Crimson Vows.

As dawn light spilled through the stained glass of her chamber and into her eyes, Selene woke up lazily. But her mind immediately travelled... memories of last night flooded her head, she shut her eyes tightly trying to get rid of them but it wasn't working.

Kaelen's breathing, his face, the way his skin had flushed as though burning from within. And then her...concern- even fright for him.

'Why did I care at all?' she asked herself angrily.

She buried her face in her hands. "Stupid," she muttered. "He's a vampire. You're not supposed to care."

But she had...she did, and that fact lingered like a sour taste.

She couldn't help but wonder why; was he repulsed by her? Why had he fled so suddenly?

Selene paced the room, tension coiled in her chest.

Eventually, the questions won. She left her quarters, storming down the hall towards Kaelen's quarters only to be stopped by the guards outside Kaelen's chamber.

"His Highness has given orders not to be disturbed," one said stiffly

"Even by me?" She asked expressionlessly.

"Especially by you, my lady" another guard replied with an apologetic expression.

She turned sharply and stormed back the way she came, but the sting of rejection pierced her . "I know I shouldn't have cared" she said a little too loud. The guards probably heard her.

...

The day ran pretty slowly after that; maybe it was just nature showing her cruel side, letting her wait longer for an inevitable moment she didn't want to come.

As Selene watched the red moon slowly rise, she heard a knock on her door. "Come in" she said tiredly.

It was Mara.

She entered flanked by two younger maids bearing a gown with a red colour as deep and shimmering as crushed garnets. "Time to dress you," Mara said, her voice steady but eyes shining.

Selene exhaled shakily, sitting by the mirror as they began their work. Mara's hands were gentle, her fingers brushing Selene's shoulders like they had when she was a child.

"I used to braid your hair like this when you were five," Mara said, smiling faintly.

Selene looked at her reflection with a complicated expression. "Yeah, I remember " she smiled briefly but uncertainly.

"What if I'm making a mistake?" she asked.

Mara paused. "Honestly, I can't tell you you're not...not yet at least. But no choice made with a brave heart is ever wasted."

"I don't feel brave."

"You look so much like your mother," Mara whispered. "And she would be proud. No matter what you become—hunter, wife, storm—you carry her fire. Don't ever forget that.

Selene swallowed hard and nodded. "Thanks Mara".

Mara smiled, it gave her a kind of job to see Selene all grown up; and as much sadness to see what she's been forced into. But she was only a maid, she didn't have a say.

When they finished, Selene stood slowly. The gown flowed like blood and starlight. As she stepped into the corridor, her stomach twisted.

The temple loomed ahead, runes already glowing in soft pulses beneath the darkening sky.

...

Meanwhile, in another wing of the castle, Kaelen stared out the tall windows of his chamber, dread pooling in his stomach. His hands clenched at the memory of Selene's voice, the scent of her skin. The way she'd looked at him, worried. Genuine.

He hadn't expected her to come check on him, and he hadn't expected it to hurt...turning her away. But it did, real bad.

Now, hours later, he had to face her again—in front of their parents, their councils, and the runes that would burn through any falsehood

He could already feel the buzz of the magic awakening. Kaelen flinched, eyes closing briefly.

Fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.

...

That night, the castle was dressed in scarlet and silver for the Blood Moon. Every wall glowed with magic-infused firelight. Ancient tapestries shifted in the breeze of incantations whispered by robed temple priests.

Satisfied and not so satisfied eyes scrutinized Kaelen and Selene as they walked into the temple hall. Selene thought she'd prepared herself enough for this but in this actual moment, she was totally panicking inside. She moved her feet with so much effort as she tried to match the footsteps of Kaelen who seemed particularly tensed.

Selene stood beneath the high arches of the Dravara temple. It was open to the sky, and the blood moon hung there—swollen, pulsing, alive.

Kaelen stood opposite her, dressed in ceremonial black and silver. His eyes avoiding hers with all diligence.

Her parents stood on one side, flanked by Vireya council members. Kaelen's mother and father mirrored them.

The priest stepped forward, his voice deep and echoing...almost creepy.

"Do you, Kaelen Dravara, heir to the Nightshade Throne, accept this union as decreed by the Accord of Blood and Binding?"

Kaelen nodded solemnly. "I do."he said with a cracked voice.

The priest nodded and moved on; "Do you, Selene Vireya, heir to the House of Hunters, accept this union in defense of peace?"

Loud silence filled the room; Selene trembled slightly, it was easy for Kaelen to say yes because he and his people proposed this in the first place. But for her, she had her whole life at stake!

