Death Bound (The Soulsworn Chronicles #1)

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

The grand ballroom of Icespire Castle glittered like a frozen dream, every surface shimmering with frost and starlight. Chandeliers made of spun ice dangled from the vaulted ceiling, casting a pale, silvery light over the gathered nobles. The air buzzed with the quiet hum of conversation, the clinking of crystal goblets, and the soft strains of music that seemed to float like snowflakes in the air.

I stood at the edge of the ballroom, watching as lords and ladies in their finest attire moved about like pawns in a game I didn’t fully understand. My engagement to King Ciaran of Emberfall was being toasted, celebrated as though it were a triumph rather than the noose I felt tightening around my neck. None of them had any idea what this meant—what I had been forced into. They saw only the glittering future the queen had promised them.

My gown was a masterpiece of silk, the pale blue fabric shimmering like frost in the candlelight. It fit me perfectly, a reminder that from this moment on, I was no longer myself. I was Aeliana, the third princess of Icespire, and soon, the seventh wife of Emberfall’s king.

Across the room, Queen Marisella held court, her black hair gleaming like polished obsidian. She hadn’t spoken to me since this morning, when she’d given me a final, curt command to behave myself at the ball. “You will be watched,” she had said, her voice dripping with warning. “Do not embarrass me.”

Her threat was more than clear.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces. Lucien was standing near the queen, already on his third glass of wine. His smile was sharp, as if he were hunting the guests for sport.

Evadne lingered near the far wall, her face pale and strained as she half-heartedly engaged in conversation with a group of noblewomen. I had tried to approach her earlier, but she had brushed me off with a stiff nod before retreating into the crowd.

Rhydian appeared at my side, his gray eyes scanning the crowd with his usual grim intensity. He was dressed in the black and silver of the queen’s guard, his sword strapped to his side, but there was something restless about him tonight, something that spoke of barely restrained anger. He hadn’t spoken much since our climb to the king’s chambers, but his presence had been a constant shadow.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

I glanced up at him, forcing a bitter smile. “Do I look like I am?”

Rhydian’s jaw clenched and the music shifted. A darker, more haunting melody filled the ballroom, and the dancers began to part, creating a clear path toward the queen. I tensed, instinctively stepping closer to Rhydian as all eyes turned toward the grand staircase at the far end of the hall.

King Ciaran’s envoy had arrived.

They were dressed in the deep crimson and gold of Emberfall, their armor gleaming like molten fire in the cold light. At the head of the group was who I assumed to be Ambassador Thorne, a tall, imposing figure with hawk-like features and a gaze that seemed to pierce through the crowd.

Rhydian told me about Thorne. He was rude and calculating, but dispensable. Not someone I needed to get on my side. “Looks like your future has arrived,” Rhydian muttered, his voice tight with something that almost sounded like regret.

I didn’t answer. My heart was pounding in my chest as Ambassador Thorne approached the queen. He bowed deeply, his voice smooth and polished as he addressed her. “Your Majesty, on behalf of King Ciaran, I bring greetings from Emberfall. It is an honor to be here.”

The queen smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “The honor is ours,” she replied. “We look forward to strengthening our alliance.”

Ambassador Thorne straightened, his gaze sweeping over the room before landing on me. His eyes lingered for a moment, assessing, calculating, before he nodded slightly. “And this must be Princess Aeliana. We have heard much about you.”

I swallowed hard, his gaze making my skin crawl, but I forced myself to meet it head-on. “I hope I live up to your expectations,” I said.

Thorne’s smile was thin. “I have no doubt you will.”

“Princess Aeliana,” Lucien’s voice cut through the crowd as he sauntered over, his goblet still in hand. “I do hope you’re enjoying your last evening in Icespire. I imagine life in Emberfall will be quite… different.”

There was something mocking in his tone. He was drunk, but not so much that he didn’t know exactly what he was doing. Lucien’s eyes flicked between me and Thorne, his lips curling into a lazy smile. “Ambassador, I do hope the king is prepared for such a… spirited bride.”

“The King of Emberfall is well-accustomed to strong women, Prince Lucien. Though, he appreciates those who know their place.”

I forced a smile, feeling every gaze in the room pressing down on me. “I will do my duty.”

