irelith. The city lay shrouded in silence, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl and the whispering of the wind through ancient stone walls. From my chamber in the Hig

usness alike. Now, with Aria, that secret was exposed like a wound that refused to heal. I stopped before an ancient tapestry depicting the founding of Virelith and its first prince, bound by blood to a mortal bride centuries ago. The legend was faded, but the message clear: power demanded sacrifice. Love was a luxury we could not afford. But I found myself wondering what if love was not a luxury but a weapon? Could Aria's fire, her wildness, be the key to breaking the curse instead of merely enduring it? The moment I bit her during the ritual, I felt a surge unlike any I had known. Her blood burned in my veins a fierce, stubborn flame igniting a connection that was more than magic. It was recognition. An echo of a time long past when our worlds were less divided, and human and vampire blood flowed side by side. Yet, beneath the surge was uncertainty. Did I want this? Did I want her? The court demanded ruthlessness, a prince who would rule through fear and power. I was meant to be that prince a symbol of strength and control. But Aria was different. Fierce. Defiant. Unyielding. She hated me and what I represented with a fire that matched my own. A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Enter," I commanded. Elder Varion, the court's senior advisor and keeper of our ancient knowledge, stepped into the chamber. His silver hair framed a face lined with centuries of wisdom and war. "Prince Lucien," he said gravely, "the Council grows restless. News of your bond has spread faster than shadow. They demand you present proof and hold the ceremony that will bind your bride officially to the court." I nodded. Resistance was useless. The court's gaze was sharp, their patience thinner than a spider's web. "I will comply," I said. Varion's eyes narrowed as he glanced toward a small vial on my desk Aria's blood, sealed and glowing faintly. "The blood b