Elara's POV
The words on the mirror still burn in my mind….Welcome home, Queen…. I couldn't sleep after that, every time I closed my eyes I saw her face, those silver eyes staring through me like she could see into my soul.
Before dawn the castle bells begin to toll, deep and echoing like a heartbeat that won't stop, Liora enters my room with red swollen eyes.
"It's time, my lady," she whispers, her hands shaking as she helps me into a gown made of something that feels like moonlight itself, the fabric is so cold it burns my skin, "the King waits beneath the red moon."
"Red moon?" I ask, my voice hoarse from lack of sleep.
"The omen of blood and vows," she says quietly, "some say it's a blessing, others call it a curse."
"Which do you think it is?"
She doesn't answer, just pulls the laces tighter until I can barely breathe.
Outside, the entire court has gathered in the moonlit courtyard, werewolves stand in perfect rows, warriors , nobles ,creatures I can't even name, their golden eyes gleaming like they're possessed by the moon itself, the humans from my father's realm stand farther back looking pale and terrified, clutching charms and crosses like they'll protect them from what is coming.
Kael stands at the center beneath an arch of black stone, his cloak whipping in the wind, his silver eyes locked on me like nothing else exists in this cursed world, for a moment the air between us goes still and the noise fades and it feels like the moon itself is holding its breath.
"Princess Elara of Vareth," the priest announces, "and King Kael Fenrir of the Moonspire, bound this night by vow and blood."
My steps echo too loudly as I walk toward him,
When I reach Kael he extends his hand and his voice comes out low and steady, "You look afraid."
"Wouldn't you be," I whisper back, "if you were marrying a monster?"
Something flickers in his eyes, maybe pain or regret, "If I were truly a monster," he says you wouldn't still be breathing."
I should have pull back but I didnt.
The priest begins chanting in an ancient language , the words curl through the air like smoke, Kael takes my wrist, the same one that burned last night, and draws a thin blade across his palm, the scent of iron fills the air and makes my stomach turn.
He turns his hand upward, waiting,his eyes never leave mine
"Your turn, Princess," the priest says gently.
My hand shakes so badly I almost drop the blade but I force myself to do it, slicing quickly across my palm, the sting is sharp, bright and real, Kael's blood meets mine and suddenly heat floods through my veins, the mark on my wrist pulses and glows beneath the moonlight.
A hush falls over the crowd….
The sky darkens suddenly, the red moon burning brighter, and a voice, soft and distant but somehow everywhere at once whispers through the air, "Welcome home, my queen."
The ground trembles beneath our feet, the torches flashes and die, guests gasp as the air turns heavy and thick, I look up and see cracks of light splitting across the sky, the moon bleeding red fire like it's dying.
The priest stumbles backward shouting prayers, wolves growl forming aprotective circle around us.
Kael steps in front of me instantly, his arm sweeping around my shoulders, his body shielding mine as stones falls, "Stay behind me," he orders, his voice rough and commanding.
"I heard her voice again," I whisper against his chest, my heart pounding so hard it hurts.
His eyes dart to me sharply, "Whose voice?"
"The one from my dream," I say, "she said I was home.
"You heard nothing," Kael cuts me off, his voice firm but his eyes betray him, he is afraid, I can see it in the way his jaw tightens, "it was only the wind."
When the shaking stops the priest rushes to finish the vow, his voice trembling, "By blood and moon the bond is sealed," he says quickly like he wants to get this over with before something worse happens, "you are now one, until the moon fades from the sky."
Kael releases my hand, his expression unreadable again, "It's done," he says, voice distant and cold.
And just like that I'm Queen.
The crowd cheers weakly, unsure whether to celebrate or run, and I stand frozen, my palm still warm from his touch, the mark glows faintly beneath the moonlight.
Later after the feast, a quiet tense affair where everyone whispers and no one really eats, Kael leads me down a silent corridor, our footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
"You're quiet," he said at last
"I'm trying to understand why the moon calls me Queen," I answer honestly.
"Don't listen to the moon, Elara," his voice is low and warning, "it lies."
"Does it?" I step closer, "or are you the one lying to me?"
His jaw clenches and for a heartbeat I think he'll just walk away but instead he turns, his gaze burning through me, "If you value your life you'll stop asking questions tonight."
his voice is so cold it steals mine, I want to argue but something in his eyes stops me, something desperate and dangerous.
After he had left I stood alone in the dim hallway, my gown whispering against the floor, the castle's air feels strange again, heavy with whispers I can't quite hear, shadows curling along the walls like they're alive.
"My lady," Liora appears at the end of the corridor clutching a tray, "your chambers have been moved to the Queen's wing."
"The Queen's wing?" I frown, "but I just….."
It's the kings orders, please don't argue with him tonight.
We walk in silence until we reach the new room.
it was larger than before, colder, every surface gleaming silver like ice, the walls are lined with mirrors, tall ancient things framed in blackened iron, I hated the way my reflection follows me everywhere I turned.
Liora hesitates at the doorway, "My lady," she whispers, "whatever you do, don't touch the mirrors."They remember her
Her?
She bowed her head and said "The first Queen"
Before I asked one more question she left in an hurry leaving me alone.
The silence after she left was suffocating, I turn toward one of the mirrors, my reflection pale and haunted under the moonlight, my pulse pounds in my ears, the mark on my wrist glowing faintly again.
"It's just glass," I mutter to myself, stepping closer.
But the moment my fingertips brush the cold surface, warmth blooms beneath my skin, the glass ripples like water and a drop of crimson slides down like a tear.
I stumble back, staring at the mirror bleeds.
A voice, faint and melodic whispers from within, "He was mine first."
The candles flicker violently and my reflection blinks once, twice, but the woman staring back isn't me anymore, her eyes are silver, her gown is dripping blood, she smiles and it's the most terrifying thing I've ever seen.
I gasp and turn away but when I look back the mirror is still again, the blood gone, only my pale terrified face staring back.
The door creaks open and Kael stands there, his eyes dark as stormlight
"What happened?" he asks sharply, stepping into the room.
"The mirror," I breathe, pointing with a shaking hand, "it bled, and I saw her….
But when we both look at the mirror it's clean, silent, innocent, like nothing happened.
Kael's eyes soften slightly, "The castle plays tricks," he murmurs, moving closer, "it feeds on fear, don't let it win."
"Elara," his voice is gentle now, almost pleading, "you're exhausted, you've been through too much today."
As he turns to leave he pauses at the door, and says in a calm voice , "Whatever you see in these mirrors," he says without looking back, "don't believe it's her."