Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
As soon as I stepped out of my chambers, heart racing from Bertha’s pep talk, I was met with a vision of grace and beauty that immediately made me feel like a fish out of water. I recognized her from the photo cards Bertha showed me. Lady Vivienne stood waiting for me in the hallway, her chestnut hair sinking in soft, perfect curls down her back, catching the light of the midday sun streaming in through the palace windows. Her gown—a deep emerald green—hugged her curvaceous figure, every inch of it designed to emphasize her stunning beauty.
And the moment she saw me, her lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her sparkling, mischievous hazel eyes.
“Ah, you must be the newest addition,” Vivienne mewed, her voice laced with honeyed sarcasm. She didn’t bow or offer any sort of curtsy. Instead, she looked me over with slow, deliberate scrutiny, her eyes remaining a little too long on the blue gown Bertha had picked out for me.
I forced myself to stand tall, even though her gaze made me feel like I was underdressed for my own execution. “Lady Vivienne, I presume?”
She let out a soft, almost musical laugh, waving a hand dismissively. “Oh, please, darling. No need for such formality. Just Vivienne will do.” Her gaze skimmed over me again, this time with a touch more disdain. “Or perhaps you can call me second wife, since that’s what we’ll be reminding everyone of, won’t we?”
I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “I prefer Vivienne, but thank you.”
Vivienne’s smile widened, and I could see a glint of cruelty behind it. She stepped closer, her presence overpowering as she looked me over once more, and then, with a simple flick of her wrist, I felt the hem of my gown lift slightly off the floor. I glanced down, surprised, as the fabric hovered just above my ankles, swaying in midair.
Aetherweaving . Telekinesis.
“Let’s see…” Vivienne drawled, circling me with deliberate, graceful steps. “Hmm, yes, yes… nothing impressive.” The gown fluttered slightly, as if she was inspecting it from all angles, her power moving it like a puppet on strings. “The color, darling. Blue? Oh dear, you’ll learn quickly that our dear King Ciaran hates blue. Doesn’t suit his mood. You’ll want to burn this one after tonight.”
The gown dropped back down around my feet with a soft swish, but the sting of her words remained. I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes.
I bit back a retort, reminding myself that I couldn’t afford to make enemies this early on, but Vivienne clearly had other plans. She moved even closer, her every movement deliberate, like a cat circling prey. “Tell me, Princess.” She practically purred the words. “Do you think you’ll last long here? I’m not sure how they do things in Icespire, but Emberfall requires more than… whatever it is you’ve brought.”
I straightened, refusing to let her rattle me. “I think I’ll manage.”
“Oh?” Vivienne’s eyes gleamed with amusement, clearly enjoying this far too much. “You think so? Well, I do hope you’ve come prepared to entertain. The king… tires easily. He has a certain taste for excitement, and you”—she looked me up and down again, her smile sharpening—“well, you seem like the quiet type.”
“Maybe he’ll enjoy something different,” I shot back, though I wasn’t sure where the words were coming from. Vivienne was one of those people who made you want to either slap her or walk away. I wasn’t sure which option was smarter at this point.
Vivienne’s laugh was light, but I could feel the claws underneath. “Different?” She tilted her head, pretending to consider it. “Perhaps. Or perhaps he’ll find you… dull.” She cocked her head to the side. “You’re pretty enough, I suppose, but beauty is only part of it. I was a courtesan before I became Ciaran’s second wife. I know how to keep him entertained.” She leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. “Do you?”
I clenched my jaw. “I’ll figure it out.”
Vivienne pulled back, her smile almost pitying. “Oh, sweetling, figuring it out is too slow. The king likes women who already know what they’re doing.”
Her words hung in the air, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral. “I’m not worried.”
“Of course not,” she said. “But you will be.”
The tension between us was palpable as she turned on her heel, her gown flowing behind her as if carried by an invisible wind. With a graceful flick of her hand, the doors to the hall opened ahead of us, her power effortlessly commanding the space around her. She began to walk, and after a beat, I followed, trying to maintain what was left of my composure.
