Forever Bound to the Night

Married To A Beast

As I sank back into the luxurious plush velvet cushions of the carriage, a rush of anxiety and doubt enveloped my heart, weighing it down heavily. Beside me, Mary gripped my hand with unwavering strength, her presence offering solace and reassurance in the face of the impending uncertainty. Together, we found ourselves peering out at the vast expanse of the countryside unravelling before us, momentarily seeking a familiar sight or landmark amidst the ceaseless unknown that lay ahead.

We travelled in silence half of the day. We had long departed from the confines of the palace, swiftly passing by intermittent small towns, villages, and an extensive expanse of bushes. Mary, exhausted by our journey, had succumbed to slumber while I remained alert, allowing my thoughts to wander towards the unknown future that lay ahead of me.

What will he be like?

Will he kill me too just as it was rumoured that he murdered his previous brides?

How will living amongst Lycans feel, worse, staying in their royal court?

A shudder ran down my spine at the mere thought of that. Staying at the palace and suffering in the hand of my cruel father and my witch of a stepmother would've been better than going to live among wolves, but my father decided to toss me to them like a piece of rag.

I huffed out a deep breath and my stomach rumbled to show that it hasn't been fed. I haven't even had a drop of water today. I briefly glanced at Mary, who was still deep in her sleep before bending to grab the medium-sized rectangular box under the chair opposite us. I yanked it open and brought out the goblet vessel in it, gulping down the liquid it contained and quenching my thirst. My lips slightly stretched at the sight of the loaves of bread I saw. How thoughtful of Mary to pack them, too bad I don't have the appetite to eat anything. I closed the lid of the goblet, putting it back inside the box, closing it and settling it back where I got it from.

I let out a sigh of exhaustion, feeling the weight of the journey on my shoulders. Leaning back against the comfortable chair, I absentmindedly looked out the window. To my surprise, I noticed that we had already departed from the familiar human realm. The sky had taken on a slightly darker hue, indicating that we were now in a realm beyond. It became evident that this road we were on was not just any ordinary path, but rather a significant crossroad leading to various realms, including that of the powerful Lycans.

Well, yes, we indeed had different realms for various races such as humans, Lycans, vampires, witches, fae, fairies and more. I became knowledgeable about these realms not through personal encounters, but because my mother took it upon herself to teach me about them and encourage me to read books on the subject.

'I am just letting you know more about our world, my dear. It will be useful to you in the future'.

Those would always be her words whenever she forced me to read books about the different realms and I'll grumble about it. Sometimes, I would tell her to allow me to visit these places she made me read in books, but she'll always say that it's not safe for me.

I sighed deeply, my eyelids grew heavy and I was about drifting off to sleep but I was jerked awake when the carriage jolted forward and came to an abrupt stop, waking Mary too in the process.

She quickly glanced around before looking at me. "My lady, are you alright?" She asked, her tone laced with worry. I quickly nodded at her.

The door immediately jerked open and Jerome peered at us.

"I'm actually sorry about the inconvenience but I'll have to ride with you, maladies," he said as he entered the carriage and sat opposite me and Mary.

"Uhh, did something happen to the other carriage?" I asked enthusiastically, wondering why he suddenly wanted to ride with us.

He smiled at me, revealing the deep hollow on his cheeks. "No, my princess. I'm just acting according to instructions," he said and I nodded not wanting to be too inquisitive.

"How long will it take before we get to your realm?" I asked, adjusting myself on the seat.

"It won't be too long, my princess. We're almost there," he answered simply.

"You can actually call me Larissa." He stared at me for a few seconds before muttering something under his breath.

"What did you say?"

"I said if that's what you want, my prince...ugh...Larissa." I heard Mary stifle a laugh and I looked at him to see him smirking.

Jerome was actually friendly and easygoing. If the Lycan king's uncle is easygoing like this, would he have the same personality too? Or perhaps he would be the exact opposite just as he was rumoured to be.

"And welcome to the Lycans realm, maladies." I was jolted out of my thoughts by Jerome's voice. I swiftly turned my head to stare out of the carriage window. We were still surrounded by ancient forests and sprawling mountain ranges. The atmosphere was imbued with an otherworldly ambiance.

