Chapter 6: A Marriage No One Wanted

The royal council chamber fell completely silent.

Even the torches along the stone walls seemed to burn more quietly.

Serena stared at Rowan, convinced she had misunderstood him.

'Ceremonial bride?' she repeated.

'Yes,' Rowan answered calmly.

'No.'

The response came from Aero before anyone else could speak.

'Your Majesty,' Rowan began.

'I said no.'

His deep voice echoed through the chamber.

Serena folded her arms.

'Good. Because I wasn't planning to marry a stranger either.'

For the first time, Magnus looked as though he was trying very hard not to laugh.

Rowan sighed.

'Neither of your opinions changes the Ancient Law.'

'Then change the law,' Serena replied.

'It has existed for over eight hundred years.'

'Congratulations. It's outdated.'

Magnus finally looked away, hiding a small smile.

Aero, however, remained completely expressionless.

'Explain everything,' he ordered Rowan.

The elderly advisor nodded.

'The ceremonial marriage isn't a true marriage.'

'Go on.'

'It is an ancient bond created to place the woman under the Alpha King's protection.'

'Protection from what?' Serena asked.

'Anyone who wishes to claim the Moon Gate.'

'Meaning?'

'Once word spreads that a human has appeared, every neighboring kingdom will come searching for you.'

'Why?'

'Some will believe you are their salvation.'

'Others will believe you are their destruction.'

'Neither sounds appealing.'

'Exactly.'

Aero walked toward the massive window overlooking the capital.

'How long would this arrangement last?'

'Until the Moon Gate is found.'

'Or?'

'Until the prophecy is fulfilled.'

'Which could mean months... or years,' Magnus added quietly.

Serena's eyes widened.

'Years?'

'Possibly.'

'Absolutely not.'

She shook her head firmly.

'I already have a life.'

'A family.'

'A job.'

'People are probably wondering where I disappeared to.'

Her voice grew quieter with every sentence.

'I need to go home.'

Aero finally looked back at her.

'Then we'll find a way.'

'Really?'

'If one exists.'

Those words carried no false promises.

Only honesty.

Somehow, Serena appreciated that more.

Rowan cleared his throat again.

'Regardless, until another solution is discovered, the council insists the ceremony take place tomorrow evening.'

'Tomorrow?' Serena exclaimed.

'You're giving me less than twenty-four hours to become someone's fake wife?'

'Ceremonial bride,' Rowan corrected.

'That somehow sounds worse.'

Magnus coughed to hide another laugh.

Aero pinched the bridge of his nose.

'Leave us.'

Rowan and Magnus exchanged a glance before quietly leaving the chamber.

The heavy doors closed.

Only Serena and Aero remained.

For nearly a minute, neither spoke.

'This is insane,' Serena finally muttered.

'I agree.'

She blinked.

'You do?'

'Entirely.'

'Then refuse.'

'If I refuse, the council will interpret it as abandoning my duty.'

'You're the king.'

'A king who ignores sacred law eventually loses the trust of his people.'

Serena slowly sat in one of the chairs.

'Leadership really is exhausting here.'

'Usually.'

'Does anything ever happen normally in your kingdom?'

'Not this week.'

She couldn't help laughing.

The unexpected sound filled the chamber.

Aero looked at her curiously.

'What?' he asked.

'Nothing.'

'You laughed.'

'Because that was almost a joke.'

'It wasn't intended as one.'

'Still counts.'

For the briefest moment, the corner of Aero's lips moved.

It disappeared almost instantly.

But Serena noticed.

'There it is!' she said excitedly.

'What?'

'You almost smiled.'

'I did not.'

'You definitely did.'

'You're mistaken.'

'Liar.'

Aero simply looked away.

Somehow, that made Serena smile even more.

Later that evening, Lily entered Serena's room carrying several elegant dresses.

'His Majesty asked the royal tailor to prepare these.'

'Already?'

'The entire castle is preparing for tomorrow.'

Serena looked at the gowns spread across the bed.

Silver.

Blue.

White.

Each one was beautifully embroidered.

'They're gorgeous,' she admitted.

'Would you like to try one?' Lily asked.

'Honestly?'

'Yes.'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Because if I put on a bridal dress, this whole situation starts feeling real.'

Lily sat beside her.

'Are you frightened?'

Serena stayed quiet.

After several seconds, she nodded.

'More than I've ever been.'

'Because of the king?'

'No.'

'Then why?'

'Because I have no control over anything anymore.'

Lily gently squeezed her hand.

'His Majesty understands that feeling better than anyone.'

'Really?'

'He became king at nineteen after losing both his parents.'

'Nineteen?'

'He never wanted the throne.'

Serena lowered her eyes.

For the first time, she wondered what kind of life Aero had sacrificed.

Meanwhile, inside the royal library, Aero stood beside an enormous map covered in ancient markings.

Rowan entered carrying another old manuscript.

'Still searching?'

'There has to be another way.'

'Perhaps.'

'Have you found anything?'

'Only one concerning detail.'

'What is it?'

Rowan opened the book.

'Every version of the prophecy mentions the Shadow King.'

'But?'

'None explain who he truly is.'

'Meaning our enemy remains unknown.'

'Exactly.'

Before either man could continue, loud footsteps echoed through the hallway.

A palace guard burst into the library.

'Your Majesty!'

'Report.'

'Scouts have returned from the northern border.'

'What happened?'

'They found tracks.'

'Animal tracks?'

'No, Your Majesty.'

'Then whose?'

The guard swallowed hard.

'An army.'

'Whose army?'

'The Black Fang Pack.'

Rowan's face immediately turned pale.

'Impossible,' he whispered.

'Their kingdom is nearly two weeks away.'

'They're moving quickly,' the guard replied.

'And according to the scouts...'

'They're heading directly toward our capital.'

Aero's golden eyes turned ice cold.

'Prepare the Royal Guard.'

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

'No one enters this kingdom without my permission.'

As the guard hurried away, Rowan looked toward the Alpha King.

'Do you think they've already learned about Serena?'

Aero stared through the library window toward the dark horizon.

'I don't believe in coincidences anymore.'