Bound by Blood & Moonlight

Chapter 6

Scarlet

After the soiree I found myself out on the balconies with Titan. It was a rare moment that we are left together just by ourselves.

"Do you think Father is getting ahead of himself with this whole collateral idea?" I asked, my gaze drifting to Titan, then back to the sky, where the Blood Moon cast its crimson glow over everything.

He didn't answer right away, but I could feel him mulling it over. The silence between us stretched, thick with unspoken tension.

"If you were king, would you do the same?" I added, pressing him, even though I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer.

Titan and I rarely had conversations like this. But something about tonight felt different, final. I had a sinking feeling that if the Weres agreed to this arrangement, it would be the last time we'd speak so freely. I knew my brother well—he always sought Father's approval, even when our father's schemes strayed far beyond the bounds of morality or reason.

"You shouldn't be asking these questions," Titan said at last, his tone calm but firm. "You didn't protest when Father first brought it up, so why now? I can see it in your eyes, Scarlet—you're quietly planning something. I advise you to drop it. For your own good."

His words stung, though I knew he meant well. But that didn't stop the anger from simmering just beneath my skin but I remained calm.

He turned to face me then, his eyes softening just a fraction. "I know you, dear sister. And I know you won't listen to me. But please, don't make this harder than it has to be."

"Father gave Kian a deadline," I murmured, my voice steady as I looked out over the balcony. The Blood Moon bathed the grounds in a red haze, casting long shadows across the stone. "Three days. He wants an answer before the moon fades."

I could feel Titan's gaze on me, but I kept my expression calm, neutral, as always. I had learned long ago that giving away too much was dangerous—especially around Father.

"Scarlet," Titan began, his voice low, cautious. "You're not going to fight this, are you?"

I didn't respond immediately. My mind was racing, but my heart remained steady. I had spent my life mastering that balance—remaining composed when the storm inside me threatened to break free. That was what Father always misjudged about me. He saw the calm, the obedience, and believed that I was malleable, controllable.

But that was his greatest mistake.

I turned to Titan, offering him a small, almost imperceptible smile. "I'm not going to make this harder than it needs to be."

Titan's brow furrowed, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "You've always been reserved, Scarlet, but you don't fool me. I know you better than anyone. You're planning something, aren't you?"

I allowed a soft chuckle to escape, as if the idea amused me. "Planning? Titan, what is there to plan? Father has made up his mind. Whether Kian agrees or not, Father will get what he wants. He always does."

Titan didn't look convinced. "You don't agree with him, though. You never do, but you never say it outright. You hide it behind that calm facade. He's blinded by it, but I'm not. What are you going to do, Scarlet?"

I crossed my arms, keeping my gaze focused on the horizon. "I will do what is expected of me, just as I always have."

That was the truth—or at least part of it. I had always been dutiful, reserved. I had learned to play the role of the perfect daughter, the one who never questioned, never caused trouble. But I was no puppet.

I knew Father underestimated me. He saw my silence as submission. He believed my calm nature meant I was content with my place. But he was wrong. Deeply wrong.

The truth was, I had always been playing a longer game. The very thing that made me seem docile—the patience, the quiet—was what gave me power. Father thought his sons were his greatest assets, but he failed to see that the daughter who stood quietly in the background was far more dangerous.

"Father misjudges me," I said softly, almost to myself.

Titan's expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "What do you mean?"

I turned to him, the hint of a smile still lingering on my lips, though my eyes were cold. "Nothing. Don't worry, Titan. I know my place."

But I had never accepted it.

Titan stared at me for a moment longer, clearly unsure of what to make of my words. He had always been the loyal son, the one who followed without question. He didn't understand that loyalty could look different. I was loyal to my family, yes, but not at the expense of my own survival. Not at the expense of my own dignity.

"Scarlet," he said finally, his tone softer, almost pleading. "Father will see through you if you're not careful."

I held his gaze, my voice measured. "He won't. He never does."

And that was the truth. Father had always overlooked me, always assumed I would fall in line, like a piece in his grand strategy. He couldn't see past the mask I wore—the mask of quiet submission. But behind that mask, I was thinking, planning, and waiting for the right moment.

Three days.

Three days for Kian to decide if the Weres would accept the deal. And three days for me to figure out how I would navigate this dangerous new path. Father believed this marriage would cement his power, but I had other plans.

I would play the role he expected of me—calm, poised, reserved. But beneath the surface, I would be ready. And when the time came, I would make sure I wasn't the one who ended up as a pawn in his game.