Chapter 1: Bride in Chains

Chapter 1: Bride in Chains

The grand halls of Evernight Manor stood eerily silent, the once-proud tapestries swaying listlessly in the breeze that crept through shattered windows, their vibrant colors dulled by the dust and decay that clung to everything. The air was heavy with the scent of burnt parchment and decaying roses, a cruel reminder of the fire that had swept through the manor, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair.

Lady Seraphina Evernight stood in the center of the great hall, her crimson gown a stark contrast to the gloom that surrounded her. The chains binding her wrists were cold against her skin, a physical reminder of her captivity, yet her posture remained straight, her chin held high. She would not let them break her. Not today.

The fire had stolen everything from her—her family, her home, her freedom. And now, she was to be offered as a sacrificial lamb to the very man who had orchestrated her ruin.

"Lady Seraphina Evernight." The voice echoed through the hall, deep and measured, sending a shiver down her spine.

She lifted her chin, meeting the gaze of the man who had spoken.

Duke Adrian Valemont. The King's War Hero. A man whose name struck fear into the hearts of his enemies and whose ruthlessness was whispered throughout the kingdom. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an air of command that filled the space around him. His dark hair was neatly tied back, revealing the sharp angles of his face, and his piercing silver eyes held a storm of unreadable emotions.

Seraphina's lips curled into a humorless smile. "Your Grace," she greeted, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "Have you come to deliver my sentence?"

Adrian's gaze swept over her, taking in the defiant tilt of her chin, the way her fingers tightened around the chains binding her wrists. He had expected a broken woman, a pawn to be manipulated. Instead, he found a woman who looked ready to spit fire.

"No," he said finally, his voice smooth as silk yet edged with steel. "I have come to claim what is mine."

Seraphina's heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drum against her ribs. "You mean to claim a wife who does not wish to be wed?"

Adrian's lips twitched. "You lost your right to refuse when your father signed your fate away."

Fury and helplessness warred within her. She had been raised as a noblewoman, the daughter of a powerful house. And yet, in this moment, she was nothing more than a pawn in a cruel game she did not understand.

But she would not let them break her. She would not give them the satisfaction.

"And what shall I be to you, Your Grace?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "A wife? A prisoner? Or the final piece in your twisted game of revenge?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately. He stepped closer, the air between them crackling with tension. His gaze held hers, unwavering, as he reached out and grasped her chained wrists. With a flick of his dagger, the iron links shattered, falling to the marble floor with a clatter that echoed through the silent hall.

Seraphina flinched as his fingers brushed against her skin—warm, firm, possessive.

"You will be my Duchess," he said, his voice quiet but resolute. "And in time, you will come to understand why."

She stared at him, her mind reeling. What did he mean? What was she supposed to understand?

Adrian's lips curved into a humorless smile. "Don't look so surprised, my dear. You were always destined for this."

Seraphina's breath hitched. "Destined? What are you talking about?"

He leaned in, his breath ghosting over her ear. "You are more like her than you realize."

The words sent a shiver down her spine. Who was 'her'? What was Adrian not telling her?

Before she could question him further, he straightened, his expression once again unreadable. "Come," he said, gesturing toward the grand doors. "The carriage awaits."

Seraphina hesitated, her pulse quickening. She didn't want to go with him. But what choice did she have?

Adrian's gaze hardened. "Do not test my patience, Lady Seraphina. You are no longer in a position to defy me."

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. He was right. She had lost everything.

With a defiant tilt of her chin, she stepped forward, following him out of the ruined hall and into the waiting carriage.

As the doors closed behind them, Seraphina felt a strange sense of finality. She had left Everhart Manor in chains, a prisoner of her fate. But as the carriage pulled away from the ruins of her past, she knew—this was not the end. It was the beginning of a new battle. A battle she would not lose.