“I do wonder, though,” Vivienne said after a few moments of silence, her voice once again laced with faux concern, “if you’ll even make it through the first night. You’ve got that doe-eyed, innocent look about you. The wives will tear you apart before the week’s over. Especially Lyra. She has a taste for… fresh competition.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I muttered dryly, feeling the sting of her words but refusing to let her see it.
Vivienne chuckled softly, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. “You’re welcome. Consider it a bit of sisterly advice. From one wife to another.”
We rounded a corner, and the atmosphere of the palace seemed to shift as we approached a new section—this one quieter, more solemn.
Vivienne paused at the entrance, turning to face me once more. Her smile was still there, but it was colder now, more calculated. “You’ll meet the king soon,” she said. “Do try not to embarrass yourself.”
Before I could respond, she flicked her wrist, and my gown lifted slightly again—just a little, but enough to remind me that her power could bend the world around her with ease. Then she let it fall, giving me one last, knowing look before she turned and disappeared down the hall, her footsteps echoing softly in the distance.
I stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself. Lady Selene and the king were waiting. And Vivienne’s words still echoed in my mind.
I wouldn’t let them tear me apart.
I pushed open the heavy temple doors and stepped inside, ready to meet the King of Emberfall.
The Sunspire Temple was bathed in light. The walls were carved from the same sun-soaked white marble as the rest of the palace, but here, every surface seemed to gleam as though it had been kissed by the sun itself. Intricate golden filigree lined the pillars, depicting scenes of war and victory, the sun god, Solen, standing tall in every image, his radiant crown casting light over all who knelt before him.
A grand circular skylight sat in the center of the ceiling, perfectly positioned so that the sun’s rays filtered down, illuminating the temple like a heavenly beacon. It felt suffocating, as though the light were watching me, judging me. There was no room for shadows here. The air was still, heavy with the scent of incense and freshly burned offerings to the gods, and a faint murmur of prayers echoed from the far corners of the room.
It was a space designed for reverence, for submission to a higher power. Yet as I stepped into the temple, I felt nothing but the weight of scrutiny.
At the far end of the room, standing before the altar with his back to me was a towering man. I knew instantly that it was King Ciaran. His silhouette was unmistakable—broad-shouldered, muscular, and radiating authority. The sunlight from the skylight haloed around him, catching in the golden highlights of his brown hair, creating the illusion that he was the embodiment of the very sun god this temple honored.
But as he turned, his amber eyes settling on me with a cold, assessing gaze, I felt no warmth from him. Only wariness.
I could feel the distrust rolling off him in waves. He didn’t move as I approached, didn’t offer a word of greeting. He simply watched me, the weight of his scrutiny making the air between us feel impossibly heavy. This wasn’t a king eager to meet his new bride—this was a man evaluating a threat.
“Princess Aeliana of Icespire,” King Ciaran intoned, his voice low and measured, each word carefully chosen. Yet, for all its precision, there was no warmth, no genuine welcome. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person, though the circumstances are far from ideal. It seems we have much to discuss.”
I dipped my head in acknowledgment, though it took every ounce of restraint not to let my true feelings show. The way he spoke, as if I were nothing more than a diplomatic issue to be managed, set my nerves on fire. “Your Majesty,” I replied, my voice calm and carefully modulated, though a trace of my irritation slipped through despite my best efforts.
He took a step closer, the golden light casting his features in relief, but there was no softness in his gaze. “You must understand,” he began, as if addressing a child rather than a fellow ruler, “this alliance between Icespire and Emberfall is… delicate.”
“I am fully aware,” I said, my tone tightening as I met his gaze without flinching. “I’ve lived through the consequences of that fragility.”
“Icespire is not known for its… stability,” he remarked. He didn’t trust me—didn’t trust Icespire.
My frustration spiked, but I forced myself to remain composed. I had faced worse than this and survived. “I am here to honor this alliance. I am not your enemy.”
He arched an eyebrow, his amber eyes narrowing as if to scrutinize the sincerity of my words. “Perhaps not,” he conceded, though there was no softening in his tone. “But Emberfall has many enemies, and trust is not something we dispense freely.”
The silence that followed was heavy, the tension between us palpable as his words hung in the air like an unspoken challenge.
