My heart was thudding so loudly in my chest that I was sure people in the temple could hear it. Built as a sacred altar to their first King and Queen the temple was an architectural beauty. It was made of black marble, stool tall with designed columns and walls with intricate patterns on them.

And even though the fire was lighted up in the temple, it was still cold. And I was relieved that my gown was made of thick velvet material.  More than fifty people were gathered and from the symbol of Nevarlia on their uniform, I could recognize who were the officials and who were the guests. Even though this was not a big deal, King invited so many to humiliate me.

I was made to sit on a throne double my height made of black iron and emerald jewels. As soon as I sat down on the throne, I felt cold and uneasy. Everyone was there except the one person I needed most at the moment.

To ease my self I started observing the temple carefully, especially the altar. There was a large golden bowl kept in the middle and fire was burning in it. Behind the bowl were two statue build in gold as well of the King and the Queen of Dark Magic.

Near the bowl, two beautiful knives were places, hilt made of gold with a fingernail-sized emerald on it. It was sharp and gleaming in the firelight.

My observation was interrupted when the door open with a loud sound and Dark Prince walked in looking bloodied and dirty except the fact that was masked. His quick footsteps made people freeze in fear as if they were worried about his bad mood. Once he came closer I sighed in relief as I realized the blood on his clothes was not his.

I whispered as he came closer to me, "Is the attack that bad?"

"You don't  have to worry." He assured me and his confident tone made me relax.

"Are you scared of the gathering, we have some high ranking officials and magicians in the guest list right now." He said as he used the towel given to him by Eirik and wiped all the blood and dirt on his clothes.

"I couldn't be less bothered about them. They all look intimidating and hateful but I guess a few things scare me now." I said shrugging lightly and he nodded with a soft look in his eyes.

"Let's get started." He said and my stomach did a somersault.

I let out a nervous chuckle, "I overdressed for the occasion proves that you are even less interested in marrying me."

As soon as I said it I realized my nervous self made a stupid comment of insecurity.

He just shook his head lightly keeping his dangerous aura consistent in front of the crowd.

As big a moment this was Bretrarum was not the one for dramatics or second thoughts, he went ahead holding my hand causing waves of whispers among the gathered. He picked up the knife on his side and made a quick cut on his palm making blood ooze out immediately.

I stepped forward to do the same but for some reason, my feet were frozen as if I dreaded this moment. Bretrarum saw my hesitance and grabbed my hand. Before I could react or comprehend what would follow, I winced by the pain caused as soon as the knife touched my skin.

My heart stopped as we both dropped our blood in the bowl with fire.

Lump form in my throat due to severe anxiety when nothing happened for few seconds but then the fire burned brighter and grew double the size it was, it turned red in color and I heard loud gasps from the crowd. I had no idea what it meant accepting the fact that we didn't fail the test.

A few seconds later the fire died down and all that remained in the bowl was ashes and two silver rings.

"I have never seen red flames in my life." A very old looking man said.

I didn't notice him before but when I did, I knew he could rip the soul of my body and I will dare not scream. He had such strong magic aura around him that It was almost visible to someone common as me.

"Can we move forward with the wedding now?" Bretrarum asked in a bored tone not affected by the powerful man in front of me.

King looked annoyed, angry and didn't have words to say.

"Marriage is just in name Prince, she is yours in lives to come. Red flame means bound by heart, mind, and soul. Your blood is magically intertwined, Prince. That means you were meant to find each other no matter what." He explained explaining her relationship on a whole other level.

It was not just feelings and desire or care and like, it was love bounded by fate and magic.

But I was taught magic was not good.

And yet when he said that our blood intertwined I knew what he meant, it felt like my whole being called out to Bretrarum and I was helpless with his simple gaze or smile.

I was both relieved and anxious at the same time. Because of no matter the fate and the love, there were Kingdoms between us, the hate of the King of Nevarlia and soon Sorceresses of mountains. We can't go against the whole world just because our soul is meant for each other.

 But all my negative thoughts washed away as soon as I saw Bretrarum's expression he reserved only for me, of adoration and sparkle of joy. He was happy that I was his 'soul mate'.

"Do you trust me now?" He whispered to me as we bowed to the present crowd having mixed reactions to our destiny.

And it that moment I did, with my whole heart because even in this scenario that was his first priority, to win back my trust.

I just smiled and his grip tightened on my hand understanding that I did trust him.

We exchanged the rings and terrified people started calming down as Dark prince peacefully placed the blessed ring on me and I did the same. But as soon as I did, I felt a jolt in my body too hard that my heart jumped to the throat.

"A blessing of soul." The old man who was talking earlier said sounding astonished again.

"If one lives other lives as well." He said and I turned to look at Bretrarum.

We had contradictory blessings at the moment. If I die, so does Bretrarum. But if either of us lives, neither of us die. Does that nullify the binding witches put on us?

"You are now blessed to get married, rejoice." The old man's powerful voice boomed earning applaud from everyone, even who didn't think of me as an apt choice for the formidable Prince.