“Of course you will,” Lucien drawled, his smile widening. “You’ve always been such a good girl, haven’t you, sister?”

Rhydian stepped forward, his presence a wall between me and Lucien, but before he could speak, the queen’s voice slashed through the tension like a blade.

“Enough, Lucien.”

Lucien raised his goblet in mock surrender, but the smile never left his face. “As you wish, Mother.”

The queen’s eyes flicked to me, her expression unreadable. “Remember, Aeliana, tonight is a celebration. You would do well to enjoy it.”

The words were a warning, clear as day.

Play your part, or else.

I moved near the edge of the ballroom, the swirl of music and conversation around me like a distant hum. My gaze flicked toward the grand staircase where Ambassador Thorne had made his chilling introduction, the burden of my upcoming fate pressing harder with each passing moment.

Rhydian’s dark silhouette loomed beside me, an unshakable shadow. I had grown accustomed to his presence—close but never too close, always watchful. But tonight, something felt different. Maybe it was the silence stretching between us, or the weight of what had happened. We hadn’t spoken about my meeting with the king, nor Evadne’s confession. There was nothing to say. He’d been right. It had all been for nothing.

“Well,” I said, my voice brittle in the quiet, “looks like you’ll finally be rid of me tomorrow.”

He didn’t react at first, his gaze methodically sweeping over the room, scanning the gathered nobles for threats only he seemed to see. For a moment, I thought he might ignore me altogether. But then he turned, slow and deliberate, his dark eyes meeting mine.

“Not quite,” he said.

I frowned, the knot in my stomach tightening. “Not quite?”

“I’ve been assigned to travel with you,” he said, his tone even, almost indifferent. “I’m to keep an eye on you. For the queen.” His gaze flicked back to the room, as if dismissing me, but his words hung heavily in the air between us.

My stomach twisted, the mix of frustration and dread settling in my chest like lead. “So… my very own spy,” I said, forcing a bitter edge into my tone.

His lips twitched, a faint, fleeting ghost of a smirk. “It’ll be easier to keep you alive if I’m in the same kingdom. Don’t trust me, and you’ll do just fine.”

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh, crossing my arms. “Trust you? I don’t trust anyone.”

“Good,” he said, his voice dropping lower, rougher. He stepped closer, his presence pressing into mine, the air between us charged with an uneasy tension. “That’s exactly what you should do.”

I held his gaze, refusing to back down even as my chest tightened. “So, every word I say, every step I take, you’ll report back to her. Is that it?”

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t deny it. “It’s my job,” he said simply, the words cold and without apology.

The honesty of it—the sheer, unapologetic loyalty—hit harder than I expected. For a brief moment, I’d thought he’d changed. That sneaking me out to see the king, going against the queen’s orders, had meant something. But now I saw it for what it was. A calculated move.

“Why?” The word escaped me, quieter than I intended. “What inspires such loyalty? Or is it just self-preservation?”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually answer. But then his eyes hardened, and he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. “You don’t need to know why I do what I do. Just stay alive long enough to finish your part. Then you can hate me all you like.”

The bitterness rose in my throat, sharp and unyielding. “Don’t worry,” I shot back. “I already do.”

He didn’t react, not outwardly. But something flickered in his expression—too brief to name. He stepped back, his gaze sweeping over the room once more, distant and detached.

“Get through tonight without causing trouble,” he muttered. “And we’ll deal with tomorrow when it comes.”

The words were dismissive, final, and I turned away before he could see the storm of anger and hurt in my expression. He was still loyal to her, still the queen’s man through and through. I’d been a fool to think otherwise.

Just as Rhydian disappeared into the crowd, Ambassador Thorne’s voice cut through the hum of the ballroom. “And where is the king tonight?” His words were polite, but there was an edge to them, something that set my nerves on edge.

Queen Marisella’s smile was ice-cold, her gaze flickering briefly to the gathered crowd before she answered. “The king is resting, Ambassador. It’s been a long day.”

Thorne didn’t seem satisfied. He took a step closer, the golden embroidery on his crimson robe catching the light. “Resting, you say?” His tone was calm, but beneath the surface, there was a subtle challenge. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, my king sent me to ensure that this union is not only celebrated but… legally binding. King Ciaran will want to hear confirmation from King Aldric himself. The last engagement was refused so suddenly with Princess Evadne. We want to ensure that this one comes to fruition.”

