A Bloodbound Fate

Evelyne's hands trembled as she stared at the ancient text. The ink was faded, the parchment brittle, yet the words carved into its pages felt like chains tightening around her throat.

"Upon the blood of the firstborn, the pact shall be bound."

Her blood.

The realization settled in her chest like a stone. This wasn't just a political agreement. It wasn't just about marriage.

She had been chosen—long before she was even born.

Azrael's golden eyes remained fixed on her, unreadable yet piercing. His fingers rested against the brittle page, tension coiling in his frame. "This was never about peace," he murmured. "It was about you."

Evelyne swallowed hard, her mind racing. "Why? What does my blood have to do with this?"

Azrael exhaled sharply, turning the page. More faded text, more cryptic passages. His gaze sharpened as he read. "A royal heir of Solmere… the firstborn… a binding that can never be undone…" He paused, his expression darkening. "The sacrifice of one to seal the fate of many."

Evelyne's breath hitched. "Sacrifice?"

Azrael's jaw tightened. "The pact demands blood." He turned to her, his voice lower, more controlled—but beneath it, a storm raged. "Yours."

The world tilted. Evelyne staggered back. "No—there has to be some mistake."

Azrael closed the book with a sharp snap. "This was never a simple treaty. It was a ritual. A seal that required something greater than signatures and oaths."

Evelyne's heart pounded against her ribs. "Then… I was never meant to be a queen?"

Azrael was silent.

That silence spoke louder than any answer.

A wave of nausea rolled through her. Her father had sent her to the Underworld, not just to stop a war—but to fulfill a ritual. Did he know? Had he always known?

She shook her head, unwilling to believe it. "No. My father wouldn't…" Her voice faltered.

Wouldn't what? Sacrifice her? Trade her life away for peace?

Her stomach twisted.

Azrael watched her carefully. "We don't have all the answers yet."

Evelyne looked at him sharply. "But you knew something was wrong with the pact. You've suspected this, haven't you?"

Azrael didn't deny it. "I knew the Elders were hiding something. I knew the terms of the agreement were… unnatural." His gaze flickered to the book. "But I didn't know it was tied to you this deeply."

Evelyne forced herself to breathe. The pieces were still coming together, but one thing was clear—her life was not her own. It hadn't been for a long time.

And if the pact demanded blood…

Would it still take hers?

She shivered. "What happens if the pact is broken?"

Azrael hesitated. "I don't know."

That terrified her more than anything.

A heavy silence settled between them. The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows across the room.

Evelyne clenched her fists. "I need to know the truth." Her voice was steadier now. Sharper. "Not just about the pact, but about my father. About everything."

Azrael studied her for a moment before nodding. "Then we must go further."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

He tapped a finger against the book. "The Elders have guarded this knowledge for centuries. If we want more, we can't rely on stolen texts alone." His gaze met hers. "We need to find someone who remembers."

Evelyne inhaled sharply. "You mean someone who was there when the pact was made?"

Azrael inclined his head. "Yes."

Her pulse quickened. That meant someone from Solmere. Someone who had seen the truth but never spoken of it.

"But who?" she asked. "Anyone that old would—"

Her words died as realization struck.

Azrael smirked. He had reached the same conclusion. "You already know, don't you?"

Evelyne swallowed hard. "My grandfather."

King Theron of Solmere. The former king. The one who had ruled before the pact was made.

He was the only one left who might know the full truth.

Azrael nodded. "If he is still alive, we need to speak to him."

A chill ran through Evelyne. "But he's in Solmere. That means—"

"We go to your homeland."

The weight of those words hit her like a tidal wave. She hadn't set foot in Solmere since she'd left for the Underworld. Now, returning meant stepping straight into the heart of the very kingdom that had sold her to this fate.

And if her father had truly known the truth all along…

Would he let her leave again?

Would she even survive the trip?

Evelyne took a steady breath. "Then we don't have time to waste."

Azrael's smirk deepened. "Then prepare yourself, little queen."

His golden eyes gleamed in the candlelight, sharp with amusement. But beneath it, she could see the same fire that burned in her own heart.

"We leave for Solmere at dawn."