Chapter 10: The Queen’s Gambit

The night air was thick with tension as Aria stood at the edge of the village, her senses on high alert. The Blood Pact had deepened the connection between her and Lucian, and the bond between them hummed with an undercurrent of unease. Something was coming—something dangerous.

"Lucian, we can't keep waiting for her to make the first move," Aria said, her voice low but steady. "We have to be proactive. If Evangeline has Kael, she'll want to use him as leverage, maybe even kill him to draw us out."

Lucian stood beside her, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. His expression was unreadable, but she could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing against her own. "You're right. But we can't act recklessly. We need a plan."

Before she could respond, the silence of the night was shattered by a sharp, breathless shout from one of the village guards. "Aria! Lucian!"

They turned to see the guard stagger toward them, his face pale and drenched in sweat. "There's someone—someone coming. Fast. Too fast."

Aria’s heart skipped a beat. She could already feel the tension in the air, a subtle ripple of energy that signaled the approach of something—someone—deadly.

"Where?" she demanded, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her blade.

"Coming from the east. She's fast, and she—" The guard was cut off by the sound of an eerie wind sweeping through the trees, followed by a figure emerging from the shadows.

---

The assassin moved with inhuman speed, her form a blur as she lunged at Aria. Aria barely had time to react before the woman’s blade was at her throat.

But then, out of nowhere, Lucian was there. He intercepted the assassin’s strike with a forceful sweep of his arm, sending her flying back with a supernatural speed that left Aria breathless.

"You’ll have to do better than that," Lucian’s voice was cold, but there was a hint of something more primal beneath it. His eyes glowed a fierce silver as he turned to face the assassin.

The woman—pale, with dark, piercing eyes—recovered swiftly, a twisted smile curling on her lips. "So this is the Blood King, in the flesh. I was hoping to face you directly."

Lucian’s lip curled in disdain. "You’ll regret that decision."

The assassin’s eyes flashed with anger, and she charged again, her blade aimed for Lucian’s heart. But before she could reach him, Aria moved. The bond between them surged, and she felt Lucian’s thoughts—his focus, his power—align with her own. She wasn’t alone in this fight anymore.

She dodged the assassin’s blade with an agility she hadn’t realized she possessed, her own sword flashing through the air. The assassin barely had time to react before Aria’s strike found its mark, knocking her weapon from her hand.

Lucian moved like a shadow, faster than Aria could follow, and in a blink, he had the assassin pinned to the ground, his hand wrapped tightly around her throat. His eyes were filled with something primal—something darker than Aria had ever seen.

"You should have stayed in the shadows," Lucian growled.

But before Lucian could finish, the assassin’s gaze softened, a knowing look crossing her face. "You’re wasting your time, vampire. Evangeline knows you’ll come for her. She’s already set the trap."

---

Lucian’s grip tightened, but Aria’s voice stopped him. "What trap?"

The assassin smirked. "The prophecy. Evangeline knows you’ll come for Kael, but she also knows you’ll try to protect her. The Crimson Fated will bring about the end of her reign, and she will not allow that."

Aria’s heart skipped. “What do you mean, the end of her reign?”

The assassin laughed bitterly. “You’ve always been the key, haven’t you? The Crimson Fated… you can either unite or destroy us all. Evangeline plans to use you, Aria. She believes if you die, the prophecy’s power will die with you. That’s why she’s been sending her best assassins after you.”

---

Aria felt a chill wash over her. The weight of the assassin’s words pressed down on her chest, and she turned to look at Lucian. She could feel his emotions now—an echo of his rage and frustration—but also something more vulnerable. A realization.

"You knew, didn’t you?" Aria asked softly. "You knew this was coming."

Lucian nodded, his expression dark. "I knew she would stop at nothing to control the prophecy. And I knew you were the key, but I didn’t want you to be burdened with it." His voice grew quieter, almost a whisper. "I didn’t want you to have to make a choice between us and your humanity."

Aria’s heart twisted, but she knew there was no turning back now. "What happens if I die?"

Lucian’s gaze softened, but his words were firm. "If you die, the prophecy will lose its power. It will break, and Evangeline will win."

---

The assassin, still struggling beneath Lucian’s grip, laughed again, but this time it was full of bitterness. “Do you think it will matter, Aria? In the end, your fate is already sealed. There’s no escaping the prophecy. Whether you choose to embrace it or fight it, it will consume you.”

Lucian’s gaze hardened, and with a swift motion, he ended the assassin’s life. Her body fell limp to the ground.

---

Aria stood in stunned silence, her mind racing. The assassin’s words haunted her, and she could feel the weight of the prophecy pressing against her chest. She had no choice now. She couldn’t afford to be a bystander anymore.

"I have to do this," Aria whispered, the resolve growing inside her. "I have to embrace the prophecy."

Lucian’s eyes softened, a hint of relief flashing in them. "You’re not alone in this. We’ll face whatever comes together."

Aria met his gaze, her heart swelling with a mixture of fear and determination. She didn’t know what would happen next, but one thing was certain: she would fight for the people she loved. She would fight for her humanity, even if it meant embracing the darkness within her.

But the prophecy’s grip was tightening around her. And in the shadows, Evangeline was already making her next move.