The magnificently dressed couple entered the room hand in hand and slowly walked down the centre, towards the priest in golden robes.

Wearing a spectacularly revealing deep red dress that emphasised every curve of her tall and well-proportioned body, Kara’s sister drew the heated attention of every male in the room as well as the envious gazes of the females.

Holding her hand that was wrapped in a golden ribbon, A blonde fox beastkin wearing black, regal looking robes that emanated nobility and power. His sharp, rugged features caused some of the younger girls to become a little absent minded and further increased their resentment towards the bride.

“Looks like they were made for each other” whispered Geo to Kara as he watched their slow procession. Even though he said that it was obvious that his eyes held extreme hostility towards the groom.

-”Geo and Sana have always been extremely close. I wonder if he is jealous or just concerned about her welfare?” thought Kara before returning her attention to the couple.

Once the pair were standing in front of the priest, he activated a golden magical barrier which covered the three of them disabling the ability for sound to pass through and the guests returned to their seats.

The words of binding were only to be heard by the couple and the gods representative so the others would now have the dull, silent wait until it was over.

Servants silently delivered goblets of wine to the tables in preparation for the toast before retreating back into the wings and taking their own.

Kara looked outside and saw that the guards in the gardens had also received a cup each and were watching one of the many small balls that were floating around the fortress. -”Must be the receiver stones” she mused before looking at one of the large, transparent crystals floating above her head in curiosity. -"I wonder what else they could be used for."

After a period of around 15 minutes, the couple in the barrier turned to face each other and leant in, giving each other a less than passionate kiss which only highlighted the fact that this was a political marriage.

Immediately the barrier shattered into sparkling fragments merged in with the falling petals causing everyone to stand in applause as the embarrassed couple made their way to their table and sat down.

As the applause died down and the two clan heads walked in front of the table and faced the crowd.

“To the bright connected future of our clans,” said Alz in the most energetic voice he could muster before drinking from the cup in his hand.

“To the clans.” repeated the room as they drank half of the contents of the goblet and awaited the next toast.

Everyone's gazes fell on the Sun Clan's leader as he raised his cup. “To the antidote.”

"Antidote" repeated a few and emptied their glasses.

The room fell deathly silent as every member of the Moon Clan furrowed their brows in confusion and did not toast. Kara looked around the room to try and work out the meaning before noticing that all the guests, human and Sun clan were smiling maliciously. In half a breath's time, Geo’s falling body drew her attention.

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His cup skipped across the floor with metallic sounds and blood was streaming from every orifice on his head. His dead eyes staring outwards, confusion still plastered across his face.

All around the room crashing noises resounded as in rapid succession the other members of the Moon Clan and even their servants died where they stood. In only a couple of seconds the only remaining survivors of the Moon clan in the room where Kara, her sister and their father who was on his knees puking large amounts of dark blood.

Faint sounds of battle could be heard outside as the few members who did not drink in disapproval to this union were quickly dealt with by the combined forces of the humans and Sun Clan.

As this was meant to be such a joyous occasion, all members of the Moon Clan were allowed to drink a toast, including the servants resulting in nearly no opposition for them.

“You fucking fox! Duran how dare you do this!” roared Alz as he struggled in vain to get to his feet before sagging in defeat. “How? I even made sure to mix the barrels in case of something like this and even had servants test it.”

“Still alive after ingesting the tears from a wrath… your strength and power always impressed me.” chuckled Duran with an evil glint in his eyes. “As a reward let me answer your question… we have all been poisoned, it's just that we drank the antidote first… testers... as well as your daughters.”

“FATHER!!” screamed Sana as she tried to rush to Alz’s side before being restrained by her husband.

“To think I had to marry such a disgusting creature with so little worth.” grumbled the young man before kicking the back of her legs forcing her to kneel and grabbing her beautiful, dark hair and yanking her head back. “I change my mind, you are not worthy to be kept even as a pet.”

Drawing an ornamental dagger that was hanging at his waist, the man placed it on Sana’s neck and looked deep into Alz’s eyes that were full of helplessness with a mocking smile.

“Father” whispered Sana in a pleading tone. Normally she would be able to defend herself but the shock of the event as well as watching her father poisoned dealt a heavy mental blow causing her to become as helpless as a pup.

“Please spare her li..” begged Alz but before he could even finish, his voice was drowned out by the scream turned chilling gurgle of his beloved daughter as the sharp knife slowly sliced her throat and her blood merged with her dress. Her pleading eyes quickly dimmed and she fell lifelessly to the floor with the blood forming a puddle around her body.

Enraged, Alz finally managed to get to his feet and ran at the man that had taken his daughter's life preparing to use a forbidden technique that would drag both of them to hell. The man didn't even flinch and watched impassively as Alz approached before waving his hand.

Seven black arrows protruded from Alz back and he limply fell to the floor and he drew his last, gasping breath.

Standing in utter shock Kara looked on in disbelieve. Her entire life had been turned to rubble in less than 30 seconds. The pitiful final scream of her sister and the death of her father was finally too much for her to bear and she fainted, heavily hitting the floor.

The room swarmed with Sun Clan assassins as they meticulously made sure the Moon Clan members were dead and started looting the corpses.

“Shame you didn't spare a few of the women, I would've paid a handsome sum for them” laughed a fat human noble while he cast a sidewards glance at Kara in the hope his hint would be acknowledged. “Guess we will have to be happy with what's in the treasury.”

“To ensure there is no risk in the future, their entire bloodline must be eliminated or controlled by the Sun Clan.” spoke Duran without emotion as he plunged a knife into the heart of the already dead Alz as a final check.

Giving a cold smile to Jenkle his voice turned threatening. “Make sure you don't have any accidents or bindings.”

“Haha do not worry Clan Master, I am always careful. Looks like I get my prize without a fight,” said Lord Jenkle gleefully as he picked up the unconscious girl and headed towards the door.

“Uncle! You said I would be able to extract my revenge,” demanded Jeff next to him.

“When she is older and I get bored of her.” smirked Jenkle as he disappeared in the direction of the residential area.

"I will have my revenge." spat Jeff as he kicked the corpse that lay next to his feet. "I suppose I can go clear out their creche to lighten my mood."