"Princess Eirlys?"
The voice, thick with sleep, hit me like a physical barrier. I froze, my hand still trembling inside my sleeve, gripping the cold, cursed hilt of the dagger. I forced the panic down, crushing it beneath a mask of royal grace. I smoothed my features, painting on a look of sisterly concern as I turned toward the bed.
"Oh, my dear sister-in-law, are you okay?" I said, my voice dripping with honeyed warmth.
Sera sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked at me, her brow furrowed in a way that made my skin crawl. "Of course... why are you in my room?"
I stepped closer, weaving my magic into my words, letting the subtle, hypnotic pulse of my vampire nature bleed into the air. "Oh, you see, I was in my room, and I had such a terrible dream. I saw someone trying to kill you. I panicked! I sensed such a dark, dangerous energy radiating from your room, and my abilities… they screamed that you were in trouble. I just had to check on you."
I watched her eyes carefully. She stared at me, her confusion deepening. I knew she felt it, that faint, discordant vibration of dark magic clinging to my soul, but my hypnotic suggestion took hold. Her gaze softened, the suspicion slipping away like water through fingers.
"Oh... no, I'm fine, Eirlys," she murmured, though she still looked at me as if I were a puzzle she couldn't quite solve.
"I'm so glad," I said, offering a small, relieved smile. "I'll take my leave now. Get some rest."
I exited the room, the door clicking shut behind me with finality. My heart was pounding, a frantic bird in a cage. I retreated toward the stairs. The grand staircase of Helexia was a marvel of architecture, a sweeping, spiral curve of polished white marble that hugged the circular walls. The walls themselves were draped in heavy, velvet tapestries of gold and ethereal white, depicting the history of the Southern Kingdom. The air was cool and smelled of beeswax and old stone.
I reached the living room and lowered my head in a graceful bow. "Your Highnesses."
I crossed the room and took my seat beside Queen Mira. She greeted me with a warm, maternal smile that felt like a knife to my gut.
"Welcome, dear Eirlys," she said, patting my hand.
Moments later, Sera appeared, her movements still a little sluggish from her interrupted rest. She took her seat on the other side of her mother.
King Draven shifted, his presence commanding the entire room. He sat straighter, crossing one leg over the other with calculated precision. "Now that Eirlys is with us, I wish to speak regarding the alliance between Calexia and Helexia."
The room went still. I could feel the weight of the air change.
"Prince Lorenzo," the King began, his eyes fixed on my brother, "as your late parents agreed, we shall cement this alliance through political marriage. Princess Eirlys to our son, Prince Cassian, and Princess Sera... to you."
He paused, letting the weight of the words settle. He looked at us, at the four of us—as if he were arranging pieces on a chessboard. "I intend to begin wedding preparations immediately in the Grand Hall of Helexia. Do you have any objections, Prince Lorenzo? Princess Eirlys?"
I looked at Lorenzo. He caught my gaze, his brow arched in a silent question: Do you want this?
I tilted my head, a subtle shift of my neck; Our parents agreed. It is our duty. Let us just accept it.
Lorenzo turned back to the King, his expression unreadable. "King Draven, we have no objection."
"Very well!" The King's voice boomed, echoing off the high ceilings. "The wedding preparations may begin!"
Servants materialized from the shadows of the room, rushing off to carry out his orders with frantic energy. Queen Mira turned to me, her hand resting on my shoulder, her smile radiant and kind.
I smiled back, mirroring her warmth perfectly. But behind my eyes, the cold reality of the dagger hidden in my closet felt like a lead weight.
Good, I thought, my smile widening into something sharper. Be like that. Smile at me. Look at me like I'm an angel… while I rot as the evil lurking in your house.