“I’m just a princess. Someone thrust into a marriage for the sake of peace,” I said, letting a hint of my own bitterness seep through.
Ciaran’s gaze sharpened, and I sensed a shift in him, a subtle change as if I had piqued his interest. “You’re braver than I anticipated,” he said, his tone now more contemplative, almost intrigued. “Few would dare to speak so boldly to me.”
I held his gaze, unyielding. “Perhaps they don’t expect to survive it.” With those words, he studied me for a long moment, the coldness in his eyes unrelenting. I wasn’t sure what to make of him.
The moment Lady Selene swept into the Sunspire Temple, the air became heavy, almost suffocating. She moved with an unsettling grace, her golden robes shimmering as if she were the sun itself, and her amber eyes—piercing and severe—settled on me with a weight that made my heart race. Her golden hair was tied back in a severe braid, her tall, statuesque frame making her seem almost inhuman. She wasn’t just a wife. She was untouchable.
I stood frozen, trying to keep my posture straight, but there was a gnawing feeling inside me—a creeping fear I couldn’t quite shake.
Ciaran remained still, his amber eyes flicking between me and Lady Selene. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.
“Your Majesty,” Selene greeted, bowing to the king with such exaggerated reverence that it almost felt rehearsed, like she was performing for the gods themselves. “Princess Aeliana.”
I cleared my throat. “Hello.”
Selene’s gaze remained on me for a long, uncomfortable moment before she spoke again, her voice smooth and rich, like honey laced with poison. “The marriage between you and King Ciaran is not just a union of convenience, Princess Aeliana. It is sacred, divinely guided by the gods. The timing must be perfect, for the blessings of Solen are not bestowed carelessly.”
Her words echoed in the vastness of the temple, making me feel smaller than ever. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to escape her presence, but I couldn’t. I had to stand here and endure whatever ritual she had in store.
“I have been given the gift of luminara ,” she announced, raising her chin ever so slightly. “The ability to see the future, to glimpse the threads of fate before they weave into the fabric of our lives. It is through this divine sight that I will determine the most auspicious date for your marriage.”
See the future? My blood ran cold.
I glanced at Ciaran, searching his face for some reaction, but he remained impassive, watching Selene with the same guarded expression he’d had since I arrived. If her power could reveal the future, could she also see the truth? Could she somehow sense that I wasn’t really Princess Aeliana—that I wasn’t the heir to Icespire, but a handmaiden thrust into this role to secure the alliance?
My heart hammered in my chest, a brutal panic rising within me as Selene stepped closer, her eyes glowing with a strange severity. “Now, allow me to touch your soul, Princess. Through the light of Solen, I will uncover the path that awaits you.”
I took an involuntary step back, fear spiking through me like ice. “Touch my soul?”
Selene’s lips curved into a thin smile, her eyes narrowing slightly as though she enjoyed my discomfort. “Do not be afraid, child,” she said, her voice lowering to a reverent whisper. “The gods only seek to guide you. To show you the future that is destined to unfold.”
I didn’t trust her. How could I, when every word felt like a threat wrapped in scripture?
Before I could say anything else, her hand shot out, and her fingers pressed firmly against my forehead. My skin burned where she touched me, her fingers searing hot, like sunlight cutting through the fog. Suddenly, the world around me blurred and faded into blinding white.
I was no longer in the temple.
Instead, I stood on a balcony bathed in golden light. Flowers bloomed everywhere, their vibrant petals opening under the sun’s embrace. Beside me stood King Ciaran—his brown hair streaked with gold from the sunlight, his amber eyes blazing. His strong hands gripped my waist, pulling me close, and before I could react, his lips crashed against mine.
The kiss was fierce—his touch burning with a passion that made my entire body tremble. His hands moved to cup my face, holding me there as though he would never let go. The world seemed to spin around us, the golden light growing brighter, hotter.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest, the sensations overpowering, until I could no longer breathe.
And just as quickly as it came, the vision vanished.
I gasped, jerking back, the temple rushing back into focus as if the ground had been ripped out from under me. Lady Selene pulled her hand away, her eyes wide, her lips parting in a soft sigh as she stumbled backward, as though she had been the one thrown off balance.
