Pov Author
The gong's sound still echoed through the hall as everyone turned toward the stage.
Anna forced herself to look.
Shou Feng stood beneath the sea-green arches, Naka beside him, both framed in silver light. They looked calm—too calm. Like this was natural. Like nothing had ever existed before this moment.
Anna hated how beautiful he looked.
She hated that even now, with her chest splitting open, some part of her still noticed the way he stood, the quiet strength in him, the softness in his eyes when he looked at Naka.
That softness used to be hers.
Or maybe it never was.
The thought hollowed her out.
Around her, the guests watched with polite smiles and careful silence. The priests stepped forward in white robes, carrying a velvet box between them. Whatever was inside gleamed sea-green beneath the lights.
"The binding seal," one priest announced.
Anna frowned faintly, trying to focus on anything except Shou Feng.
The priest opened the box, revealing two pale green rings.
"They are pretty," Renji murmured beside her, his voice low. "For tiny magical shackles."
Anna shot him the weakest glare.
Renji gave a small shrug. "I'm trying to make this less painful. Work with me."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
On the stage, Naka lifted one ring, her hands graceful and steady. Shou Feng did the same.
The priest began speaking words Anna couldn't fully hear because the rushing in her ears was too loud.
She stared at Shou Feng's face.
Waiting.
For what, she didn't know.
For hesitation.
For doubt.
For something.
But there was nothing.
No flicker.
No pause.
No sign that this was wrong.
That hurt more than anything.
Beside her, Renji shifted.
"You don't have to stay for this part," he said quietly.
"Yes," she whispered.
His eyes softened. "Why?"
Because if I leave, then it's real.
Because if I turn away, then I lose him.
Because some cruel part of me needs to watch him choose her.
But she didn't say any of that.
Instead, she said, "I need to see it."
Renji exhaled slowly but didn't argue.
On the stage, the priest's voice rose.
"By the sacred seal, let this vow be witnessed—"
The hall suddenly trembled.
The chandeliers shook.
Gasps rose around the room.
The priest stopped speaking.
A second tremor followed—harder.
The sea-green lights above flickered like disturbed water.
Anna looked around sharply.
"What was that?" someone whispered.
Then the great doors at the end of the hall burst open.
Every head turned.
A messenger stumbled inside, pale and breathless.
"My lords—" he gasped. "The northern barrier has been breached!"
The room erupted into confused voices.
Shou Feng stepped forward immediately. "By what?"
"We don't know—there was a surge of—"
His words were cut off as another violent tremor shook the room.
One of the crystal chandeliers snapped.
People screamed.
Glass shattered across the marble.
Suddenly the perfect ceremony dissolved into panic.
Guests rushed in every direction.
Priests shouted.
Guards moved toward the doors.
Anna instinctively stepped back, but someone slammed into her shoulder.
She stumbled.
Renji grabbed her wrist.
"Stay with me."
Another tremor.
The floor lurched.
This time they were separated.
Bodies surged between them.
"Anna!" Renji shouted.
She reached for him but someone crashed into her side, forcing her back.
Then the lights went out.
Darkness.
Screams.
For one second Anna couldn't see anything.
Then the sea-green ceiling flickered back dimly.
She turned desperately.
"Renji!"
No answer.
Only chaos.
Her pulse thundered.
She pushed through the crowd, trying to find him, trying to breathe—
A hand closed around her arm.
Strong.
Cold.
She spun.
Kazan.
He was suddenly in front of her, expression calm while everything around them collapsed.
"Come with me," he said.
She yanked against his grip. "No!"
Another crash sounded nearby.
The wall beside them split with a deep cracking sound.
Dust and marble rained down.
Kazan pulled her hard.
"If you stay here, you die."
She tried to resist, but the crowd shoved violently around them, panic driving everyone blind.
She couldn't see Renji.
Couldn't see Kiyoshi.
Couldn't see anyone.
Kazan dragged her through a side archway.
"No—let go of me!"
He didn't.
They moved through narrow corridors away from the screams and noise, deeper into the palace.
Anna struggled the entire time.
"Kazan, let me go!"
He stopped so suddenly she nearly ran into him.
Then he opened a carved door and pushed her inside.
Anna stumbled into a dark room.
A private chamber.
Before she could move, the door shut behind them.
The noise from the hall disappeared.
Silence.
Anna spun around.
Kazan stood with his back to the door.
Calm.
Watching her.
She backed away immediately.
"Why did you bring me here?"
He didn't answer right away.
The room was dim, lit only by one low-burning lamp on the wall. Shadows stretched across the floor, making his face harder to read.
Finally, he said, "Because there are too many eyes out there."
Fear curled in her stomach.
She hated how calm he sounded.
She hated that look in his eyes—that strange recognition.
"What do you want?" she asked.
He stepped toward her once.
She stepped back.
His gaze stayed fixed on her face.
"I knew it the moment I saw you ."
Anna's throat tightened.
"Knew what?"
His expression darkened—not anger, something deeper.
"Do you really not remember?"
Her pulse pounded painfully.
"Remember what?"
Another step.
"You are my Nahan."
She hit the edge of a table behind her and stopped.
Kazan stood only a few feet away now.
The silence in the room felt heavy enough to crush her.
Then he said the words that made her blood run cold.
"I've been looking for you for a very long time, Anna."
She stared at him, unable to breathe.
His eyes held hers.
And slowly—
Lord Kazan smiled.
"ARIN!...."she screamed her lungs out .
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To be continued…