"I had Drake approach that pitiful hybrid orphan girl. Sent her the wedding invitation."
"You should've seen her face then."
Finn turned to me, cruel amusement curling his lips.
"Layla thought the groom was you, didn't she?"
"Thought she'd finally be with the one she loved, even started fantasizing about married life?"
I clenched my jaw, nails digging into my palms.
He was right. I had believed exactly that. I'd prepared the bouquet, tried on the dress, and walked straight into crushing disappointment.
"She opened that door and saw me instead." Finn continued, voice dripping with mockery. "That look of disappointment, the way she wanted to run..."
"Truly delightful."
"Then the feigned death." Kayden cut through his reminiscing, probing deeper for the truth. "You used vampire secret arts."
"Smart." Finn nodded appreciatively. "I'd taken vampire blood beforehand. It puts the body into deep hibernation."
"Stopped heartbeat, lowered temperature, dilated pupils... all the signs of death present."
His smile grew more smug.
"And the crucial part—I'd planted the silver poison in Layla's room ahead of time, coated her handkerchief with toxin, made sure the guards saw her 'fleeing in guilt'..."
"Every piece of evidence pointed perfectly at her."
"Drake pushed the investigation according to plan, the elders were convinced..."
He looked at Kayden, excitement flashing in his eyes, gesturing animatedly.
"Then came the most spectacular part."
"You—Kayden Blackwood—actually rejected your fated mate publicly."
"Called her a 'mistake,' said Silver Moon Pack's Luna could never be her..."
He shook his head as if admiring a work of art.
"Do you know how thrilled I was, lying there listening to all that?"
"I thought I'd have to work harder to drive a wedge between you. But you pushed her away yourself."
"Watching her question you, watching her weep, watching her..."
Finn's smile twisted into something grotesque and deeply satisfied.
"Watching her jump off that cliff. That moment, Kayden, the look on your face..."
He closed his eyes, as if savoring the memory.
"Absolutely exquisite."
Kayden's eyes had turned completely gold. I could feel every muscle in his body trembling.
He was losing control.
