Around and around I twirl in unison with Emerick on the ballroom floor. I'd be nauseous if it wasn't for the excessive amount of dance lessons the council forced me to attend leading up to this event. Emerick's calloused hands scratch the surface of my skin as he grips mine with tightness. Through the rhythm of the moves and with every passing glance, I can feel his eyes searching for mine. The pure desire he emits surges through me. With quickness, he pulls me in, and our chests collide. The fire and passion burning between us is clear, and I catch longing stares from guests all around the room as we move through it. Our love may have been sworn forbidden, but I'll be damned if I let the conflict of our parents become our own. At this moment, it feels like nothing can come between us.

The looks of our guests border both disapproval and awe at how obnoxiously pure our connection is. I know when our relationship was first revealed, half of these people thought I pursued him only for his riches or simply out of spite for my family. But here, on this special night, there is simply no denying that this is nothing short of destiny. Changing stances to prepare for the next song, a commotion rumbles in the halls outside of the event. Dozens of shoes scuff the floor as they come to a halt, and we all look around at each other with concern. The thundering noise of hooves beating on the ground travels closer to the grand oak doors that separate us from the hall. My heart is beating so fast that I worry it may burst. This wedding is illegal, and we all know it, but the Nell family was never known to follow the rules.

Emerick's arms wrap tightly around my waist as four horsemen storm in. His pulse is so strong it reverberates through me. I look at the panic that swells up in his shoulders as he tenses, his eyes widening at the sight. His warm breath falls upon my cheek as he whispers into my ear, "Eve, brace yourself." Glass shatters in violent bursts as the four men and their beasts gallop through the room, taking their weapons to every artifact lining the left and right walls. Before I can process what is going on, Emerick thrusts me behind him with such force that I lose a layer of skin on my hands as I try to find a grip on the floor. The roaring of screams and terror consume the space, and people make way for the exits, only to be met with a sword to the neck.

Looking forward to Emerick, I watch him leap over the fallen guests and pull the sword hanging from his back. Out comes Elysian, a beautiful, golden, and engraved masterpiece that his father left him. Legend says that the sword harnesses a great power to protect the royal family. We have not yet borne witness to its magic, but as I watch it swing through the air in all of its brilliance, I am hopeful. The sounds of swords bashing and slicing fill the room. Aside from myself and Emerick, only a few women and children remain, crouched in the far corner, covering themselves under a thick red curtain. Now that I’m looking around, it seems every piece of decor in this room is red, and far too close to the color of blood that now spills out onto the white tiles and splatters hauntingly across the stone walls.

As a horseman tramples by me, I look up to see who came to wreak havoc on my wedding day. With a look of fury in his eyes, my father sits atop that horse. "Father!" I shout with a blinding rage. Emerick turns to look at the sight, and we both hang our mouths wide in pure shock. My father has been missing for months since I told him in confidence that I would marry the prince of Nightbarrow, his rival's son. I assumed I was disowned or thought he may have drunk himself into months of trouble as he normally does. My father, now dismounting his horse, stomps over to me slowly in a way that sends shivers down my spine. "Enough!" he orders the horsemen.

I lose control of my body as I lay shaking on the floor, propped up on my elbows. A mere whisper comes through my quivering lips, "What are you doing here? Why are you doing this?" From across the room, Emerick falls to his knees and buries his head into his hands, bobbing it back up and down to witness my father standing above me, reaching for his sheath. It's not long before his sword meets the lower part of my stomach and sits heavy with pressure. Shit, he knows I’m pregnant.

"I refuse for my only daughter to bear the child of Emerick Nell. That baby is a bastard and a pure demon descendant of Nightbarrow. It must be stopped, and I will put a stop to their bloodline... at any cost."

"At the expense of your own daughter!" I gasp as the fabric of my dress becomes saturated in sweat. "You are a monster." I can’t muster up the strength to say much else. With his sword now slowly slicing into my stomach and no obvious escape, I have no choice but to pray to God at this moment. I close my eyes and bow my head for a second before I hear metal slide across the floor and feel a handle secure itself in the palm of my left hand. I blink my eyes open to spot the golden sword within my grasp and the strength of something outside of me coursing through my veins. My father appears shaken with confusion and fear as he stumbles back, loosening his grip on his sword as mine stabs into his chest and straight through his heart. Blood sprays onto my dress and into my hair. It rains down on me as I quickly look to see what the other horsemen are going to do. My father's body falls back with a thud, and all at once, the men dismount and run toward me. Before I can react, my sword glimmers like a glass chandelier. It gently slides from my fingertips and floats above me, summoning weapons hanging on the back wall to shoot through the air and the hearts of the three remaining horsemen. Shrieks signal a successful defeat, and my body collapses with both relief and horror. "Eve!" my husband cries out as I roll onto my side and wrap my arms around my stomach, speaking loving words to our baby.

Emerick crawls over to me, wounded and wincing with each movement of his bloodied and bruised body. As he always does, he keeps his eyes locked on mine. Leaning down to kiss my cheek, his lips are cold as ice with shock. He lies down next to me, and we hold each other tighter than we ever had before. The only warmth between us is our shallow breaths. The scent of blood fills the air, and we look together at the massacre that has occurred. His family members are scattered across the room around us, and the women and children stay hidden behind the curtains, waiting for our announcement that it is safe.

Nose-to-nose, we search each other's souls for the strength to stand and lead the others out of this gruesome room. What was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives will forever be one of our most harrowing memories. Together we nod. As the new King and Queen, both appointed by our union and the blessing of his father through the golden sword, we must be strong for our baby and the rest of our people. Today marks the day of our ruling, and I will personally do whatever it takes to protect Nightbarrow from my cruel bloodline. As Emerick pulls me in a little tighter, the baby kicks, and we swiftly snap our necks to the right at the sound of the golden sword jumping off the ground and crashing down, losing all of its color. Although we say nothing out loud, I feel a gift of courage lift me from my bottom, up to my knees, and now my feet. My husband stands with me, a warm golden glow penetrating my stomach and shining through my dress, extending its warmth to Emerick.

The women and children shuffle from behind the curtains to observe what is happening, and that feeling of warmth fills the room. "Eve, that sword has given our baby its power. This was my father's gift all along. We shall name our baby Elysian." Together we weep tears of both joy and sorrow.

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