Chapter 9 The Throne Room
ARIA'S POV
The guards dragged me through corridors that seemed to pulse with darkness. My body still ached from two days of unconsciousness, but that pain was nothing compared to the terror flooding through me now.
Morgana's words echoed in my head: Lydia is dead. And you'll be next.
"Keep moving," one guard snarled, shoving me forward.
The massive doors ahead swung open, and sound crashed over me like a wave—hundreds of voices, all vampire, all angry. The throne room was packed with nobles who wanted me dead.
I stumbled inside, and every vampire in the room turned to stare.
"The First Bride," someone announced, but the title sounded like a curse.
Through the bond, I felt Sebastian's emotions spike—panic, fear, and something that felt like grief. I searched the crowd and found him standing near the throne, surrounded by Elder Cain and other vampire lords. His ice-blue eyes locked onto mine, and I saw the truth there.
He couldn't protect me. Not this time.
"Bring her forward," Elder Cain commanded.
The guards pushed me toward the center of the room. My legs shook, but I forced myself to walk with my head up. If I was going to die, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me crawl.
Morgana stepped out from the crowd, and the smile on her face made my blood run cold. "The court has gathered to discuss a very serious crime," she announced. "Lord Sebastian has broken sacred law by refusing to complete the ritual. The First Bride has used forbidden magic to bewitch him. For the safety of our realm, she must be executed immediately."
Shouts of agreement erupted. I saw Elena in the crowd, tears streaming down her face. Iris stood beside her, one hand on her sword but looking helpless.
"This is insane," Sebastian's voice cut through the noise. He moved toward me, but three vampire lords blocked his path. "Aria hasn't done anything wrong. The bond we share is real, not magic—"
"The bond itself is proof of her crime!" Morgana interrupted. "No human should be able to affect a vampire lord this way. She carries illegal blood, Sebastian. The blood of the Sanguine Healers. And you know what our law says about that bloodline."
My heart stopped. How did she know?
Morgana's smile widened. "Yes, Aria. Did you think your little secret would stay hidden forever? Your mother was descended from the Sanguine line. That makes you an abomination under vampire law. And the punishment for your existence is death."
The room exploded with angry voices. Through the bond, I felt Sebastian's rage and horror mixing with mine.
"You can't prove that," Sebastian said, but his voice sounded desperate.
"Can't I?" Morgana gestured toward the doors.
They opened again, and my world shattered.
Celeste walked in, dressed in an elegant black gown like she belonged here. Marcus followed behind her, looking sick but not stopping her.
"No," I whispered.
My stepmother's smile was triumphant. "Hello, Aria. Surprised to see me?"
She walked straight to Elder Cain and handed him a leather folder. "These documents prove that Aria's mother, Catherine Thornwell, was the last living descendant of the Sanguine Healer line. Which means Aria carries that same forbidden blood."
Elder Cain studied the papers, and his face darkened. "These appear authentic."
"They are," Celeste said smoothly. "I've known the truth for years. In fact, that's why I made sure Aria was selected for the Winter Feast. I knew her illegal bloodline would be exposed here, and she would finally get what she deserves—death."
The hatred in her voice made me stumble backward. She'd planned this. All of it.
"You orchestrated my selection?" My voice came out broken. "You arranged for me to be chosen as a sacrifice because you wanted me dead?"
"Of course," Celeste said, like it was obvious. "You were always in my way, Aria. Even after I took your inheritance, even after I destroyed your engagement, you still had the village's love. People still respected you. I couldn't let that continue."
Through my shock, I heard Sebastian roar. He moved toward Celeste with murder in his eyes, but five vampire lords grabbed him, holding him back with difficulty.
"The law is clear," Elder Cain announced. "Sanguine-blessed humans are forbidden in our realm. The First Bride must be executed at dawn."
"No!" Sebastian struggled against the vampires holding him. "I won't allow it!"
"You have no choice," Morgana said coldly. "Unless you want to be tried for treason alongside her."
Elder Cain raised his hand, and guards surrounded me. "Take her to the execution chamber. Lord Sebastian, you will witness her death at dawn as punishment for breaking tradition."
The guards grabbed my arms. I looked at Sebastian, our bond flooding with emotions neither of us could control—his rage, my terror, our shared devastation.
"Sebastian—" I started.
"I'll find a way," he said desperately. "Aria, I swear, I'll find a way to save you—"
But his words were cut off as the guards dragged me toward a different set of doors. Through the bond, I felt the moment he tried to follow and was held back by force. His anguish hit me like a physical blow.
The last thing I saw before the doors slammed shut was Morgana's satisfied smile and Celeste's cold eyes.
Then I was being pulled down dark stairs that led beneath the palace, toward whatever horrors waited in the execution chamber.
And through the bond, I felt something that terrified me more than my own death—I felt Sebastian starting to break.