And then whole temple shock.

"They are here," Bretrarum whispered just sounding very angry.

But for some reason, I felt happy, "Too many people are against our wedding."

I saw the anger in his eyes drown for a moment and replaced with amusement,  "You are a little too happy for an impending war."

I shrugged not sharing the fact that as skeptical as I was of us being together, it was fated and that gave me some kind of relief a sense of security that I needed because trust me when I tell you people lie that they can live alone, you might not realize but you need someone, anyone to be your safe place.

Bretrarum was my Godsend safe place.

"Your father might be a part of it, he previously helped Henley in attacking my Kingdom." I shared with him and saw his eyes darken with rage.

"It will make sense, because how can they break all our barriers so easily."

"Can someone in there hurt you?" I  asked the important question.

"No, no one can." He said almost pulling me out of the panicked crowd.

"Only the Enhancer, right? Do you know who it was?" I asked, kind of guilty how I was his weakness now since he was already invincible.

"I don't know. They wore masks."

"It's in the plural, there are a lot of people? You said one." I asked terrified as he maneuvred me to my chambers not caring about the enemy waiting right at the door.

"I don't know maybe, it's a power of delusion they use or maybe it's one person. I am not so sure at the moment. There have been rumors of another one."

"Why am I back here Bretrarum, I want to help in fighting. You know I am trained enough." I insisted.

I can't let him walk alone in the war caused by me.

"Princess." He sounded tired," Do you think I need help?"

Of course, he didn't and not my help. I will be just liability and I felt ashamed at that.

I wanted to be a helping hand not a damsel in distress.

"If it's Henley I want to take revenge myself," I said pleading him with my best big eye look.

"No, Princess. You are too valuable to walk in a war with someone that insignificant. If I must, I will capture him and bring him alive." He said and I tried not to let my eyes water.

With no family left, it was great to hear I was valuable to someone.

I just slowly nodded agreeing to his terms but planning other things in my head.

---

That's why I hated magic. To put it mildly, Dark Prince sealed me inside my room. Nor I escape it neither could anyone enter. I was safe in every sense of the world but my heart and mind might collapse due to worry. I paced the room not sure why I was even worried. He might have been to hundreds of battles before, he earned himself the name of Darkness, cold-blooded and ruthless and yet here I was imagining the worse scenarios in my head.

The day passed by and the moon was shining in the dark sky visible from the little gap between the doors. I was in prison all over again, the kind where Bretrarum brought me books, where he was my trainer and the sole person to talk to. I think that is the time I slowly started giving my heart to him.  His little gestures, his words and also his breathtaking beauty might have caused me to go astray.

The worry in my heart double and I was choking with emotions now. Why was this war lasting so long? Why has he not returned yet?

"Princess, open up. Your help is needed." I heard a familiar voice of Tahira.

"I can't, It has been magically sealed," I yelled back feeling the panic rise in my chest.

"For God's sake, are you not one of the Magic Binders, only you can break it. Prince is fatally injured."

Her words did it, I felt numbness in my leg and I fell on my knees. It got difficult for me to breathe and the thought of losing him was piercing my heart with shattered glass. I was sobbing, trying to get my sense together. I felt nauseous and dizzy as I tried getting up realizing I loved the Dark prince more than my mind was agreeing to.

"Princess, we don't have the whole day. Break the magic seal." She yelled and just as Bretrarum taught me I imagine the barrier around the quarters and me.

I felt the magic flow through me and tingling in my fingers and toes and in my mind I destroyed the barrier. Breathing heavily I opened my eyes, tears streaming down. For a moment I thought it failed but next moment Trisha rushed in.

"Well done, now let's go."

I nodded slowly, leaning on Tahira for support. My mind and body numb due to worry.

"He is still breathing so stop being miserable already."She snapped at me.

"I can't breathe Tahira, I can't imagine living without him, seeing him lose his life." I was crying hard now and the almost evil Tahira slowly patted my back.

"As he said, he is alive and you can keep him so. We need to hurry." Just like that adrenaline rushed through my blood.

"Let's go," I said and Tahira looked relieved at my response.

"Be careful Princess, I warn you not to lose your cool." She said.

"Why?" I asked worried that he might be injured more than she let on.

"The Enhancer attacked the Prince." She said and I moved even faster goosebumps rising over me at the thought.

"How did Henley find the Enhancer?" I muttered holding back the tears at the thought of Bretrarum being injured.

He was the pillar of my support, the invincible shield in front of me and person I came to love after all the things.

"Princess, Henley is the Enhancer." 

I did not allow the misery and hate engulf my sense as I ran till my muscles and lungs burned.

---

YEAH! So....can you imagine it's 2159 words and I lost the whole thing. And this is a precious chapter. I so wanted to share this so I re-wrote the whole thing with slight changes to make it better I guess.

Hope you guys like..it's really my blood, sweat, and tears.

Besides that drop comments :) They make me smile.

NEXT UPDATE: Friday