I followed Dom into the massive three-story hall, my breath catching at the sight above. Sunlight streamed through towering windows, casting ribbons of gold across the wooden planks that divided the monument into its east and west wings. I couldn’t help but lag behind, drawn to the weathered statues of my ancestors tucked into shadowy corners. Their stone eyes seemed to follow me, judging my every move.

Two doors beckoned – one to the left, one to the right. Before I could decide which to take, Dom darted through the left entrance. I hurried after him, my footsteps echoing in the sacred space.

The conference room beyond took my breath away. Ninety council members perched on tiered wooden benches that climbed toward the ceiling like a giant’s staircase. They wore their finest – crisp button-ups and perfectly tailored jackets. Some had even chosen to display their minx forms, their fur gleaming in the filtered light. All eyes were fixed on my father, King Leonebus, as he commanded the podium.

At ground level, the Council of Ten sat apart on their own bench, their archaic robes a reminder of traditions I sometimes wished we could leave behind.

My father’s deep voice filled every corner of the room as Dom and I slipped in behind him. He shot us a quick, narrowed glance, his nostrils flaring with that familiar look of contempt I’d grown used to. I held my breath until he turned away, letting it out in a quiet whoosh of relief.

I forced myself to listen as he continued, though every word made me want to scream. My nails dug into my palms as I bit back the urge to shout exactly what I thought about this whole situation. I yearned for the chance to speak, to defend myself, but the meeting appeared to be concluding.

“The vampires are no longer our adversaries, nor are we theirs,” my father declared, his voice ringing with an authority I simultaneously respected and chafed against. “A royal marriage will forge a bond between vampires and minx, securing a vital peace. While I value your input, the decision is ultimately mine.” He sank into his chair with the practiced theatricality that had become his trademark, resting his cheek against his palm. With a dismissive gesture, he indicated the upper row where Felix sat, his silver fur shimmering in the light, a stark visual of the proposed union.

Felix cleared his throat, and I felt my heart sink. “My king, I fully support your decision. The accountability law has been remarkably successful; vampire attacks have all but vanished since its enactment. Their commitment to justice is undeniable, mirroring our own implementation of the law and fostering a foundation of mutual respect and equitable treatment. This proposed union will solidify this growing peace, forging an unbreakable bond between our two peoples.”

My eyebrows knitted together as disappointment coursed through me. Great, another one won over by this madness. I lingered behind my father’s chair, scanning for an empty seat while silently willing someone – anyone – to speak against this insanity. Just as I spotted an open bench, I realized Dom had disappeared. Typical. Leave me to face this nightmare alone, why don’t you?

An elderly voice from the Council of Ten caught my attention, pulling me back to the present crisis…

His voice cut through the tension like a rusty blade. “Our ancestors trusted the Ustorians once before, and they lived to regret that choice.” His words dripped with venom as he continued, “History tells us of blood-drinkers who preyed on our women, of immortal monsters who cloaked their sins in false perfection.” He swept his gaze across the bleachers, drawing strength from the rapt attention of his audience. “Have all of you forgotten the aftermath of The War of Cursed Blood? The betrayal? The rivers of blood? To wed one of our own to them – it would be sacrilege, a mockery of every life lost to their treachery.”

The old man struggled to his feet, using his wooden staff as a crutch. He fixed my father with rheumy eyes, his forehead creased with desperate sincerity. “My king, I beg you to remember our past. If the princess bears the prince’s children, their blood will be…” he paused, his lip curling in disgust, “contaminated. Is that truly what you desire? Heirs who are abominations to both our peoples?”

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“How dare you!” Felix’s voice thundered from behind. The pain in his tone made my chest tighten.

“I’ll say it again,” the elder sneered. “Your judgment is clouded by your… personal preferences. You enjoy consorting with the enemy, don’t you?”

“Watch your tongue, old man!” Felix snarled, his voice dangerously low.

“No, you watch yourself! Spawning demon children! There’s a reason your son isn’t here – banished to live with his cursed mother where he belongs!”

What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Felix launched himself from the bleachers, his minx form a blur of silver fury, claws extended and fangs bared. A guard materialized between them, sending Felix flying backward with a devastating blow. I watched, horrified, as his body skidded across an empty bench before he stormed out, rage radiating from every fur on his body.

