◆ Sienna ◆

The familiar scent of sulfur and raw metals envelopes me as I push open the heavy oak door to the crafting hall. It’s a smell that once comforted me, a nostalgic memory of countless hours spent perfecting my craft.

I pause in the doorway, my hand trembling slightly on the smooth wood. The room is silent, save for the soft hiss of torches along the walls. Shadows dance across the stone floor, playing tricks on my eyes. For a moment, I swear I see the ghostly figure of my great-grandfather, King Cassian, standing before the central workbench.

I blink, and the apparition vanishes. It’s just my imagination, or perhaps a hallucination fueled by too many sleepless nights and the stories that have haunted our family for generations.

The story that’s the root cause of my arranged marriage.

Taking a deep breath, I step into the lab where alchemists come to practice their art. But I’m not here to create simple elixirs or transform base metals into gold. No, what awaits me is far more dangerous, far more forbidden.

My footsteps echo as I approach the workbench. With each step, my heart beats a little faster. I reach for her pendant around my neck—a unique Indigo stone I crafted myself—and press it into a hidden slot beneath the table’s edge.

There’s a soft click, then a low rumble as the center of the floor begins to sink and shift. A secret compartment rises, revealing a table laden with ingredients I’ve spend months—years, really—gathering in secret.

Raw lead, philosophical mercury, sulfur. Innocent enough on their own, but combined with the other elements, they hold the power to change everything. 

Or end it all.

My fingers trace the edge of the perfectly drawn circle beneath them, the monarch alchemy symbol at its center. This secret rune has been passed down through only royal alchemy bloodline. It took me nearly a decade to perfect it. 

I can still feel the ghost of my father’s hand over me, guiding my trembling fingers as I tried to replicate the intricate patterns. 

Precision, Sienna. One mistake, and—

I shake my head, trying to silence the sound of my father’s voice in my mind.

I know the risks all too well. Our once vast and powerful bloodline has been reduced to a mere handful. All because of the allure of this damned Stone.

Surrounding the circle are three bowls: one filled with soil from the richest part of the island of Zion, another with water from the most dangerous river in the island of Salem, and the last containing fire forged with stone from Galilea’s pyrite. The final ingredient courses through my veins—the blood of royalty.

Everything I need to forge the Philosopher's Stone.

My hand hovers over the ingredients, trembling slightly. If I die attempting this, it will all have been for nothing. I won’t get my freedom, and the Brotherhood will come for my father and Bethel. 

The very thought strikes a chill down to the base of my spine.

Everything will be fine. This will work. It has to.

…

But not yet. It’s not time… Not yet.

With a heavy sigh, I step back from the table. I press the button to conceal everything once more, watching as my secret sinks back into the floor. As the mechanisms whir and click, I can’t help but wonder: how many others have stood where I stand now?

Only one Alchemist—the Great King Cassian—ever successfully crafted the Stone. And what did it bring him? Death at the hands of the Reaper, the Brotherhood of the island of Babylon's King. He stole the Stone and the Elixir of Immortality, making the Reaper the most powerful being to exist.

For over a century, we’ve lived in fear of the Reaper’s return, of his attempt to take over all of the City of Atlantis. It’s why forging the Stone is forbidden now. We need every alchemist we can get if—when—he comes back. 

Lost in thought, I barely register my surroundings as I leave the crafting hall and enter the physical training room. The sudden clash of metal on metal startles me, and I look up to see Kaidan and his men engaged in combat drills.

I freeze, mesmerized despite myself. Their movements are a brutal dance of strength and precision. Muscles ripple beneath sweat-slicked skin as they dodge and weave, their weapons extensions of their bodies. 

No wonder they’re so dangerous…

…

No wonder my father is so desperate for an alliance with Galilea.

In the past five years, rumors have sprouted of the Brotherhood wanting to rebuild the tower of Babylon using Bethel’s resources. We need the protection of Galilea’s warriors—the only ones strong and skilled enough to physically fight the Brotherhood.

Suddenly, Kaidan spots me. 

Damn it.

I fidget under the skirt of my gown as he immediately breaks away from the group to approach me. His chest heaves with exertion, a sheen of sweat making his intricate tattoos gleam in the torchlight. 

“Princess Sienna,” he greets me, his voice warm despite its rough edge. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I force a polite smile, hoping he can’t sense the storm raging within me. “Prince Kaidan. I was just passing through. Please, don’t let me interrupt your training.”

He waves off my concern, a roguish grin spreading across his face. “We were nearly finished. Besides, I’d much rather spend time with my beautiful bride-to-be.” His eyes rake over me in a way that makes my skin crawl. “Would you care to walk with me? I hear the gardens here are a sight.”

My heart sinks. 

I want nothing more than to refuse, to run to the solitude of my bedroom. But I can see the expectation in his eyes, the unspoken command beneath the invitation. 

To refuse would be disrespectful, unsubmissive.

Everything a good little princess shouldn’t be.

“Of course,” I hear myself say, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. “I would be honored.”

As we stroll through the castle gardens, the sweet scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air. It should be soothing, but all I feel is trapped. 

Just a little bit longer. Just hang on a little longer.

