Wish struggled violently, her feet kicking. "I'll break his face!"
Lord Kavan stood calmly, amused. It made her angrier.
"You think you're so great?" Wish shouted, fighting Vish's hold. "You're a glorified librarian! Reading dusty scrolls all day! Congratulations! Want a medal for being boring?"
"Wish!" Her father jumped to his feet.
"No! Let me finish!" Wish pointed a finger at Kavan. "You come into my home, insult me, and act like this is a favor? Take your third mate position and shove it deep in your sacred archives where the sun doesn't shine!"
Her mother gasped. "Wish River!"
Lord Kavan chuckled darkly. He adjusted his robes with calm. "I'll give you time to discuss this. But Miss Wish… I always get what I want. One way or another."
The threat hung in the air.
"I'll return in two days for your answer." He bowed slightly to her parents, mockingly polite. "Think carefully. This offer won't last."
"Don't bother coming back!" Wish spat.
He walked to the door with measured steps. He paused. "Two days, Miss Wish. I'd hate for something… unfortunate to happen to your family."
The door closed with a soft, ominous click.
Vish released her. Wish stood breathing hard, her chest heaving.
"Wish!" Her mother burst into tears. "A suitor appears and you do this? You scream like a child! What do you want? To kill us with your stress?"
Wish looked at her mother's red, swollen eyes. Her heart softened. She took a shaky breath. "I will marry someone cool. Someone great and handsome. I'll make you happy. I promise."
Her mother rushed to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Wish, please don't die from stress. Talk to me. Let me help you."
Wish hugged back, then gently broke away. "I'm cool. I'm good. No pressure."
Vish's voice was worried. "What do we do? He'll come back in two days and take you whether you like it or not."
Before anyone could answer, their door burst open with a violent crash.