Page 19 of Monsters we Crave

Aidoneus was then asked, “Do you, Aidoneus, vow to protect and cherish this union, and uphold the sacred bond and honor the legacy of our Triad?”

“I vow,” he replied without hesitation.

He lifted the ring from its box and slid it onto my finger. Its metal embrace tightened subtly, an ominous omen of things to come.

Just as I believed the night’s surprises were over, the atmosphere shifted to such a degree I found myself glancing toward the gathered crowd. They looked…expectant. With a practiced motion, the Venerant holding this ceremony reached into the pocket of his ceremonial robe and withdrew a dagger. It gleamed menacingly. The carvings upon it told of stories long before my time.

He turned and grabbed a chalice that had been hidden from my view behind him. With it in one hand and the dagger in the other, he began to speak. His voice was deep and resonant, echoing through the room.

“Bear witness to this sacred union of blood and spirit. As the past flows into the future, let this vow be a testament to the unbreakable bond we honor today.” He handed the dagger to Aidoneus, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me for a single second.

He sliced a shallow cut across his palm, allowing blood that looked more obsidian than crimson to flow into the awaiting chalice of dark wine. His face never registered the pain; his gaze never wavered, not even as he passed me the dagger. I hesitated for a heartbeat, the cold metal pressing against my palm. A sharp sting followed as I replicated Aidoneus's gesture, my own blood mixing with his in the sacred vessel. The Venerant then passed him the chalice and took back the dagger, wiping the blade with a dragon-embossed cloth.

“Aidoneus Maelstrom, partake in this sacred union. Bind yourself soul and blood.”

He drank deeply, his eyes briefly changing, the pupils narrowing into dragon-like slits.

I blinked, and found the same red eyes flecked with gold staring back at me. The transformation was so quick that I thought maybe I’d imagined it.

“Korinna Hearst, drink and bind yourself soul and blood.”

My heart raced in a frantic tempo.

This wasn’t just about the ring now adorning my finger or the fact that I would become this man’s wife. Marriage was already daunting enough, but there was the slimmest possibility I could free myself from that kind of binding. This oath, however, was eternal. Blood oaths carried age-old traditions and powerful significance in our world. I had heard whispers and stories of these rituals, often told in hushed tones. They were unbreakable and not to be entered lightly. They signified a bond that surpassed all others, intertwining souls with blood and the weight of promises.

A torrent of emotions threatened to overwhelm me: fear of the unknown and the ramifications this would hold for my future; confusion as to why this was happening and what events had transpired to bring me to this moment.

As I took the chalice, Aidoneus made sure I kept my gaze locked with his, an unspoken command holding me in place. I lifted the heavy cup to my lips and sipped, the metallic tang of blood mingling with the rich, dark wine. The taste was sharp and overwhelming, a mix of iron and bitter sweetness. I swallowed it down, and a strange warmth spread through me. As I drank, the Venerant continued his speech.

"In blood, they unite; in purpose, they bind. Two souls, two legacies, now intertwined." He looked between us, his orb-like eyes kind. "You may seal your union with a kiss." With the finality of his words, he gently pulled the chalice away, and our freshly wounded hands were tied together with a silver, silken ribbon, the soft fabric contrasting sharply with the sting of my cut.

Aidoneus' eyes locked onto mine, pulling me into their depths. The distance between us seemed to vanish in an instant, his presence consuming every bit of my awareness.

Every muscle in my body tensed, my heartbeat echoing loudly in my ears as his lips descended upon mine with a tenderness I hadn't expected. The kiss wasn't filled with fiery passion; it was precise, a dark promise more binding than any spoken words or wine. I could taste the remnants of us in his mouth, a lingering testament to the oath we'd just taken. When our lips finally parted and the world around me came back into focus, Aidoneus gently turned us to face those gathered to witness what had just transpired.

The room erupted in a mixture of reactions. Some of the spectators murmured amongst themselves, their voices a blend of curiosity and intrigue. Others applauded, the sound echoing through the grand hall, a show of support and acknowledgment. A few even let out low whistles or cheers, their excitement palpable in the charged atmosphere. Aidoneus urged me forward, and my gaze traveled, landing on my family.

For the first time since this ordeal began, I truly looked at them.

My mother, her eyes wet with tears, tried to force a smile, but the weight of her sorrow and guilt was palpable. My father, bruised and with a defiant tilt to his chin, met my gaze with a complexity of emotions. He looked defeated, yet oddly proud. Beside him, Ophelia's face was a mixture of horror and sympathy, while Nefatari remained calm amidst the chaos, her eyes cool and analytical. Their expressions were a mosaic of pain, pride, and a desperate kind of hope. But what were they hoping for? That I would find my way through this maze of power and politics? It was hard to meet their eyes for more than a few seconds, knowing I was powerless. I could offer no reassurances or answers to why this was happening. Only one thought remained clear: I had to find a way to protect them. I would endure, if only to see my family safe again. No matter what it took.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The night sky lit up in a dazzling display of metallic fireworks. The loud booms and brilliant patterns left me momentarily stunned. Just how long had he been planning this? The entire cityscape was painted in Maelstrom colors, creating a mesmerizing backdrop to the cascade of thoughts racing through my mind.

Aidoneus sat adjacent to me, pouring two glasses of an amber liquid from a crystal decanter. “To vows of blood and the beginning of us,” he offered me one along with the first words he’d spoken since we had gotten into this vehicle.

I silently accepted the glass and downed it in one go. The liquor burned its way through me, a welcome distraction as I tried to find any semblance of clarity.

“Looks like there’s a lot on your mind.”

“I can’t make sense of why this is happening. What’s the reason you’re doing this?”

His gaze met mine, steady and unwavering. “I already told you that, before we even reached home—the estate.”

“That is not my home,” I shot back.

He leaned closer, his voice low and assertive. “It is your home now, Korinna. And there, you will live like the queen you are.”

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