Chapter 18: Sena - Fated to the Night King

"You're looking right fit, now, aren't you, sweetheart." Gus bustled around me, helping me put on the borrowed dress she'd brought me. "Our Danvers knows what he's about when it comes to healing. I wouldn't trust him in my kitchen, though. Might accidentally poison the whole castle."

She steadied me gently as I stood in front of the mirror. The bruises had faded, and I felt like the woman looking back at me was thin, in need of more good feeding as Gus liked to tell me. But she was standing on her own feet and she looked less beaten down than I'd felt in a while.

No one had pushed me to say more about what had happened. I'd simply been told that in three days, I would meet the Night King face to face, and he would offer me a chance to stay in the castle. To become part of his court.

It was exactly what I'd been sent here to do. And it made my chest ache to even think of that.

I'd been treated kindly in this place. Even though they knew where I'd come from, what I was, that our people were sworn enemies, they hadn't treated me that way. Danvers had consistently checked on me, bringing me the medicine he assured me would help with continued healing, and Gus kept feeding me.

It felt wrong to accept what was being offered when I would have to betray them all in the end.

"Now, we'll walk with you to the ballroom where the court is gathered. They'll be buzzing because Alkan doesn't often call them to convene on such short notice but pay them no mind. We'll have the guards with you, and they'll present you to the king. You'll be asked to take the vow, which we've all done, and to agree to a term of service, just as everyone has. You won't be forced into anything. We don't believe in such things here."

It seemed too easy. "Is that all?"

She hesitated, then resumed her work on braiding the strands of my hair that framed my face. "King Alkan, he will drink from you." I drew back and she gave me an attempt at a reassuring smile. "It's tradition for the Istakarrans. How they seal their vows and commitments. You'll see more of that when Covenant Night comes around. It doesn't hurt but for a second. It'll be fine."

"You did all this?" I watched her reflection in the mirror and her faint smile broadened into a content one as she finished with the final braid.

"That I did. Best decision I ever made." She wrapped an arm around me and met my gaze in the glass. "After all this is done, we'll celebrate with something nice to drink and a bit of sweets. Always hits the spot for me. And I'll introduce you to my man. He's a good one. You'll like him. Bit quiet, but I don't mind that at all."

The dress skimmed my frame, and I tilted my head taking in the fine fabric as I traced the embroidery with the pad of my thumb. "I've never had anything so pretty. Thank you for finding this for me."

Gus swiped at her eyes and then gave me another smile. "You're welcome, Sena, love. And it looks right nice on you. Such a pretty color to compliment your eyes." The deep green fabric did make my eyes seem brighter and it didn't clash with the auburn in my hair.

Danvers knocked at the door and stuck his head inside when Gus bellowed for him to come in.

"Time to go. The court has gathered. Alkan is dealing with simple matters first, as there were some requests he wanted to handle now rather than wait until Covenant Night. Best to start making our way to the Grand Hall."

My hands were shaking and I tried to hide it by gripping at my skirt as I walked.

As we drew closer to our destination, I could hear the sound of voices growing louder. There were more people present than I'd imagined, but Gus had said it would be all the members of the court. It just hadn't occurred to me how large the court would actually be.

When we entered through the open doors, few noticed as we passed. Their eyes were focused on the dais in front of them. On the man seated on the throne, an amethyst crown on his head.

While others might have missed our arrival, it was clear he didn't. His dark eyes met mine, narrowing and assessing for a scant moment before he returned his attention to the crowd.

"Excuse me, miss." A broad-shouldered man with a scar on his cheek appeared beside me, and when I tried to step away, I found I was blocked by another. They were dressed in the same uniform, both wore swords at their sides, and both were clearly not going to let me go anywhere.

"Sena, this is Gil," said Gus, "this is Chancel." She gave them both an admonishing look.

"We've been ordered to stay with you until the ceremony is complete." Gil, the one with the scar, dipped his head. "Glad to see you're looking so well. When we found you out there and brought you in, we had some worries. But here you are, after all. Happy to see the healer's prediction was true."

Heat flooded my face at the idea that these two men had seen me in such a vulnerable state. Gus came to my rescue. "Now hush, there, Gil. Sena here has a lot to attend to right now.  She doesn't need worrying on what you saw or thought when she was hurting."

He nodded, chagrined, and the taller man, Chancel, gave me a low apology. Still, they'd done a kind thing. It seemed rude to not recognize that.

"Thank you, both," I said to them, sincerity coloring my voice. "I likely would've died if you hadn't found me. I appreciate that you brought me here."

"Was only the right thing to do, miss," said Chancel. "You're very welcome."

At the sound of a firm clap, the buzzing conversation died away, and both guards fixed their eyes to the front of the large room.

"Steady now, Miss Sena. He'll be calling for you next." I flinched away from him, but Gil didn't ask me why. Just took in the movement as if it was simply information to catalogue about me, before continuing. His fingers settled gently against my wrist, lifting my hand up to rest on his forearm. Chancel did the same on my other side and then they moved forward as a team, forcing the bodies in front of us to part.

"What do I do?" I barely breathed out the question but felt it when both men looked down at me. It was Chancel who answered.