“What… was that?”
Selene didn’t answer right away. She straightened, her hands shaking slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, her expression hardening into something more resolute. “The future…” she whispered. “It is… complicated.”
Ciaran, who had been watching silently, stepped forward, his amber eyes narrowing. “What did you see, Selene?”
Selene’s gaze snapped to him, her jaw clenched as though she didn’t want to share. “The gods have revealed to me that the marriage cannot take place for… years. Perhaps… four years.”
My heart sank. Four years? Every day we delayed the marriage was a day we risked losing the alliance. The Dragon King was already too bold, and without this alliance, Icespire would crumble.
Ciaran’s face darkened. “You said the wedding would take place this season. Why the delay?”
“The threads of fate are delicate, Your Majesty. To rush the marriage would invite ruin upon the kingdom. The signs are unclear. The gods have spoken—they will not bless this union for another four years. Anything sooner, and the consequences will be dire.”
“No,” I said, unable to keep the frustration from my voice. My hands trembled slightly, the aftershocks of the vision still rattling through me. “We don’t have four years. The Dragon King is attacking now. Every day we delay is another day we risk losing everything.”
Selene’s amber eyes narrowed. “You cannot rush the will of the gods, Princess Aeliana. This marriage is about more than mere political convenience. It is divine. Without the proper timing, without the favor of Solen, the union will be barren. Your marriage will be cursed.”
I gritted my teeth, the fear of being exposed momentarily replaced by my rising anger. “I’m not asking for blessings or promises of a happy marriage,” I said. “I’m asking for an alliance. I’m not interested in waiting for the stars to align or for the perfect moment. The kingdom of Icespire cannot wait.” What if the queen killed more innocents to grow her boundary while we waited?
Selene’s eyes burned with righteous fury. “You would defy the gods? You would risk the very future of this kingdom for the sake of a rushed union? If the gods have shown me this, then it must be obeyed. To do otherwise would doom us all.”
I locked eyes with Ciaran. “Every day our alliance isn’t solidified is another day the Dragon King gains ground. I respect your beliefs, Lady Selene, but this isn’t about divine favor. It’s about survival. I don’t need a promise of happiness or a perfect wedding day. I need a promise from the king—and in return, I will fulfill my part of the bargain.”
After what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. “The alliance must move forward,” he said.
Selene’s face paled, her hands trembling as she clutched at her robes. “You will regret this,” she whispered. “You cannot defy the gods without consequences.”
Ciaran’s amber eyes locked onto mine. He was silent for a long moment, his gaze shifting from me to the priestess, who stood rigid.. Then, as if making a final decision, he nodded once, his next words cutting through the stillness of the temple.
“One week,” he said, his tone firm. “The wedding will be in one week.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face neutral, but the weight of his words hit me like a stone. There was no more time to think, no more time to strategize. The marriage, the alliance, everything—it was happening now. Whether I was ready or not.
Lady Selene’s face paled, her amber eyes wide with barely contained fury. “Your Majesty, this is?—”
“That will be all, Lady Selene,” Ciaran interrupted. His gaze remained fixed on me.
Selene hesitated, her mouth opening as if to protest, but no words came. She closed her eyes briefly, muttering something under her breath, before bowing stiffly and retreating from the temple. The tension seemed to follow her out, but it left a different kind of heaviness in the air.
The moment she stepped out of the temple, the air felt cooler. Before I could say anything, Ciaran stopped walking and turned to face me. His eyes glinted with something bitter, and I could feel the tension in the air shift. “I want to ask you some questions, Princess Aeliana,” he said. “About your time with the Dragon King.”
I stiffened at the mention of the Dragon King, my heart skipping a beat. He wasn’t just curious—he was suspicious. I knew this interrogation was coming. It had been looming over me since the moment I stepped foot in Emberfall.
I nodded. “Go ahead.”
He began walking again, and I followed, our footsteps echoing through the long stone hallway.
“The ship was taken over,” he started, his tone cool, calculating.
I squeezed my fists at my sides, the memory of the attack still fresh in my mind. “It was.”
Ciaran’s eyes flickered with distrust. “And yet, you survived. That’s what I find… interesting.”
