CHAPTER 3: Chains of Gold

The throne room was cold that morning.

Aurelia stood in the center of it, head bowed, heart pounding as her father's voice echoed against the high stone walls.

"You left the castle."

King Aldric's voice was a low, dangerous thing. The court had been cleared for this, only a handful of guards and advisors remaining. Her brothers watched in varying degrees of horror and frustration. None of them spoke.

Aurelia said nothing.

She dared a glance at her brothers, lined against the wall. The eldest, Prince Alric, wore a tight, unreadable expression, his jaw clenched. Dorian looked away entirely, clearly furious but unwilling to meet her eyes. Even the younger ones, Gareth and Elias, shifted uncomfortably, as though wishing they could be anywhere else.

Only Hadrian, the youngest of the sons, gave her a fleeting, sympathetic look before quickly lowering his gaze.

None of them spoke, it wasn't their place.

Aurelia was the youngest. The afterthought. The illegitimate daughter their father loved, but who didn't truly belong. And right now, none of them would risk stepping between her and the king's wrath.

The king's voice cut through the silence again. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you, child? The kingdom is dangerous for your kind. There are men in this land who would see a royal daughter's blood spilled without hesitation. There are things far worse than men lurking in the shadows."

"I—" she started, but her throat closed up.

There was no excuse. And none that would matter.

She felt her chest burn again with the memory of that dream, of the necklace's glow, of those silver eyes in the dark.

"I wasn't harmed" she courageously answered.

The slap of her father's goblet against the floor made everyone flinch.

"You will not speak as though your recklessness is excusable." His voice dropped lower. "You are a princess of Aldervane. Your life is not yours to gamble. You are to marry for the good of this kingdom. Every breath you take is borrowed, every step you make on the shoulders of a thousand before you. You were not born for freedom, I won't have my blood disgraced by reckless foolishness," the king snapped. "If you refuse to guard yourself, then I'll see to it myself."

The words struck deeper than any blade.

Aurelia's chest ached.

But she wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in front of them.

Instead, she spoke softly. "I only wanted one night."

A bitter laugh from the throne. "And nearly cost yourself your life. That ends now."

He raised a hand. "Bring him in" he said to his guards.

The great doors opened.

A knight stepped inside, clad in dark armor trimmed with crimson. His face was hidden behind a silver wolf-shaped helm. A crimson cape brushed the floor behind him.

Aurelia's stomach dropped. Even without seeing his face, she knew.

Those eyes.

She forced herself not to react as the knight approached, kneeling before the throne.

"This is Sir Caelum," the king announced. "He is your new personal guard. He does not leave your side. Day or night. You will go nowhere without him at your back."

Aurelia's hands clenched at her sides. A gilded cage was still a cage.

"Father—"

"It is not up for debate," the king cut her off. "You will obey, or I will see you confined to your chambers until your wedding day."

Father," she managed, her voice trembling with fury, "I don't need a shadow."

It is not a request."

Her breath caught. Helpless rage twisted inside her, hot and bitter.

"I will not be followed like some wayward child."

"If you defy this, you will be locked away," the king snapped. "You think me cruel now, girl? Try me."

The silence that followed felt suffocating.

Aurelia's skin prickled with the weight of every eye in the room. She could feel the silent judgment of the court, the faint, pitying stares of servants who would never dare speak a word of it.

And still, those silver eyes watched her from behind the helm, steady and unblinking.

She hated them.

She hated him.

Because for the first time, someone else had seen her break the rules. Seen her reckless, desperate grab for freedom.

And now, he would be the one to chain her down.

Her throat burned, but she forced the words out, low and cold. Aurelia's lips trembled, rage and helplessness boiling beneath her skin. She wanted to scream. To run. To fight.

But she bowed.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

The knight rose, his gaze briefly flickering toward her. A glint of something unreadable beneath the helm.

Aurelia forced herself to meet it, her voice low. "I don't need a shadow."

He said nothing.

She turned sharply on her heel and stalked out of the throne room.

And though she didn't see it, Lucien's gaze followed her until the doors closed behind her.

Chains of gold still bound the bird.

But the bird's heart still beat.

And it would find a way out.