Chapter 2: The Shadow King's Realm

The carriage had disappeared, the palace guards retreating the moment the exchange was made. Seraphina turned back to the Shadow King, her heart hammering. The shadows around him pulsed and moved, as if they had a will of their own.

"Come," he said, turning towards the looming castle beyond the altar. "Your new home awaits."

Seraphina hesitated for only a moment before following. The path leading up to the castle was made of smooth black stone, cold beneath her bare feet. Strange, ethereal lanterns floated in the air, casting an eerie silver glow. The kingdom stretched beyond them, a vast land cloaked in endless twilight.

"This place…" she whispered, unable to tear her gaze away. "There is no sun here."

The Shadow King glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "The sun does not belong in the land of the forgotten."

She shivered.

They crossed an arched bridge leading to the castle gates, flanked by statues of unknown figures. The closer they came, the heavier the air grew, thick with an ancient, unspoken magic. The doors creaked open before them, revealing a grand hall lined with towering pillars, each adorned with silver embroidery of intertwining shadows and light.

A row of figures stood at attention, their expressions unreadable. Some had masks covering their faces, others bore the same molten gold eyes as the king.

"Who are they?" Seraphina asked.

"My council," the Shadow King replied. "And your new subjects."

She swallowed hard. This was real. This was happening. She had not been led to an execution chamber, but something far more dangerous—a world she did not understand, ruled by a man whose intentions remained shrouded in mystery.

Then, with a single motion, he turned to face her fully, and the flickering torches reflected the truth in his eyes.

"Seraphina," he said, voice rich with something she couldn't place. "You were never meant to be a sacrifice. You were meant to rule."

The world tilted beneath her feet.

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and unshakable. Seraphina's breath caught, her mind racing to make sense of it all. "Rule?" she echoed. "You can't mean that."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of the Shadow King's lips. "You think I would take a bride only to have her cower in the corner, waiting for her fate to unfold? No, Seraphina. You are here because you are more than they ever told you."

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. "Then tell me. What did they hide from me?"

He studied her, his gaze sharp and assessing. Then, with a wave of his hand, the torches lining the hall flared brighter, casting long shadows that danced like living things.

"Come," he said again, his voice quieter this time, almost… patient.

Seraphina followed him through the hall, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone. As they ascended a winding staircase, the castle revealed itself in glimpses—towering bookshelves filled with ancient tomes, corridors where shadows flickered as if whispering secrets, and balconies overlooking a city bathed in twilight. It was a kingdom unlike any she had ever seen, both haunting and strangely beautiful.

Finally, they reached a vast chamber, its walls lined with tapestries depicting battles between light and darkness. At the center stood a throne unlike any other—carved from obsidian, its edges glowing faintly with an otherworldly energy.

The Shadow King turned to face her fully. "You are bound to this realm by more than a simple promise, Seraphina. You bear the mark of the Forgotten Queen."

Her heart clenched. "The Forgotten Queen?"

He nodded. "Long before your people feared your mark, before they cast you aside, there was another who bore the same sigil. She was not a harbinger of doom, but a ruler of immense power. And like you, she was meant to change the fate of this world."

Seraphina took a step back, shaking her head. "No… that can't be. I was cursed. They told me—"

"They lied," the Shadow King interrupted smoothly, his golden eyes flashing. "They feared you, Seraphina. Because they knew what you could become."

She wanted to deny it, to cling to the version of reality she had always known. But deep in her heart, something stirred—a whisper of recognition, of something ancient and forgotten awakening within her.

The Shadow King extended his hand. "You have a choice. Continue believing the lies they fed you, or embrace what you were meant to be."

Seraphina stared at his outstretched hand, her pulse pounding in her ears. The weight of destiny pressed down on her, heavier than she had ever imagined. Could she truly step into this world, into this power? Could she trust the man standing before her?

She took a shaky breath, then reached out, her fingers grazing his palm.

A surge of energy crackled through her veins, and in that instant, she knew—this was only the beginning.