Forbidden Bond

I stood at the edge of the ballroom, watching the endless dance with practiced disinterest. My gown of midnight blue silk with silver embroidery attracted many admiring glances, yet none reached through the careful mask I wore. Three hundred years of identical conversations, faces, and tedious rituals lay behind each encounter.

The ancestral ballroom stretched before me, a showcase of vampire opulence. Crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, casting prismatic light on mirror-polished marble floors. The air blended ancient perfumes with the sweet-metallic tang of blood wine and a trace of ambition. Nearby, couples swirled to the mournful tune of a string quartet, their movements graceful but predictable.

I released a quiet sigh as another suitor approached, his smile just hinting at a fang.

"Princess Elizabeth," the approaching vampire intoned, bowing with excess. I recognized him immediately as Lord Cassian Thorne, whose family influence had waned in recent decades. "You outshine every star in the night sky."

I offered my hand with practiced grace. "Lord Thorne. How kind of you to say so."

"I speak only truth, Princess." He brushed his lips against my knuckles, lingering just a moment too long. "That gown is exquisite, though I daresay it could be enhanced by..." He got a diamond necklace from his pocket, its stones catching the light. "A small token of my admiration."

Another diamond necklace, another insincere compliment. Did they really believe trinkets could win my affection?

"How thoughtful," I replied in a carefully neutral tone. "Though I find myself quite adorned tonight."

Disappointment flickered across his face before he masked it swiftly. "Perhaps another time. I was just telling the Countess about my recent acquisition of a first-edition blood grimoire from the Byzantine era. Quite rare, you know. Only three exist."

"How fascinating." I thought to myself, noting that our family vault held two of them.

"Indeed." He straightened his impeccable waistcoat. "My collection is renowned. And so is my estate. The east wing has been renovated—forty rooms, each with a theme from different eras of vampire history."

I nodded politely, letting my eyes wander over his shoulder to survey the room. The tedium of his boasting allowed my mind to drift.

Across the ballroom, I noticed the familiar dance of vampire politics. Lady Ravenna whispered behind her fan to Lord Sirius, likely weaving a carefully crafted rumor. The Nightshade twins circled potential allies like sharks, their smiles never reaching their cold eyes. Count Voss stood apart, his ancient face impassive as he measured every interaction with precision.

They all wore masks—not physical ones, but facades built over centuries. I knew their game well; I had been trained in it since birth. The careful positioning, strategic alliances, subtle threats veiled as compliments. It was a dance older than the waltz in the background and infinitely more dangerous.

"—bloodline dates back twelve generations unbroken," Lord Thorne continued, drawing my reluctant attention back. "Few families can claim such purity."

"Indeed," I murmured, barely restraining the urge to remind him that my lineage stretched nearly twice as long.

I caught sight of my mother across the room. Lady Cordelia Blackwood, the Crimson Matriarch, was conversing with the head of the Silverash family. Even from a distance, it was clear how others deferred to her. Her raven hair was impeccably styled, silver streaks at her temples catching the light. Her burgundy gown, adorned with ancient family jewels, spoke power without excess.

Her eyes met mine, and a slight nod invited me over. I seized the opportunity.

"Please excuse me, Lord Thorne. My mother requires my presence."

Before he could protest, I glided away, moving through the crowd with practiced ease. Vampires stepped aside, offering respectful nods or deep bows, depending on their status.

"Elizabeth," my mother greeted me, her voice calm and melodic. "Lord Silverash was just discussing his son's return from the European courts."

I understood immediately. House Silverash was old, respected, and politically advantageous. Their son represented yet another potential match for me.

"How fortunate," I said, inclining my head toward the elderly vampire. "I look forward to hearing of his travels."

Lord Silverash beamed with paternal pride. "He has learned much abroad. I believe you will find him most... stimulating company."

My mother's eyes gleamed at the exchange. After a few more pleasantries, Lord Silverash excused himself, leaving us alone for a moment.

"He would make an excellent match," she said bluntly. "The alliance would bolster our eastern borders considerably."

I studied my blood-wine, the ruby liquid catching the light. "And is that all marriage means to you? A strategic boundary adjustment?"

Her expression stayed serene, though I caught a warning flash in her silver eyes. "Elizabeth, you must understand the importance of this alliance. The future of our line depends on it."

"And what of my happiness, Mother?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

"Happiness," she said as if tasting an unfamiliar word, "is a luxury we cannot afford. We are Blackwoods. We endure. We lead. We preserve what our ancestors built."

I fell silent, knowing further argument was pointless. Three centuries I had lived, yet in her eyes, I was still a child incapable of choosing my own path.

"The Silverash boy is but one option," she continued, scanning the room. "Lord Thorne has shown interest as well. His northern holdings would complement ours."

They were all the same to me—ambitious vampires climbing higher by allying with our bloodline. None saw me as anything other than the Blackwood princess, the political prize.

"As you wish, Mother," I said, the words tasting like ash.

She placed a cool hand on my arm. "It is not about wishes, Elizabeth. It is about duty. About survival." Her tone softened almost gently. "The world is changing. We must secure our position before it’s too late."