Never Marry a Villain

Chapter 4: The Midnight Ball & The Truth

The night before the wedding, the castle held a grand masquerade ball to celebrate the upcoming union.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my guest chambers, staring at my reflection. I was wearing a breathtaking gown made of midnight-blue silk that glittered like the night sky, with a dark silver lace mask covering the top half of my face. My silver hair was styled in elaborate curls that tumbled down my back.

I looked like a Shadow Queen. And honestly? I kind of loved it.

I walked down the grand staircase into the ballroom. It was packed with creatures of all kinds—fae with shimmering wings, shadow-wraiths in elegant suits, and nobles from all over Nox. But the moment I stepped into the room, every single eye turned to look at me.

And then I saw him.

Julian was standing near the throne, wearing a matching dark blue coat with silver embroidery. He held a black velvet mask in his hand. When his eyes met mine, the entire room seemed to melt away.

He walked toward me, his gaze so intense it felt like a physical touch.

"You take my breath away, Aurelia," he murmured, taking my hand and kissing the back of my knuckles. A shiver ran straight up my spine.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Dark Lord," I whispered back, my cheeks flushing bright red.

"May I have this dance?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

He took my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor as the orchestra started playing a slow, haunting waltz. He placed one broad hand on the small of my back, pulling me impossibly close. We moved together seamlessly, like two stars orbiting each other.

"I have to ask you something, Julian," I said, looking up into his stormy eyes.

"Anything."

"Why didn't you destroy Lysander today? You could have killed him easily."

Julian was silent for a moment, guiding me through a graceful turn. "Because he is your countryman. And despite what you think of me, Aurelia, I do not enjoy pointless bloodshed. I only fight for what is mine."

"And... am I yours?" I blurted out before my brain could stop my mouth.

Julian stopped dancing right in the middle of the room. He stared at me, his eyes burning with a deep, fierce passion that made my breath catch in my throat.

"Aurelia," he said, his voice dropping to a low, rough whisper. "From the moment you stepped out of that carriage, looking at me like you wanted to stab me with a butter knife... you were all I could see. I didn't agree to this marriage to punish your father. I agreed to it because I wanted you."

My heart did a full-on double backflip. "You... did you?"

"Yes," he whispered, leaning down. "I have loved you from afar for two years, Princess. Ever since I saw you at the peace summit in Solaria. You were arguing with a noble who was being rude to a servant girl, and you threw a glass of fruit punch at his face."

I burst out laughing. "You remember that?!"

"I knew right then," Julian smiled—a real, genuine, breathtaking smile that lit up his whole face—"that you were the only woman in the world who could ever rule by my side."

He started to lean down further, his lips just millimeters away from mine. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding, waiting for the kiss

—

"ATTACK!"

A sudden loud shout broke through the music!

The glass ceiling of the ballroom shattered! Dozens of men in black hoods dropped down on ropes, holding dark glowing blades!

"Protect the King!" the guards yelled!

Panic erupted! Guests were screaming and running in every direction!

Julian shoved me behind him in an instant, drawing his blade. "Stay close to me, Aurelia!"

One of the hooded men landed right in front of us. He pulled off his hood—and my breath hitched in horror.

It was my father's chief advisor, Lord Vance! (Wait, no, different Vance—Lord Malakor! No, wait, Lord Cedric!).

"Lord Cedric?!" I gasped. "What are you doing?!"

"Rescuing you, Princess!" Cedric yelled evil-ly. "King Gerald was too weak to destroy the Shadow King, so I have taken matters into my own hands! With the Dark Lord dead, Solaria will take all of Nox's land!"

"You fool!" I yelled, stepping in front of Julian. "Julian isn't evil! You're the ones who are evil!"

"She's been brainwashed!" Cedric screamed. "Kill them both!"

Three assassins lunged at us at the same time. Julian fought like a whirlwind of dark magic and steel, parrying their blades and throwing them back with blasts of shadow energy. But there were too many of them!

One assassin snuck up behind Julian while he was fighting two others, raising a poisoned dagger aimed right for Julian's back!

"JULIAN! LOOK OUT!" I screamed!

Without thinking, I channeled every single ounce of light magic in my body. My silver hair erupted into a blinding aura of brilliant, golden sunlight! A wave of pure, dazzling light blasted out of my chest, slamming into the assassin and throwing him across the room, smashing him through a marble pillar!

The entire room went dead silent.

All the assassins stared at me in pure shock. I was hovering two inches off the ground, covered in glowing golden light, my eyes flashing like supernovae.

"Nobody," I said, my voice echoing with divine power, "-touches MY VILLAIN!"

I slammed my hands together, releasing a flash bang of golden magic that knocked all the assassins unconscious at once.

I landed back on the floor, breathing heavily, my magic fading. I felt totally dizzy and wobbled, but Julian caught me in his arms before I could fall.

He looked at me with absolute awe and devotion in his icy grey eyes.

"That," Julian whispered, "was the most incredible thing I have ever seen."

"I told you," I gasped out, smiling weakly, "I'm not a damsel in distress."

"No," Julian murmured, pulling me tight against his chest and kissing me deeply, passionately, right there in the middle of the ruined ballroom floor. His lips were warm and soft, and the kiss tasted like dark magic and wild strawberry wine.

"You are my Queen."