WRITER'S POV
Slap!
"You foolish girl! Did I not tell you to be patient? How could you be so stupid?!" Melissa, Anastasia's mother, shouted.
The rain poured loudly, banging against the windows and roof, but Melissa could still be heard clearly.
"What was I supposed to do, Mother? I couldn't just sit down and wait for you to do something," Anastasia said, holding her cheek.
Her burns had reduced greatly thanks to the magic ointment she had purchased from a witch.
Melissa sighed, holding her temple.
"Do you love Theron, Anastasia?" she asked calmly, crouching down to her daughter's level and brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.
"How could you even ask me, Mother? Yes, I do! More than anything!" she replied between sniffles.
"Good. Then do exactly as I tell you and stay put. Don't do anything stupid. Mommy will handle this." A wicked smile crossed her lips.
"Now go to your room. Mommy has work to do."
Anastasia got up, wiped her tears, and left.
Melissa put on her hooded coat from the coat rack, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped outside.
The rain was heavy, but that didn't stop her from going where she intended.
She walked for a long distance before a small shack finally came into view.
She knocked, and a voice from inside told her to enter.
"Ah, Melissa. To what do I owe the pleasure?" a woman asked.
Her purple hair was tied in a messy bun, and her hands hovered over a crystal ball.
She was a witch.
"Edwinna, old friend. I need your help."
"What kind?" Edwinna asked, her blue eyes twinkling.
"The same kind you helped me with years ago."
An evil smirk danced across Melissa's lips.
~~~~~~~
When will it stop raining? Evania thought as she looked outside the window.
They were still in the carriage because the rain hadn't stopped.
She was feeling sleepy and tired.
She rested her head against the window, but it wasn't very comfortable.
Instead, she leaned back against the headrest. It was much better, and her eyes slowly began to close.
Soon, she fell asleep, her soft, quiet breaths barely audible beneath the loud rain.
Her head slowly slipped from the headrest.
Before she could fall, Theron caught her head with his palm.
She was sleeping soundly like a baby, completely oblivious to everything around her.
Theron smiled.
He gently laid her head on his lap and carefully placed her feet on the opposite seat so she could be more comfortable.
"My sweet wife. Imagine your reaction if you woke up and saw how you were sleeping," he murmured as he gazed at her.
His chin rested on one hand while the other gently stroked her hair.
After a few hours, the rain finally stopped, and the carriage continued on its journey.
Once they reached the palace, Theron carefully lifted Evania into his arms and carried her bridal style to her room.
Lili was already there and had prepared the bed. She smiled sheepishly when she saw Theron carrying her lady.
"You may go," Theron said.
"Yes, Sire." She bowed before leaving.
Theron gently laid Evania on the bed, removed her cloak, and covered her with a blanket.
"Good night, Princess," he whispered before standing up.
Just as he was about to leave, something stopped him.
Evania was holding onto his coat.
"Please... don't go... don't go... please."
Tears streamed down her face.
Theron immediately sat back down beside her and placed a hand against her forehead.
She was burning with fever.
"Is she having a nightmare?" he wondered, concern filling his voice.
"Please... please don't leave me."
He took both of her hands in his.
"I won't."
He gently wiped away her tears.
That night, he stayed by her side, holding her hand until dawn.
Before she woke up the next morning, he quietly slipped away.
~~~~
Word of the political marriage spread far and wide across the continent.
Some were surprised, some praised the vampires, while others remained indifferent.
But one thing was certain-the war was over.
Anyone who dared oppose it knew they would face Theron's wrath.
His word was law.
~~~~~~
Evania sat quietly in the library, reading a book about birds.
She was completely absorbed in it.
She had loved birds ever since she was a child and would spend hours watching them from her balcony.
She had never kept one as a pet because she believed it would be depriving the bird of its freedom.
"Birds are meant to be free," she always said.
"Do you like birds, Princess?"
Theron's deep voice whispered beside her ear.
She flinched.
Goosebumps spread across her skin.
Turning around, she met those fiery crimson eyes.
"Yes... I do," she replied, trying to hide the blush creeping onto her cheeks. She wondered why she had been blushing around him so often lately.
"Do you want one?" he asked, glancing at one of the birds illustrated in the book.
"No, I don't. I prefer admiring them rather than keeping them."
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
Theron looked at his wife with admiration.
She truly was a rare gem with a heart of gold.
Evania noticed him staring at her.
"Umm... is there something you want? Why did you come here?" she asked, turning her attention back to the book.
"Yes. I came to tell you that we're going to visit my parents in Icefrost."
She turned to him in surprise.
"Your parents?"
"Yes."
He noticed the nervousness in her eyes.
"Don't worry. They'll love you. They're the ones who asked to meet you."
He gently placed his hand over hers.
To his surprise, she neither flinched nor pulled away.
Instead, she felt strangely calm and reassured.
"I won't leave your side the entire time we're there," he said with a reassuring smile.
She nodded.
"Thank you."
~~~
Icefrost was a state not too far from Ravenscar, but it was still a day's journey away.
Theron and Evania left early the following morning.
They traveled with several maids and a large amount of luggage.
After all, they would be staying for a few days.
Icefrost, true to its name, was a land of snow and ice.
Spring came only once a year.
Evania gazed through the carriage window, admiring the magnificent crystal castle before them.
They had arrived.
"Did you grow up here?" she asked, still staring outside.
"Yes, Princess," Theron replied.
"It's beautiful... and cold," she said, rubbing her arms.
"Here."
Theron handed her coat to her.
"Thank you."
Suddenly, she remembered something.
"Umm... the day we went to the festival... I woke up in my bed. How... did I get there?" she asked.
Theron tilted his head as a teasing smirk spread across his lips.
"I carried you."
"What?!" she exclaimed.
Theron found her reaction amusing.
She had no idea he had been the one to carry her to her room after she fainted because of Anastasia.
"Is it wrong for me to carry my wife to her room?"
"No... it's not."
She bit her lip.
How could I let my guard down around him?
"Want to know what else happened that night?" he asked, leaning closer until their faces were only inches apart.