My father’s hands strangled the armrests of his chair, his knuckles white with tension. I could see the muscle in his jaw working as he tried to maintain control. Finally, he exploded to his feet, his fists crashing against the podium with a crack that made me jump.

“I DEMAND ORDER!”

The room fell silent, but the word he spoke next sent ice through my veins: “Valmorin.”

Confused murmurs rippled through the chamber. I watched my father’s shoulders sag as he gripped the podium, as if the weight of what he was about to say might crush him. “They’ve returned. That’s why we must unite with the vampires – that’s the truth of it.”

A voice from the back row protested, “Those monsters were destroyed generations ago! The curse was broken—”

“The curse lives.” My father’s voice trembled – something I’d never heard before. He dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief, and for the first time in my life, I saw real fear in his eyes. “One of our villages… massacred. Another pack spotted in Zayrut Mountain. My scouts believe they’ve made it their stronghold.”

His gaze found mine, and I felt my stomach drop. I’d never really heard of the Valmorin – they were before my time, relegated to whispered legends I’d somehow missed. But the terror on my father’s face told me everything I needed to know.

“

We need this alliance,” he continued. “The marriage is our best hope. Something far worse than our old grievances awaits us all.” He turned to a soldier in the corner. “Bring it in.”

What they dragged in next would haunt my nightmares forever…

The soldiers dragged in something wrapped in a dripping tarp, dropping it with a sickening thud in front of the podium. When they ripped away the covering, chaos erupted. I stumbled back, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle a scream. The creature was headless, its mangled body riddled with arrows, but even mutilated, its presence commanded terror. Seven feet of twisted muscle and razor-sharp claws, still coated in what could only be dried blood.

A putrid stench hit me – like death and vampire mixed together, but somehow worse. My stomach churned as I stared at the monstrosity, unable to look away. My skin prickled with goosebumps as that undefinable dread spread through my chest.

I looked to my father, desperate for answers. The fear in his eyes – something I’d never seen before – made my blood run cold. King Leonebus, the man who faced down armies without flinching, was afraid. Actually afraid.

“Father?” My voice came out smaller than I intended, my eyes fixed on the creature’s elongated torso. “What is it?”

His response felt like ice water in my veins. “It’s a Valmorin. Vampire mixed with minx.”

“That’s what happens when…” I couldn’t finish the thought.

“No.” He shook his head grimly. “This is the result of a curse – a mockery of love between minx and vampire. A punishment for their children.” He drew a deep breath, and I knew whatever came next would change everything I thought I knew about our history.

“Centuries ago, we lived in harmony with the vampires. But a vampire sorcerer named Ahkmen Vor couldn’t stomach our unity. He created a plague targeting those of mixed blood.” My father’s voice grew hoarse. “They fell ill. They died. Their loved ones mourned and buried them, but…” He gestured at the creature, his hand trembling. “This is what they became. They clawed their way from their graves, led by Ahkmen and his rebels. The war that followed… our ancestors only survived because the vampires fought beside us.”

I felt sick. “But they killed him, right? This Ahkmen?”

“They did.” A ghost of a smile crossed his face before vanishing. “They thought his death would break the curse.” His gaze lingered on the grotesque form before him. “They were wrong.”

“This is…” I struggled to find words strong enough. “This is horrific. Impossible.” But the proof lay before us, and suddenly the Council of Ten’s stubborn resistance crumbled in the face of this new threat.

That night, I lay in my bed, my mind spinning with everything I’d learned. The Valmorin’s existence changed everything – even I had to admit that. But marriage? To a vampire prince? There has to be another way to secure an alliance, I thought, pressing my cheek into my pillow.

A soft knock interrupted my brooding. Hoping it might be Dom – we desperately needed to talk now that my fate was sealed – I dragged myself from the bed. But when I opened the door, my father’s imposing figure filled the frame instead.

“Father?”

“Hello, my daughter.” His voice was uncharacteristically gentle. “May I come in?”

I stepped aside, watching him enter with quick, purposeful strides. Whatever brought him here at this hour had to be important.

“I came to apologize,” he said, “for putting you in this position.”

Hope fluttered in my chest. “Then you’ll reconsider? Please, don’t make me marry him. There must be another way—”

He cut me off with a sharp shake of his head. “Actually, I’ve come for the opposite reason.” The words hit me like a physical blow. “The marriage has been finalized. You leave for Ustoria tonight.”