Chapter 3 #2
Thalia glanced up at one of the gargoyles crouching above the entrance, its pointed teeth and forked tongue twisting into a grotesque smile. Thalia kept her back straight as they entered.
The space was lit with braziers flickering over the pews, and the church was empty save at the front where the queen, Kamith, and two of the Vampyrs stood waiting.
“Princess.” Kamith spotted her first, inclining his head.
Lord Damien swept his red eyes over Thalia. The other Vampyr, the one with golden eyes and dark skin, remained quiet as Lord Damien said, “Shall we begin the ceremony?”
A hesitant priest stepped forward, stammering, “Wh-where is the proxy?” He glanced at the three creatures in the church.
Right, because the prince wasn’t here. It wasn’t as though Thalia had expected the prince to show up, given the animosity between their realms and the fact that peace had barely been achieved.
He was probably content to sit in whatever dark castle he called home, draining the blood of innocent humans.
The thought did little to quell her nerves.
Lord Damien stepped forward, and Thalia’s stomach dropped. Oh gods, if she had to bind herself to him, out of all the Vampyrs—
“Cassius, the hand to the prince, shall stand in.” The Vampyr’s words echoed.
Cassius stepped into a shaft of moonlight. He glanced at Thalia, his face unreadable as he held out a hand.
Thalia had lied to herself. She would have taken Lord Damien over him. Because she would have to … to touch him.
They hadn’t touched in her room; only his knife in her hand had caressed his skin. The thought of doing this—of binding herself to him after everything he’d done to her, all the false promises and lies he’d fed her just so he could turn them against her—
“Thalia.” Her mother’s sharp voice broke through her racing thoughts. The queen gave her a look, and Thalia swallowed. Pushing aside her rage and revulsion, she placed her hand in Cassius’s.
Thalia couldn’t ignore the shiver that rocked her spine as his calluses scraped against hers. The weight of her fingers in his was as familiar as the calluses along her palms.
“We—we are gathered here to witness the joining of two peoples,” the priest began, his quiet, shaking voice filling the church. “This union shall be binding, by blood and earth. Two souls which shall never be parted.”
Kamith stepped forward, holding a bloody ribbon.
“What’s that for?” Thalia’s breath spiked. The ribbon was fresh with blood, some of it still dripping onto the ground. This wasn’t part of any marriage ceremony Thalia had ever witnessed.
“This is part of an ancient vow, one taken by our kind,” Lord Damien slithered out. “To be bound by blood and earth to signify a bond stronger than words.”
Kamith gestured for them to raise their joined hands. “It’s calf’s blood. Don’t fret.”
Thalia wanted to retort that she had plenty to fret about as the adviser bound them together, the blood cold and thick against her skin.
“You are bound by blood,” the priest stated.
Thalia stared up at Cassius, ignoring the ache that came on suddenly under her breastbone. They’d once talked about doing this. Speaking a different sort of vow to each other that would bind their souls.
His words had all been lies.
“You are bound by earth,” the priest continued, and the Vampyr with golden eyes stepped forward, tipping over a jar filled with dirt on their bloody hands.
Thalia bit her tongue until copper filled her mouth.
Cassius’s nostrils flared slightly, and she could have sworn he tensed as the priest concluded, “You are bound together, two souls entwined. May neither of you forsake the other.” The priest said a few more prayers entreating some forgotten god to watch their union before bowing his head. “It’s done.”
“Not quite,” Lord Damien said. “Our ceremony requires a bit more of a sacrifice.”
Thalia glanced at the Vampyr, unease filling her gut as Kamith asked carefully, “What do you mean?”
“Marriage by proxy is one of the flimsier laws you humans have. However, we of the night believe something is required to be more binding. Something which is given in order for this entwining of souls to be seen as legitimate.”
“Which is what?” Thalia asked sharply.
Lord Damien rested his gaze on her. “Blood.”
Quiet fell in the church, silence like that of a tomb.
“Blood?” Thalia asked slowly. “Aren’t we already bound by it?”
“Yes.” Lord Damien’s eyes glittered like a snake’s as he inclined his head. “But it also must be consumed.”
Thalia jerked but could go nowhere with her hand bound in Cassius’s. “No. Absolutely not.”
Lord Damien’s eyes darkened. “It is customary—”
“For you,” Thalia seethed, her heart rate climbing. “For you monsters who get off on violence and pain.”
Lord Damien smiled, although it didn’t reach his eyes. “It would be wise to uphold our traditions. Wise, also, for this treaty to be seen as legitimate.”
Thalia trembled, and she wasn’t sure if she was shaking from rage or fear. “Drinking his blood will turn me.”
“Only if you’re bitten and then feed,” Lord Damien said, a knife gleaming in his hand. “But to share in this manner will do nothing but fulfill an ancient vow.”
“Thalia.” Her mother’s voice was sharper than the blade held aloft. She would have to do this.
“I don’t believe it will be necessary.” Cassius spoke, his words nearly startling her.
Lord Damien’s eyes flashed. “His Highness will not be pleased to know his bride did not fully complete the ceremony. With nothing tangible to bind her, she will be free to do as she wishes. This treaty could be seen as a farce—”
“The ceremony will be completed by the prince and the prince alone. I don’t wish to take what is his, even if it is tradition.” Cassius’s words were barely audible. “Humans are bound by ink, not us. This treaty is complete.”
Cassius and Lord Damien stared at each other for a moment longer before the latter inclined his head. “Of course.”
Thalia didn’t relax, not as the priest removed the bloody ribbon from her hands, not as she finally stepped away.
“See that the horses are ready” was all Cassius said, not glancing back as he left the chapel.