She wasn't sure why she was doing all of that. Though she knew it would likely get her stuck even deeper in this absolute freak show, Ashley still went back to the main hall, looking for Lucas. Part of her understood that Augustus was just using her for whatever plans he had, but he was her family and she also felt bad for what she said earlier. Besides, she wanted to finally cross out this whole ordeal with Lucas and leave it behind.
Before approaching him, Ashley grabbed two glasses of red wine from a waiter and drank up one of them right there, putting an empty wineglass back on the tray. With the second glass in her hand, she quickly fixed her dress and hair and walked slowly but confidently toward Lucas.
He was having a casual conversation with a small group of spellcasters when he saw Ashley clearly coming his way. Lucas excused himself and imperceptibly to others signaled her to the farther corner of the room.
"I know I look like a creep with all that staring and trying to find an opportunity to talk to you," Lucas started saying once they were far enough from the other guests. "I just wanted to apologize for being an insensitive asshole…"
"That's alright," Ashley interrupted him. "I don't care about you anymore. Better said, don't care enough to spare any more of my time and energy on resenting you. And I would also prefer you to stop bothering me in any way."
"Oh, alright. I will not seek any contact with you from now on then," he nodded. Lucas didn't expect this conversation to be that brief and was a little surprised by her response, but he also was glad that Ashley seemed to have it somewhat under control.
"This is not all. I want you to get rid of that scar," she pointed at his arm. "Better if there is nothing left reminding of this situation."
"I thought these marks were permanent. Is there a way to get rid of them?"
"Yes, there is. It is actually quite simple - you have to tell your mate what you did exactly to get those."
Lucas slowly nodded and looked at her incredulously.
"Tell exactly… in detail? As in, I have to tell Au… all of the things we did with a graphic description?"
"No, not like that," Ashley immediately shook her head. Just a quick thought of Lucas describing everything in his usual manner to her uncle was already terrifying. "Just tell him we made out, that should be enough."
"Okay, I can do that," he assured her. "Anything else I can do for you?"
"Nope. Just never talk to me again. Oh, and your mate has to accept your apology," she smiled at him, turned around, and walked away.
'Well, that makes it more complicated,' Lucas thought on his way back to the crowd. 'Will he even consider my apologies? He… how did she know it was a 'he?'
It didn't take him long to realize it was all somehow planned by Augustus.
'Did he really think I'm that stupid? Or is that also a part of his scheme? Seems like there's only one way to find out,' he shrugged, looking out for his unfortunate mate among the guests.
Expectedly, he found Augustus in the middle of a seemingly important conversation with two other alphas and a leader of one of the vampire clans. Lucas included himself in the discussion and waited for the topic to change, or rather stirred it into a more light-hearted direction, which so happened to be the Red Moon season.
"It's truly a delight to see the couples already getting along so well," Lucas said with a careless smile. "And the young vampire seems to feel much more confident around my pack as well. I hope this will only strengthen the ties between our communities."
"Except he's likely going to outlive his "fated mate," the vampire muttered. The alphas exchanged quick looks and took a sip each from their glasses.
"Well, that might not be the only setback here. I heard there are still pairs who preferred to not follow along with fate. Isn't that tragic in a way, to dislike a person who was supposed to be your destiny?"
Lucas looked at Augustus who seemed to choke on air and cleared his throat.
"Not as tragic as being forever bound to someone who would mistreat and abuse your connection," Anna said, approaching the group.
"You are right on this one," Lucas nodded in agreement. "Which is why it is important to be true to your mate and your community. Or find someone who could help with rearranging the fate."
Augustus glanced at him and took another sip.
"Your niece Ashley seems to be quite knowledgeable on this topic," Lucas continued, turning his head to the man on his left. "Being raised outside the magical community, I am not much acquainted with some of the traditions, and she was so kind to enlighten me on this one."
"I am glad you're getting along," Augustus replied with a polite smile.
"Not at all, we aren't close. She's lovely, but I'm already a part of someone else's fate."
Everyone looked at Lucas surprised, a slight hint of terror on Augustus and Anna's faces.
"It's complicated. You see, my mate has certain concerns and is quite secretive. Not to mention, they are in a position that could be otherwise compromised."
"Perhaps, you shouldn't be telling us any more if your fated mate is not comfortable with it," Anna added.
"Of course not, I should first discuss it with them," Lucas smiled back at her. "Though, there seems to be no chance of proceeding further with that relationship anyway, now that the mating season is over."
"That is not entirely true," one of the other alphas said. "If you hopefully figure out the concerns your mate has, you could still complete your connection through the celestial union ceremony."
"I guess people just forgot to mention this to me," Lucas replied with a wide smile. "Thank you, this information certainly will be useful."
He glanced at Augustus who seemed to get slightly paler in the face.