The next morning, Elara woke to chaos.
Servants rushed in and out of her room carrying dresses, jewelry, shoes, and enough fabric to cover an entire village.
She sat up.
"What is happening?"
A maid curtsied.
"His Majesty has ordered your attendance at tonight's royal banquet."
Elara nearly dropped her teacup.
"The banquet?"
The maid nodded.
"Every noble family in the kingdom will be present."
Wonderful.
Just wonderful.
Nothing sounded more fun than being displayed in front of hundreds of people who probably wanted her dead.
By sunset, she was standing outside the grand ballroom.
Music echoed from inside.
Laughter.
Conversation.
The smell of expensive wine.
The giant doors opened.
Every eye immediately turned toward her.
And the room fell silent.
Elara resisted the urge to run.
People stared openly.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"That's her."
"The sacrifice."
"The king's prisoner."
"Why is she here?"
At the far end of the ballroom sat Kael.
Upon his throne.
Cold.
Unreadable.
His golden eyes met hers.
And immediately the familiar voice echoed inside her mind.
She's beautiful.
Elara nearly stumbled.
Too beautiful.
Why is everyone looking at her?
Stop looking at her.
She bit the inside of her cheek.
The banquet had been open for less than thirty seconds.
And he was already spiraling.
Kael raised a glass.
His face remained completely indifferent.
"Welcome."
His thoughts were another story.
She should sit beside me.
No. That's suspicious.
Maybe directly beside me.
Definitely beside me.
Elara looked away before she laughed.
A noblewoman approached her.
The woman smiled sweetly.
The smile never reached her eyes.
"Lady Lyra."
"Hello."
The woman examined her dress.
"What a surprise to see you alive."
Elara speak in a low voice
u wish i wasn't
what did u say
Before Elara could reply, another voice interrupted.
"Then allow me to surprise you further."
A man stepped forward.
Tall.
Handsome.
Black hair.
Silver eyes.
A vampire.
Several women immediately began whispering.
Elara recognized him from Lyra's memories.
Prince Hendrick
The most popular vampire noble in the kingdom.
And one of the few people brave enough to challenge Kael.
Lucien bowed.
"May I have this dance?"
The entire room gasped.
Elara froze.
Across the ballroom, Kael didn't move.
Not even slightly.
His face remained carved from stone.
Then she heard his thoughts.
No.
A pause.
Absolutely not.
Another pause.
Over my dead body.
Elara almost choked.
Lucien extended his hand.
"Lady Lyra?"
Kael slowly lifted his wine glass.
Touch her and lose the hand.
Elara looked toward the throne.
The king appeared completely calm.
Only his thoughts betrayed him.
Why is he smiling at her?
Why is she smiling back?
I hate him.
I've always hated him.
Actually, I hated him before this too.
Elara bit her lip.
Hard.
Hendrick mistook her expression.
"Are you nervous?"
"A little."
Across the room:
Good.
Be nervous.
Reject him.
Please reject him.
Elara nearly laughed out loud.
This was ridiculous.
Lucien waited patiently.
Every noble in the room watched.
Kael's thoughts grew darker.
If they dance, I'll survive.
A pause.
Probably.
Another pause.
Maybe.
Another.
No. I won't.
Elara finally placed her hand in Hendrick's
The ballroom exploded with whispers.
And somewhere in the distance...
A wine glass shattered.
Complete silence followed.
Hendrick looked toward the throne.
So did everyone else.
Kael calmly set the broken stem of his glass on the table.
His expression never changed.
"Continue."
The single word sent chills through the room.
Yet inside his mind...
Chaos.
I am calm.
Perfectly calm.
This is fine.
Why are they standing so close?
Why is his hand on her waist?
Someone remove him.
Preferably from existence.
Elara had to look away before she burst into laughter.
The dance began.
Hendrick guided her across the floor.
Unlike most nobles, he seemed genuinely kind.
"You're different from the rumors."
"Are the rumors terrible?"
"They are."
"Fair enough."
Lucien smiled.
"You seem lonely."
Before she could answer, another thought slammed into her head.
She is not lonely.
She has me.
Elara almost missed a step.
Lucien caught her.
"Careful."
Across the ballroom:
Take your hands off her.
The music continued.
The nobles continued watching.
And Kael continued suffering.
Then Hendrick leaned closer.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Enough for the king's patience to snap.
The music abruptly stopped.
Every musician froze.
The entire ballroom froze.
Even Hendrick looked confused.
Kael rose from his throne.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
His gaze locked onto theirs.
The room became so quiet that Elara could hear her own heartbeat.
Then the king spoke.
"Prince Hendrick."
The vampire prince smiled.
"Your Majesty?"
Kael's smile appeared.
Which somehow felt more threatening than anger.
"I require Lady Lyra's presence."
Hendrick raised an eyebrow.
"For what purpose?"
Kael descended the steps.
His eyes never left Elara.
Neither did his thoughts.
Mine.
The word echoed so strongly that it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs.
When Kael finally stopped before them, his voice remained perfectly calm.
"State matters."
Nobody believed him.
Not a single person.
And judging by Hendrick's amused smile...
Neither did he.
To be continued..
