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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and specific other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, events  and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is coincidental.
Copyright © 2024 by Ariana. G (pen name)

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Chapter one:

Dying would probably be more enjoyable than going to this event. The king, who seemed foolish enough to throw a party with the rival kingdom, should probably just hand over his title to the prince. Because doing this under the guise of peace was one of the most ridiculous thing I'd seen in a hell long of a time. And as the most powerful sorceress of the decade, attending this is kind of my obligation. If only Dove, my little more-than-friend, was here to keep my eyes entertained. Maybe then it wouldn't be as torturous as I imagined. This had been the only positive thought I had about this party since last week, when the king informed me of it. So even though I loathed parties and drinking with my enemies, I donned a long dress, its fabric shimmering with diamonds in the colors of the kingdom flag and made my way to the ballroom.

As I passed through the grand, golden doors of the ball venue, the warm, intoxicating aroma of roasted meats and exotic spices filled the air, mingling with the crisp scent of fresh flowers. The scent of wine and perfume lingered like a heavy fog, intensifying the already oppressive atmosphere. The ballroom was a sea of colors and textures—rich velvet drapes in royal blue and gold, shimmering chandeliers casting a golden glow, and a dance floor covered in intricate patterns of marble. The lively music, a blend of harp strings and flutes, was both exhilarating and overwhelming.

Maybe, the kingdom of Valeria had changed with the death of their despised king during the War of Two Crowns. Perhaps now, they were merciful warriors seeking peace. What a thought. I was surprised they even showed up. But when I noticed that the twirling dresses were not confined to the kingdom's colors of yellow, pink, and light blue, it hit me. What was I thinking? That the warriors would cower in shadowy corners, sipping their drinks quietly? No, they were not all so subdued. Some were indeed laughing and dancing energetically on the floor, their attire ranging from navy blue and deep gray to black and crimson. Some even remained in their armor, though I suspected it was merely for show.

I scanned the room for a servant and grabbed a large glass of wine before retreating to the garden to hide, as was my custom. At least until the king summoned me for some excruciatingly polite presentation, full of fake smiles and insincere kindness. I took a long sip of my wine and looked up at the night sky. How did I end up at a party with the kingdom that had slaughtered my family? I'm only alive because of my mother. She hid my power with hers, ensuring I wouldn't be discovered and killed. Just the thought of my family felt like a tight noose around my throat, so I forced myself to stop. Later tonight, the king would introduce me as his son's girlfriend, not as the most powerful witch of the decade. The very people in this room, no more than 60 feet away, are the ones who annihilated all the other witches.

A sudden sound of footsteps pulled me from my dark thoughts. I turned and saw the prince approaching with his characteristic grace. His footsteps on the gravel pathway were soft yet decisive, like the whisper of silk against stone.

"Miss Shadowthorn," the prince said, his voice carrying the formal cadence of his station.

"Prince Evander," I replied, bowing my head slightly.

"May I?" he asked, extending his hand as if to invite me to walk with him.

"Of course," I said, making space for him.

"So, why are you hiding in the garden again?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.

"And why are you speaking to me so informally all of a sudden?" I shot back.

"Because my father stopped looking at us, and possibly listening."

"Of course," I muttered, glancing at the tulips blooming in the cool night air as spring began to unfurl.

"I – I need to talk to you about something," he said, suddenly looking embarrassed.

"Go ahead."

"You know that when my father demands something, I don't really have a choice, right?" I nodded. He took a deep breath, his cheeks reddening slightly as he continued. "So... last night, I kind of sneaked out of the castle to see Mira and..."

How utterly foolish. Did he really think sneaking out the night before a ball to see his girlfriend was a smart plan?

"Did you even think this through?!" I exclaimed. "The servants are everywhere the night before a party, and you know it!"

"You're right, I know. I had a good reason. I'll tell you later. But please, Sorana, it's serious." When he uses my full name, it's never good. He pushed a strand of brown hair behind his left ear, took a deep breath, and began again. "So, this morning, my father called me into his office and... he made me tell him everything about her. He asked me to break up with her, and that he... he would marry you to me and—"

Shock. Pure shock. The king wants me to marry his son. Not a game this time. Not some lies. Real marriage. I can't even listen to Evander anymore. I don't like men, and I'm already in a mess. The only way out would be to tell the king I prefer women, and then get killed for it. That's not happening. If I must fight, I will, but I'm not marrying Evander, and I'm not doing anything with a man again. The thought is repulsive beyond words.

