Page 15 of Tethered
SEBASTIAN
Iheld my head up high as I walked out into the throne room. Mother’s witches had warded this entire wing of the castle against shadowing earlier tonight, and the queen was the only one who could use the shadows to move through the sacred space.
Glancing to the right, I took in the massive obsidian throne centered in the middle of the enormous room. It sat on an elevated dais, where it would provide Mother with a view of every single person in attendance.
Beyond the dais, still apart from the crowd but not as elaborate, was a second, smaller platform. On it stood an elderly priest dressed in a long white robe, waiting patiently as I approached him.
Deep reds and blacks shrouded the entire throne room, adding to the air of darkness in the space. My footsteps echoed over the stone floor as I walked towards the waiting priest, keeping my gaze straight ahead. Every move I made, every swing of my arms, every twitch of my wings, was calculated.
No matter the turmoil I felt inside, I would show no weakness in front of the waiting crowd of vampires. I was the Prince of Darkness, and I would not give them a single reason to doubt me. The black crown felt heavier than usual as it rested on my brow, but I wouldn’t touch it. I wouldn’t do anything except follow the queen’s orders. That’s what I was good at. Following orders.
My feet took me to the smaller platform, and I clasped my hands behind my back. Studiously ignoring the whispers of the gathered vampires, I stared out the large, rectangular windows that lined the walls. Snow was steadily falling, which was entirely expected.
The doors banged open, and the gathered crowd shifted. A near-frantic energy filled the air as the vampires moved in their seats, all trying to get the best view of my fiancée.
I snapped my wings tight against my back, stilling as the scent of fresh human blood reached my nose. She smelled sogood. My fangs ached at her scent, urging me to turn and look at her.
I did not.
I wasn’t some newly Made vampire who had no control over himself. Instead, I focused on her scents. Beneath the tantalizing aroma of blood was something else. The human was nervous. That was good.
Castle Sanguis was not a safe place, especially for people like her.
Earlier, I went with Estrella and Nelo to collect my bride, thinking that seeing her before this ceremony might make marrying her easier. It did not.
When I had seen how utterlyhumanmy bride was, I left. She was young and unblemished, and I knew that life in Castle Sanguis would ruin her. I would ruin her.
Remembering my orders, I stared out the window as the crowd of vampires murmured. The human I was meant to marry inhaled sharply. I heard it as though she were standing next to me.
Even though I did not turn around, my mind’s eye had no problem picturing what the other vampires saw when they looked at her. She would be standing in the entrance right now, her fingers clenched as the golden dress fanned out around her as she took in the space. Her eyes were probably wide, and without a doubt, she looked like a ray of sunshine in this place of darkness.
The sound of her slippers rustling on the cold stone pulled me out of my mind. The murmurs dried up. I knew the vampires were cataloging her every move.
She was prey, and they were all hunters.
Soon, there was a sharp intake of breath behind me, and then I felt her presence. She stood right next to me. Still, I did not look at her. Her heart drummed a rapid beat in her chest as she murmured something about Marius and duty under her breath.
Seconds went by. The crowd of vampires watched, their gazes heavy. The scent of fear grew stronger, and the air thickened as everyone waited for me to act.
When I knew I could wait no longer, I moved. My eyes landed on the human standing beside me, and I drew in a breath.
My bride.
As soon as I saw her, standing in this place where death and blood reigned, it felt like my slow-moving heart was going to stop. Earlier this evening, when I saw her in her father’s castle, I thought she was pretty.
Now, I realized I was wrong.
Pretty wasn’t the right way to describe her. Despite her short stature, she stood tall. Her hair was the color of dark coffee and it matched the brown eyes that, despite the veil, were wide as they took in the crowd of vampires staring at us. Her small mouth was open in an “O”, and her skin was tanned as though she spent many hours in the sun.
She wasn’t pretty. That was too simple of a word. She was a ray of sunshine in the middle of a dark night. A cool breeze amid a storm. The first flower that bloomed after a long winter. She was an infusion of light into the dark abyss that was my soul.
As I stared at her, this human sent to marry me, I realized I was in trouble. If she had been plain or cruel, ignoring her would have been easy. I could have married her and forgotten about her.
But here she was, beautiful and afraid and looking like she couldn’t hurt a fly. I wasn’t a fool—I knew no person was perfect. But this human did not seem like one I could ignore, even if I wanted to. Fear coated her scent, tasting like bitter ash as it landed on my tongue.
How could I ignore her?
I had made myself a promise that I would never care about anyone ever again. I would never give the queen that kind of power over me. Now, it was like the gods were throwing that promise in my face.
