Chapter Three

Selene could still feel the echo of Kaelen's breath against her skin as she stepped back into the corridor, heart thudding like a war drum. Her lips tingled—not from the kiss itself, but from the sheer madness of what she'd almost let happen.

"A vampire... I almost kissed a vampire," she whispered, as if saying it aloud would somehow make it more real. The words tasted foreign on her tongue; her heart still hadn't calmed, it felt like it was going to explode.

The hall was emptier now. Courtiers had dispersed into smaller chambers, their chatter filling the great house like the hum of restless bees. But none of it touched her. She walked with purpose, yet her steps felt hollow. Inside, everything felt… shifted. Like a foundation she hadn't realized she stood on had cracked.

"Selene!" a voice called. It was her father's advisor, Lord Gareth, approaching from the side hall with hurried steps.

"You're needed in the council chamber."

"Of course I am," she muttered under her breath.

She followed him silently, her mind a whirlwind of guilt, fury, and a strange, creeping ache she couldn't name. When she entered the council room, she found her father flanked by noblemen. Scrolls of lineage and law lay strewn across the long obsidian table. She recognized all of the faces present—all old men who had spent their lives making important decisions for the clan.

She had always loved sitting quietly in their meetings; as a little girl, she'd marvel at their wisdom as they deliberated on delicate matters. Now she was the delicate matter on the table and they had made their decision.

"The Binding will take place in six days," her father declared without sparing her a glance. "You'll depart for the Dravara stronghold tomorrow morning. Everything is set."

Selene blinked thrice at once. She already knew but it still caught her off guard.

She swallowed a huge lump "So I really don't have a say in my own life after all" she said, trying to play the sad daughter card.

Her father's jaw clenched. "This isn't about you. This is about our people. Our future."

"I AM our future!" she snapped. The words came out sharper than she intended but she didn't care.

"Shouldn't I at least be treated like I matter? Like I'm doing something important? Everyone is either looking at me with pity or lecturing me on why I should go, where's the 'we really appreciate you for what you're doing Selene', or the 'you don't have to do this Selene'?" " Why's everyone acting like I was always meant to do this? When did the vampire hunters become such cowards that we now run from a fight?"

She hadn't meant to break, but she'd completely lost control of her emotions. Herr voice cracked with her next words.

"Tell me I can stay, Dad. Tell me I'm not being sold off! Tell me!"

A heavy silence fell across the chamber. Some of the noblemen looked away. Others shifted uncomfortably.

Her father met her eyes for a moment. "Selene... go pack your things and prepare for tomorrow." he said with cold finality and turned his back.

That pain she felt in that moment was more than any pain she'd felt all her life, the coldness in his voice spread across her heart. Her throat closed around a sob as she stumbled out of the chamber.

Kaelen wasn't mentioned—not once. Yet he lingered in every shadowed corner of the conversation. Like smoke. Like a question she wasn't allowed to ask.

She wandered the corridors until her feet carried her back to her chambers. The fire was low. Her armor lay discarded on the floor. She sat before the mirror, staring at her reflection.

The girl in the glass looked different.

Not softer. Not sadder.

Just... lost.

She touched her lips. "What are you becoming?"

"knock"..."knock knock" three soft knocks rang across the room.

She didn't look up. "Come in." she said flatly

Ronan entered the room with a worried expression, closing the door behind him with more force than necessary.

"You missed weapons training...again."

Selene didn't move. "So tell my father. He'll be thrilled."

"What the hell is going on with you?" he demanded. "First, you're wandering off during a royal ceremony, now you're locked in here sulking like some tragic noble lady. This isn't you."

She stood slowly, the chair scraping back. "You think you know me that well?"

"I do know you," he said, stepping closer. "You're fierce. You're not the girl who comes undone over a dress and a title."

"You think this is about a title? Ronan, they are shipping me off to marry a vampire. And not just any vampire, the prince of a clan we've fought for generations. And everyone expects me to smile through it."

"So fight it!" he snapped. "Tell them no. You're Selene Vireya. You don't bend to politics."

"Oh really? You think that? Then why haven't you fought for me?"

The silence hit like a slap.

His eyes darkened. "You know I would if I could."

"Then why didn't you?"

He reached for her but she backed away.

"You always said I was yours," she whispered. "But when they chained me to him, you stayed silent. You let them."

His voice was low, hoarse. "Because I knew they'd never let us be. Because your father threatened to strip me of my title if I even tried to interfere. Because if I fought, you would suffer."

She stared at him, helplessness hit her hard...a feeling she'd become all too familiar with since she was told about the binding.

"I hate that you're right," she whispered, tears began to form at the corners of her eyes.

He stepped forward again. This time, she let him.

He touched her face and gently cleaned her tears "I don't care what they say. I don't care who he is. You're still mine." He looked softly into her eyes and leaned in slowly, she shut her eyes as their lips met.

His kiss was soft, he sucked gently on one lip after another with beautiful rhythm. But something was wrong. Kaelen kept popping into her head... the excitement and weakness her body felt, his woody scent, they were all she could think about. She tried to return Ronan's energy but she felt...nothing

She pulled back slowly, "I should get packing" she said

"Ok" Ronan said, disappointed. He thought she'd finally let him take her fully, "I'll see you before you leave tomorrow" he said and made to walk out.

"Ronan" she called as he reached the door

"Can you do me a favour?" she asked.

"Sure, what is it?" he asked without looking back

"Ask my father if Mara can come with me. Please."

"I'll try" he said shortly and left