Episode2:THE TERMS
1188 Words
The carriage smelled like smoke and leather. And something else. Something ancient. Like lightning right before it strikes.
Aria sat as far from King Kael as the small space allowed. Which wasn't far. Not nearly far enough. His presence filled the entire carriage, heavy and suffocating. Even in human form, he was too big. Too much. Too dangerous.
Outside the window, the sky was black. No stars. No moon. Just darkness. She could hear it though. The beat of massive wings cutting through the night air. His dragons were following them.
Kael hadn't spoken since they left Emberfell. Not one word. He just stared at her with those gold eyes, molten and unreadable, like he was trying to decide if she was worth the trouble. Or if he should throw her out of the moving carriage.
The silence was worse than shouting.
Finally, he broke it. His voice was low. Rough. Like gravel.
"Let's get the rules clear, wife."
The word wife made Aria flinch. It felt wrong in his mouth. Like it didn't belong to her.
"Rule one," Kael said, leaning forward. The carriage dipped slightly under his weight. The gold in his eyes flickered, catching the torchlight. "You do not leave the castle without my permission. Ever. Not for air. Not for water. Not for anything."
Aria swallowed. "Understood."
"Rule two." His gaze didn't leave hers. "You do not lie to me. You do not hide things from me. If I ask you a question, you answer. Immediately. Completely. No exceptions."
Her throat was dry. "Okay."
"Rule three." He paused. His jaw tightened. A muscle ticked there. "You will share my bed when I call for you. This is a marriage contract. Not a charity case. Not a rescue mission. You are my wife in every way that matters."
Heat rushed to Aria's face. It burned her cheeks, her neck. She stared at her hands, at the faint glow of the brand on her wrist. "I know."
"Do you?" Kael's voice dropped lower. Dangerous. "Because you look like a scared rabbit, little healer. And scared rabbits run. And I do not chase."
"I'm not running," Aria said quietly. Her voice shook but she forced it steady. "My village is safe because of this. That's all that matters. Emberfell gets protection. That's the deal."
Kael studied her for a long moment. She could feel him weighing her words. Judging them.
Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a second parchment. This one was smaller. Thicker. The edges were singed, like it had been pulled from fire.
"The contract," he said, and tossed it into her lap.
It landed with a soft thud. It was warm.
Aria unfolded it with shaking hands. The words were written in gold ink that seemed to glow from within the parchment. Moving. Living.
CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE
Between His Majesty, King Kael Drayven of the Obsidian Throne
And Aria Vale of Emberfell Village
Duration: One year, beginning this night.
Terms: The bride shall reside in the castle. The bride shall perform wifely duties. The bride shall not betray, flee, or harm the King.
Penalty for Breach: Death of the bride. Forfeiture of the village's protection.
Her breath caught. Her lungs forgot how to work. "Death?"
"That's standard," Kael said dismissively, leaning back. Like he was talking about the weather. "Dragons don't break contracts. We enforce them."
Aria read further. Her hands trembled. There was more. About heirs. About public appearances. About how she was not to speak to other men. About how she had to attend every council meeting and stand at his side and smile.
And at the bottom, in bold letters that seemed to burn:
Rule 1: No falling in love.
Aria's throat went dry. The words blurred. "Is that really necessary?"
Kael's expression didn't change. Not a flicker. "It is. Love makes people weak. And I don't do weak. I don't do attachments. In one year, this ends. You go back to your village. I go back to my war. No feelings. No complications."
"Right," Aria whispered. The word tasted like ash. "No falling in love."
"Sign it," Kael said, holding out the same black quill from before. The feather was black as obsidian.
This time the parchment burned cold under her fingers. Ice cold. When she signed her name, the brand on her wrist flared again. This time it hurt. White hot pain shot up her arm.
Kael signed with a s***h. One quick motion. The moment he did, the carriage shook violently. A deep rumble rolled through the air, through the ground.
"We're here," he said, standing. The ceiling was too low for him. He had to duck.
The doors opened and cold mountain air hit Aria's face. It stole her breath.
The castle was carved into the side of a mountain. Black stone towers reached into the clouds, disappearing into the darkness. Fire lit the windows, but the flames were blue. Unnatural. And everywhere, she could see dragons. Some flying in circles. Some perched like gargoyles on the spires. Watching.
Servants lined the steps. Dozens of them. All of them bowed as Kael stepped out. No one looked at her.
"Welcome to Drayven Keep," Kael said without looking at her. His voice echoed. "Your prison for the next year."
Aria followed him out. Her legs felt like jelly. The brand on her wrist pulsed.
A woman with silver hair stepped forward. Her dress was black and red. She looked Aria up and down and sneered, lip curling.
"This is her? The human?"
"Watch your tongue, Lyra," Kael warned, but his voice was bored. Uninterested. "This is Lady Aria Vale. My wife."
The word hit Aria like a slap. Lady. Wife. A lie.
"Come," Kael said, walking past her. "I'll show you your rooms."
They walked through halls of black marble. Torches burned with blue flame, casting shadows that moved wrong. Statues of dragons watched them from every corner. Their eyes seemed to follow her.
Finally, they stopped at a massive door. Iron. Covered in claw marks. Kael pushed it open with one hand.
Inside was a room fit for a queen. Big bed with black silk. Fireplace with blue fire. Wardrobe. Window overlooking the mountains and the endless night.
"It's yours," Kael said. "For one year."
Aria stepped inside. It was beautiful. And terrifying. A gilded cage.
"Your maid will bring you dinner," Kael said from the doorway. He didn't enter. "Don't wander. The castle isn't safe for humans at night."
"Why?" Aria asked before she could stop herself. The question slipped out.
Kael's gold eyes met hers. For a second, something flickered there. Not coldness. Not boredom. Something else. Something old. Something tired.
"Because I’m not the only monster here," he said.
Then he shut the door.
The sound echoed.
Aria was alone.
She sank onto the bed and stared at the brand on her wrist. It was still glowing faintly. Matching the blue fire.
One year.
She had just sold herself to a Dragon King.
And somewhere in the castle, deep below, she could've sworn she heard chains rattling.
[END OF CHAPTER 2]
- Writer