"No. There's no way I'm paying for your stupidity. I don't even like men, and you know it!"

"I know! I'm sorry, but I can't... he wasn't my father this morning, Sorana. He was my king."

"I'm. Not. Marrying. You."

"Ana..."

"Go away. Please. Let me clear my mind a little, Evan."

Anger bubbled up inside me. If I let it out, the entire party will know about my secret. I waited for him to leave, taking deep, calming breaths. Marrying him wouldn't force me into anything, so that's a problem solved. I needed to clear my thoughts. After a few minutes of breathing steadily, I resolved that he's my friend, so he would find a solution before I have to handle it alone. Right? Then, I heard footsteps. Without turning around, I said, "Get the fuck away, Evan! I told you, there's no way in hell I'm marrying you! And before you ask, I'm not scared of your father! I could rip his fucking throat open with a single thought if I wanted, which I'm tempted to do right now, so please, just go away."

And then I realized. It's not Evan. It's... the king.

"Miss Shadowthorn," he said, his voice as chilling as the night air.

"Your Highness," I said, making a shallow bow, even though worshipping this tyrant was the last thing I wanted to do right now.

"Why were you speaking to my son like that?" he asked, his tone icy and commanding.

"Well, you can't say I was speaking to your son. He wasn't even here." I struggled to keep my anger in check, though the shock on his face was almost gratifying.

"Be careful. You owe me respect."

"I don't owe you anything. And now that your son told me about your little scheme, I owe you even less."

"You should not play with fire."

"But what if I love the burns that come after?" I replied, not entirely untruthfully. I don't enjoy trouble, but sometimes it's preferable to the initial choice.

"Then you should talk to someone."

"I don't need anyone else but myself."

"That's what your ego tells you, Miss Shadowthorn." What an insufferable man.

"You're not in a position to lecture me about ego." I said, stepping closer.

"Anyway," he said, rolling his eyes with exaggerated disdain.

"I'm not getting hitched to your son."

"I don't care what you think, Shadowthorn. I'm your king, and if I tell you to marry my son, you will."

"As I told your son, I'm not paying for his stupidity. If he got caught, it's his problem, not mine."

"I don't think that's the reason." Damn.

"Don't hide behind false pretenses. We both know the real reason you don't want to marry him is because you crave your own powerful family," he said with a haughty tone.

I'm relieved he didn't catch my real concern. At least, if he's not playing the same game I am. I'm so tired of hiding. And I miss the intimacy of being with someone. I cut off that thought abruptly. What the hell is wrong with me?

"I'll be going now. It was nice seeing you, Your Highness."

I took a sip of my wine and moved back into the party. The room was crowded with more Valerians, and just the thought of being near them made me nauseous. The presentations could go to hell. I sought out a secluded spot, took another long sip of my wine, and surveyed the scene. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I spotted the king of the enemy kingdom. He's the one who killed my parents. The sight triggered a cascade of memories. I saw myself, 15 years earlier, clutching my teddy bear in terror as the king and his warriors burst through the front door of our small house. My mother had hurried me into her closet, whispering urgently, "I know you're scared, pumpkin, but you need to hide . Don't get out of this closet until you're sure that the bad men are out, far, far away."

Her voice trembled, like a fragile thread ready to snap. The faint scent of lavender, her perfume, lingered in the air as I crouched in the closet. My little kid hands trembled uncontrollably, my fingernails digging into the rough wood of the closet door. A chill ran through me—not just the cold of the night but the suffocating fear that crept up my spine. My breath hitched as she spoke her last words to me.

"You are a powerful girl, Sorana" More than you could ever imagine. You can do anything if you wish, if you dare. And Mommy loves you. You know it, right?" Her voice was soft but filled with desperation, her words clinging to the thick air between us.

I nodded, tears blurring my vision. She touched my cheek, her hand warm against my cold, clammy skin. "Now hide, my darling, and whatever you see or hear tonight, remember... it's all for you."

Then, she closed the closet door, plunging me into a world of darkness. The wooden walls were smooth yet suffocatingly close, and the scent of old cedar mingled with my own fear. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest, the rhythmic thud matching the slow, creeping dread filling my veins. I heard footsteps fade into the distance.

