The first morning after the Blood Moon wedding felt unreal to Selena.
For a few quiet moments after waking, she simply stared at the ceiling, trying to remember how her life had changed so quickly.
Only days ago she had been the Luna of the Moonfang Pack.
Free.
Strong.
Surrounded by her people.
Now she was trapped inside a vampire palace… married to the prince of the very race that had attacked her home.
Selena slowly pushed herself upright on the couch.
The fire in the hearth had burned low during the night, leaving faint warmth in the massive chamber.
Her body ached slightly from sleeping on the narrow cushions, but she ignored it.
Her silver eyes moved across the room.
The enormous bed still stood untouched.
Adrian wasn't there.
She frowned.
The door to the balcony was slightly open, allowing cool morning air to drift inside.
Selena rose and stretched slowly before walking toward the window.
Outside, the vampire capital stretched across the dark valley below the castle. Tall towers and narrow streets formed a maze of black stone, lit by lanterns that glowed faintly in the pale daylight.
It was strange.
The kingdom didn't sleep the way wolves did.
Even in the weak sunlight, vampires moved through the streets, cloaked in long coats and dark hoods.
Selena rested her hands on the stone railing.
"This place feels like a graveyard," she murmured.
Behind her, the chamber door opened.
Selena turned sharply.
Prince Adrian stepped inside.
He looked composed as always, his expression unreadable.
His dark shirt was slightly wrinkled, and his sleeves were rolled halfway up his arms.
He had clearly been awake for some time.
Selena crossed her arms.
"Out early?"
Adrian closed the door behind him.
"I've been awake for hours."
"Doing what?"
"Matters of the kingdom."
Selena watched him walk across the chamber.
"You run your kingdom personally?"
"Someone has to."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I assumed you had servants for that."
Adrian poured a drink from a glass decanter on the table before answering.
"Leadership isn't something you delegate entirely."
Selena studied him carefully.
There was something different about him.
Most powerful leaders she had encountered carried themselves with loud confidence.
Adrian didn't.
His calmness felt controlled.
Strategic.
Like he was always thinking several steps ahead.
He turned back toward her.
"You look uncomfortable."
Selena snorted.
"I slept on a couch in a vampire castle."
"What did you expect?"
"Better circumstances."
She walked toward the fireplace and leaned against the mantle.
For a moment the room fell quiet.
Selena broke the silence first.
"So."
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.
"So?"
"You avoided the bed."
"Yes."
"Why?"
He took another sip from his glass before answering.
"Because you clearly didn't want me near you."
Selena blinked.
"That didn't stop you from forcing a marriage."
"That was politics."
"And this isn't?"
"No."
His tone was matter-of-fact.
Selena frowned slightly.
"You're telling me the powerful vampire prince has no interest in his new bride?"
Adrian met her gaze calmly.
"I have no interest in forcing someone who hates me."
Her eyes narrowed.
"That's surprisingly honorable."
He shrugged.
"It's practical."
Selena studied him again.
"You're not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"A monster."
Adrian set the glass aside.
"Many people do."
She hesitated before asking the next question.
"Are they wrong?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead he walked toward the window, standing beside her.
The wind from outside moved gently through the room.
Selena noticed he kept a careful distance between them.
Almost deliberately.
"You said you would tear out my throat if I touched you," Adrian said finally.
Selena smirked.
"I meant it."
"I believe you."
"So you're afraid?"
Adrian looked at her with mild amusement.
"Not particularly."
"Then why keep your distance?"
His crimson eyes held hers steadily.
"Because I respect boundaries."
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"That's rare for a vampire."
"Perhaps."
She leaned closer slightly, studying him.
"You realize most men would try to claim their wife immediately."
"I'm not most men."
"And I'm not most wives."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"That much is obvious."
Selena circled him slowly, like a wolf assessing an unfamiliar threat.
"You don't even seem tempted."
"That's not accurate."
She stopped.
"Oh?"
Adrian met her gaze without hesitation.
"I simply choose control."
Selena folded her arms again.
"You're very disciplined."
"It helps when ruling a kingdom."
Her lips curved faintly.
"You're hiding something."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"What makes you think that?"
"No one stays this calm unless they're hiding something."
He gave a small shrug.
"Or perhaps I just don't enjoy pointless conflict."
Selena walked back toward the couch and dropped down onto it again.
"Well, congratulations."
"For what?"
"You've surprised me twice."
Adrian remained standing near the window.
"Twice?"
"First by forcing the marriage."
"And second?"
"By not acting like a tyrant afterward."
He crossed his arms.
"Your expectations of me were low."
Selena nodded.
"Extremely."
Silence returned to the room.
Selena stared at the ceiling again, thinking.
Finally she spoke.
"This arrangement changes nothing."
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
"My loyalty still belongs to my pack."
"I know."
"I will protect them first."
"That's expected."
Selena turned her head toward him.
"You're not angry about that?"
"Why would I be?"
"Because I'm technically your wife now."
Adrian's expression barely changed.
"The marriage exists to stabilize two kingdoms."
"Not to control your loyalty."
Selena stared at him.
"That's surprisingly reasonable."
"I try to avoid unnecessary complications."
She sat up again.
"You're either incredibly patient… or incredibly dangerous."
Adrian didn't deny it.
"Those qualities are not mutually exclusive."
Selena studied him carefully.
For the first time since arriving in the vampire kingdom, her hatred was joined by something else.
Curiosity.
"You're a strange enemy," she admitted.
Adrian allowed a faint smile.
"And you're a stubborn ally."
Selena laughed softly.
"Ally is pushing it."
"Perhaps."
Another silence settled between them.
The strange tension from the previous night had shifted slightly.
They still didn't trust each other.
They still carried anger and resentment.
But something else had appeared between them.
An uneasy understanding.
Selena stretched her arms above her head.
"Well."
Adrian glanced toward her.
"Well?"
"If we're going to survive this marriage…"
She looked directly at him.
"We need rules."
He seemed mildly interested.
"I'm listening."
Selena counted on her fingers.
"First, you stay out of my way."
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether your actions threaten the kingdom."
She frowned.
"Fine."
"Second rule."
Adrian waited.
"No spying on me."
"That one is impossible."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Excuse me?"
"You're living inside the royal palace."
"Security will observe everything."
Selena groaned.
"This place is exhausting."
Adrian's voice softened slightly.
"You'll adapt."
"I doubt it."
"You're stronger than you think."
Selena stared at him again.
"You're very confident about that."
"I've seen enough to know."
She looked away quickly.
For some reason, hearing that unsettled her.
After a moment, Adrian moved toward the door.
Selena noticed immediately.
"Leaving already?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Council meeting."
She scoffed.
"You vampires have a lot of meetings."
"Running a kingdom requires organization."
He paused at the door.
"Try not to destroy anything while I'm gone."
Selena grinned.
"No promises."
Adrian opened the door.
But before stepping out, he said one final thing.
"You're free to explore the castle."
Selena blinked.
"What?"
"As long as you stay inside the main grounds."
"That's… surprisingly generous."
Adrian looked back at her.
"Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Then he left.
The door closed behind him.
Selena sat quietly on the couch.
Her mind replayed the entire conversation.
He hadn't touched her.
He hadn't threatened her.
He hadn't even tried to assert control over her.
For someone she considered an enemy…
Prince Adrian was dangerously reasonable.
Selena leaned back and sighed.
"This marriage is going to be more complicated than I thought."
Outside, the vampire kingdom continued its strange daily rhythm.
Inside the royal chamber…
Two enemies were learning the first rules of living under the same roof.
And neither of them realized that the bond formed under the Blood Moon was already beginning to change them both.