Wedding vows

As the priest finished reciting his blessing, it was now King Liam's turn to profess his vows. His sharp eyes gazed at Princess Sienna the discomfort in the air hanging heavy. With a wooden expression, he stepped forward, his voice resonating through the hall. The priest pointed at her hand gesturing for him to hold it.

King Liam was a little hesitant at first but he soon reached out for her hand and held it. It felt so warm and delicate in his palms. Her hand felt like it would snap with a gentle squeeze.

"Princess Sienna," he began, his voice dripping with an unsettling charm. "Today, in front of all these witnesses, I pledge my commitment to you."

Selena's delicate hand trembled as King Liam gently rubbed it sending shivers down her spine. The congregation held their breath, their gazes fixed on the princess who was being forced into this situation.

"Sienna," King Liam continued, his words laced with an air of possession, "I promise to protect you, to be your shield and your sword. You will be mine, bound to me in this union, and the world will know your loyalty lies with me alone."

A stifled gasp escaped Selena's lips as the fear in her intensified. King Liam reached for a ring, a symbol of their union while Sienna's father watching on wishing they would hurry up and he could finally send this bad seed away.

The congregation held their collective breath, their eyes flickering between the cold-hearted king and the princess who was now bound to him for life. The silence grew deafening as King Liam slid the ring onto Sienna's finger. It glimmered, a twisted reflection of the love that should have been present.

While placing the ring on her finger her sleeve moved slightly and King Liam's gaze, once frigid and impassive, flickered with a hint of something deeper. In that moment, he had noticed the bruise on her delicate wrist, hidden beneath the intricate lace of her gown. His expression remained stoic, but within the depths of his eyes, a storm brewed.

The sight of the bruise ignited a flicker of anger within Liam, as the beast that coiled and seethed beneath his controlled facade stirred agitatedly. The dark seed consuming his heart was slowly rearing its ugly head angered by the fact that someone had dared hurt someone that now belonged to him. His jaw clenched as he glared at the Lord of Rosemane his eyes dark and sinister.

The Lord of Rosemane was startled by his hostility. He gritted his teeth in annoyance. What sort of son-in-law was this?

Queen mother Ava gestured to her son to stop as he was drawing attention. If he were to lose his mind here wouldn't this grand hall turn into a bloody battlefield?

Selena could sense his change in mood. Fearing her hand was going to be broken from the tight grip she moved her hand slightly but that was enough to bring him back to himself.

Selena, still unaware of Liam's internal turmoil, held back her tears and locked her gaze with his through the veil. She saw a glimmer of something more, something hidden beneath the layers of indifference but she couldn't discern what it was

"Princess," whispered the priest and when she glanced at him, he continued, "You have to answer."

Selena struggled to speak for a while her throat painful but the effects of the medicine that stole her voice momentarily, had worn off. She soon found her voice though it emerged as a mere whisper, barely audible amidst the tension. "I... I accept," she managed to utter, her voice tinged with resignation.

The priest handed her King Liam's ring and gestured for her to recite her vows. Her voice, brittle and croaky, escaped her lips like a whisper carried by a chilling wind. "I, Princess Se... Sienna, take you, King Liam, to be my husband," she said struggling to maintain eye contact.

"In this union, I promise to honour the traditions and obligations that bind us. I vow to honour and obey you, to be faithful and true to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."

Selena's hand, trembling ever so slightly, reached out to grasp King Liam's. Their fingers intertwined, a symbolic gesture of unity. The contrast between her ethereal pale skin and his strong, weathered hand was a visual representation of their mismatched union.

With a determined yet fragile touch, Selena slid the ring onto King Liam's finger. The cold metal seemed to burn against her skin, a constant reminder of the chain that now bound her to him.

She had been released from the chains bound to her by her father only to be bound into a different set of chains under her new husband's control. Her shivering hand betrayed her inner turmoil and fear. After the ring was placed on his finger they were now officially married.

The air was thick with a peculiar mix of joy and unease as the congregation erupted into jubilant applause. The tension still lingered like a ghostly presence in the grand hall.

As the priest raised his voice above the celebratory clamour, he declared, "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." His words were met with resounding cheers, but the sound seemed distant to King Liam's ears.

The moment had come for the customary kiss, an act that would seal their union in the eyes of all who bore witness. King Liam, his typically regal expression replaced with an icy coolness, reached for Sienna's delicate veil. With a gentle touch, he slowly pulled it back, revealing her face to the world.

His breath caught in his chest as he beheld her beauty. Sienna's eyes, the colour of flickering embers, glistened with unshed tears, evidence of the emotions that had weighed heavy upon her. They were stunning, even in their swollen state, and held a depth that spoke of both strength and vulnerability.

Her silver hair, intricately styled in an elegant updo, seemed out of place amidst the opulence of her surroundings. Yet, somehow, it added to her enchanting allure.

Unable to resist, Liam's fingers caressed Sienna's chin, his touch conveying a tenderness that belied his cold demeanour. Slowly, he leaned in, bridging the gap between them. "Don't be afraid. I won't treat you badly," he whispered words that only she could hear. Selena's heart raced fighting off the urge to run. Suddenly their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.

At that moment, the world around Selena faded away her ears ringing. Her entire body was stiff the entire time her mind a blank slate.

As they parted, a trace of warmth flickered in King Liam's eyes, momentarily thawing the ice that had masked his emotions. It was a fleeting glimpse of the tenderness he had only shown in Sienna's presence.