The Halfbreed Prince
1534 Words
Giveon hated weddings.
Especially his own.
He stood silently in the grand entrance of the human palace, surrounded by guards dressed in black. His expression remained unreadable.
The palace was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Golden pillars rose toward the enormous ceiling, decorated with intricate carvings of flowers and mythical creatures. Crystal chandeliers hung above them, filling the hall with light.
Humans had gathered everywhere.
Nobles whispered behind their fans. Servants hurried from one side of the hall to another. Guards watched him carefully.
Giveon noticed every single one of them.
Some looked afraid. Others looked disgusted. A few were simply curious.
He was used to it.
Being half-human had made him an outsider his entire life.
To the vampires, he was too human.
To humans, he was too much of a vampire.
He belonged nowhere.
And yet, somehow, both kingdoms expected him to become their bridge.
Giveon almost laughed at the irony.
His father had called this marriage a necessary sacrifice.
The human king had called it a chance for peace.
His advisors had called it an honor.
Giveon called it a mistake.
He had never wanted a human wife.
He had never wanted to be used as a symbol.
And he certainly had no interest in pretending to be in love with a woman he had never met.
A guard approached him.
"Your Highness."
Giveon turned.
"The king is waiting."
Giveon nodded.
"Then let's get this over with."
The guard lowered his head.
Giveon began walking.
His boots echoed against the marble floor.
The moment he entered the throne room, hundreds of eyes turned toward him.
He didn't react.
He had been trained from childhood never to show weakness.
Never fear.
Never hesitate.
Never allow anyone to know what he was thinking.
His father had taught him that.
The vampire king had raised him to be a ruler.
Not a son.
A ruler.
Giveon remembered being a child and standing beside his father's throne while nobles whispered about his blood.
Halfbreed.
Abomination.
Human mistake.
He had heard every insult.
Eventually, he stopped caring.
Or at least, he learned how to pretend he didn't.
He was stronger than them.
Faster.
More dangerous.
He had spent years proving that.
Now, no vampire dared call him weak to his face.
The doors to the throne room opened.
The human king stood at the far end.
Giveon approached.
"Your Majesty."
The king nodded.
"Prince Giveon. Welcome."
"Thank you."
The king smiled politely.
Giveon didn't return it.
His eyes moved across the room.
There were human nobles everywhere.
And yet, there was one person he didn't see.
The bride.
Ivanna.
He had heard her name many times.
Daughter of one of the most influential human noble families.
Known for her intelligence.
Kindness.
Beauty.
He had been shown paintings of her.
He had refused to look at them.
He didn't want to know what she looked like.
It was easier that way.
A stranger was easier to marry than a woman with a face.
The king approached him.
"I hope the journey was comfortable."
"It was."
"I trust the vampire delegation was treated well."
"They were."
"Good."
Silence settled between them.
Then the king said quietly, "Giveon, I know this arrangement isn't easy."
Giveon's jaw tightened.
"No, Your Majesty."
"But it is necessary."
"So I've been told."
The king studied him.
"You don't have to love my daughter."
Giveon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I never planned to."
"You only need to respect her."
Giveon said nothing.
"And protect her."
That made him look at the king.
"From whom?"
The king hesitated.
"Anyone who threatens the peace."
Giveon understood immediately.
There were people on both sides who hated this marriage.
Some would do anything to destroy it.
"Understood."
The king nodded.
"Thank you."
Giveon turned away.
His eyes drifted toward the enormous doors at the other end of the room.
He could hear footsteps somewhere beyond them.
Soft.
Careful.
A woman's footsteps.
His senses sharpened.
He could hear a heartbeat.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
Giveon's brows drew together.
Someone was approaching.
The doors remained closed.
Giveon stared at them.
Something inside him shifted.
He couldn't explain it.
He simply knew that whoever was behind those doors mattered.
The doors opened.
Giveon looked up.
And for the first time in his life...
He forgot to breathe.
Ivanna stood at the entrance.
She was wearing an ivory wedding gown that flowed around her like moonlight.
Silver embroidery covered the delicate fabric.
White roses were woven through her dark hair.
Diamonds rested against her throat.
She looked nothing like the paintings he had deliberately refused to see.
She was...
Beautiful.
Not the polished beauty of a noblewoman trying to impress a court.
There was something softer about her.
Something real.
Her eyes moved through the room nervously.
