Promises
1990 Words
“Tell me what is troubling you, Ivanna.”
His words hung between them.
Ivanna stared at him, her lips parting slightly.
She had imagined having a conversation with Giveon countless times since arriving at the castle.
But never like this.
Never with him standing so close.
Never with those intense grey eyes fixed entirely on her.
She looked away.
“I don't know where to begin.”
“Then begin with whatever comes to your mind.”
His voice was calm.
There was no command in it this time.
No coldness.
He sounded almost patient.
Ivanna slowly turned toward the window again.
“I was thinking about everything that has happened.”
Giveon remained silent.
“Everything changed so quickly,” she continued. “My life. My home. My family.”
Her voice grew quieter.
“And now I'm here.”
She looked down at the ring on her finger.
“Married to a man I barely know.”
Giveon's eyes followed her gaze.
“You're afraid of me.”
It wasn't a question.
Ivanna swallowed.
She didn't want to lie.
“Yes.”
Giveon's jaw tightened slightly.
But he didn't look angry.
Instead, he nodded.
“I understand.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“You do?”
“I would be surprised if you weren't.”
Ivanna studied his face.
“Why?”
“Because everything about this kingdom is unfamiliar to you.”
He paused.
“And I am probably the most unfamiliar thing of all.”
A small, nervous smile touched her lips.
“You're not exactly easy to understand.”
A faint amusement flickered in his eyes.
“No. I suppose I'm not.”
The tension between them eased slightly.
Ivanna looked at him again.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Even if you don't want to answer?”
“That depends on the question.”
She smiled faintly.
Then her expression became serious.
“What happened in the council meeting?”
Giveon went completely still.
For several seconds, he didn't answer.
Ivanna immediately regretted asking.
“You don't have to tell me.”
“My brothers.”
She blinked.
“What about them?”
“They are planning against me.”
Her heart skipped.
“Planning what?”
“War.”
The single word made the room feel colder.
Ivanna stared at him.
“War?”
Giveon nodded.
“My spies have received information that my brothers are preparing to join forces against me.”
She slowly rose from the chair.
“Your own brothers?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
Giveon's expression hardened.
“Because they believe the throne belongs to them.”
Ivanna frowned.
“But you're the king.”
“For now.”
There was something chilling about the way he said it.
Ivanna looked toward the darkness beyond the window.
“Do you think they'll really attack?”
“I don't know.”
It was the first time she had heard uncertainty in his voice.
That frightened her more than anything else.
“If you don't know, then how can you stop them?”
“I prepare.”
“For war?”
“For anything.”
Giveon walked toward the fireplace.
The flames illuminated the sharp lines of his face.
“I've spent years preparing for the possibility that my brothers would eventually turn against me.”
Ivanna watched him.
“Then why marry me?”
The question escaped her before she could stop it.
Giveon slowly turned around.
“What does one have to do with the other?”
“I don't know.”
She looked down.
“I just thought…”
“What?”
“That perhaps marrying me was part of some political plan.”
Giveon's eyes narrowed slightly.
“It wasn't.”
Ivanna looked up.
“Then why?”
He didn't answer immediately.
The silence stretched between them.
Finally, he said, “Because I chose you.”
Her heart fluttered.
She didn't know what to say.
Giveon walked closer.
“I know you didn't choose this marriage.”
Ivanna's eyes softened.
“No.”
“I know you were brought here without understanding what your life would become.”
She nodded.
“And I know you are frightened.”
His voice became quieter.
“But I will never force you to do anything you don't wish to do.”
Ivanna looked at him carefully.
“Never?”
“Never.”
Something inside her loosened.
She hadn't realized how badly she needed to hear those words.
Giveon stopped a few feet away from her.
“You are my wife,” he continued. “But that does not mean you belong to me.”
Ivanna's eyes widened slightly.
“Then what does it mean?”
Giveon looked at her for a long moment.
“It means I will protect you.”
She lowered her gaze.
“Even if your brothers come?”
“Especially then.”
The words were spoken with such certainty that she believed him.
But another thought entered her mind.
“Would they hurt me?”
Giveon's expression immediately changed.
“No.”
His voice was colder now.
“They won't get close enough.”
Ivanna could see the anger behind his eyes.
It wasn't directed at her.
It was directed at the possibility of anyone harming her.
She slowly nodded.
“Thank you.”
Giveon looked at her.
“For what?”
“For telling me.”
“You deserve to know what is happening.”
Ivanna smiled faintly.
“I thought kings didn't explain themselves.”
“Most kings don't.”
“And you?”
He gave her a faint smile.
“I'm beginning to think you ask too many questions.”
She laughed softly.
It was the first genuine laugh Giveon had heard from her.
He stared at her.
Ivanna noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were staring.”
“I was.”
