The silence inside the royal court chamber lasted only a few seconds after the vampire warrior hit the pillar.
Then the whispers began.
Low.
Uneasy.
Shocked.
Selena stood calmly in the center of the chamber while the fallen warrior slowly struggled to sit up, groaning in pain.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Was that too much?"
No one answered.
Lord Cassian's face had darkened with fury.
The other nobles exchanged uncertain glances.
They had expected the wolf Luna to struggle.
To lose.
Instead, she had defeated one of their strongest guards with a single strike.
Selena brushed imaginary dust from her sleeve before turning toward the throne.
"Well?" she said.
King Valerius studied her with interest.
"You possess considerable strength."
Selena shrugged.
"I warned him."
A few nobles muttered angrily.
Adrian remained silent beside the throne, but there was the faintest hint of approval in his expression.
Cassian stepped forward again, clearly unwilling to accept what had just happened.
"Strength alone does not grant respect."
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"This is the vampire court," Cassian continued coldly.
"Power here is measured by bloodline, loyalty, and intelligence."
Selena smirked.
"So punching someone isn't enough?"
"Hardly."
She crossed her arms.
"Then what do you suggest?"
Cassian's smile was thin and unpleasant.
"Control."
The word echoed through the chamber.
"You are a wolf," he continued.
"A creature driven by instinct."
"Savage."
Several nobles nodded in agreement.
Selena's eyes glowed faintly silver.
"Careful."
Cassian ignored the warning.
"A Luna who cannot control herself is nothing more than a beast."
The insult hung in the air.
Selena slowly walked toward him.
The nobles shifted nervously.
But she stopped several steps away.
"You talk a lot for someone who didn't fight me himself."
A few nobles snickered quietly.
Cassian's eyes narrowed.
"I have no reason to fight you."
"Convenient."
Selena's smirk returned.
Cassian turned toward the throne again.
"Your Majesty, this situation is dangerous."
"The wolf Luna has already proven she cannot be trusted."
King Valerius leaned back in his throne.
"Because she defeated one of my guards?"
"Because she attacked the prince."
Selena rolled her eyes.
"We've been over this."
Cassian continued as if she hadn't spoken.
"If we allow her influence to grow, the balance of power within the kingdom will shift."
Now the room grew quieter.
That was the real issue.
Politics.
Several noble houses held enormous influence within the vampire kingdom.
Selena's presence threatened that balance.
Especially if Adrian supported her.
Adrian finally spoke.
"Selena's presence strengthens the alliance between wolves and vampires."
Cassian scoffed.
"An alliance the wolves never asked for."
Selena laughed softly.
"He's not wrong."
Adrian glanced at her.
Selena shrugged.
"My pack definitely didn't vote for this marriage."
The nobles began murmuring again.
Cassian seized the moment.
"You see?"
"She openly admits she has no loyalty to this kingdom."
Selena's expression cooled slightly.
"I have loyalty to my people."
"And that is exactly the problem."
Cassian turned toward the gathered nobles.
"If war begins tomorrow, where will her allegiance lie?"
Selena answered immediately.
"With my pack."
The chamber exploded with whispers.
Cassian spread his hands.
"There."
"She admits it herself."
Adrian's voice cut through the noise.
"That is expected."
The room fell silent again.
Cassian stared at him.
"You approve of that?"
"Yes."
Selena blinked slightly.
She hadn't expected that answer.
Adrian continued calmly.
"Selena's loyalty to her pack is exactly why the prophecy chose her."
The king watched the exchange carefully.
Cassian shook his head.
"You are risking the stability of the entire kingdom for a prophecy."
Adrian's crimson eyes hardened.
"No."
"I'm protecting the future of both kingdoms."
Cassian's expression turned cold.
"Or destroying them."
For a moment the tension in the chamber felt dangerous.
Then King Valerius raised his hand again.
"That is enough."
The nobles immediately fell silent.
The king's gaze moved across the room.
"Whether you approve or not, the marriage stands."
"No noble will challenge it."
Cassian bowed slightly.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
But the anger in his eyes had not disappeared.
Selena noticed.
And she didn't like it.
After the meeting ended, the nobles began leaving the chamber in small groups.
Many of them glared openly at Selena.
Others whispered behind their hands.
Selena stretched her arms.
"Well."
"That went well."
Adrian looked at her.
"Define well."
"You didn't get assassinated."
"That's a low standard."
Selena grinned.
"I'm a practical person."
They began walking toward the exit.
Several nobles quickly moved out of their path.
Selena noticed.
"They're afraid of me."
"Yes."
"That's good."
"Sometimes."
She glanced at him.
"You don't look happy about it."
"Fear creates enemies."
Selena shrugged.
"I already have enemies."
"That list just grew longer."
She smirked.
"Good."
Adrian sighed quietly.
"You enjoy provoking people."
"They started it."
"You finished it."
They stepped into the palace corridor.
The noise of the court faded behind them.
Selena leaned against one of the pillars.
"So what now?"
Adrian looked thoughtful.
"Now the nobles begin plotting."
Selena grinned.
"Finally."
"That excites you?"
"Of course."
She pushed herself off the pillar.
"I was getting bored."
Adrian studied her carefully.
"You're very confident."
Selena's silver eyes gleamed.
"I survived the destruction of my pack."
"I was captured by vampires."
"I married the enemy prince."
She stepped closer to him.
"A few angry nobles don't scare me."
Adrian's gaze softened slightly.
"That attitude might keep you alive."
"Or get me killed."
"Yes."
Selena laughed.
"Either way, it won't be boring."
Adrian shook his head slightly.
"You're impossible."
"And you married me."
"I didn't exactly have a choice."
Selena smirked.
"Neither did I."
For a moment the tension between them felt lighter.
But that moment didn't last long.
At the far end of the corridor, two nobles stood whispering quietly.
The moment they noticed Selena looking at them, they quickly turned away.
Selena frowned.
"You see that?"
"Yes."
"They're planning something."
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"They all are."
Selena cracked her knuckles.
"Good."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
"Yes."
Her silver eyes glowed faintly again.
"If they want to start a game…"
Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"I'll be happy to play."
But neither Selena nor Adrian realized that some of the nobles plotting against her were not acting alone.
Hidden among the vampire houses…
The Blood Moon cult had already begun to spread its influence.
And soon, the palace itself would become their battlefield.