Suddenly, glass shattered. The jarring sound ripped me out of the memory. I looked down. My wine glass had slipped from my trembling fingers, crimson liquid splashing across my blue dress like spilled blood. The wine was sticky, warm, and felt thick against the soft silk of my dress, pooling around my feet on the cold marble floor.

"Fuck," I muttered, staring at my stained dress, the weight of the day pressing down on my chest. I had to change. I couldn't let anyone see me like this—especially not now, not when my emotions were so precariously on edge.

I walked toward my room, I could feel the tremble of the air around me, an eerie chill that followed me like a shadow. As soon as I was out of view, I ran. My breath was ragged, and every step felt like a release of pent-up energy, a crack in the dam that held back the flood of my emotions.

My mind wandered to Evan and the grief in his eyes when he told me about Mira. The thought hit me like a wave, and I wasn't paying attention when I collided with someone—no, not someone. Dove.

"Thank gods," I muttered, taking a step back, trying to compose myself. Her scent was familiar, something like wildflowers and salty winds, earthy and grounding, pulling me from the storm inside my head. Her green eyes locked onto mine, and I felt exposed, like she could see everything I was trying to hide.

"Where were you? I searched everywhere. Even the garden. I ran into the king, who looked really pissed by the way." Her voice had an edge to it, but there was concern underneath.

"I know. It's because of me," I muttered, glancing down at my stained dress, the fabric clinging to my skin uncomfortably.

"What?" She fiddled with the ends of her long, ginger hair, her fingers tracing the soft curls nervously.

"It's because of me," I repeated, quieter this time.

Her brow furrowed, and she sighed. "I heard. But... what the fuck, Sora?"

I looked around, feeling the weight of too many eyes, too many unspoken things. "Come," I said, walking to a quieter corner, the soft click of my heels echoing on the cold stone floor.

"I talked to Evan," I whispered.

She raised an eyebrow. "Is there something special about that? He's literally your friend."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the words I was about to speak. "The king wants to marry us."

Her eyes widened, and her voice cracked as she whispered, "No. It can't be, Sora."

I nodded, unable to meet her gaze. "I know."

Her voice was small, broken. "I—I can't lose what we have. It's the only thing that makes me feel good. You're the only one who makes me feel comfortable, feel safe. And we both know that as soon as you get the ring on your finger, it's over. Do you even want to marry him?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and my chest tightened painfully. I reached out, cupping her face, her skin soft and warm against my cold, trembling hands. I wiped away a tear with my thumb, but it felt futile.

"I love you, Dove," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But not... not like that. And even if it were that way, we couldn't live it. We would die for it."

The weight of my powers surged inside me, pulsing with my emotions. The air around us grew colder, and I could feel my control slipping. Slowly but surely, my powers were taking over, pushing me closer to the edge.

Dove's eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "Your eyes. You're going to lose control."

I nodded, trying to steady my breath. The heat between us was palpable, but the icy power inside me clashed with it, creating a storm. "It's okay. I just need to go to my room."

As I turned to leave, she grabbed my wrist, her touch sending a shock of warmth through me. "Don't," she whispered. "You need me."

"I can't," I choked out, the words like shards of glass in my throat. "Not now, not after knowing how you feel."

"One. Last. Time." She stepped closer, switching our places, her breath hot against my ear as she whispered, "Please." Her lips brushed against mine, soft but insistent, and I melted into her touch. The kiss was like fire, warm and consuming as she lowered to my neck. My skin tingled where her hands roamed.

But then, too late, I saw the shadow in the corner of my eye. My heart stopped as a voice, cold and sharp as steel, cut through the heat of the moment.

"Having fun, ladies?" The feminine voice dripped with menace.

We were fucked.

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Hi!! I so here's a little about me: I'm a bisexual teenage girl obsessed with Taylor swift and books💕 i LOVE winter, and I dream of writing a book! I decided to post on wattpad but I don't expect anything at all.  I thought I would do it just in case :) I hope you liked this first chapter, and thank you so so much for reading 🫶🫶 I hope you have a great week💕 if you have any suggestions I'll be happy to hear them 🫶 I am currently writing Beware of darkness, and I currently have 9 chapters, so I might publish once a week if this works! I'll be back with Sorana story soon enough😄