Evelyn watched as the Prince quietly turned his back to her, ignoring the three of them. He approached his father, bending down to whisper something in his ear, before leaving the room without another word.

The wooden door closed heavily behind the Prince before all eyes turned on King Alexander. The Vampire King stood up from his seat and addressed the room.

“My son has made his choice,” the King started. “Princess Evelyn, you shall leave with us in the morning. Please be ready at first light.”

Lional was right, Evelyn sighed to herself as she felt the door of her fate seal closed.

She lifted her chin higher, maintaining eye contact with the King, her future father-in-law. Given the Prince’s attitude and demeanor towards her, he figured her for easy pickings. The most docile of the King’s daughters.

Evelyn would enjoy proving him just how wrong he was in that thought.

“Yes, my King,” she bowed deeply as he left her and her family alone to say their goodbyes.

The atmosphere in the room was tense. Margaret beside her was snickering. Evelyn wanted nothing more than to wipe that smirk off her face, but royal decorum held her back. She was never one to act irrational no matter how badly she wanted to. Outbursts were her older sister's purview, not hers.

Evelyn turned around to face her father, her brother coming up to stand beside him. Both the King and heir wore sorrowful expressions. Losing her would hurt her father the most. She was his favorite since she looked the most like his wife and Queen. Out of all her siblings, she was the spitting image of her late mother and her father cherished her because of it.

Lionel, her brother, was her best friend and fiercest protector. Ever since her kidnapping, he had been by her side through everything. From late night terrors to sword training. He never said no to her, never told her she couldn’t do something, no matter how ridiculous her request.

“This is just not fair!” Justine stomped her foot, breaking her out of her thoughts.

“Serves Evelyn right. Now the castle will finally be free of her moping and strange ways,” Margaret snickered.

“Girls!” King Linus yelled, forcing his two wayward daughters to compose themselves. “Evelyn, my dear, come here.”

Evelyn stepped towards her father, her posture perfect and stiff. In all honesty, she wasn’t sure what to think or how to feel. She felt numb and disconnected. Her life no longer felt as if it was in her hands.

King Linus held his hands out for her to take which she gladly did. His hands were weathered and calloused from his time spent in the stables. Even though he was King of an entire kingdom, the man still loved to work with his hands, especially if it involved his thoroughbreds.

Evelyn felt herself being pulled into his tall, wide frame. She wrapped her arms around his waist, barely managing to get her arms around him. For the first time in over a decade, she laid her head against his chest, allowing him to hold her. Breathing him in deeply, she committed his musky smell to memory. Hay and cloves.

“I do not want to let you go,” the King admitted, whispering softly into her ear.

Evelyn bit down on her tongue, silently cursing her body for the stinging pressure she felt in the back of her eyes. “I know, but I have to.”

The King exhaled deeply before pulling back, regaining his composure. Evelyn’s arms dropped to her side as she stood up taller and straighter. Her fate may be sealed but she was still the master of it. Her future husband may have been chosen for her but she would choose how she responded to it. She would not disappoint her father or her Kingdom.

“Evelyn,” King Linus acknowledged her formally.

Evelyn bowed deeply, receiving his departure formally. “My King.”