CHAPTER 55

**SOPHIA**

There is an intensity in his touch and in his kisses, that makes me forget everything except the feeling of being together.

Time seems to stop, and for a brief moment, it feels like the world is just the two of us. There are no more dangers, no more uncertainties, only the certainty that we are here now.

When we finally pull away, both breathless, I feel a mixture of satisfaction and longing. I know this moment can't last forever, and soon we will have to return to the castle and to our normal lives.

But for now, I allow myself to stay in this brief interval of time, appreciating the closeness we share.

Adam holds my hand, and together we start walking back to the castle.

He leads me carefully, looking around to make sure no one sees us.

When we reach my room, he looks at me with his intense eyes, and the golden gleam in them is something I will never forget.

"Thank you for my first lesson today...", I say it with a shy smile.

He nods, a mix of desire and responsibility crossing his face.

"I don’t want to be apart from you, but this is necessary now. Sleep well, Sophia."

I enter the room, close the door softly behind me, and, for a moment, lean against it, still feeling Adam’s presence around me.

The silence of the room contrasts with the whirlwind of emotions inside me. I walk to the bed, my fingers carefully undoing my dress, letting it fall to the floor before putting on my nightgown.

I lie down in bed and close my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. What happened between us is still alive in my mind, and I know something has changed inside me. Adam awakens feelings in me that I can’t ignore, and sighing deeply, I give in to sleep, carried by memories of him.

Two days have passed since that night, and during that time, I haven’t seen the prince.

I wonder how he is coping without feeding on blood, but I feel strange when I think that he might be biting others.

His absence makes me feel a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

On the morning of the third day, I am awakened by a knock on the door.

I rub my eyes as the maids enter the room, their hands already moving to prepare my bath.

"The prince wishes you to be ready.", one of them announces firmly.

"Ready for what?", I ask, still stretching and trying to understand the situation.

The maid looks at me, confused.

"For the prince's coronation this morning. He wants you to be present by his side."

I feel my body stiffen with surprise.

The coronation.

The day he will become king, and the funeral of the late king and queen will be held. I try to process this as the maids prepare my bath.

As soon as I step out of the bath, I see a magnificent gown laid out on the bed, long and adorned in red and black.

"Wow...", I murmured, impressed by the beauty and sophistication of the outfit.

One of the women looks at me with a smile.

"The prince said red suits you perfectly."

"Of course he did...", I reply, shaking my head with a mix of admiration and nervousness.

I haven’t seen him in these past few days since our last encounter in the forest, and the uncertainty about his plans makes me uneasy.

They help me put on the dress and skillfully pin my hair, adding golden jewelry and rubies around my neck.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I barely recognize the girl who entered this castle weeks ago. Now, in front of the reflection, I seem like a completely different woman.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts.

One of the guards informs me that it is time to leave.

I take one last look out the window, observing the castle, which, despite the recent attack, has already been restored.

Humans enter through the gates, ready to witness the coronation of the new king. Even with everything that has happened, those who didn’t partake in the rebellion are here today, seeking a fresh start.

I follow the guards down the hallway, my heart racing with every step.

The corridors are filled with soldiers, and I feel the weight of the moment intensify with each passing second. The air feels heavy, laden with expectations and repressed emotions. Each step brings me closer to the hall where the prince, the future king, awaits me.

Today is the prince's coronation, and this means all the castle's guards are on high alert for anything that might happen here.

I continue walking, looking at everything around me.

The vampires are dressed in red and black as a symbol of a new king and mourning for the royal family.

I feel nervous as I don’t see Adam nearby. I am led into the throne room, and as I begin to descend the stairs, I look down and see that everyone is starting to look at me.

I tremble as I look at everyone, continuing to search for Adam’s presence, but my world seems to stop when I see my mother’s gaze fixed on me.

Mother.

As I descend the stairs, escorted by the guards, my eyes fix on the figure of my mother in the crowd.

A deep sigh escapes my lips, and my heart tightens at the sight of her.

She is okay.

Her eyes, the same ones that have looked at me with tenderness and strength since I was a child, shine with a mixture of sadness and relief.

Time seems to stop as we descend, and the sound of the people around us fades, leaving only the sight of her.

Tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

Blinking doesn’t make them disappear; they silently roll down my face, marking the path of the longing I feel.

I want to run to her, to hug her with all my strength, and to feel the familiar warmth and comfort of being in her arms again.

The emotion inside me grows with each step, and my body prepares to rush forward to finally fill the void that the distance created between us.

But when I try to run, I feel the firm hand of one of the guards gripping my arm tightly.

The touch is a cruel reminder of where I am and what I now represent.

A soft sob escapes me, my feet frozen, as I continue crying in silence.