the timid bride

Chapter 28: The Betrayer's Kiss

The storm began at midnight.

But it wasn't made of rain.

It was ash — falling from the sky like snow, dark and silent, coating the world in gray.

The castle held its breath.

Arin stood on the wall, Vaelir strapped across her back, her braid whipping in the wind. Below, the army of the Serpent King was still, torches lit like stars across the darkened valley.

At its center, on a throne of bones, sat Lira.

Not the healer.

Not the girl with soft eyes.

But a queen of fire and lies.

Kael growled beside Arin. "I want her head."

"You'll have it," Arin said coldly.

Rael approached, grim-faced. "Scouts say they're preparing a ritual. Same circle patterns. Same language. They're not just marching. They're summoning something."

Kael clenched her fists. "Then we stop them before it finishes."

Arin looked out across the battlefield.

"No. We let them finish it."

Rael stared at her. "What?"

"We let them call it," Arin said. "And then we kill it. In front of them. We show them that nothing — not curses, not gods — can stand against us."

Silence.

Then Kael smirked. "I like this version of you."

Arin looked at them both. "Ready the riders. We move at dawn."

—

The blood moon was full.

No longer red, but black at its edges, as if rotting in the sky.

The army moved quickly — not silent, not hidden. They wanted to be seen.

Arin rode at the front, flanked by Kael and Rael. Behind them, fifty fighters. Survivors. Loyalists. No longer afraid.

When they reached the valley's edge, they dismounted.

Lira's army waited.

And Lira herself stepped forward, barefoot, her silver robes trailing ash behind her.

"You look different," she said to Arin. "Taller. Stronger."

"Alive," Arin replied.

Lira smiled faintly. "Not for long."

Arin drew Vaelir.

The sword gleamed — silver, red, and alive.

Lira laughed. "You still think steel can save you?"

"I think it can kill you."

Lira extended her hand.

And the sky broke.

Lightning surged from the ground. The ritual circle burst into flame. From its center, something rose — huge, clawed, made of smoke and bone.

The **Ashbeast**.

Its mouth opened — fangs longer than swords — and it screamed.

Soldiers on both sides fell to their knees.

Arin didn't.

She ran straight for it.

—

The battlefield shattered.

Kael led the ground forces around the edges, cutting into the masked soldiers.

Rael stayed at Arin's side, deflecting curses and blades as they moved toward the heart of the storm.

The Ashbeast reared.

Vaelir blazed in Arin's grip.

She leapt — striking its leg.

The blade burned through flesh like silk.

It screamed again — a sound like dying stars.

Rael hurled a dagger of light, hitting its jaw.

Arin drove Vaelir into its chest.

Not once.

Not twice.

**Four times.**

On the fourth, it collapsed in a burst of smoke.

Silence fell.

Until the applause began.

From Lira.

"Well done," she said, clapping slowly. "You're better than I thought."

Arin turned to her, blood on her face.

"It's over."

But Lira only smiled.

"Not yet."

And she disappeared into shadow.

—

The victory was short-lived.

By nightfall, the survivors regrouped at the castle gates.

Kael was injured — a blade to the thigh — but grinning.

"We did it," she said. "We sent their monster back to the pit."

Rael helped her down. "But Lira escaped."

"She won't stay gone," Arin said.

And she was right.

Because at midnight…

Rael betrayed her.

—

She couldn't sleep. Something felt off.

She wandered the halls — back to the throne room.

The fires were out.

And Rael stood in the center, speaking to no one.

Whispers filled the air — cold, wet whispers that slid into her ears like snakes.

Then she saw it.

His eyes.

**Silver.**

"No," she whispered.

Rael turned slowly.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Vaelir was already in her hand. "Since when?"

"Since before the mirror broke," he said. "Since the day I touched the curse."

He stepped forward. "I thought I could fight it. But the truth is… he's stronger."

"You let him in."

Rael nodded.

"He offered me peace. He offered me purpose. And he offered me you."

Arin's hand trembled.

"You loved me."

"I still do," he said.

Then he kissed her.

Hard.

Desperate.

Tears burned her eyes.

And when she pulled away — she drove the sword into his side.

Not fatal.

But deep.

Rael gasped and stumbled back.

Arin's voice broke. "You chose him."

"No," Rael said. "I chose *you*. I joined him to protect you."

"And lied to me."

"I lied to everyone."

She didn't kill him.

Not yet.

But she took the sword.

And she walked away.

—

Kael found her on the wall an hour later.

"He's in the dungeon," she said.

Arin nodded.

"I thought it would hurt more," Arin whispered. "But mostly… I just feel cold."

Kael sat beside her.

"You still love him."

"Yes."

"Then let that be your weapon."

Arin looked at her.

"I will."

Kael tilted her head. "Tomorrow?"

Arin stood.

"No. Tonight."

—

The final assault began in silence.

They moved through the night like smoke — thirty fighters. No banners. No war cries.

Only fury.

They breached the valley camp at dawn.

Lira was waiting.

Alone.

Clad in black and bone, her eyes glowing like silver fire.

"I knew you'd come."

Arin stepped forward.

Vaelir gleamed.

Lira smirked. "Then let's finish this."