Her cheeks warmed.
She quickly looked away.
The silence that followed was different from the silence during dinner.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
It was almost peaceful.
Ivanna returned to her chair beside the window.
Giveon remained standing for a moment before walking toward the other side of the room.
Then Ivanna remembered something.
“Giveon?”
He turned.
“Yes?”
“Your councilman.”
His expression became guarded.
“What about him?”
“He seemed important during the meeting.”
Giveon's eyes narrowed.
“You saw him?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I just mean… you said your spies brought the information. Do you trust the people around you?”
Giveon stared at her.
She had unknowingly asked the very question that had been troubling him.
Trust.
He had spent years surrounding himself with warriors and councilmen.
Yet now he couldn't shake the feeling that someone close to him was hiding something.
“I trust very few people,” he finally said.
“Not even your council?”
“Trust is earned.”
Ivanna nodded.
“I suppose that's true.”
He looked at her.
“And you?”
She frowned.
“What about me?”
“Do you trust me?”
The question caught her completely off guard.
She stared at him.
Did she trust him?
She was afraid of him.
She barely knew him.
Yet tonight, he had listened to her.
He had answered her questions.
He had promised not to force her.
And despite everything she had heard about vampires, he had never harmed her.
“I don't know,” she admitted.
Giveon nodded.
“That is fair.”
“But…”
He waited.
“I want to.”
Something shifted in his expression.
It was barely noticeable.
But Ivanna saw it.
“You want to trust me?”
“Yes.”
She looked down at her hands.
“I just need time.”
“You'll have it.”
He didn't hesitate.
Ivanna looked up.
“Really?”
“As much as you need.”
A quiet smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you.”
Giveon nodded.
Then he walked toward the bed.
Ivanna immediately became conscious of the fact that they were alone again.
Her smile disappeared.
Giveon noticed.
“You're doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Worrying.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
She looked away.
“I just…”
“You don't have to share the bed with me.”
Her eyes widened.
“You don't?”
“No.”
He walked toward a large armchair near the fireplace.
“I'll sleep here.”
Ivanna stared at him.
“That chair?”
“Yes.”
“But that's uncomfortable.”
“I'll survive.”
She couldn't help smiling.
“You're a prince.”
“I am aware.”
“And you have an entire castle.”
“Yes.”
“Yet you're going to sleep in a chair?”
“Apparently.”
She laughed softly again.
Giveon watched her.
He found himself enjoying the sound.
He hadn't expected that.
For years, the castle had been filled with fear and silence.
Now, somehow, her laughter seemed to make the room feel warmer.
Ivanna stood.
“You can take the bed.”
Giveon looked at her.
“I said I'll sleep here.”
“And I said you should take the bed.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Are you ordering me?”
She smiled.
“Maybe.”
For the first time that night, Giveon laughed.
It was quiet and brief.
But it was real.
Ivanna stared at him.
She had never heard him laugh before.
And somehow, hearing it made him seem less frightening.
More human.
She wondered if perhaps that was the side of him he rarely showed anyone.
Giveon noticed her staring.
“What?”
She quickly shook her head.
“Nothing.”
He gave her a suspicious look.
“Now you're the one staring.”
Ivanna smiled.
“Maybe I am.”
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither moved.
The air between them seemed to change.
Ivanna could hear her heartbeat.
She quickly looked away.
“I should sleep.”
“Yes.”
She walked toward the bed.
But before she could climb into it, Giveon's voice stopped her.
“Ivanna.”
She turned.
“Yes?”
“Whatever happens…”
His expression was serious.
“You stay close to me.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if my brothers truly intend to attack, the castle may not remain safe.”
A chill ran through her.
“And if something happens?”
“Come to me.”
His eyes held hers.
“No matter what you hear. No matter who tells you otherwise.”
Ivanna nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
“Good.”
She climbed into bed.
Giveon moved toward the armchair.
The room slowly fell silent.
Ivanna pulled the blanket over herself and closed her eyes.
But sleep refused to come.
Her mind kept returning to his words.
His brothers.
War.
Danger.
And the promise he had made to protect her.
She turned onto her side.
Across the room, Giveon sat in the chair with his eyes closed.
He appeared to be asleep.
But Ivanna had begun to realize that Giveon never truly relaxed.
Not completely.
She watched him for a few moments.
Then she whispered,
“Goodnight.”
His eyes opened.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“I was pretending.”
A small smile touched his lips.
“Goodnight, Ivanna.”
She closed her eyes again.
Neither of them knew that far beyond the castle walls, beneath the cover of darkness, a lone rider was approaching the kingdom.
And hidden beneath his black cloak was the crest of one of Giveon's brothers.
The war had not begun.
Not yet.
But someone had already crossed the kingdom's borders.
And they had come with a message.
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