The air carried the scent of earth and wildflower. Golden streams flowed through the landscape, reflecting the sunlight. The forests teemed with lush vegetation and I could see a glimpse of caves and hidden dens, which I guess serve as sanctuaries for the Lycans, where they shift into their wolf forms.

So, I am really here? This is the cruel fate life chose to give me? If there was a way for me to just jerk this carriage door open and flee, I surely would do it.

"This place is enchanting and at the same time..." Mary started to say but before she could finish her words the carriage door was opened.

"And we're here. Welcome to the Lycans' royal palace, maladies," Jerome beamed as he slowly alighted the carriage and stood by the door, extending his hands to help Mary and I get down from the carriage.

We stood in front of the carriage facing the palace. The royal palace stood tall and imposing, constructed from dark-grey granite that melded seamlessly with the surrounding forest. Towering stone walls, adorned with intricate moon-patterned reliefs, encircled the palace grounds. Massive double doors, intricately carved with scenes of lycan legends, served as the main entrance. Turrets reached towards the sky, their slate rooftops glistening under the sunlight. The palace was surrounded by a lush forest, vast gardens, and a shimmering moat, completing its aura of majestic power.

"This way please, my princess." I turned my head to see who owns the tiny voice and I was met with a beautiful petite girl. She typically has delicate facial features and slender body frame, and an overall graceful and elegant appearance.

I looked behind her to see four maids with their heads lowered a bit in a bow.

I swiftly turned to look at Jerome but he was no longer here.

"Where's Jerome, Mary?" I asked, creasing my brows questioningly.

"I have no idea, my princess. I didn't notice when he left," she answered and made her way into the carriage to get the few things we brought with us.

"Well, he had an emergency to take care of. You don't have to worry, my princess." I glanced at the petite girl that answered my question. She doesn't look or sound like a wolf to me. Not that I can identify one, when I see one.

"Okay," I answered simply.

"My name is Isabel and I'm your personal maid...for the meantime," she said, giving me a smile. "Let me take you to your room, my princess. I'm guessing you've had a long journey and need enough rest."

I turned to look at Mary who nodded and gave me a smile in return. We followed her into the opulent royal palace. The interior was more magnificent than I had thought. It had ornate decorations, grand chandeliers, and luxurious furnishings. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries and intricate artwork, creating an ambiance of regal splendor.

I was busy admiring the palace that I didn't know we had gotten to another quarter and was standing before a door.

"We're here, my princess," Isabel said while she opened the door to reveal an exquisite bedroom. We walked into the spacious room that was twice my room back in my father's palace. I scanned around the room, taking note of the high-end furnishings, lavish decor and the plush bedding that could contain three people.

"Is this really my room?" I asked with a surprise laced tone. Why am I being treated nice? I mean, basically I was sold off, I wasn't even expecting to have this kind of bedroom that I couldn't have back in my father's palace.

"Yes, it's your room. I'll leave you to settle in and rest for a while. I'll come back in an hour to run your bath and take you to the dining hall to have your dinner. Is there anything else you need, my princess?" She asked, looking at me.

"Well, umm...I just want to know if Mary will be staying in this room with me?" The thought of being alone in this big room while in the midst of wolves didn't sit well with me.

"Yes, she'll stay with you for a week. After one week, she'll go to the maids' quarters. But not to worry, even when she goes to the maids' quarters, she'll still be your personal maid. In the absence of anything else, I'll take my leave now, my princess." She quickly turned and exited the room.

I sighed as I made my way to the queen-sized bed. It was actually soft and comfortable. And the room itself offers an atmosphere of relaxation.

I jerked awake when I felt a hand tapping me. I looked at who it was and it turned out to be Mary. I didn't even realize that I'd fallen asleep. I gently rubbed my eyes and yawned.

"It's good to finally meet you, princess." I instantly froze on my spot when I heard the chilling and authoritative voice that could bring one to their knees. I didn't even need a soothsayer to know that that was no other person than the Lycan king himself.