Chapter Six
The chamber was warm, but she felt as though she were drifting somewhere far away.
She stood before the mirror, staring at the figure draped in silver and moonlight. The gown fit her like a whisper — neither tight nor loose — as though it had always belonged to her. The lilies in her hair were fresh and cold against her skin, their perfume curling faintly in the air.
Her hands rested loosely at her sides. She wasn't smiling, but neither was she frowning. Her eyes felt heavy, as if they were seeing everything and nothing at the same time.
The latch on the door clicked. Her father, ,stepped in without knocking. His robes were heavy with gold thread, his crown polished to a blinding shine. For a moment, he studied her in silence, and then his mouth curved into the kind of smile that never reached the eyes.
"My daughter," he said, voice rich and deliberate, "today the kingdom will sing your name. Today, you will be the reason thousands of families sleep without fear. The reason children grow up without hearing the sound of swords at their doors."
She blinked slowly, still caught in that daze.
He stepped closer, laying both hands on her shoulders, the weight of them steady but unyielding. "You will end centuries of bloodshed. One step down that aisle, and you will unite two worlds that were never meant to be one. You will not just be a bride… you will be a savior."
The words rolled over her like warm water, soothing, drowning.
"You should be proud," he murmured, squeezing her shoulders. "I am."
Somewhere deep inside, something tightened — not from joy, not from pride — but she let the feeling sink away.
Outside, the bells began to toll.
The bells were still echoing when her father's voice broke the silence.
"It's time."
He didn't offer his arm — he took hers, firm and possessive, guiding her out of the chamber. The long corridors of the palace seemed endless, lined with guards whose armor caught the light in brief, blinding flashes. The scent of lilies clung to her veil, mingling with the faint tang of rain drifting in through high windows.
Her steps were steady, but the further they walked, the louder her heartbeat became.
At last, they reached the towering double doors to the great hall. Gold and ivory, carved with ancient battle scenes, they looked less like an entrance and more like a mouth ready to swallow her whole.
The doors groaned open.
Light spilled out first — golden, warm, dazzling — followed by the wave of murmurs from hundreds of guests. The air inside was heavy with perfume, wine, and anticipation. Rows of nobles sat shoulder to shoulder, their eyes turning to her like the pull of a tide.
The aisle stretched endlessly ahead, paved with crimson petals. At its far end stood Kael, the vampire king. His gaze locked on her instantly — dark, unwavering, intense enough that it seemed to strip away the veil, the gown, the walls around her mind. He did not blink. He did not breathe. He only watched.
Off to the side, among the human court, stood Eren. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture rigid, but his eyes… his eyes held a sadness that didn't belong in a hall of celebration. It was the look of a man watching something precious slip away, powerless to stop it.
The music swelled, her father's grip tightened, and the walls of the hall seemed to lean in, pressing the weight of the moment onto her shoulders.
Every step forward was another thread tying her to a fate she had not chosen.
She drew in a slow breath, letting the pounding of her heart sink beneath the surface. Whatever storm churned inside her would not be shown here. Her lips held their faint, unreadable curve, her chin lifted just enough to project poise, and her steps—measured, graceful—gave nothing away.
The veil shifted with each movement, catching the light like a spill of frost. The murmur of the crowd softened into the steady rhythm of the organ, each note echoing through the vaulted ceiling.
Petals crushed softly beneath her shoes as she stepped onto the aisle.
Kael did not look away. His eyes followed her with the patience of a predator, black depths that spoke of both danger and possession. There was no smile on his lips, but something in his gaze promised that once she reached him, she would not be allowed to slip away.
Eren's gaze flickered once—just once—before he lowered it to the ground, as though watching her walk toward another man was too much to bear.
At the halfway mark, her father's hand slipped from her arm, leaving her to finish the walk alone. The distance between her and Kael closed with each step, the air seeming heavier the closer she came.
At last, she stopped before him.
The high priest, robed in crimson and gold, stepped forward, his voice carrying across the silent hall.
"Today, before the eyes of gods and men, two realms are bound as one…"
The words rolled on, ceremonial and ancient, yet she felt Kael's gaze more than she heard the vows. It was like standing at the edge of a dark sea, knowing the tide was about to pull her under.
The high priest's voice rose solemnly, heavy with ceremony. "Princess Serenya, do you vow to honor this union, to stand beside your king, and to serve the peace of both realms?"
Her voice was soft but steady. "I vow."
No embellishment. No lingering words. Just those two simple syllables.
Then the priest turned to Kael. "King Kael, do you vow to honor this union, to guard your queen, and to uphold the peace of both realms?"
Kael's dark eyes never left hers. "I vow," he said, his tone smooth and unwavering. Then, without prompting, he added, "And I vow that no man will touch what is mine, no voice will speak against her without answering to me. She will be guarded from the world — even from herself, if I must."
A ripple of whispers moved through the hall. Her chest tightened, but she held her expression steady, refusing to show even a flicker of surprise.
The high priest hesitated, then continued, sealing the vows. The rings were exchanged — hers cold against her skin, his dark and heavy.
"By the bond of blood and oath, I now declare you bound in unity, king and queen."
The applause began — but it stilled again when Kael stepped forward, closing the space between them. His hand lifted, fingers brushing her jaw, and before she could think, before the weight of the moment could settle — his lips claimed hers.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't ceremonial. It was a declaration.
The hall went silent, then erupted into thunderous applause, but Serenya's heart was beating too loudly for her to hear it.
When he drew back, his gaze locked on hers — and though he said nothing, his vow still echoed in her mind.