Chapter 1 The common enemy?

CHAPTER ONE

The Common Enemy?

FREYA EVERSTORM

The sheer veil lowered over my face, and it almost took away my ability to breathe. I staggered, feeling my ears pound, and steadied myself before I fell. The wedding dress was tight around my body, and the corset dug into my hips.

“The plan will work, my lady.” Emily, my maid, assured me, with a firm hand on my shoulder.

I stood even straighter and took a shallow breath, pushing back the bile that was slowly climbing up. My head was swimming. This had to work. I had waited long enough. I couldn’t wait anymore.

Hallow, who has been my bodyguard since I was ten, shifted in the corner of the room. His voice was gruff when he spoke. “Once the vows are read and you have been joined, you will have a short window to change out of your dress. The short window is all we need. The horses are ready.”

“And I have packed enough food to last us for the journey,” Emily added helpfully.

I dug my nails into my palm, staring at myself in the spherical mirror resting against the wall. I was getting married. Married to a man I’d never seen before. Carden Hawthorn, the Prince of Eldora, a kingdom we had been at war against for decades now, a war they had finally won. I was the prized calf – the sacrificial lamb, a mere piece of the puzzle, a means to an end. 

“It will all be over soon.” 

They were the two people I trusted in the world, and they would not let me down. They were risking their lives for me. 

“Did you take my books –” I started to ask, and froze when I heard footsteps. My stomach turned. I was going to be sick, but I couldn’t vomit, so I bit down hard until I tasted metal in my mouth. The door opened, and I licked away the blood. 

Whiffs of perfume flooded the room, signalling my mother’s entry. My Dad was never far behind, and his face was impassive, as always. The last time he had spoken to me was a week ago, to let me know that I was marrying Carden, a man who was responsible for the deaths of my brothers, the deaths of thousands.

“Look at you, Freya, you are the prettiest bride.” She cupped my cheeks through the veil, and I stared at her. 

Her hand lingered on the embroidered wolves on my long veil, and when she looked at me, her eyes were filled with grief.  The dark circles around her eyes probably would never fade. 

The war had taken her sons and left her with a wolfless daughter. Now they were giving their last child away without a second doubt because they'd finally found a use for me. I had spent my life locked behind the palace walls, stifled in their protectiveness, which they substituted for love. Yet, they were handing me to… a war criminal. 

It didn’t matter, though. I would not beg them. I knew they wouldn’t change their mind. I would marry Carden, ensure our Kingdoms were merged, and once sealed, the bond couldn’t be broken. Only then would I run.

“We have to go now. They are waiting.” Father reminded me sharply, and the air stuck to my lungs, goosebumps breaking over my skin. It was time. 

I met Emily’s gaze for one long second before walking out with my head high. I needed to bide my time. The union must happen, but it wouldn’t be consummated. I had a chance to get out of here and would grab on to it with both hands. I refused to wither away like a flower. I was done being trampled. 

My father took my right hand, his grip dry and firm as he led me to the fortified church. 

The pews were filled with generals from our kingdom, and theirs. They had come to watch the wolfless princess of Volantis marry the worthy Prince. This wasn’t a celebration. It was humiliating. 

I looked away from them and focused on Carden, who stood at the end of the aisle, wearing his armour. There was a grim expression on his face. His brown eyes were fixed on me. He brushed away his curly dark hair from his face and glanced at his parents.

Father didn’t offer any words of encouragement. He let me go, and I was alone at the altar, an altar I had knelt at, crying for hours after my brothers died, begging the Moon Goddess to send my wolf, a wolf that never came. I was done waiting. It was time to take fate into my own hands. 

Carden reached for my hands, and I flinched. It was a minute movement, but he saw it. His eyes darkened at the edges, and still, he took my hands in his. 

The fear was a noose around my neck, and ice settled at the base of my spine. My head grew lighter, and I shut my eyes firmly. The nausea was back, slamming into me from all directions. My head grew hotter, and my knees weakened. I pulled myself together and blinked away tears. 

“Let’s begin.” The Elder announced loudly.

Soon. I was so close to my freedom.

“We are gathered here to join the Kingdom of Eldora and Volantis in an unbreakable bond. Marriage is an alliance that cannot be shattered. Prince Carden, the rightful heir of the Eldora Kingdom, and Princess Freya, the daughter of Volantis, will be joined today, in the presence of their families, generals and allies. Anyone who seeks to ruin this union shall be put to the knife …” The Elder droned on, and I looked at the crowd again.

Carden’s parents were seated beside mine. His father had a firm grip on his mother’s wrist, and she refused to look at him, a rather plastic smile on her face. 

Dread curdled in my stomach like rotten milk, and sweat trickled down my spine. Oh, dear. This would be my future, a world where I would be nothing but a vessel for an heir, while the men continued their meaningless wars.

Carden’s hand tightened on mine, pulling me back into myself.

“... For decades now, the war has waged on between our kingdoms, and we have lost people we love. This union puts an end to unnecessary bloodshed, and finally, we can focus on our common enemy.” The Elder paused.

Common enemy? I thought the war was over. 

The Elder pulled out the ceremonial dagger. He was going to bleed us and bind us.

“Do you, Carden Hawthorn, take Freya Everstorm to be your wife, in health, sickness and –” 

The Elder stopped talking, brows knitting. The windows rattled, and a cold draft blew in. It settled against my skin like a thick blanket, and I looked at the windows. Was it … rattling?

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath our feet, and I looked at it, confused.

Carden reached for his sword “What –”

The doors exploded inwards with a force that sent me flying backwards with a scream.