Lunas Redemption Bonded by the Blood

Calantha's point of view:

“I, king Tharius of Eldrador, hereby announce the engagement of my daughter, Calantha, to Arin Valois, crown prince of Valotoria.”

The grand hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on me making my heart sink in my chest. I feel like a trapped animal as my father's words echoed in my mind. I thought back to the days I strived so hard just to escape my ex-fiancé Lyrien.

He was a cheat, but at least, I know him. The devil I have known for years is better than an angel I just met. But now I am nothing but a pawn on my father's chess board, the board serving as father's political game and I'm about to be discarded. My life is a mess.

I remembered the long night I spent pleading to father, begging him to reconsider the betrothal, to show mercy upon me but to no avail.

A part of me thinks he will agree since I am his only female child. But it is a far-fetched dream, his selfish desires and the kingdom’s is more important than mine, than my freedom. He saw me as a tool, a means to secure an alliance with Valotoria. My protest fell on deaf ears, and now I stood before the entire court, forced to accept this fate.

“If only I had known, if only I had known it would end like this,” I whispered to myself, “I would have followed Lyrien, no matter how treacherous he was, even if he is just a son of a Viscount.”

Hot tears threatened to escape my eye as I gazed at the end of the wall where father sat on his humongous throne.

Arin, the stranger I was about to marry, standing a few feet at the side of the throne platform. His piercing onyx eyes seem to bore into my soul and maybe it's just my imagination but there's no warmth or kindness there. Just a calculated gaze, assessing me like a prized possession.

The agreement between Eldrador and Valotoria was clear; I was to be traded for a steady supply of human slaves. My father's words still haunted me.

“You are just a useless weak daughter.” And he's right because I'm aware ... .I'm weak when compared to other female vampires and he's right for the second time because my only value lay in my ability to secure an alliance.

And as the court erupted into loud cheers and congratulations, I felt the last support holding my crumbling world crack.