Chapter 3 : Chains of Duty

Chapter 3: Chains of Duty

The days leading up to the wedding were filled with tension and reluctance on both sides. Neither Selene nor Kael wanted this marriage, but duty bound them both. Messages were exchanged, emissaries sent back and forth between the kingdoms, and preparations were made for a grand ceremony that would mark the end of centuries of bloodshed.

In the Wolf Kingdom, Selene trained harder than ever, trying to lose herself in the familiar rhythm of battle practice. She sparred with her warriors, her blades flashing in the morning light, her body moving with the grace and ferocity of a predator. But no matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that lingered in the pit of her stomach.

This was not the life she had envisioned for herself. She had always imagined leading her people into battle, earning victory with her own strength and skill. She had never pictured herself in a gown, standing beside an enemy prince, exchanging vows for the sake of politics.

One afternoon, as she wiped the sweat from her brow, her closest friend and fellow warrior, Lyra, approached her. Lyra was one of the few people Selene truly trusted, and her presence was a welcome comfort in these uncertain times.

“You’re brooding,” Lyra said, handing Selene a waterskin.

Selene took a long drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You’d be brooding too if you were in my position.”

Lyra smirked. “True. But I can’t say I’m envious of you. Marrying the Prince of Shadows? I’d rather face an army of night creatures alone.”

Selene let out a bitter laugh. “It might be the same thing.”

Lyra’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on Selene’s shoulder. “You don’t have to like him. But if this marriage brings peace, maybe it’s worth it.”

Selene sighed, her frustration momentarily giving way to weariness. “I know. I just… I don’t trust him, Lyra. He’s cold, calculating. He’s everything we’ve fought against.”

“And yet,” Lyra said with a knowing look, “he probably feels the same way about you.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue. She knew Lyra was right. Kael likely hated this as much as she did.

Meanwhile, in the Night Realm, Kael stood in his private chambers, staring out at the darkened sky. The shadows that surrounded him seemed to pulse with his emotions, feeding off his frustration and resentment. He had always been at peace with the darkness, but now it felt like a burden.

The idea of marrying Selene gnawed at him. She was a wild thing, untamed and fierce. He had seen the way she fought on the battlefield, the way her warriors followed her with absolute loyalty. There was no doubt she was a formidable leader, but she was also his enemy.

And soon, she would be his wife.

Kael’s fingers drummed against the stone windowsill as his thoughts drifted. He wasn’t naive. He knew this marriage wasn’t about love—it was about politics, about survival. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept. He was a prince of the Night Realm, master of shadows, and yet here he was, being forced into a union with a woman who despised him as much as he despised her.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. It was his most trusted advisor, Darion, entering the room with a respectful bow. “The preparations are almost complete, Your Highness. The Wolf Kingdom will arrive by tomorrow’s nightfall.”

Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. “So, it’s happening.”

“Yes,” Darion confirmed. “The ceremony will be held at the Dark Temple, as per tradition.”

Kael let out a slow breath, his mind still whirling with thoughts of Selene. “She won’t be easy to control,” he muttered. “She’s too wild.”

Darion chuckled softly. “Perhaps that’s exactly what you need, my prince. Someone to challenge you.”

Kael shot him a sharp look but didn’t respond. He didn’t need a challenge. He needed peace. But deep down, he couldn’t deny the flicker of curiosity that had started to grow within him, a small ember that refused to be extinguished.

Tomorrow, he would meet her.

And tomorrow, their fates would be sealed.

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