The question lingered between them, making the silence awkward. Lyanna's throat went dry. This was her only chance to speak, to defend herself.
But before she could speak, Azrael gestured to one of the council members, a thin vampire looking as cold as ice.
"Lord Victor, please enlighten us about the crimes of The House Of Graves." Azrael commanded.
Victor stood up holding a folder. He descended from the dais and stopped steps away from Lyanna.
"Princess Lyanna," Victor started. "Before we discuss your personal circumstances, let's talk about The House Of Graves' treason against the vampires."
The words caught her off guard.
"Treason?"
Victor opened the folder and spread the documents on the table.
"We've been investigating your family for quite sometime." He picked up the first document. "This is a letter with Queen Isabelle's seal, dated three years ago. In it, your mother has provided detailed intelligence to the Holy Order about the hidden location of the Silvermoon bloodline.
Two weeks after this letter was sent, the Order attacked that location and killed everyone present there, including women and children."
"That's impossible…my mother would never…"
"We'll…she did." He picked up another document. "This one has details about the Nightshade family's blood moon ceremony, in which thirty vampires were killed. The details of the event were provided to Holy Order by your mother again."
Lyanna's vision blurred. She knew that her mother wasn't fond of vampires but she had no idea her mother had betrayed them so cruelly.
Victor kept reading document after document.
"Over the course of five years," Victor continued. "Queen Isabelle provided information to Holy Order that led to the deaths of seventy vampires."
Lyanna's hands trembled. She wanted to protest, to say there must be some mistake, but the evidence was right there in her mother's handwriting.
"I didn't know!" Her voice cracked. "My mother kept me away from all political matters. I wasn't allowed in council meetings, wasn't…" She choked on her words. "I spent my days reading poetry and learning needlework. I had no idea my mother was…"
"A traitor." Victor finished for her. "A mass murderer. A human who betrayed the very vampires who had given her family protection
for generations."
Lyanna felt tears burning in her eyes but she didn't let them fall.
"Even if you were ignorant, you benefited from it. You lived in comfort, wore expensive gowns and ate exquisite food with blood money. Whether you knew or not doesn't matter." One of the council members said.
"Execute her." Another one said. "Eliminate the traitor bloodline."
Everyone murmured in agreement. Then another vampire stood up. She was as white as fresh snow, with blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes.
"I disagree, Lord Adrian." She said. "Death is too easy for someone like her. Many vampires were burned alive, some were even tortured first. How can we kill her so easily?" Lady Helena smiled. "Let's torture her first. Let's set an example for humans, to make them understand what happens to traitors."
"She should be burned in the same way the Nightshade vampires were burned during their sacred ceremony." Another vampire stood up.
"Exsanguination." Another vampire suggested. "Drain her completely. Let her feel what it's like to have life taken, drop by drop."
Suddenly, every vampire began offering their suggestions. They spoke casually, as if discussing the weather rather than the execution of a living person.
Lyanna knelt on the cold floor, listening as the vampires debated exactly how to kill her.
"Enough."
Azrael's single word made everyone stop. The council fell silent instantly.
He rose from his throne and descended the steps towards Lyanna. He circled her slowly, like a wolf circling its prey.
"You've all made your positions clear." Azrael said, as he completed his circle and stopped in front of her. "All the suggestions are justified responses to what her family has done to our people."
"However," Azrael's tone changed a little. "I have a different sentence in mind. I believe that one serves justice far better than a quick death."
The council stirred with surprise and curiosity.
"Princess Lyanna, six years ago, you rejected me at the altar. You called me unworthy and ended our betrothal in front of hundreds of nobles."
Lyanna's heart began to pound.
"That rejection was the most humiliating moment of my life. I've had six years to think about what I would do if I ever had power over you." He chuckled.
"I propose we complete what was interrupted six years ago. Marry me. Bind yourself to me legally, and permanently. Become my wife, my queen."
The council erupted in protests. Vampires started standing up from their seats, outraged. But silence fell immediately when Azrael raised his hand.
"Under my terms, of course." He continued. "You'll be my wife. You'll sit beside me in formal functions. You'll smile and play the parties of devoted bride for everyone to see. But in private…" His smile turned vicious. "In private, you'll be a prisoner paying a debt. You'll be a woman trapped in a marriage with a man who hates her. You insulted me once. Now, you'll spend your whole life regretting it."
The council members laughed.
"I agree with this punishment." One of the members said.
One by one, the council members voted. Some yes, some abstained, none voted no.
"The council has spoken. You've only two options.
Option one: refuse my proposal and face execution. Option two: accept my proposal, marry me within a week, and began paying the debt through a lifetime of submission disguised as marriage." He paused, letting it sink in.
"Choose quickly. My patience has limits."
Lyanna's mind raced. She had never, in her wildest dreams, thought that the vampire king would ask her to marry him. He hated her, hated her family. Then why??
Marrying him was worse than death. She wanted to refuse. But then she thought of her family. She remembered how her mother sacrificed herself to save her.
Could she throw away her family's sacrifices or did she have the courage to accept a life in hell?
Lyanna lifted her chin despite the chains weighing down her wrists, straightened herself despite kneeling on the cold floor, and looked straight into his eyes.
"I accept."
The chamber erupted in whispers and gasps, but Azrael's expression didn't change.
"Louder." He ordered. "The council must hear your decision clearly."
Lyanna took a deep breath before speaking again.
"I, Lyanna Graves, last of The House Of Graves, accept your proposal of marriage, King Azrael Thornfield."
"Excellent. Then allow me to be the first one to congratulate you on your engagement, princess. Try not to run from the altar this time." He chuckled and turned towards his council.
"The wedding will be held in six days. Prepare the castle, send invitations to all major vampire houses." He then turned back to Lyanna. "You have only six days to enjoy your freedom. I suggest you use them to prepare yourself for what comes next."
"What comes next?" Lyanna whispered.
"The rest of your life, wife. The rest of your very very long, and regretful life. I hope you won't break easily, otherwise, this will all be very boring."