Moonlight spilled like liquid silver over the ancient spires of Vellaria Castle.
Inside, power pulsed through the air.
Vampires. Lycans. Witches.
Enemies no longer—tonight, they stood shoulder to shoulder, drawn together not by politics, but by something far rarer.
End the war.
The grand hall was a masterpiece of enchantment. Golden candlelight poured from towering candelabras. Crystal chandeliers reflected the moonlight filtering through stained-glass windows, casting spectral colors over velvet-lined walls bearing the sigils of ancient vampire clans.
At the altar stood Lord Valus, regal as ever, yet for once… his eyes held warmth.
> "Under moon and magic, we gather to witness the eternal bond between Prince Malko and his chosen, Anne," he said, voice resonating with ancient power.
Malko stood tall in obsidian velvet, silver embroidery tracing the legacy in his veins.
Anne glowed in an ivory gown that caught the light like starlight incarnate. Her raven-black hair shimmered with strands of woven diamond.
From the edge of the room, Alpha Carl stepped forward, voice calm but commanding.
> "May the strength of the pack guard this union. May the moonlight never fade from your bond."
The crowd murmured in awe.
Then came Queen Vantessa, her crystal-tipped staff raised, voice rich with old magic.
> "By the ancient covenant, I bless this vow. May it be eternal, and ever-burning."
Their hands met.
Their vows whispered.
> "I, Malko, vow devotion through blood and shadow."
> "I, Anne, vow undying love through light and darkness."
Their kiss sealed a new era.
The crowd erupted. Goblets raised. Magic sparked.
And for the first time in centuries… there was peace.
The Night of Unity had begun.
---
Meanwhile…
Maika stood alone beneath the colonnade, her raven hair tousled by the midnight wind.
Eyes locked on the man standing by the balcony.
Carl.
She approached—slow, deliberate.
> "We need to talk."
Carl turned, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Maika? During your brother's wedding?"
> "I know the truth," she said, voice sharp as a blade.
Carl's smile faltered. "What truth?"
She stepped closer. "About Caveen."
Silence. Heavy. Dangerous.
> "What did you know?" he asked, voice rough.
> "He is not an ordinary Lycan," she whispered, pain laced into every word. "You are eagerly hiding your son to the public for a reason "
Carl's jaw clenched.
She was completing a puzzle.
Pieces… but not all.
> "I will not talk to anyone about what I sense in him but I want your help. Cane—your brother—he knows memory suppression magic. I want him to help me restore what I've lost."
Carl's breath hitched. "Maika, those memories… they're not easy."
> "Nothing about me has been easy, Carl!" she snapped, eyes blazing. "Every night I see flashes. I run through the forest, something in my arms. I hear screams. I feel grief that never lets go."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Carl couldn't take it anymore.
He stepped closer… brushed one away.
Her eyes widened—but before anything more could be said—
"Maika!"
Valco appeared from the shadows, eyes wild, hand grabbing her wrist.
> "We're leaving. Now."
Carl's fists clenched as Valco pulled her away.
She looked back once. Just once.
And in that one look, he saw everything they had lost.
> She's still mine, Carl thought. She just doesn't know it yet.
---
Days Later – Maika's Chamber
She had locked herself in.
No guards. No maids.
Only candles. Incense. And her thoughts.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, ancient spellbooks open, her breath steady, lips barely moving.
> "Remember…" she whispered.
And the visions came.
Like knives to her soul.
Snarling hounds. Screams in the forest. Blood. A baby. Her arms. A man with glowing eyes…
She woke with a gasp, drenched in sweat.
Tears clung to her lashes as she stumbled to the mirror.
> "Who was that man? Why does my heart shatter every time I see his face in my dreams?"
She touched her chest, where her heart thundered.
Carl.
And…
Caveen.
No. She wasn't imagining it.
Something real had been stolen from her.
> "I need to see Cane. Now."
---
She remember that Night…
The wind howled over the island cliffs.
Maika thrashed in her sleep, trapped in a dream that felt all too real.
Her screams echoed.
"No! Please—don't hurt him!"
Then—
The door flew open.
Carl.
He stormed in, eyes darting to her curled form, shaking in bed.
> "Maika!"
She jolted upright, gasping, heart pounding.
In her haze of fear and pain, she saw him and launched into his arms—clinging to him like he was air and she was drowning.
Carl froze. Breath gone.
But instinct took over.
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, letting her sob against his chest.
> "It's okay. I'm here… I've got you…"
Her fingers fisted into his shirt.
> "Why… why am I being held here, Carl?" she whispered brokenly. "Why do I feel like everyone's lying to me?"
He stiffened.
Maika blinked, suddenly realizing how close they were—how her body pressed against his, how his scent was familiar… comforting.
She pulled back slightly, eyes searching his.
> "You're hiding something… aren't you?"
He didn't answer with words.
His hand reached up—touched her cheek.
And before reason could interfere—
Their lips met.
Slow.
Devastating.
Familiar.
Her eyes fluttered shut as something inside her unraveled—something long buried.
The kiss deepened.
Until—
A whisper escaped her lips:
> "Carl… who are you?"
He rested his forehead against hers, his voice shaking.
> "You should rest."