Chapter Three: Shadows of Fear
The night had been restless for Elara. The warmth of the bed had done little to calm the fear that clung to her. Her dreams twisted, taking her to dark, impossible places. In the nightmare, she had been walking through a foggy forest, her heart racing, footsteps echoing around her. Draven had been there, watching her from the shadows, his eyes glowing with an unnatural red light.
She had tried to run, but her legs felt like lead. Her breath came in short gasps, and as she turned to face him, the air around her thickened with an oppressive weight. Then, in an instant, he had been upon her, his features clad in anger, his fangs visible as he lunged toward her.
The sensation of cold hands wrapping around her throat had been so vivid that Elara woke with a gasp, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat up, drenched in sweat, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. The remnants of the nightmare lingered, casting a shadow over her mind.
Elara's hand reached out, touching the space beside her in the bed. Draven was gone.
With a sigh of relief and anxiety mixing together, she pushed herself out of bed and hurried to the window. The castle grounds outside were bathed in the early light of dawn, a soft glow spreading over the stone walls. There was no sign of Draven anywhere.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. The maid entered, her eyes warm and friendly as always.
"Your Highness," the maid said, curtsying. "The king has summoned Prince Draven this morning. He left early."
Elara nodded, trying to mask the fear she felt. "Thank you."
As the maid left, Elara felt a wave of uncertainty sweep over her. She had spent the night beside her husband, yet the intimacy of their shared space had done little to erase the fear that still clung to her. Well...he'd kept his promise last night,but what about tonight?
After a quick breakfast, she decided to leave the room and take a stroll through Draven's part of the kingdom, hoping the fresh air might calm her nerves. The courtyard was beautifully kept, with lush gardens and trees that seemed to whisper in the wind. Elara walked slowly, taking in the peaceful surroundings.
The serenity didn't last long.
As she passed the grand gates of the royal gardens, she heard the sound of horses approaching. Turning, Elara saw two figures riding toward her. A man with a crown on his head,he was too young to be the king so he was probably the Crown Prince, Draven's half-brother, accompanied by his wife, a woman whose expression always seemed to carry a hint of mockery.
"Ah, the bride," the Crown Prince said, his voice dripping with condescension. "How lovely to see you out in the daylight, Princess. I thought vampires were allergic to sunlight." He chuckled darkly, and his wife, Clara, joined in with a high-pitched laugh that made Elara's stomach twist.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Elara replied, forcing a smile as she straightened her posture.
"Oh, don't play coy," Clara chimed in, her eyes cold as she regarded Elara. "We all know what you're doing here. You're just another pawn in our family's game." She raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with mock sympathy. "I'm surprised you're still here, honestly. You've already married the prince. I thought you might run away by now."
Elara's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't let her fear show. "I'm here to honor my marriage," she said firmly, lifting her chin.
The Crown Prince's smile twisted further. "Oh, we'll see how long that lasts. I'm sure things will get… interesting. Draven might be powerful, but he's certainly not in control here." He glanced at his wife and back at Elara. "Dinner tonight. You should join us. You might learn a thing or two about how things really work in this kingdom."
Elara didn't want to go, but she couldn't refuse them either. Her new position in the royal family was odd at best, and she didn't want to make enemies right away.
"I'll be there," she said, her voice steady but with a trace of reluctance.
The Crown Prince grinned. "I look forward to it."
As they rode away, Elara stood still, feeling their words weigh heavily on her. Despite the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the gardens around her, a cold unease settled deep inside her. What kind of place had she entered, and how much more of it would she have to endure before she found her place?
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in her chest. There was no turning back now. The dinner with the Crown Prince and Clara loomed ahead, and Elara had no choice but to face it. She hoped that, somehow, she could survive the day and find her footing in this new world—before the shadows of the kingdom swallowed her whole.
The hours that followed were tense for Elara. She wandered through the grand hallways, her mind reeling from the interaction with the Crown Prince and Clara. The words of her new family weighed on her, heavy and suffocating. She had tried to remain calm, but the doubt gnawed at her. Was this kingdom as dangerous as it seemed? Was her marriage to Draven the beginning of something far darker than she'd imagined?
By midday, Elara found herself sitting at a long table in the dining hall, the breakfast plates cleared away, as she picked at a simple meal. Her mind wandered back to the invitation. The Crown Prince and Clara had been so dismissive, yet the underlying hostility was clear. They had called her a pawn, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were testing her—waiting for her to crack.
Draven had not returned yet.
Elara pushed her food around her plate, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. When a maid entered with news that Draven had arrived, she stood up quickly. She couldn't wait to speak with him, to feel the security of his presence. The shadow of the nightmare still lingered, and seeing him felt like a brief respite from her uncertainty.
Draven's tall figure appeared in the doorway. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his crimson eyes fixed on her, giving her a quiet, but intense, sense of recognition.
"Good morning," Elara greeted, her voice tentative.
"Morning," Draven replied, walking toward her with his usual grace. His gaze softened when it landed on her, but there was a lingering tension in his posture. He seemed far more serious than usual.
"I... I have something to tell you," Elara began, glancing at him. "The Crown Prince and Clara invited me to dinner tonight."
Draven's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I see."
Elara hesitated but continued, "They made it sound like... like they want to test me, or perhaps... even ridicule me."
"They're troublemakers," Draven said, his voice low and calm, but Elara caught the edge of warning in his tone. "But you'll come with me. I will accompany you."
Elara looked at him with surprise. She had half-expected him to tell her to avoid them altogether. But instead, he seemed... resolute.
"Are you sure? You don't have to," she said, her concern evident.
Draven gave her a small, enigmatic smile. "I'm your husband. You shouldn't have to face them alone."
Before Elara could respond, a few maids entered, each carrying elaborate dresses. They laid the clothing on a chair next to Elara, each one more extravagant and revealing than the last. The silk fabric shimmered in the light, but Elara couldn't ignore the fact that most of the dresses left little to the imagination.
"They are... lovely," Elara said hesitantly, unsure of how to respond.
Draven, who had been watching from the side, suddenly straightened, his eyes flicking over the dresses with clear disapproval. "You will not wear any of these," he said, his tone firm.
Elara blinked in surprise, her heart beating faster. She hadn't expected such an immediate reaction. "But... they are for the dinner, aren't they?"
"They are too revealing," Draven replied, his voice edged with possessiveness. "You will wear something more appropriate."
Elara felt a sudden heat rise in her cheeks, an unfamiliar sensation stirring within her. Was this possessiveness a part of him that she hadn't seen before? His intense gaze bore down on her as if daring her to question him. His stance, protective yet commanding, gave her the sense that he was not just concerned for her, but determined to assert his control over the situation.
"Okay," Elara murmured, unsure of how to react.
As the maids started to take the dresses away, Draven turned to her. "Get dressed in something modest, and meet me in the dining room. We'll leave together."
Elara nodded, though her thoughts were scattered. She had never imagined her marriage would come with this kind of possessiveness. It unsettled her, but part of her also felt protected. She wasn't sure how to feel about it, but she had little time to ponder, as Draven was already heading toward the door.
"I'll be there," she whispered, almost to herself.
---
The dinner came swiftly, and Elara found herself standing at the entrance to the royal dining hall, Draven at her side. The atmosphere was tense, and her nerves flared up again as she thought about the confrontation ahead. The Crown Prince and Clara had already arrived, their icy stares waiting for her.
As Draven led her into the room, Elara felt a chill run through her. She had no idea what to expect next, but one thing was clear: the shadows of this kingdom were darker than she had imagined, and she would need to find her way through them, with or without Draven's protection.