“You’ll love it there, Sienna,” Kaidan says, speaking of Galilea, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back. “The mountains touch the sky, and the forests are filled with creatures you’ve only read about in books. Our people are strong, proud. They’ll welcome you with open arms.”

I nod and smile in all the right places, playing the part of the demure, excited bride-to-be. But with each passing moment, my patience wears thinner.

“And the palace,” Kaidan continues, oblivious to my discomfort, “it’s nothing like this stuffy old castle. Open to the elements, at one with nature. You’ll be able to feel the pulse of the land beneath your feet.”

A palace open to the elements, no walls to protect me, no familiar corridors to hide in. 

The thought makes my chest tighten.

“It sounds… different,” I manage, trying to keep the apprehension out of my voice. “I’m sure it will take some getting used to.”

Kaidan chuckles, the sound low and rich. “Oh, there will be plenty of time for that. And plenty of… other things to get used to as well.”

There’s a glint in his eye that makes my stomach churn. His fingers trace small circles on my back, and I have to resist the urge to pull away. Every touch, every word, feels like another link in the chain binding me to this fate.

And just as I think I can’t take another second of his charade, what he says next makes my blood run cold.

“I look forward to tomorrow night,” he murmurs, his voice low and husky. His hand slides from my back to my waist, pulling me closer. “When I can finally claim you as mine, body and soul, before our people.”

My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, I can’t speak. The reality of what’s coming crashes over me—not just a wedding, but a public spectacle, a claiming.

Then, something inside me snaps. All the fear, anger, and frustration I’ve been holding back bubbles to the surface.

“And I suppose I should be thrilled by the prospect?” The words burst from me before I can stop them, dripping with sarcasm. “To be ‘claimed’ like a piece of property, to have my most intimate moments on display for strangers?”

Kaidan stops walking, turning to face me fully. His expression is a mix of surprise and… amusement? “There she is,” he says, sounding almost… pleased? “I was wondering how long it would take for the real Sienna to come out.”

I stare at him, confusion warring with indignation. “What are you talking about?”

His smile widens, almost predatory. “Come now, surely you didn’t think I believed that meek and mild act? I’ve heard stories about you, Princess. The fiery temper, the sharp wit. I was beginning to worry they’d exaggerated.”

“So this was, what? Some kind of test?” I ask, my voice sharp.

Kaidan shrugs, unrepentant. “Call it… curiosity. I want a submissive wife, yes. But I also like my women with a bit of fire. Keeps things… interesting.”

For a moment, I’m speechless. The casual way he walks about me, about our marriage, as if it’s all some game—it makes my blood boil. But beneath the anger, there’s a flicker of something else. Hope, maybe? 

Maybe he isn’t the arrogant, controlling creep I thought he was.

Gathering my wits, I press on. “Well, if it’s honesty you want, here it is: I’m not exactly thrilled about the idea of being taken in front of your entire tribe.”

Kaidan’s brow furrows slightly, slightly tilting his head. “I see,” he says slowly, as if trying to puzzle something out. “And may I ask why that is? It’s a sacred tradition among our people.”

The genuine confusion in his voice catches me off guard. It’s not the blunt dismissal I expected, but rather a cultural disconnect that runs deeper than I realized.

He truly doesn't understand…

“Because,” I say slowly, struggling to keep my voice level, “it’s supposed to be something special. Intimate. Between two people who—” I catch myself just in time, realizing what I’m about to reveal. 

But it’s too late.

Kaidan’s eyes widen slightly, understanding dawning. “You’re still a virgin.”

Heat rushes to my face, a mix of embarrassment and anger. “I just mean—”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he cuts me off, his tone surprisingly gentle. He reaches out, cupping my cheek in his calloused hand. “It’s admirable, really. And I promise you, Sienna, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I won’t hurt you. And our people will—”

“No,” I interrupt, jerking away from his touch. Frustration boils over, and the words pour out of me in a rush. “You’re not listening. It’s not about fear or shame. I don’t want to do it. Period. I wasn’t prepared for this, I didn’t agree to it, and I won’t—”

“It’s not up for debate, Sienna.” Kaiden’s voice turns hard, all traces of gentleness vanishing. His once warm and playful eyes now glitter like steel in the evening light. “This isn’t just about what you want. We have a duty to our people. This union is bigger than just you and me.”

I open my mouth to argue, but the hard set of his jaw stops me cold. In that moment, I see him not as the man I’m to marry, but as the warrior prince he is—unyielding, uncompromising. 

Just like my father.

Something—something a lot like hope—inside me withers and dies. 

What was I thinking, hoping for understanding? For compassion?

I straighten my spine, letting my face smooth into the mask of cold detachment I’ve perfected over years of royal duties. “Of course, Prince Kaidan. How foolish of me to forget my place.” I bow my head slightly, the perfect picture of submission despite the anger and frustration boiling inside me. “I will see you at the dinner table. Excuse me.”

Without waiting for a response, I turn and walk away, each step measured and graceful despite the storm raging within me. I can feel Kaidan’s eyes boring into my back, but I don’t dare turn around.

Tonight. It has to be tonight.

One way or another, I will forge my own path. Even if I have to burn everything else to ash.