chapter 11

The night before the wedding was shrouded in a palpable tension that hung thick in the air. As I paced the confines of my lavish quarters, I couldn't help but replay the events of the day over and over in my mind.

Emilia's defiant refusal to accept her fate had only strengthened my resolve. She would learn, one way or another, that there was no escape from the path I had carefully laid out for her. My lips curled into a sardonic smile as I imagined the look on her face when she realized the futility of her struggle.

A soft knock on the door interrupted my musings, and I turned to see one of my most trusted advisers, Rowan, step inside. The man's expression was unreadable, but I could sense the faint hint of discomfort in his bearing.

"My lord," he began, giving a deferential bow. "I...I have some news regarding the lady Emilia."

I arched a brow, my interest piqued. "Go on," I prompted, sensing an undercurrent of trepidation in Rowan's voice.

He cleared his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "It would seem... the lady has managed to escape the confines of the shield you had placed around her."

For a moment, I was rendered speechless, my mind reeling with the implications of his words. Emilia, free? Impossible. The barrier I had erected was impenetrable, a testament to my mastery of the arcane arts.

"Impossible," I growled, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "You must be mistaken."

Rowan shook his head, his eyes downcast. "I'm afraid not, my lord. The guards stationed at the entrance reported seeing her slip through the barrier just a short time ago."

I felt the beginnings of a white-hot rage building within me, threatening to consume my rationality. How dare she defy me? After all I had done, all the careful planning and strategizing, she had the audacity to escape?

"Find her," I snarled, my voice laced with barely contained fury. "Scour every inch of this palace until she is found. I want her brought to me, unharmed, do you understand?"

Rowan nodded, his expression grave. "At once, my lord." He turned to leave, but paused at the door, casting a concerned glance in my direction. "What...what do you plan to do with her?"

I leveled him with a withering glare, my jaw set with determination. "Whatever it takes to ensure she fulfills her role," I replied, the threat implicit in my words.

Rowan swallowed hard and nodded, then hurried out of the room, leaving me alone with my seething fury.

Emilia had tested my patience for the last time. Now, she would face the consequences of her defiance, no matter how unpleasant they might be. I would not be denied, not when I was so close to achieving everything I had ever desired.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I strode towards the door, intent on taking matters into my own hands. The hunt was on, and I would not rest until I had reclaimed my wayward bride-to-be.