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Ashely tried to remove my necklace, saying something about how the gold clashed with the silver in my crown and earrings, but I insisted I wore it. She settled with tucking it between my breasts so it was mostly hidden from sight.
And my gown—it was the most opulent thing I’d ever seen. The material hugged my chest, exposing the top half of my breasts before it flowed and cascaded past my waist to the floor. Diamonds were sewn into every inch of the dress, making it sparkle as it swayed and moved with me. The sweeping neckline hung off my shoulders, exposing my collar bone and more cleavage than they usually dressed me in, but somehow was still elegant. The sleeves were sheer, exposing my skin that ended just before my wrists, displaying my two zeroes. The only thing that looked off was the white scar across my neck, a thin line that contrasted against my olive skin.
I nodded thanks to Ashley as she helped me into a pair of flats. She was aware of my leg—my limp was impossible to ignore—but it was written off as me being clumsy and everyone in the castle thought I fell. I didn’t know if I should be bothered that everyone believed the lie so easily.
Annabel came up behind me in the mirror after a few moments. “It’s time.”
Ashley held out her hand, and I took it as I walked between the two of them toward my fate. The halls were eerily quiet as Abherham trailed behind us. Everyone else was already gathered in the throne room where our wedding would be held.
I didn’t know if I was more nervous about marrying Sie or the fact that the royals of Lux would be present for the ceremony. It was tradition for the Kingdoms to come together for special events. I’d never met anyone from Lux before, besides the healer Sie had, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they would recognize me. Would they be able to tell just from looking at me that I was one of them?
We stopped behind two white marble doors—the largest set I’d encountered since I’d arrived. As the doors opened on a phantom wind, my jaw slackened as I gaped and took in the ornate details. It was by far the most elaborate and extravagant room in the castle.
I forgot about the massive, looming crowd all gawking at me. I forgot that today I was supposed to marry the Prince of Tennebris. I forgot that Kole had tried to kill me. I forgot that I was in the Dark Kingdom when I should have grown up in Lux. All I could think about was this room before me. Room—if you could even call it that. It was a castle within itself.
The Tennebrisian Kingdom wasn’t a court that liked to show off their wealth at every turn. That much could be told by the fireplaces and torches throughout the grounds and the ancient-looking interior, but this room was different. This room was made for Kings and Queens.
Everything inside the throne room was light, which contrasted the rest of the dimly lit, dark castle. Looming chandeliers dangled from the tall ceiling, and the stained glass windows that the Kingdom seemed to favor, aligned the golden walls, casting hues of blue throughout the creamy room. The floors were clear marble with specks of gold that met and blended seamlessly into the walls, tying the room together.
Everything was golden, everything but me. I was dressed in silver and diamonds, such at odds with the gilded room and what the Dark Kingdom stood for. Gold represented their power, and the only ounce of the material I bore on me was my necklace, hidden beneath my breasts.
A raised dais was positioned on the opposite side of the room. Golden swirls, much like the designs of the Tennebrisian markings, were embedded into the platform. A dais that Sie was now standing on. Goddess above. I blinked. Once. Twice. He looked divine.
The sunlight seemed to point directly at me as his eyes narrowed and focused solely on my face. It was as if he could see right through the gown, the makeup, and the jewels, and looked into my bare soul. I felt exposed and naked as my body clinked with each diamond-filled movement.
I tore my gaze away from his lingering stare, and that was when I noticed everyone else. The room was packed with Advenians from both Tennebris and Lux, all turning to stare at me. I swallowed as a soft melody began to play, and I took that as my cue to begin walking down the long aisle. I was thankful for the shoes Ashley gave me as I tried my best to mask my limp. If whoever hired Kole to kill me was here, I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing my injury. I also didn’t want to make it seem like I was an easy target.
King Lunder and Synder were seated in seats on top of the dais with Sie, but it was a male from the first row that caught my eye. He was beautiful in a different way than anyone else here. He appeared older, but not in his looks as he didn’t have a single wrinkle etched on his tanned skin, but more in how he presented himself, how his presence demanded attention.
It wasn’t the crown atop his head that gave him away, but his eyes. They were blue, so clear and light I thought I was looking at glass. Hints of silver lined the inner and outer rim. They were eyes that weren’t a normal color. Eyes that were Luxian. His hair was bright silver, and was tucked into a thick, black crown. It looked so heavy I couldn’t comprehend how he kept his head held high.
The Lux King.
Or at least some royal of Lux. I swallowed as I passed him, fully aware that his silver eyes lingered on me.
I turned my gaze to Sie. I was inches from the dais now. He was wearing a tailored suit, black as usual, with a feathered cape falling off his shoulders. It was held together by two gold interlocking circles that matched the crown resting atop his black waves.
He outstretched a hand for me as I ascended the raised platform to join him. His fingers were rough against my skin. I thought he would drop the hold once I stood next to him, but he kept my hand in his as the priest began his speech.
The ceremony was a blur. The priest, clad in purple robes etched in gold and black, rambled on about our union in marriage to the point where my thigh was throbbing from standing on it too long. His gaze was kept out to the crowd watching us, scanning them as if that would help them soak up his words better.
The priest finally looked toward where Sie and I stood as he said, “Do you, Princess Scotlind Mae Rumor, take Prince Sie Axel Noren to be your husband from this day forward until it shall be your last?”
I shifted slightly on my good leg to face Sie as I whispered, “I do.” Sie met my gaze, his expression unreadable.
Then the priest turned toward Sie. “Do you, Prince Sie Axel Noren, future ruler of Tennebris, take Princess Scotlind Mae Rumor to be your wife from this day forward until it shall be your last?”
Sie didn’t hesitate as he answered, “I do.” His voice echoed across the throne room. He sounded sturdy and sure of himself, where my voice had been weak and soft.
The priest grinned as he continued the ceremony. “Then let it be known that today is the day we bring these two together in a binding marriage. Pylemo has spoken to me and instructed that they shall become one. Rule as one. Act as one. Let their blood become one from this day forward until forever. Let their blood bond unite our Kingdom of Tennebris, leading us to a peaceful and prosperous rule. Let them rule as true as the bond they are about to make.”
I didn’t notice King Lunder stepping forward with a white and gold dagger until he was right before us. For a brief moment, Sie’s unreadable masked expression faltered. It was so fast I would have missed it if I hadn’t been staring at him.
I’d never watched a royal wedding before, and I didn’t know what to expect, but whatever was about to happen, Sie seemed surprised by it.
A blood bond. I’d read about it once. The words sounded familiar, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. What was it, and why were they forcing us to make one now? A pang of grief contorted in my gut as I instantly thought of Vallie, of how she would know what the blood bond was. I pictured her spitting out every minuscule detail regarding it due to her ability.
Sie took the dagger from King Lunder and made a clean cut on the palm of his hand. His gaze never left mine as the tip of the blade dragged across his flesh.