Then they found his.
Everything around Giveon seemed to disappear.
The voices.
The nobles.
The guards.
The music.
Gone.
His attention was fixed entirely on her.
Ivanna stopped.
Her eyes widened slightly.
So this was him.
Giveon.
The vampire prince.
He was taller than she expected.
Much taller.
His black hair was neatly styled, though a few strands had fallen naturally across his forehead.
His face was sharp and striking.
A strong jaw.
Straight nose.
Full lips.
But it was his eyes that caught her attention.
Grey.
Cold.
Almost silver beneath the light.
Ivanna had expected a monster.
Instead, she found a man.
A dangerously handsome one.
She immediately looked away.
Giveon's expression remained unreadable.
But inside, something unfamiliar stirred.
He didn't understand it.
He didn't like it.
Ivanna slowly walked toward him.
Every step made her heartbeat louder.
Giveon could hear it.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
He could also smell her blood.
Sweet.
Warm.
Tempting.
He clenched his jaw.
He hated the reaction.
He had always possessed better control than this.
Yet something about her seemed to affect his senses differently.
When she finally stopped in front of him, neither spoke.
They simply stared at each other.
The human princess looked nervous.
Giveon wondered if she was afraid of him.
Probably.
Most humans were.
"Ivanna," he finally said.
His voice was deep.
Calm.
She swallowed.
"Giveon."
Hearing his name from her lips did something strange to him.
He couldn't explain it.
The king cleared his throat.
"You've finally met."
Neither answered.
Ivanna lowered her gaze.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."
Giveon studied her.
"Is it?"
She looked up sharply.
For the first time, a tiny flash of irritation appeared in her eyes.
"Was I supposed to say something else?"
Giveon's lips almost curved.
Almost.
"No."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Good."
He stared at her.
She wasn't as timid as she looked.
Interesting.
The priest called them forward.
The wedding ceremony began.
Giveon barely heard the words.
His attention kept returning to the woman standing beside him.
Ivanna.
His future wife.
He glanced at her hand.
It was trembling.
Without thinking, he reached for it.
Her fingers stiffened when his touched hers.
His skin was colder than hers.
She looked at their joined hands.
Then at him.
"Relax," he murmured.
"I'm trying."
"You look terrified."
"I'm standing beside a vampire."
"And?"
"And I've been told vampires are dangerous."
His eyes narrowed.
"Who told you?"
"Everyone."
For the first time, Giveon's expression changed.
A faint amusement touched his eyes.
"Everyone is afraid of what they don't understand."
Ivanna looked at him.
"Are you saying I shouldn't be afraid of you?"
Giveon leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped.
"I'm saying you should be careful about who you trust."
Her eyes searched his face.
"And can I trust you?"
Giveon stared at her.
That was a question he couldn't answer.
Not yet.
The priest continued speaking.
Their vows were exchanged.
Rings were placed on their fingers.
And finally, the words Giveon had been dreading were spoken.
"You may now seal the union."
Silence.
Ivanna's eyes widened.
Giveon looked at her.
For the first time, he noticed the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
She looked away.
Giveon leaned closer.
He could hear her heartbeat accelerate.
He stopped before their lips touched.
"Do you want me to?"
Ivanna looked into his eyes.
She hesitated.
Then whispered,
"No."
Giveon straightened.
"Good."
Her eyebrows furrowed.
"Good?"
"I don't want to either."
Something flashed across her face.
Relief.
Perhaps disappointment.
He couldn't tell.
The priest smiled awkwardly.
"The kiss is symbolic."
Giveon simply nodded.
The ceremony continued.
And before either of them had time to understand what had happened, they were married.
Husband and wife.
Vampire and human.
Two strangers bound together for the sake of peace.
Applause erupted throughout the hall.
Ivanna smiled faintly at the crowd.
Giveon watched her.
She looked happy.
But he knew better.
Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
She was hiding something.
Just like him.
As the ceremony ended, Giveon leaned toward her.
"Congratulations, Princess."
She looked at him.
"Congratulations, Your Highness."
He offered his arm.
She hesitated before taking it.
Together, they began walking down the aisle.
Hundreds of eyes followed them.
Neither spoke.
But as they crossed the threshold, Giveon felt something he hadn't expected.
For the first time since the arrangement had been announced...
He wasn't completely certain that this marriage was a mistake.
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