My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 AN AMBUSH

“I don’t know about you,” Maya said as we turned back to our table, “but that feels like the second sign that we shouldn’t be here. It’s only been thirty minutes and—”

“Sera!”

I froze as the third sign headed in my direction.

"Seraphina, darling," my mother called, sweeping forward with the same grace she’d wielded at every charity gala, every fund-raiser, every glistening pack event.

Gone was the fragile widow who had brutally lost her husband, and in her place was the former Luna of Frostbane—graceful, elegant, regal. Every bit Celeste’s mother.

Her arms wrapped around me before I had a chance to back away.

"Mother," I said stiffly, returning the embrace because I had no choice. I hadn’t held my mother in years, and it was as uncomfortable and unfamiliar as hugging a mannequin.

The scent of her expensive perfume clung to me even after she stepped back, and the smile she gave me was as bright as the chandeliers hanging overhead.

“Oh, you look so beautiful tonight,” she gushed, her eyes trailing over me appraisingly. I knew what she was doing—looking for flaws as usual.

“I’m so glad you decided to come after all,” she added.

I tensed, but forced a smile. “How could I not after you so desperately guilt-tripped me?”

Her smile tightened ever so slightly. “Now, now. Let’s not make a scene—or at least not another one.” She glanced behind me pointedly, and I knew she’d seen what happened with Imani.

Her hand smoothed over my arm as if I were a pet she was reassuring in public. “This is an important night for all of us—especially for Celeste. She’s worked so hard to make everything perfect. It would be a shame if it were...disrupted.”

“And here I thought you asked me to come to fulfill Father’s dying wish,” I replied sweetly. “Silly me.”

“I did.” Her smile didn’t falter, but I saw the tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth. “So let’s not ruin this occasion with old grudges, hmm? You wouldn’t want to disappoint your father...”

The unspoken last part of the sentence hung in the air between us like a poisonous cloud. Again.

Because I’d spent my whole life disappointing my father. Again and again and again.

“What old grudges?” I tilted my head, my chest tightening. “You mean my whole family treating me like I was less than my whole life? You mean being cajoled into attending this party that’s basically to flaunt Celeste’s superiority as if that’s some kind of secret?”

My mother’s smile slipped. “This is what I mean. Do you have to be so delicate? This is Celeste’s chance to finally have the happiness you robbed her of for ten years, so—”

“Margaret.” Kieran’s deep voice cut through the tension.

She turned to him and her smile returned as if it had never left. “Oh, Kieran! You look dashing!”

She was right. He stood stiff in a tailored ivory suit that shimmered faintly under the chandelier light. The lapels were trimmed with a fine gold thread that matched the elaborate cufflinks at his wrists and the gold pocket square. His hair was swept back with clinical precision, not a strand out of place.

Dashing, yes. But too polished, too pristine. It looked as if, like every part of tonight, Celeste had taken over, and Kieran hadn’t had a say in his own appearance.

I’d never seen Kieran—dominating, confident, self-assured Kieran Blackthorne—look so out of place before.

He gave my mother a tight smile, completely ignoring me. “We’re starting,” he said.

“Oh yes!” My mother practically glowed. “My speech!”

He placed a hand on her lower back and led her away.

She gave me one last look, and I caught it loud and clear—the unspoken warning veiled as maternal concern.

I knew that look. I’d grown up under its weight. It said: Behave. Don’t you dare step out of line.

I pursed my lips and looked away—and caught Kieran’s gaze.

It was brief, only for one tense heartbeat, and his eyes were unreadable, his whole face expressionless. As if he’d built a mental cage and locked himself behind it.

I felt Maya’s warm hand on my back as I turned to her and Lucian. “You good?”

I nodded, reaching for my champagne flute. “Yeah. Sure.”

“We can still leave if you want—”

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, and we turned to just in time to see a set of glass doors open on the second floor, and Celeste stepped out onto the top of the stairs like a queen descending into her court.

The room held its breath.

She glowed, I’ll give her that. Every part of her screamed, ‘See me!’

Gold from head to toe, hair curled into immaculate waves, a tiara of tiny diamonds balanced on her head like some deranged prom queen fantasy.

Kieran joined her then, stepping to her side as they formed a blindingly stunning picture. I saw Celeste’s vision come to life—a queen with her king.

I had to grudgingly admit—they fit.

More than he and I ever did.

Her eyes met mine across the room—and she smiled.

Not kindly. Victoriously.

A queen staring down at her vanquished opponent.

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