'You could just run, they won't catch up with you. You have your hunter skills remember? You've trained for this your entire life! You could slip into shadow of the forest, disappear, vanish into the wild like the ghost you sometimes wished you were.' She was drowning in her head.

Her heart thundered in her chest, drowning out the expectant hush that fell over the chamber. The blood moon above cast a red glow through the crystal ceiling of the temple, bathing her in warlike crimson. She could feel the weight of every gaze: nobles, warriors, enemies disguised as allies. Even the runes etched into the floor pulsed—like they could sense her doubt.

She took a shaky breath. Her hands clenched at her sides..

'Run!'

The word bloomed again in her chest. She could slip away, hide among the trees, find a small life far from duty and vengeance. Maybe then, she wouldn't be a pawn on anyone's board. Maybe she could just… breathe.

But then her eyes flickered to Mara, standing quietly near the aisle, her gaze steady. And then, to Kaelen; he wasn't looking at her the way the others were. There was no command in his posture, no smug pride. Just a boy beneath a crown, holding his breath.

Why did that matter? She still had enough in her to jeer at him inwardly. But then her knees nearly buckled.

She looked to her parents... nothing; no emotion; no hope, just cold faces dripping with expectation.

She could see her cousin, Lira, beside her dad quietly laughing at her misery and almost never taking her eyes off of Kaelen; that annoyed her so much for some reason. But she really was alone in this choice.

The priest's voice came again, gentler now but pressing: "Lady Vireya… do you accept?"

Her throat burned. Her palms were sweating. She opened her mouth—then closed it.

'Run.' she screamed in her head again, louder this time.

She took a step back.

But then…

"All I wanted was to plunge silver blades in the hearts of those creatures that threaten our people…"

Her own voice echoed in her head; then slowly the dreams, the whispers, they all came pouring. The bloodstone pulsed against her skin like a heartbeat.

"Have I not become one of those I swore to destroy?" She trembled harder.

And then… she stepped forward again.

Her voice was barely audible, it was in fact trembling...

"…I do."

The runes beneath her feet flared suddenly, glowing white-hot before settling into a dull red. A collective breath left the temple. Some gasped. Others whispered.

Kaelen released a breath so shaky she almost thought it a sob.

The priest nodded solemnly.

"Then by the Accord of Blood and Binding, so it begins."

Their palms were cut, and they pressed them together over an altar carved with runes. As their blood mingled, the runes blazed—brighter than any had ever seen. Gasps filled the temple. Even Kaelen's mother broke her 'perfect' character.

A second priest stepped forward with a relic—an obsidian rod tipped with crystal. "The Flame of Pact. This shall mark the binding."

He touched it to their joined hands. A glow appeared where their blood had mingled. It should have been a faint shimmer. Instead, it surged—white-gold and wild.

More whispers filled the temple; one priest nearly dropped his staff. Selene saw it too, Kaelen's fingers clenched slightly against hers.

Then came the final stage...The Mate Marking!

A deep silence fell, all eyes turned to Kaelen; he stepped forward, gaze locked with Selene's. She stiffened.

"We don't have to do this," she whispered, though her voice shook.

"If we don't," Kaelen said softly, "I'll lose control. The mark stabilizes me. Without it..."

"You'll go feral." She said, a little amused by the prospect of him going feral. He nodded once.

She looked away. "Why would I care what happens to you?"

His eyes didn't waver. "I don't know. But I think you do." She flinched slightly, quickly checking his face to see if he noticed that.

"I won't force you," he said, voice low. "But if I wait too long… I might not be able to stop myself."

Awkward silence followed those words.

Kaelen stepped back, reading her silence as refusal, pain flickering in his eyes. "Then I won't wait around to become something you hate."

He turned, steps heavy, each one harder than the last.

"Kaelen," she said quietly. He paused.

She wanted to say anything else, but she stopped.

He hurriedly left the hall. Loud mumurs followed; Selene ran out to her room dragging her long dress, little tear drops formed in the corners of her eyes.

She felt so wicked.

...

In his chamber, Kaelen collapsed to the floor, his body convulsing. The bond—now sealed, now burning—pulled at his sanity.

He could still feel her warmth, her pulse against his hand, her voice in his ears.

Fangs bared, eyes bloodred, he whispered, "I'm losing myself… and she still doesn't understand."

He said as claws grew out of his fingers.

...

Across the castle, Selene clutched the edge of her vanity, wallowing in her own cluelessness; her mark glowing dimly, and her heartbeat so loud in her ears.

And when she whispered, "I don't care about him," the mark flared again—brighter than before.

She gritted her teeth. "Liar," she whispered to her reflection.