I could feel my irritation bubbling up, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Are you suggesting I had something to do with it?”
“Not directly,” he said. “But it’s rare for someone to survive a direct encounter with the Dragon King.”
My jaw clenched. He wasn’t going to make this easy. “I didn’t have much of a choice, Your Majesty. The Dragon King’s forces boarded the ship, killed most of the crew, and took control. I did everything I could to survive. Isn’t that what you’d expect?”
Ciaran glanced at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And then I bombed the ship.”
His words hung in the air, and my stomach twisted at the memory of it—the deafening roar of the explosions, the violent rocking of the ship as it was torn apart. “Yes,” I said slowly. “You did.”
Ciaran’s gaze stayed locked on mine, cold and calculating. “I was trying to kill him. The Dragon King.”
I stopped walking, forcing him to face me fully. “And you almost killed me in the process.” My voice was sharp, my frustration finally bubbling over. “Your attack destroyed the ship, and I barely made it out alive.”
Ciaran’s face remained impassive. “Sometimes there are casualties in war,” he said, his tone measured, as if he were explaining the weather.
“Casualties?” I echoed, disbelief coursing through me.
For a moment, the coldness in his gaze deepened. “The Dragon King is a threat to both our kingdoms. I did what had to be done. If you had died in the process, it would have been regrettable. But necessary.”
The audacity of his words sent a shock of anger through me. I stepped closer to him. “Necessary? There is no one in this world who wants to see the Dragon King dead more than I do, but I won’t sacrifice innocents for my cause.”
His eyes flashed, a mixture of surprise and irritation crossing his face at my boldness. I knew I was testing his patience, but I didn’t care. He needed to understand that I wasn’t going to bow down to him or anyone else. Not after everything I’d been through.
For a long moment, he didn’t speak. His gaze held mine, the intensity between us almost unbearable. “You’re a survivor, I’ll give you that,” he said, his tone softer now, but still wary. “But I need to know exactly what happened during your time with the Dragon King. How you survived. What you saw.”
“I’m tired,” I said, my voice flat. “If you want to continue interrogating me, we can do it in a week. On our wedding night.”
He obviously didn’t like being dismissed, but I didn’t care. I was done playing this game of his.
I took a step closer to him, my voice cold but firm. “Let me make one thing clear. In one week, I will make a vow to you in front of your gods. But don’t expect me to be like your other wives. I’m not here to play the part of the devoted, obedient concubine. We are making a political alliance, nothing more.”
Ciaran’s jaw tightened, his eyes burning into mine. “And what exactly are you saying, Princess?”
I met his gaze, refusing to back down. “I’m saying that the wedding is a formality. I will fulfill my part of the bargain, and I expect you to do the same. But do not expect anything more from me. I am not here to warm your bed or play the part of the doting wife. I am here to secure an alliance to defeat the Dragon King. That’s it.”
He stepped closer, his voice low, intense. “You think you can just dictate the terms of this alliance?”
I held his gaze, unflinching. “I’m not dictating anything. I’m simply telling you what I’m willing to offer. I’ll make a vow. But it will be a vow of protection, not affection.”
His eyes flashed, sharp and calculating, and for a moment, I braced for an argument, for the cold bite of his words. But instead, his expression shifted—a slow, glacial smile curling at the edges of his mouth, colder than any frost I had ever known.
“I see,” he murmured, his voice dangerously smooth, like velvet stretched over a blade. “Then I look forward to learning what you know of the Dragon King, Princess . On our wedding night.”
The words dripped with meaning, heavy and unspoken, curling around me like smoke. I swallowed hard, the sound loud in the suffocating silence as his gaze lingered just a moment longer—piercing, unrelenting—before he turned. His footsteps echoed off the stone as he walked away, his presence retreating but never really leaving. The cold distance returned to his shoulders, as if the moment had never happened, as if he hadn’t just shattered the air around me.
I stood frozen in the hallway, my heart pounding like war drums, the weight of what was coming pressing down on me, bone-deep and unshakable. The alliance loomed on the horizon, dark and unstoppable.
But so did something far more dangerous.
Him .