The room fell quiet, the tension crackling in the air like static. The queen’s smile faltered for only a heartbeat, but it was enough to reveal the truth lurking beneath her controlled exterior. She leaned toward a nearby guard and whispered something in his ear. The guard nodded and slipped from the room, his armor clinking as he disappeared into the shadows.

“Of course,” the queen purred, her tone light, though her eyes remained sharp as razors. “I’ll have him brought to you, Ambassador.”

Her gaze turned to me then. She motioned to the empty chair beside her, and I knew better than to hesitate. My legs felt like lead as I crossed the room, each step heavier with the growing weight of dread. The moment I sat beside her, the queen’s hand slipped beneath the table, her fingers grazing my arm ever so lightly.

The ballroom doors swung open, and two guards escorted the king into the room. His eyes were glazed over, unfocused, and he moved with the stiffness of a puppet on strings. The room fell into a hushed silence as the king was led to his throne. He didn’t seem to notice the crowd, nor the gravity of the moment. His hand twitched, a faint tremor running through him as he sat down.

Ambassador Thorne’s gaze flicked between the queen and the king, suspicion clear in his eyes. “Your Majesty,” he said smoothly, bowing slightly. “I trust you’re well enough to sign the agreement. King Ciaran wants reassurance that this union will be secured swiftly.”

King Aldric blinked slowly, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Agreement?” His voice was distant, as though he were trying to pull himself from a fog. He looked around, lost, his gaze briefly meeting mine, though there was no recognition in his eyes. “What… agreement?”

The queen leaned in, whispering in my ear. “Watch carefully, dear. This is how power works. It’s never about what you see. It’s about what you control.”

She lifted her hand slightly, her fingers barely twitching, and I saw it—the subtle shift in the king’s posture, the way his hands moved of their own accord. The queen was manipulating him, controlling his very bones as she guided his hand to the document laid out before him.

I stared in horror, my body frozen, my lungs screaming for air as the king, barely conscious of what he was doing, picked up the quill. He hesitated for only a brief second before signing his name with slow, deliberate strokes. The ink bled across the parchment, sealing the deal.

Ambassador Thorne’s smile returned. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing deeply once more.

King Aldric’s hand fell to his lap, his eyes drifting closed again as though the effort of signing the document had drained what little life was left in him.

The queen’s lips curved into a smile, cold and sharp as a blade. She leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper meant for me alone. “I just wanted to show you,” she murmured, her fingers brushing my throat with the faintest pressure, a cruel warning, “what I’m capable of. Don’t get any wild ideas about distance giving you safety. Being out of reach does not mean you’re out of danger.”

Her gaze flickered down to my trembling hands, and her smile widened, dripping with condescension. “You are nothing,” she said, her voice low but cutting, each word a dagger. “Nothing but a tool—a face, a body, a means to an end.”

The music of the ballroom swelled around us, the chatter and laughter of nobles blurring into white noise as her words pressed down on me like an iron chain, heavy and unrelenting.

She pulled back slightly, her icy gaze sweeping over me with disdain. “That’s why I’m sending Rhydian with you,” she said, her voice dropping lower, darker. “To watch. To ensure you stay in line. Consider him your shadow—a constant reminder that my reach extends far beyond these walls. Step out of line, and he will not hesitate to remind you who holds the leash.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of her. I locked my jaw, forcing myself to meet her gaze even as my throat tightened painfully.

The queen chuckled softly, her hand retreating, leaving behind a phantom chill where her touch had been. “Good,” she said, her tone almost amused. “I see you understand.”

The room swayed around me—lords and ladies spinning in their fine silks, chandeliers casting golden light across marble floors—but it all felt distant. Her words, her promise, were the only thing that felt real, binding me to a future I couldn’t escape.

As Thorne stepped back, his satisfaction barely concealed, I stared at the king—the man who was supposed to protect his kingdom, the man who was supposed to protect me. But there was no protection here. Only cold, unrelenting control.

The queen smiled then, a slow, victorious smile. “Now, we celebrate.”