"The King will lead the way; all you have to do is follow." He swallowed, then leaned just slightly closer as the last group of people made way for our progress. The dais appeared, and with it... Him.

Those dark eyes again, a thrill shooting through my stomach as they roved over me. Strong jaw, dark stubble, and the hard line of his full lips. He was a beautiful, frightening sight.

We stopped at the edge of the crowd, a few steps of empty space between me and where the gleaming silver of the throne rested.

Complete silence fell over the room. Not even the sound of rustling fabric or people adjusting their position broke the quiet.

"Sena, of the Pack Lands, you come before our court Night Kingdom, to offer a vow and commit yourself in service to the Night Kingdom. Is that correct?"

His words sparked a reaction from the crowd. Perhaps it was that he pointed out my origin from the Pack Lands, branding me a shifter. Notable enough, though it likely had many questioning exactly which pack I'd come from. And why I was aligning with the clearly defined enemy of my kind.

Gil nudged me gently and I swallowed hard, finding my voice.

"Yes." The buzz grew behind me, and I raised my voice to add, "That is correct."

"Then come forward."

Gil and Chancel led me to the step that arched up to the dais, and they didn't pull away when I gripped their arms harder.

As they guided me up each step, my heart pounded harder and harder, and my vision turned hazy. Fear gripped me tight, especially as we reached the last step.

Gil steadied me, leaning close as I reached the top of the dais. His eyes met mine, and I saw a warning there.

"Whatever you do," he whispered, squeezing my fingers before releasing me to stand on my own. "Don't lie. He'll know."

My heart stuttered, and I watched as my guards rejoined the watching crowd, all of them staring up at me.

I turned and saw the King also had his eyes locked on me and a smirk playing on his lips.

As if he knew exactly what Gil's warning had been and that there was no way I could be completely honest.

He raised a brow, as if he expected me to turn tail, to flee this place and leave it far behind.

Determination stiffened my spine as I thought of Glory waiting for me, of Colm and Danil, and of course, Bethann. And all the countless other Stricken I'd worked beside for so long.

For them, I had to find out what secrets the Night King was hiding. And the only way I could do that was by staying here and playing the game in front of me.

I forced myself to walk toward the imposing man seated on the throne. His smirk turned into a predatory smile, challenging me to keep coming. My fingers twisted in my skirt, lifting it so I wouldn't stumble.

It felt like forever, but once I stood before him, the King didn't leave me wondering what to do.

"You come before us of your own free will, Sena of the Pack Lands?"

"I do." My voice, I was proud to say, didn't tremble.

"And you swear yourself to serve this court, and do nothing to endanger those who are part of it?"

"I do." If this was the vow that Gus had spoken of, I felt it was a simple thing.

"Then step forward and offer your blood to seal the promise you have made to me and mine."

My feet felt rooted in place, and the idea of offering my blood to this man sent a chill racing over me.

But Gus had already told me this was part of the ceremony. And if I had to make an offering of my own blood in order to learn how to defeat the Silver Sickness, I'd bleed all over the place for this man.

I nodded, and as if knowing I wasn't sure what to do, the King stood, his broad shoulders and chest taking up all the space in front of me.

Slowly, so very slowly, he reached down and took my hand in his, then raised it up. Turning my palm to the ceiling, he bared my wrist, even as he lowered his lips to brush over the visible line of the veins beneath my skin.

When he struck, it was so fast I didn't even have time to flinch, much less pull away.

His teeth sank in, the hot bite of pain making me gasp.

It faded almost instantly, replaced by a swirling mix of euphoria and near ecstasy that grew with each dragging pull as he drank from me.

And drank.

And drank.

My knees went weak, and for a frightening second, I thought I would collapse in front of all who watched and judged me.

The King's free hand landed in the small of my back, supporting me and keeping me on my feet. I was pressed against him, the hard planes of his muscular form only adding to the strange need that was building in me.

I never wanted the moment to end.

I wanted to stand here and let him drink from me forever, until there was nothing left for me to give. Black stars appeared behind my eyelids, which had drifted closed without my realizing, and I gave in to the feelings that swamped me. Comfort, safety, bliss, and a pleasure I'd never felt before.

The fingers of my free hand tangled in his tunic and I hung on, barely registering when he released me, when his lips slipped away from my skin, and there was no longer that drugging pull of each swallow.

All I knew was that I wanted it again.

Craved it.

One bite and I was already addicted to him.

Long fingers skated up the line of my spine, and even through my dress, the sparks that followed such a simple touch lit me up.

"Your vow has been accepted." His voice was low and commanding in my ear, and I blinked my eyes open to see him watching me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

He matched my gaze for a few seconds longer, then looked out at the gathered crowd, and the sound of their whispers started to penetrate the haze that had filled my mind.

"The vow is accepted. And from now until Covenant Night, the supplicant will serve as my personal Source."

The whispers rose in surprise, some even crying out their shock, and I tried to turn, to look for Gus or Danvers, anyone who might be able to help me understand.

Steps sounded behind me, and then the familiar presence of Gil and Chancel were back, supporting me and leading me away, to the back of the dais, behind a curtain that hid a door.

A door that opened into darkness.

Where I was left to wait.