I scanned the hallways before I took any steps. My fingers against the rim of my lip as I nibbled at my nails. The fear of getting caught looped around in my mind.

Half way towards reaching my room, Megan waved at me from a distant. My face stiffeend at the sight of her but I forced a smile.

"Sienna! I was looking every where for you!". Megan looked so drained, stressed, too thin. As if she hadn't had a bite in days, maybe weeks. Her hair was as wild as the jungle, untamable and unruly. Her once stunning long hair now vaguely resembled a birds nest. She seemed to be getting worse and worse every time. All the weight being carried on her shoulders. Too much task for just one girl. Jax had her running every where for him, like a chicken without a head.

I stood calm as I spoke. "For what reason were you looking for me? Megan".

"Prince Jax is hosting a dance this night and everyone must attend, including you".

"What's the rush then?", I asked.

She licked her chapped lips as she blew a strand of her blond hair off her face. "Well you're late. You have precisely one hour to get ready. If I were you, you would hurry on to Adira".

"Well that's where I was going", I said taking a step aside and pointing towards the direction I was heading.

"Hurry on then", Megan replied as she held tightly to her clipboard, scurrying away.
I shook my head, proceeding towards the room.

"Adira", I called as I opened the curtains, stepping into the room.

"Where were you?!" she said as she stood up from her bed, wearing a beaded bodice high to low black ball gown. Her hair perfectly done in an updo.

"Why are you wearing a ball gown?", I asked, shunning her question. "It's just a dance, right?".

"Nothing here is JUST A- Now where the heck were you?! I had Lars look every where for you. You had me worried".

"I- up- I was-".

Adira waved her hand in front of my face. "Forget it. We have no time for this. Someone left this for you earlier in the day". Adira walked over to my bed, picking up a silver silk blanket.

"Did someone leave me a blanket?" I asked.

Adira rolled her eyes. "No silly, open it up. See whats inside".

I took the gift from her hands and sat on my bed. I slowly unwrapped the silk revealing what was hidden under. I gasped as I held the gown up high.
"Oh my- that is a gorgeous gown", Adira uttered . I nodded.

"Did Jax get me this for tonight's party?". I sat the gown on my lap, carefully tracing my fingers on the embroidering.

"I'm not sure".

I carefully examined the patterns, texture and color. Jax will never get me such an elegant dress, he would want me to wear something revealing and sexy to show off to the rest of the vamps, like some prize posession.
   
  My face turned bright red as I smiled. Duncan. He must have. Oh he's the most sweetest- No, the gown is white. No vamp will ever wear such a color, except.. Cyan.

Festering guilt rendered my mind effectively. I have giving myself to someone else, when I belong to Cyan. But Cyan has done the same for many years. Being with someone who's related to his worst enemy.

"Why is he giving me this? It makes no sense. He is betrothed to Darla".

Adira shrugged. "Maybe he's apologizing that he's engage to Darla and not you?".

I shook my head in disagreement. "Still has no relation to this gown on this night".

"Just wear the damn gown..Would you", Adira snapped.

"Alright, chill", I said taking my stand. "Now leave and let me get ready. I'll meet you at the party". Adira said no more as she brought herself to her feet, exiting the room.

I carefully removed my clothes, slipping into the gown. It fit perfectly as if it was made for me alone. I've never worn a gown in my life, it felt weird yet meant to be.

   I combed my hair through as I struggled to decide what to do with it. "I shouldn't have sent Adira away. She could of helped me with this". I searched around the room for anything that could had been of use. Finding hair pins, I started to clip my hair up into a messy updo. "This will need to do". Before leaving the room, a vase with pink flowers on Adira's stand came to my attention. I nipped two or three of those flowers, intensively placing them on my updo for a much better outcome. Being satisfied with my look, I left the room.

All the reasons not to do this came flooding through my mind. I've been so lost in constructing bad scenarios for the evening ahead that I was surprised to see how far I've come. I was standing in front of the double doors. You can do this. I pushed the doors open, taking a step in. All heads were turned instantly.
The chatter could be heard amongst the crowd. It was no surprise they were all talking about me.

It was something out of books. A theme back to the Victorian era with a modern twist. A Chandelier hung over the room's ceiling, giving it a sophisticated touch. It dripped with the best cut diamonds and was made from white gold. When was that installed?

Not a second passed before Jax's gaze met me then my gown. I drew in a deep breath, the burning hard stare would last only as long as it took him to think of the most brutally cutting thing he could do to me. Now my blood had drained from my face as my eyes shifted to the man standing beside him. Duncan. His lethal stare felt painful and piercing.

"Sienna!", I turned towards the direction my name was being yelled from. Lars and Adira were standing by a banquet. "Over here". This was the first time actual solid food was being served.

It's was a relief when I got to Adira and Lars because between the heels and my legs shaking, I was afraid of tripping. On any other evening I would have smiled at Adira and Lars but I didn't. With the mutters of the crowd at my arrival in a white gown, I knew something terrible was about to happen.

"Can I get you anything?" Lars asked.

For the first time ever, I turned down food but accepted a glass of water. I took the glass of water in my hand, taking a few sips to calm my quenching thirst.

"Are you alright?", Adira asked.

"I think my blood pressure went up. Duncan and Jax are not too pleased with me wearing this gown" I muttered, leaning in slightly to her so no one can hear.

"They sure aren't", she replied.

"Guys" I said setting the cup down and standing in between them. I placed my hands on each of their shoulders and scanned the room before I spoke the words I was about to say. Adira and Lars slightly leaned in. "I told Adira and Duncan about a plan right? I am pretty sure Adira mentioned it to you Lars?". He nodded in answer. "I just want to make sure you both are in, hundredth percent. There will be no turning back". 

