Chapter Seven
The great hall glittered with chandeliers and golden candelabras, yet beneath the beauty ran a current of unease. Humans stood in small clusters, speaking in low, guarded tones. Vampires lingered like shadows at the edges, their eyes sharp and unreadable, their pale faces betraying nothing.
Every smile exchanged across the room seemed to have teeth behind it. Centuries of mistrust could not be smoothed away by one wedding, and everyone present knew it.
Serenya kept her expression steady, offering polite nods to both human and vampire courtiers alike. She could feel their scrutiny — some curious, some resentful, some calculating.
It was Kael who broke the cycle. His tall form stepped forward, his presence silencing conversation before his voice even carried over the crowd.
"That will be enough." His deep, steady tone left no room for hesitation. "The sun will set soon. We have a journey to make, and my queen must be ready before we ride for the vampire kingdom."
Murmurs stirred, but none challenged him. The line of guests fell away as he placed a guiding hand at the small of Serenya's back, steering her toward the towering doors. The air shifted as they stepped outside — cooler, sharper, tinged with the faint scent of rain.
As they crossed the marble steps toward the waiting courtyard, Kael leaned slightly toward her. "Go and change into something more comfortable for travel. You will not want to ride in that gown."
His tone wasn't harsh — but it carried the unyielding certainty of a command.
Serenya inclined her head, concealing the flicker of curiosity and caution that rose in her chest. Without a word, she turned and followed the maid who hurried forward to lead her back inside, toward the private chambers set aside for her.
The muffled sounds of the hall faded behind her as she stepped into her room. The heavy door closed, and for the first time since the ceremony, she was alone.
The soft flicker of candlelight danced across the gilded mirror as she stood before it, fingers tracing the edges of her necklace before unclasping it. One by one, the weight of gold and gemstones left her — earrings first, then the delicate bracelets, each piece set gently onto the vanity.
Her hair tumbled over her shoulders as she pulled out the pins, the loosened strands catching the glow. The room felt warmer without the crown's pressure, without the eyes of court or king watching.
She drew a long breath and turned toward the waiting bathtub, steam curling in the air. Lowering herself into the water, she let her head fall back against the porcelain, eyes drifting shut. For the first time that day, she allowed herself to feel the ache in her bones, the heaviness in her heart, and the strange unease that had followed her since nightfall.
She let her eyes flutter shut, Kael's vows echoing in her mind like a distant melody that refused to fade. Every word he had spoken, every glance that had burned through the crowd, replayed in her thoughts as if carved into her very soul.
The air still seemed heavy with the weight of what had happened — the clash of wills, the whispers of danger, the way his voice had lowered when he'd spoken her name. She could almost feel the phantom brush of his presence beside her, the warmth of a promise that felt both like a shield and a chain.
Her breathing slowed, but her heart did not. It drummed on, restless, as if it understood that whatever path lay ahead, it was already entwined with his.
Her fingers trailed lazily through the bathwater, watching the ripples spread, but her mind was anything but still. Every moment from earlier clawed for attention — the words, the glances, the unspoken threats. And then, like a whisper breaking through the storm, another memory surfaced.
The kiss.
It was sudden, unexpected, and yet burned into her as if her lips still remembered his. The warmth of Keal's breath, the faint taste of him, the way the world had seemed to stop for that brief, reckless heartbeat…
A soft knock sounded against the chamber door, pulling her from the memory.
"Your Highness?" came Elira's gentle voice.
Serenya straightened slightly in the tub. "Come in."
Her maid stepped inside, bowing her head before speaking. "Everything is ready. I've packed your belongings as instructed, and the carriage is waiting. We should make our way soon."
Serenya gave a small nod, pushing aside the lingering thoughts of Keal's kiss. "Thank you, Elira. You may go — I'll be out shortly."
Elira dipped into another curtsy before retreating, closing the door softly behind her.
She rose from the bath, letting the warmth slide away as she wrapped herself in a soft robe. The gown was gone, replaced by a simple but elegant travel dress in deep blue, its fabric light enough for riding yet dignified enough for her new title. Elira fastened the cloak at her shoulders, then stepped back with a nod of approval.
When Serenya stepped outside, the cool evening air kissed her skin. The courtyard was quieter than she expected. Keal stood near the carriage, speaking with two vampire soldiers whose armor caught the last streaks of sunlight. Eric waited off to the side, his expression unreadable. Elira was already there, checking the luggage straps.
But her father was nowhere to be seen.
Her gaze swept the courtyard once more, searching for him — for the proud smile or the final blessing she thought he would give. Nothing. Not even a shadow at the doorway.
A small, sharp disappointment settled in her chest. He had been so eager to parade her in front of the court, but not enough to see her off to the life he'd arranged.
She drew her cloak tighter and stepped toward the carriage. If her father would not stand at her side, then she would learn to walk without him.
Kael's gaze caught hers the moment she approached. His eyes lingered a fraction longer than necessary, as if reading the flicker of disappointment she had not voiced.
Without a word to her about it, he turned to the nearest soldier. "We leave. Now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
One of the soldiers stepped forward and pulled open the carriage door. Serenya gathered her skirts and stepped inside, Elira following closely behind. The cushions were soft beneath her, but the air inside carried the cool scent of leather and the faint tang of metal — a reminder that her destination was a kingdom ruled by vampires.
Outside, Kael's silhouette loomed for a moment before he climbed on his horse after them.
The carriage rocked gently over the dirt road, the steady rhythm of hooves and wheels blending into the hush of the evening. Serenya sat near the window, her gaze following the retreating glow of the sun. Shadows stretched long across the land, swallowing the golden fields of the human kingdom she had called home.
Her thoughts wandered to her father. He had stood tall and proud during the ceremony, his words heavy with the promise of peace. Yet when it was time for her departure, he had not come to see her off. The memory pressed on her chest — a quiet ache she could neither shake nor explain. Was she merely a pawn in his game, a daughter traded for a fragile treaty?
The forest swallowed the road ahead, its canopy filtering the last light of day. The air grew cooler, and the first stars emerged above the treetops. The gentle sway of the carriage and the soft creak of the leather seats lulled her further into her own mind until her eyelids began to droop.
Her last thought before sleep claimed her was of the hall, of Kael's unexpected kiss — the warmth still lingering on her lips. And then, she was gone, carried into dreams by the rhythm of the journey.