Chapter 2: Shattered Promises
928 Words
~ Chapter 2: Shattered Promises ~
Yssrina sat in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection but not truly seeing it. The silver crescent pendant Damien had given her rested against her collarbone, a cruel reminder of the love she was about to betray.
Outside, the sun was beginning to rise, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and violet. But in her heart, there was no warmth—only a growing storm of dread.
She had spent the night in silence, locked in her chambers, replaying her father’s words over and over again. You will be wed to the King.
There had been no choice. No protest. Just an order wrapped in formality.
And now, she had to face the one person who would be shattered by this truth.
Damien.
A knock sounded at the door. Her maid, Lirienne, peeked in hesitantly. “My lady, the prince has arrived.”
Yssrina sucked in a sharp breath.
Of course, he had.
He had told her he would wait for her, and she had left him in the dark all night. He must have been restless, worried, maybe even angry.
She smoothed the front of her gown, steeling herself. “Let him in.”
Lirienne hesitated before stepping aside, allowing Damien to stride in.
The moment he entered, the tension in the room thickened.
His expression was unreadable at first—his sharp eyes scanning her, searching for answers. But as he took in her tired, red-rimmed eyes and the way she clutched her arms around herself, his gaze darkened.
“What’s wrong?” His voice was low, edged with concern.
Yssrina opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She hadn’t realized how hard this would be.
Damien stepped closer. “Yssrina.”
She flinched. That was all he needed.
His jaw tightened. “Tell me.”
She forced herself to meet his eyes, though her chest ached. “I—” Her voice caught. She swallowed. “I’m to be married.”
Silence.
A long, suffocating silence.
Damien blinked, as if he hadn’t heard her correctly. Then, he let out a short, humorless laugh. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
His entire body tensed. “To who?”
She exhaled shakily. “The King.”
It was like watching a man be struck by lightning.
His face lost all color. His lips parted, but no words came.
Then, a strangled sound left his throat—a mix between disbelief and something raw, something broken.
“The King?” he repeated, his voice hoarse.
Yssrina could only nod.
A dark chuckle escaped him, but there was no amusement in it. “That’s impossible. He—he’s old enough to be your father. He—” He stopped, exhaling sharply as if the very thought sickened him.
Her hands clenched into fists. “I know.”
His gaze snapped to her, wild and desperate. “Then say no.”
She flinched.
He grabbed her shoulders, his grip firm but not harsh. “Say no, Yssrina. Gods, tell me this isn’t final.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I can’t.”
His fingers twitched. “You can.”
She shook her head, stepping out of his hold. “You don’t understand. My father—he said the King’s decision is law. If I refuse, I shame my family. I risk exile. I risk death.”
Damien’s breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His hands curled into fists at his sides.
“So that’s it?” His voice was hollow. “You’ll marry him? Just like that?”
Tears slipped down her cheeks. “What choice do I have?”
“You fight,” he growled, his voice sharp. “You run. We run.”
She gasped. “Damien—”
“Come with me.” His hands found hers, desperate, trembling. “Tonight. Now. We leave. We go far away, beyond the reach of the crown. I will keep you safe. I swear it.”
Her heart thundered against her ribs. The thought of escaping, of leaving everything behind for the only man she had ever loved—it was intoxicating.
But it was also impossible.
Torn, she whispered, “And what happens when we’re caught? When the King sends his army after us?”
“I don’t care.”
Her breath hitched.
He pulled her closer, pressing his forehead against hers, his voice breaking. “Please, Yssrina.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel his warmth, his love, his desperation.
And she wanted, more than anything, to say yes.
But she knew better.
Shaking, she forced herself to step back. “I can’t.”
The moment she said it, something inside him shattered.
His hands dropped from hers as if she had burned him. His eyes, once filled with devotion, darkened with something else—betrayal.
“You won’t.”
She shook her head, more tears slipping free. “I love you, Damien. I do.”
His expression twisted. “Not enough.”
A deep silence settled between them, heavier than before.
And then, without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out.
She watched him go, her heart screaming for her to run after him. To take it all back.
But she didn’t.
And as the doors shut behind him, she knew—this was the moment she had lost him.
Not to war.
Not to fate.
But to duty.
And duty was the cruelest of all fates.
- Writer