Lars eyes, the color green on first spring's leaf, stared at me for a moment. Giving me the reassurance I needed, "We are with you" he said.

The doors flew open, like a thunderous roar. The untamed power reverberated and echoed across the room. I watched as Cyan took steps across the glossy tile floor in a polish white suit.

"I have relinquished my betroth to Darla!".

There was something in that shout, confidence, a relief. Everyone was tensed, searching their Prince's face for any sign or any words. Adira took hold of my arm and gave it a tight squeeze with a gently shake. "I knew this dress meant something".

I felt the soft panic rise in me. I couldn't believe what I just heard. A muscle twitched involuntarily at the corner of Jax's right eye, his mouth formed a rigid grimace. He tapped his foot furiously.

"I will marry a woman of my chosen". Cyan waited a moment before continuing, "and who may it be? you ask". He did a full turn so he could see the crowds stunned faces. A small grin plastered on his face.

"Sienna", his finger landed on me. I was trying so hard to hide behind Lars and Adira, it did not help.

Fires of fury and hatred were smoldering in Jax's eyes. "You can't do that, she belongs to me! She's wearing my necklace. A rule you-you ice weavers made!".

Fear found me once again and I clutched tightly to the necklace that hung over my neck. It made my legs go weak, a battle within me to not let myself collapse on the floor.

"I am the last and only vampire of my kind. I can enforce and remove any rule I want and so-" Cyan's lips parted a centimeter, making it so seductive. He was savouring the moment. As if he had waited his whole life to do this. " I'm extracting this rule. Halfers will no longer be enslave to the royals".

Some of the halfers in the room did not know what to do. A spark of fear and confusion lit in them. To my dismay about three of them ripped their necklace off their necks, throwing them across the floor while the rest held tightly to theirs, not quite sure if doing the same would be a smart move. 

"You can not just barge in here and make your rules anymore!". Jax's anger came like an impossible build up steam. "You've agreed to that when you decided to take Darla as your woman. Your ruling as come to its end. No matter what you say, it wont change anything".

    Cyan shook his head. "You're wrong. We agreed that once I was married to Darla my predominion will no longer prevail but since we are not married and will never be, I can still assert what I  believe is correct to our people. Owning someone as property is something I do not condone. It does not matter what my ancestors believed".

"This is tradition! Your parents and the descendants before them knew it too. It's the only way to balance our social class. You cannot just go and change that for some stupid girl".

"Yes I can. I am your superior after all". Cyan's mouth twitched upwards into a smirk.

Jax was lost for words. He had no defense to his claim. Unable to do anything at that point, he sat back and clutched his arm chair tightly.  

But I knew damn well Jax wasn't backing down without a fight. He was sneaky and ruthless. He would never let anyone talk to him the way Cyan did, even if he was his king.

 Cyan turned his attention towards me.   His smile came from deep inside, that lit his eyes and spread into every part of him. I could see how he had planned this thoroughly and for a second I wished I knew. My shoulders hunched over and I looked away.

"Let me ask you this", Jax said after a moment of silence.

"Are you in love with her?".

"What?" Cyan said as he shifted his body to face the prince once again.

"Do-you-love-her?".

Cyan stood silent while he contemplated his next answer.

"DO YOU LOVE HER?!", Jax shout came from within that forced its way out as the rage flared on.

"YES I LOVE HER! I love everything about her", Cyan blurted.

I noticed how time just came to a still. My heart felt like it wanted to explode and I couldn't think anymore. Cyan loves me?

"But you already know that don't you?" Cyan asked.

Jax snickered before he took his stand. He didn't have to ask that but he did anyway and that just gave him a thrilling satisfaction. He signed some guards to follow him, exiting the room through a back door.

Duncan eyed Cyan and I with furious glances. I felt my insides squirm in a way they haven't done before. My hand began to shake and I couldn't control it.
Cyan stretched his hand out towards me, a foot behind the other as he bowed. All I could do was blankly stare back at him. As I stared, I could feel myself become hypnotized. Silvery moon eyes that trapped me in a net of intrigued.

   I placed my delicate hand in his; he placed his hand on my waist and whisked me onto the ballroom floor. His head tilted to one side and a hopeful smile played on his lips.

"Relax", Cyan whispered in my ear. I took a shuddering breath and gathered myself.

My gown flowed with every twirl as we turned and glided across the floor. I caught a glimse of Duncan as we smoothly moved, he couldn't bare to look at me.

I had felt my soul become one with his in the music. In a way it flowed through us and between us, creating a bond stronger than the pillars that held this room up. It was a new breath for my body.
I closed my eyes feeling a flame in my soul. In his arms I felt warmth and safety.

    As the music came to a close we also did. The corners of my mouth lifted up into a smile as my hands still held unto Cyan's.

"That smile is the prettiest thing I've seen in a while" Cyan said.

"Thank-" I looked around the room, my smile died faster than wisps of smoke. A second ago it felt like a golden blossoming day but now I see the darkness that I see time and time again since I have arrived. A paralyzing fear.       Everyone stared. Some with disgust, anger, and shockingly, others with hope for a better future if we were to wedd.
    I took a glance as Duncan's shadow disappeared out the door. I took a step back. If this day were to happen yesterday, my answer would had been different but unfortunately he was a day late. I had promised myself to someone else. Duncan is my certainty and Cyan is not.  

"I'm sorry Cyan but I can't marry you".

"Why?" His voice sounded more pained than anything.

"I-I just can't". Picking up the bottom of my skirt, I ran after Duncan. He was the one I wanted.

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I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Team: Syan? Cienna? 
Team: Suncan? Dienna? 

What ship name do you guys like? And which couple do you ship?

Please leave a like and comment. 💜