The great hall remained silent after the Vampire King spoke.
Not a single noble dared to move.
Selena stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by enemies, her silver eyes fixed on the man sitting on the dark throne.
The Vampire King.
His presence filled the room like a storm waiting to break.
He leaned back slowly, resting one arm against the throne as he studied her.
"So this is the Luna of the Moonfang Pack," he said calmly.
Selena refused to bow.
"If you brought me here to stare at me, you're wasting your time."
Several nobles gasped.
One of them hissed under his breath.
"How dare she speak to the king like that."
But the king didn't look angry.
If anything, he looked amused.
"You have spirit," he said.
"That will be useful."
Selena's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not useful to you."
The king ignored her.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward Prince Adrian.
"You did well bringing her here."
Adrian gave a slight bow.
"It was necessary."
Selena's stomach tightened.
Necessary?
For what?
The king stood from his throne.
His cloak slid across the stone floor as he stepped down the stairs.
Every vampire in the hall lowered their heads respectfully as he passed.
He stopped only a few feet from Selena.
She could feel the power radiating from him.
Ancient.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"Tell me, Luna," the king said.
"Do you believe in destiny?"
Selena scoffed.
"I believe in fighting for my own future."
The king smiled faintly.
"A predictable answer."
He turned slightly, addressing the entire court.
"For centuries, our kind has been locked in war with the werewolves."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"That war has cost us thousands of lives."
He continued walking slowly across the hall.
"But five hundred years ago…"
His voice grew quieter.
"…a prophecy was written."
The nobles leaned forward.
Even Selena found herself listening despite her anger.
The king raised his hand.
One of the servants brought forward an ancient scroll sealed with dark wax.
The king broke the seal and unrolled the parchment.
"The prophecy reads," he said slowly,
"When the Blood Moon rises,
the fate of two kingdoms will be decided.
A Luna born of silver light
and a Prince born of eternal night
must stand together.
If they unite,
both races will survive.
If they remain enemies,
darkness will consume them all."
The room fell completely silent.
Selena's heart pounded loudly in her chest.
Her mind raced.
Luna.
Prince.
Her eyes slowly turned toward Adrian.
He was already looking at her.
Watching her reaction carefully.
"No," Selena said quietly.
The king looked at her.
"Yes."
Her voice rose.
"No. I will not be part of your twisted prophecy."
Some nobles laughed.
"Did she think she had a choice?"
Selena's claws extended slightly.
"You destroyed my home," she said, glaring at Adrian.
"You slaughtered my pack."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"The attack was not meant to wipe out your pack."
Her eyes burned with fury.
"Oh really?"
"Yes."
His voice was steady.
"You were the target."
Selena froze.
The king spoke again.
"You were brought here because the prophecy speaks of you."
Selena shook her head.
"You're insane."
The king smiled coldly.
"No."
He turned back toward the court.
"Tomorrow night, under the rising Blood Moon…"
He paused.
"…the union between the Luna and the Vampire Prince will be proposed."
The room erupted with whispers.
Some nobles looked shocked.
Others looked furious.
Selena's heart dropped into her stomach.
Union?
Her voice echoed across the hall.
"Over my dead body."
The king's eyes returned to her.
"That can be arranged."
Several guards stepped forward.
Adrian raised his hand slightly.
They stopped immediately.
His crimson eyes locked with Selena's.
"You should listen before you refuse."
Selena laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to marry the man who destroyed my home?"
Adrian didn't answer.
But his silence was enough.
The king spoke again.
"The prophecy does not ask for your approval."
Selena's fists clenched.
"Then your prophecy is worthless."
For a moment, the entire hall felt like it might explode.
Then the king simply turned away.
"Take her to her chamber."
The guards stepped forward.
Selena struggled as they grabbed her arms.
"You're all insane!" she shouted.
"This will never happen!"
As the guards dragged her toward the doors, Selena glanced back.
Prince Adrian was still standing near the throne.
Watching her.
His expression unreadable.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
And something about the way he looked at her made Selena uneasy.
Not hatred.
Not victory.
Something else.
Something far more complicated.
The doors slammed shut behind her.
And Selena Nightbane realized something terrifying.
Her fate had just been tied to the very enemy she hated most.