Chapter 16: A Royal Revelation

••{SERAPHINE’S POV}••

I have lived for thousands of years.

I have seen kings and queens crowned in glory and overthrown in blood.

I have witnessed the rise and fall of many great kingdoms.

Wherever I go, people lower their eyes and bow their heads. There are few beings alive in this empire—or anywhere in the world—who can rival my power. Yet last night, a human girl dared look at me with insolence and had the audacity to defy me so openly in my own home.

I could have had her tongue ripped from her mouth if it weren’t for one person.

Azræl.

She is under his protection and that was the only thing that saved her from my wrath.

Rest assured, I will have a long conversation with my son. I’ll speak some sense into him and he’ll send that girl back to wherever it is she came from.

I’ll make him understand that no one, no matter how noble, insults me with such impunity.

But that will have to wait.

There are far more important matters at hand, like Azræl having summoned the royal court of Darkholme. I walk the castle halls until I reach the towering doors of the throne room where the usual guards stand waiting.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," they greet, bowing deeply.

I acknowledge them with a nod and they immediately open the doors.

The moment I set foot inside the throne room, all the gathered lords and ladies of Darkholme bow their heads to me. I keep my head high as I walk past them until I reach my seat beside my daughter’s.

"Mother," she says as I settle down. "Has Azræl still not told you why he called this meeting?"

"Yes, my dear," I mutter quietly. "I tried talking to him, but you know how your brother can be sometimes." A heavy sigh leaves my lips. "I guess we’ll just have to wait and see."

Azeria scoffs, rolling her eyes.

"You know, I find it really strange that he summoned the royal court months in advance yet refuses to tell even his own family why," she says, a hint of frustration in her tone. "He’s been so secretive lately that I can’t help but wonder what game he’s truly playing."

Azeria’s words make me pause for a moment.

She isn’t wrong.

My son has always been secretive but this feels different.

More than three months ago, he told me he would be leaving Darkholme on a journey. When I asked where he was going, he refused to tell me.

But before he left, he told me something else.

Once he returned, he would summon every lord and lady of Darkholme to the royal court.

He never told me why, of course.

I remember being annoyed by his secrecy but I didn’t think much of it at the time. Azræl has always preferred to keep certain matters to himself, and I learned long ago that trying to pry information from him before he’s ready to share it is a battle I rarely win.

Three days ago, he finally returned.

But he didn’t come back alone.

He returned with a human princess from a kingdom so far away that most vampires in this empire have probably never even heard of it.

My brows slowly draw together.

Could this meeting have something to do with Rhiannon?

The timing is just too strange to ignore.

I quickly turn to my daughter. "Azeria, what if all of this has something to do with—

The towering doors of the throne room suddenly swing open and every conversation dies at once.

I turn toward the entrance just as Azræl steps inside the great hall.

All the lords and ladies rise to their feet, bowing their heads as he passes by them. His golden crown sits on top of his head, decorated with rubies. He is draped in fine clothes the colors of black and gold, and a long cloak trails behind him, dark red like blood.

He ascends the dais with unhurried steps, and only when he settles on his throne does the court return to their seats.

"Lords and ladies of Darkholme, I welcome you," Azræl begins, his deep voice carrying across the throne room. "I appreciate your presence here tonight."

He pauses for a heartbeat, letting his gaze travel across the assembled court.

"For months, I’ve kept the reason for this gathering to myself," he continues. "But now, I believe the time has finally come for you to know why."

My fingers curl into the armrests of my seat as my patience wears thin.

"Four days from now, I will be getting married," he declares.

Half the court erupts with cheers and applause, while the rest exchange shocked glances with each other, murmuring amongst themselves.

In the midst of it all, I remain frozen in my seat as if I’ve turned into stone.

I can’t even think of anything to say.

Slowly, I turn to face Azeria.

Her eyes are just as wide as mine.

After a few heartbeats, the shock and surprise fades, replaced by this anger that makes my blood boil.

Who is this bride?!

Why didn’t Azræl introduce her to me before running to announce a marriage to the entire court?!

I am his mother, for goodness’ sake! I shouldn’t be learning about such a matter like this!

"Your Excellency," says Lord Brendyn Bloodchilde. "Tell us about this bride. Who is she? Which kingdom does she come from?"

The court falls silent, and all eyes turn to my son, waiting patiently for an answer.

Azræl turns and looks directly at me.

"My bride is a princess from a distant kingdom," he begins.

My heart stops.

"She is Rhiannon Aurelian of Astragarde."