“Oh, Si, you must be tired. Sleep a bit, and I will guard,” she whispered.

  Mari calmed down once he fell asleep.

  It worked!

  What her mother suggested—the drugs she gave her—they worked! Mari was so scared they wouldn’t. They were supposed to make them feel sick and put them to sleep. It should look like another attempt was made.

  So, she drugged the drinks, an idea she got from her family. They said she had spent so many hours in meetings with Young Shadows Master, and now it all would be in vain?

  Mari wasn’t delusional. Of course, her family had finally understood her goals and supported her dream. Though she was aware, it was more to show other Unio families that the Hal family was still rich, important and soon was to be connected very closely with powerful Shadows.

  What the Hal family needed was for their daughter to become Shadows Lady as fast as possible. Her mother told her exactly this. Mari knew. Their support was, as usual, part of their style.

  They had their reasons different, but the goal was the same.

  Mari wanted Si; she wanted to be his Lady.

  … In Unio it would make the marriage obligatory. She was from too good a family, too significant for Domini, the families, and the whole board of Unio, to let it go. And Alena, his former fiancée, was not relevant at all.

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  This was Mari’s last resort.

  Emotions swirling, she felt panicked, scared, and excited. She had dreamed about Si for so long, for so long. She sometimes had the opportunity to lay her fingers on his face, to lightly touch his warm skin, to caress his hair.

  But now Mari needed to do more.

  She watched him sleep for a minute or so. No longer, no time.

  “Forgive me, Si; I love you. I know you will be embarrassed and maybe hate me, but I will work to win your feelings. I will work to win your heart. Later, I will, I promise, Si, I do…” she murmured to him, to his ear.

  Then, Mari started to prepare the scene, the attempt, as she had discussed it with her mother.

  She loosened Si’s clothes, trying not to wake him up, as she was not sure how Shadows could react to what they gave her—what she added to the drinks. She didn’t add too much, as she didn’t intend to hurt Si.

  The task was to put him to sleep for a moment.

  It was soon to be six in the morning.

  Mari knew customs here; they would find them within half an hour.

  She unpinned her clothes, messed her hair, and then she pinched herself on her face, neck, hand, and above her breast to make it look like Si was passionate.

  “Forgive me, Si; I promise I will work hard,” she whispered again.

  She kissed him—to smear her lipstick on his lips. Mari had put on a highly visible shade. She kissed him again. This time, it was for her alone.

  Mari felt excited.

  Si was still sleeping, lying on the grass; everything was a bit wet as the morning dew was everywhere.

  “Oh, it could be so romantic…” she murmured.

  Mari then took a big sip of the same drink as Si; she needed to pretend she was also drugged. Not to uncover that it was staged, she also had to be a victim. This attack had to be aimed at them both—having a secret meeting.

  “A secret meeting… oh, so, so romantic…” she silently said.

  She kissed him again and again; she kissed him to leave marks on his hands, his face, and his neck, and tried to undress him more.

  Mari was already sleepy; she tried to do more but fell to the ground near him. The last thing she heard was Si’s whisper.

  “Luna?”