Shadow Of Death

Gerald and Orion exchanged bewildered glances. "B-but, Your Highness, she is cursed with bad luck. You cannot possibly want her," Gerald stammered.

The prince suddenly turned on his heel, ready to leave. "Keep the girl, then. But expect my guards here by dusk," he said coldly.

Panic spread across Gerald's face as he realized the weight of the prince's words. Desperation laced his voice as he fell to his knees. "Forgive us, Your Highness! You may take the girl. Take her now," he pleaded, his tone frantic.

The prince arched a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Lilith stared in confusion, looking between her step father and the prince. With her heart pounding hard in her chest, she moved closer to her stepfather, "please, do not do this. I accept to be burned alive. Please, do not send me away with them."

"What are you saying child? You have no choice in this, you are going with him, whether you want to or not, and that is my final decision." Gerald shot her a sharp, disdainful glare.

Lilith shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face. "No! Please, don't do this to me!" She reached out, grabbing his hand, but he wrenched it away from her like she was something to be feared. As he raised his hand, Lilith squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the strike, but it never came. When she opened her eyes again, she felt a strong presence behind her.

The prince caught her stepfather's arm, gripping it tightly, "she belongs to me now, touch her again and I will rip out your hand and shove it down your throat, do we understand each other, Gerald?" The venom in his voice was evident.

"Y..yes Your Highness, I..I understand." Gerald replied, flashing a smile that did not reach his eyes. When the prince released his arm, Gerald nearly lost his footing but quickly regained his balance, steadying himself with a sharp intake of breath. He took a few steps backwards to nurse his hurting arm.

"As His Highness mentioned, you have a month to get your things sorted out and make payment in full." Lucian voiced out to the councillors who nodded in agreement.

Lilith felt her heart pounding in her chest, unable to fully grasp the reality of what had just occurred. One moment, she was staring at the flames, ready to be burned alive, and the next, she found herself standing before the prince, the feared prince of Valyron. He was infamous for his cruelty and cold heartedness, earning the nickname 'Shadow of Death' for the ominous presence of death that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

Just when Lilith thought her fate could not possibly get any worse, it had. Being taken by the prince was no better than a death sentence. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she realized the cruel truth, perhaps she was destined to die, one way or another.

She stared at his back as he adjusted the reins of his horse. The prince was a tall man with broad shoulders, his midnight-black hair cascading down to his shoulders. His hair was rich and well-maintained, catching the light with every movement. Everything he wore, his attire, his accessories,was expensive, hugging his form like a second skin.

Lilith felt her body stiffen when he turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to read her thoughts. His gaze was intense, piercing, and the colors of his irises only added to the chill in the air. One orb was as dark as the deepest night, while the other shimmered with a golden hue, reminiscent of the sun's heat. There was something otherworldly about his eyes, like an angel's beauty fused with the coldness of that of a devil.

"Do you ride horses?" he asked, his hands resting on the horse's head.

"I... I don't, Your Highness," Lilith replied, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"Quite unfortunate. I suppose this will be your first time," he said, his tone casual. "I will help you onto the horse."

Before Lilith could fully process his words, his hands were already around her waist. With ease, he lifted her onto the horse as though she weighed nothing, his grip firm.

He swung onto the horse, sitting behind her with his hands gripping the reins. Lilith didn't dare move an inch, she had never been so close to anyone, and now, she was riding alongside the Prince of Valyron.

Lilith glanced back at the villagers who stood rigid, afraid to make the wrong move. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized she was leaving the only home and family she had known for twenty years. Her gaze swept across the crowd, searching for her mother, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. Her stepsisters stood by their father, their expressions unreadable. Lilith couldn't tell if they were relieved she was leaving or if they wished she had been taken as a corpse, as originally planned.

She drew in a shaky breath and turned her head forward, focusing on the gate of the village ahead. She needed to prepare herself for the uncertain life that awaited her in Valyron.

The horse galloped out of the gates and into the thick forest, its strong legs pounding the ground, the sound echoing through the trees. Lilith clutched the reins for dear life, the irony not lost on her. As much as she had accepted the fate that awaited her, she certainly didn't want to die by falling from a horse.

No words were exchanged between her and the prince, nor between the prince and his uncle. They only shared glances that made Lilith wonder if they somehow communicated telepathically, though she wasn't sure.

They traveled for what felt like hours, the landscape shifting as they drew closer to a distant, magnificent castle. Covered in pure white and gold, it stood as the most beautiful structure Lilith had ever seen, a clear contrast to the dark reputation of the royal family and everything she had heard about them. As they approached, the guards at the gate, dressed in red shirts and trousers, bowed their heads in respect. The grand gate of the castle creaked open, signaling their arrival.