Chapter 3
Anna's POV
"STOP—you filthy pigs dare touch HER?!"
Black mist surged. The Shadow High Priest materialized, flanked by Shadow Guards.
He raised his hand. Shadows coalesced into chains, binding the three men and slamming them against the wall.
"Ahh—"
The crack of breaking bones.
"Fuck you—" Lucian spat. "You know who I AM? My father will kill you—"
The High Priest sneered. The chains tightened.
"AHHH—AHHH—"
Screams echoed through the room.
"Defiling the Shadow Lord's bride." The High Priest looked down at them. "Bold."
He waved his hand dismissively. "Take them. Shadow cells. I don't have time for trash like you today. When Lord Kael returns, he'll 'entertain' you himself."
They dragged the bastards out. The room went quiet.
I huddled in the corner of the bed, clothes torn, shaking.
The High Priest turned and bowed. "My lady. Forgive my delay."
My lady? I froze.
He drew a crystal vial from his sleeve and held it out with both hands.
The liquid inside glowed pale blue.
"The Potion of Forgetting." He explained. "Drink this, and you'll forget every emotional memory from the mortal realm. From then on, you'll exist only as Lord Kael's bride."
I stared at the liquid.
Forget...
Memories flashed—my parents' gentle smiles when I was young. The moment Seraphine arrived and everything changed. From that day on, I became the extra. The burden. I thought if I was good enough, obedient enough, they'd love me again.
I was wrong.
The more I gave, the more they took for granted. My love, my sacrifices—to them, it was just "what a sister should do."
And Julian.
I loved him for seven years. Right now, he was downstairs marrying her. That should've been my wedding. That ring should be on my finger. Those vows should be for me.
Maybe forgetting is mercy.
I took the vial and drank it down.
Bitter liquid burned down my throat, spreading warmth.
The pain, the humiliation, the rage—melted away like snow.
When I opened my eyes again, my heart was still as glass.
"My lady, Lord Kael prepared your wedding attire. Please change." A handmaiden brought forward a gown—black silk embroidered with silver star patterns. Stunning.
I stepped behind the screen and changed.
In the mirror, my brown hair was darkening from root to tip until it was pure black.
My amber eyes shifted, touched with dark gold. The Shadow Lord's power?
The handmaiden placed a black lace veil over my face.
"Let's go." The High Priest led the way.
Tiny bells on the gown chimed with each step.
In the courtyard, guests still laughed and drank.
Father and Mother stood beside Julian and Seraphine, beaming.
Our footsteps drew every eye.
Father frowned, about to shoo us away—then his face went rigid.
"High—High Priest?" He forced a smile. "What brings you here? Come to celebrate Seraphine's wedding?"
"You misunderstand." The High Priest's voice was flat. "I'm here to collect the Shadow Bride."
Shadow Bride?
Mother paled. "You mean that legend... it's real?"
Julian sensed something wrong. He stepped forward, staring at me through the veil. "Who is this bride? I didn't know anyone else was getting married today—"
He reached for my veil.
"Julian!" Seraphine grabbed his arm. "What are you doing? She's the Shadow Lord's bride. You'll anger him! And..."
She pointed at me. "This bride has black hair. My sister's hair is brown. It can't be her."
Julian froze. "Right... Anna's hair is brown."
Mother exhaled in relief. "Thank God."
"Good." Father wiped sweat from his forehead and turned to the High Priest. "Then please, take the Shadow Bride and go. We wouldn't want to keep the Lord waiting. If he's displeased, we couldn't bear it."
Mother nodded quickly. "Yes, we mortals dare not offend his authority."
The High Priest nodded, expressionless.
Julian's gaze lingered on me.
Seraphine pouted. "Julian, why do you keep staring at her? Am I not beautiful enough? You said I was the most beautiful bride today..."
Julian looked down, soothing her. "Of course you are. Today, there's only you. Only you."
Seraphine's face lit up. She kissed his cheek on tiptoe.
Guests laughed warmly.
The High Priest took my hand and walked me past them.
Father and Mother stepped aside respectfully. Their eyes never landed on me.
No one looked at me.
No one recognized me.
I walked right past them and climbed into the obsidian carriage.
As the carriage rolled forward, I lifted the curtain for one last look—
Julian was kissing Seraphine's forehead. The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground.
I dropped the curtain and closed my eyes.
Goodbye.
The wedding finally ended. Guests began to leave.
Julian checked the time—he should go see Anna now. Today's substitute marriage was just a formality, but Anna must be heartbroken. He needed to comfort her—
"Let GO—my father's a duke, you'll pay for this—"
Lucian?
Julian frowned and walked over. Three men were being dragged by Shadow Guards, bound and bloody, faces swollen.
"What's going on?" Julian blocked the guards.
The guard looked at Julian coldly. "They assaulted Lord Kael's bride. They'll be taken to the Shadow cells for judgment."
Assaulted the bride?
"What did they do?" Julian frowned.
Lucian's face was a mess, but he still shouted: "What fucking bride?! I just touched Anna a little, ripped her dress—didn't even really DO anything—"
Anna?
Julian's mind went blank.
"Who did you say?" Julian grabbed his collar. "Who the FUCK did you touch?!"
Lucian flinched at his eyes. "J-just Anna... Seraphine told us to find gifts in the tower. How was I supposed to know she was some Shadow bride—"
Marcus and Eleanor's faces drained of color.
"Wait..." Julian's voice shook. "Who's the Lord's bride?"
