Page 67 of The Blood Moon Oath

Before

The room is full of light, the scent of roses and expensive wine lingering in the air, mingling with the faint hint of perfume and the murmurs of well-dressed guests. I stand at the head of the long table, the faint clink of silverware on china a soft backdrop to the hum of conversation around me. This is it—the engagement dinner. My engagement dinner.

Everything’s supposed to be perfect, every detail meticulously planned. It has to be. The family, the allies, the business partners—all of them are here tonight. Tonight, we cement the future of the family. The union with Elara will elevate us in the eyes of everyone. She’s everything I’ve dreamed of: elegant, poised, smart. Her presence at my side is the finishing touch on a perfect plan.

Elara sits beside me, her hand resting gently on my arm. Her touch, warm and soothing, grounds me in a way I didn’t know I needed. I look at her and for a brief moment, I let myself believe that this is real—that everything we’ve worked for is finally coming together. Her eyes are full of something—something I’ve convinced myself is love. But it’s there. I can feel it, even now. Her touch, the way she leans in to whisper something sweet in my ear.

“Finn,” she says, her voice a soft murmur as the hum of conversation fills the air around us. “You look handsome tonight.”

I smile, and for a moment, I feel like I’m the only man in the room. She’s here, beside me. We’re about to make a future for ourselves. Everything we’ve worked toward, everything that’s led me to this point, isfinallycoming together.

The rest of the world fades away, and it’s just her and me.

The smile that tugs at my lips is tight, but it’s genuine. It’s real enough. My chest swells as I glance around the room at the people watching us—our families, our allies. The future, the family name, is on the line, and I know that tonight will define everything. We’ll be solidified.

I catch a glimpse of my uncle, a man I’ve always respected, and I notice the subtle shake of his head when his eyes fall on Elara and me. The flicker of doubt in his eyes is brief, but it doesn’t escape me. I shake it off. People like him—my family, especially those who've always been stuck in the old ways—think I’m rushing this, think that I’m too young, too impulsive to make such a big decision. But they don't understand. They don't see what I see in Elara.

She’s perfect. She’s exactly what I need.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I murmur to her, feeling the weight of everything around me begin to settle. “Everything looks just as I imagined.”

Her smile is soft, almost secretive, but I catch the warmth in her eyes. “I’m glad you think so. It’s a perfect night.” Her fingers brush lightly against the back of my hand, the movement almost too subtle for anyone else to notice.

Her touch ignites something inside of me. I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the room. I have everything I could ever want: a woman who seems to love me, a family legacy that’s already been handed down to me, and a future I’m eager to build. Everything is in place.

But as the night unfolds, there’s a strange sense of unease that settles in my gut. I can’t quite place it. It’s a feeling that no amount of wine or polite conversation can shake.

Later in the evening, just as the final toast is made and the glassware clinks together, I hear the hushed murmur of my cousin, Rhiannon, speaking quietly with my father’s old advisor.

“Are you sure about this, Finn?” Rhiannon asks, her voice low enough that only I can hear. “She’s not from the right family. You’ve got to be careful.”

I look over at Rhiannon, her sharp eyes narrowing with a mix of concern and suspicion. I glance back toward Elara, who is standing at the edge of the crowd, speaking with my uncle, her smile flawless, her demeanor poised. She looks every bit the part of a future wife—strong, dignified, every move calculated to impress.

“She’s exactly what I need,” I say, my voice unwavering. “I’ve never been more certain about anything. She’s perfect for us, Rhiannon. She understands the weight of the family legacy. She’s already proven that.”

Rhiannon doesn’t seem convinced, but she doesn’t push it any further. I know she’s always been protective of me, a bit too cautious for my tastes, but I’ve already made up my mind. I don’t need anyone’s validation. Not now. Not after everythingI’ve worked for. Elara’s the key to securing everything we’ve built.

Hours later, just as the dinner wraps up and the guests begin to filter out of the room, my uncle pulls me aside in a quiet corner. His voice is low and measured. “Finn, listen to me. I know you’re in love with her, but you need to be careful. I don’t trust her. I don’t care that she’s charming, or that she knows how to play the game. You’re betting the family’s future on her, and I’m not sure she’s as loyal as you think.”

I’m taken aback by his bluntness. I expect him to be proud of me, of the union. After all, this marriage has everything to do with power—our power. Why can’t he see that?

“You’ve always been too cautious, Uncle,” I say, trying to push the doubt out of my voice. “Elara and I are solid. You’ll see.”

The house is eerily quiet.It’s the kind of silence that fills your ears, makes your skin prickle, and sends a chill crawling down your spine. I’m standing at the entrance of my father’s study, listening to the heavy footsteps of my uncle pacing back and forth behind the door. The tension in the air is thick, something heavy that presses on my chest and makes it hard to breathe.

“Finn,” my uncle says finally, his voice strained. “Come in. We need to talk.”

I step inside, my mind already racing, wondering what it is. A new deal gone wrong? A business mishap? But the look on my uncle’s face, the tightness in his jaw, tells me something’s different.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, trying to sound calm, but I can feel the unease building in the pit of my stomach.

“Everything’snotokay,” my uncle says, his voice low and full of frustration. He holds up a piece of paper, the edges crumpled as though it’s been handled too many times. I can tell it’s official—some kind of document, something important. “We’ve been betrayed, Finn. Someone’s leaked everything—every trade, every secret alliance. Every bit of power we’ve been building for years. It’s all out in the open.”

I freeze, disbelief spreading like ice through my veins. “What are you talking about?” I ask, but I can already tell it’s worse than I want to believe. I want to brush it off, to deny it, to pretend it’s just a misunderstanding.

“Someone inside the family has been working with our enemies. They know everything,” he says, his voice tight. “And we know who it is.”

My heart skips a beat, the words barely registering. “Who?” I finally ask, my voice barely a whisper. My throat tightens, and I already feel a sense of dread creeping in.

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