To the future queen
1316 Words
Seryna
I emerged from the balcony, my hand still warm where Caius had kissed it, the memory etched into my skin like a sigil. The King’s promise ring now graced my finger—Osmium and amber, set with a tiny preserved flower that glowed faintly under the ballroom lights, a vow whispered to the stars. Every step I took beside him was laced with awe. The marble tiles beneath my heels shimmered like moonstone, and the scent of honeysuckle, waxed wood, and champagne danced in the air.
We passed under the arched entrance of the ballroom, the soft rustle of my gown mingling with the muted hum of music and laughter. The air crackled between us, the bond humming with a charge that made my pulse flutter.
Just before we reached the heart of the crowd, Caius leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to my temple. “I must mingle with the visiting diplomats,” he murmured, his voice low and sincere, like velvet against my senses. “Later tonight, I will make the announcement.”
His fingers brushed mine one last time, lingering like the final note of a song, before he turned and strode away with regal poise. I watched the confident set of his shoulders, the measured rhythm of his steps. The gold embroidery on his coat glinted like captured starlight. He glanced back once, caught me staring, and winked. Heat surged through me. I spun around, cheeks blazing, and hurried back to our table.
Nerissa squealed the moment I arrived, her voice like the crashing of delighted waves. She threw her arms around me. “That’s my girl! I knew you had it in you!”
Liora leaned forward, her floral perfume wafting into the air. “Did he kiss you? Tell you he was madly in love with you? Did he propose marriage?!”
I blushed but stayed silent, letting Caius make the grand reveal instead of showing the ring.
Maria, ever poised, gently hushed them with a serene smile. Her eyes swept over my face, sharp and knowing. “Sit, sweetie,” she said, patting the chair beside her. “And tell me—when exactly were you going to tell me you’d met your mate?”
Before I could reply, a procession of palace servants arrived. Their uniforms shimmered in hues of silver and teal, catching the flickering candlelight as they bowed with precise elegance. Their movements were like choreography, every step and gesture practiced to perfection.
I chose the mother-of-pearl lobster, its shell iridescent and steaming, the aroma buttery and rich. Maria selected a musical salad; enchanted fruits and herbs that emitted delicate bell-like chimes with each shift of the greens. Nerissa picked the seaside kabobs—skewers that hovered midair, trailing trails of golden steam. Liora, always dainty, selected the fluttering falafel—tiny, spiced orbs that danced lightly above her plate.
The food was divine. Every bite melted on the tongue or burst with complex flavor—sweet, savory, smoky, bright. Conversation buzzed with laughter and warmth. Maria watched me often, her gaze softening like a mother watching a dream she never dared to hope for come true. I noticed her eyes mist over once or twice, and I knew she was remembering the me I used to be. The girl who flinched at every loud sound, who couldn’t sleep without a light on.
As our plates emptied and music swelled, a vampire noble approached Liora. He bowed deeply, the crimson sash of his station catching the light.
“May I have the honor of this dance?” he asked, voice smooth as silk.
Blushing, Liora accepted. Her gown shimmered with petals that fluttered like wings as she stood.
Not long after, a handsome merman in a coral-colored uniform bowed to Nerissa. “Might I steal you away, my lady of the waves?”
Nerissa giggled, her laugh like water rushing over stones. “Only if you promise not to trip over your fins.”
Maria chuckled, lifting her goblet—blue crystal etched with vines—and sipped slowly.
Then, a familiar figure approached. Eliza.
Maria’s old friend, the pack doctor, now silver-haired and sturdy. Her braid lay neat over one shoulder. Her eyes were wise, but tonight they carried a shadow of concern.
“Maria,” she said warmly, “may I have a word?”
They stepped into a quieter corridor. The hush of the hallway pressed close.
Eliza lowered her voice even more, casting a wary glance down the corridor. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but you deserve to know. I've come to warn you about the luna.”
“Why?” Maria asked alarmed.
“She refused to give Seryna’s biological mother a proper send off,” Eliza said, her voice edged with disbelief. “The body still sits in the morgue, waiting. Said Seryna has to do it herself. She’s using it to lure her back.”
Disgust flickered in Maria’s eyes.
“She may have been a monster,” Maria said, “but she deserves dignity in death. And I won't allow Seryna to be manipulated.”
Eliza’s voice lowered further. “The Luna’s becoming reckless. I risked a lot bringing this to you. Just… be ready.”
Maria looked back through the ballroom doors where her daughter laughed under the chandeliers. “Let her have this night,” she whispered."
Trumpets blared. The ballroom stilled like the held breath of a storm.
A royal herald stepped forward. “An announcement from His Majesty, the King.”
Caius walked toward the thrones, his presence swallowing the room. With each step, his aura deepened. Guests quieted, drawn to him like moths to flame.
“Seryna Vale,” he called, voice magically amplified. “Please join me.”
My breath caught. My fingers gripped the table.
Rose whispered, Breathe.
I stood. Every step echoed like thunder in my ears. The room blurred as I walked toward him, the silk of my gown brushing against my legs like waves. A part of me still waited to wake up. Still feared that someone would laugh and call me a mistake. I felt like Cindara from the Moonlit Slipper, walking through a dream spun from moonlight and glass.
Caius met me at the stairs, his hands warm as he guided me to his side. His gaze—steady, proud—held me together.
“Before you stands one of the greatest minds in medicine among werewolves,” he proclaimed. “This brilliant young woman is my mate… and the future Queen of all twelve werewolf territories.”
Gasps. Cheers. Laughter. Applause.
My heart soared, overwhelmed.
Caius
From the dais, I caught movement—Celeste. Her face twisted with disbelief and fury, crimson lips drawn tight. I watched the tremble in her clenched fists, the glassy sheen of her wide eyes. Her pride shattered in an instant. The world she thought she ruled had slipped through her fingers. With a strangled sob, she turned sharply, her red gown slicing through the crowd like a blade, and fled the room. Guests parted around her like ripples in water. Her father, Alpha Thorne, stormed after her, his jaw clenched, his face thunderous. I would deal with that aftermath soon enough.
I lifted my hand. “And not only is she brilliant—Seryna has made a breakthrough that will save thousands. She has discovered a cure for red rot fever.”
The crowd froze. Then, a tidal wave of applause.
Seryna
When the noise softened, Caius lifted his goblet high. Golden champagne sparkled in the light.
“To the future queen!”
A thousand voices rose in answer, glasses lifted, voices echoing. The room glowed like stardust come alive.
And for the first time in my life, I let it happen.
I let myself feel… worthy.
Not just of him.
Of all of it.
- Writer
