Snow was against this entire n.


    From the very beginning everything about this idea was awful. However, there was nothing she could do about it. When Lucius made up his mind, it was impossible to change. On top of that, his voice, hismands, his desires…they all stirred the darkness hidden within her soul. The darkness spurred her to action. It desired to serve, to fulfill his orders.@@novelbin@@


    That same darkness sent an icy jolt of terror down her spine the moment she dared to utter the word ''pet'' in rtion to him. Even if it was for the purposes of maintaining a guise under Indarel''s watchful gaze, the darkness punished her for her heresy. Maintaining a pleasant smile on her face to satiate the disgusting elf noble before her was a challenge.


    "Mydy Everia, you would do me honor to apany me for the rest of this party. Your grace and beauty are unlike other in attendance." Indarel cooed. His honeyed words brought sighs of contentment and jealousy from the women surrounding them. However, for Snow, they made her skin crawl.


    She smiled despite the disgust and answered, "It would bring me great pleasure Lord Varris."


    "Please, just Indarel. Might I simply call you Everia?"


    "You may, Indarel."


    For the next few hours Snow was swept up in a torrent of dances, idle conversations, political debates, and other random interactions. Not many were of any import, however several discussions were had that were of interest as it rted to the internal power structure of Aya''s forces. It seemed that her followers were not as unified as one would have believed. The princess pulled many political favors and made promises that would have been impossible to keep.


    It seemed she had hoped some of the nobility who had been promised the same prizes would kill themselves off, leaving only one to collect on her debts to them. However, she was unable to keep these promises under wraps and several had begun to question her true ability to lead. If she had to resort to treachery and lies in order to lead this fight, what would that say about her actions when she ruled.


    Those nobles who felt wronged were, atrge, trapped. Their betrayal of Princess Letheya guaranteed their heads rolled before the headsman if she won the war. As well, they would be unwee if they tried to switch sides. Snow was surprised at the frequency to which these topics were discussed as well as the fact that they were brought up in in conversation rather than under hushed whispers.


    "Ladies and Lords, might I have your attention." After a few hours, Indarel approached the entry doors to the ballroom. The guests ceased their idle chatter and crowded around their benefactor. Painted on his face was a wide, confident smirk. From behind him, the doors swung open, revealing a parade of servants and guards. Two of thergest and strongest of them carried between them a cart upon which sat a single, small box.


    The cart glinted in the magical light of the room as it was made of abination of gold, silver, and other precious metals. Such a sight brought a wave of admiration for the disy of wealth. When the cart approached him, Indarel eagerly snatched the small box from atop it. He quickly approached Snow''s location near the front of the crowd.


    When he was within arms reach of her, he dropped to one knee and flipped the box open. "Lady Everia din Cortis. Would you do me the honor of joining the Varris family at my side? I believe that between your beauty and my physical and financial power, the Varris bloodline will flourish as our children rise above the rest in this realm."


    A lump formed in her throat, catching her voice. The moment the ring was exposed, Snows eyes were drawn to the pure beauty of the gemstone sitting atop it. The darkness within her recoiled, seemingly hissing out of anger and fear. Without thinking, she took a step back, which the crowd thankfully perceived as being of disbelief and shock.


    With years of training, she only barely maintained a fake smile on her face, but her ability was being tested. The longer the gem remained exposed to her sight, the stronger and more violently the darkness recoiled. Snow pushed through the sensation and reached forward with a trembling hand. She had no idea what was happening, but if she did not grasp at the ring to ''ept'' Indarel''s favor everything would be lost.


    Arge hand materialized around her wrist, locking it in a vice-like grip. Attached to it was a heavily muscled arm with tanned skin. Following the arm with her eyes, it settled upon a strong-looking elf with a bald head and closed eyes. His chest bare and exposed. At his waist, glinting with an almost evil-looking green light was a curved de tied to him with a simple chord.


    "Indarel din Varris." The man said. His voice radiated with power, forcing Snow and those around him to shudder. "Your dance is over. The estate has been surrounded."


    "What are you…"


    The elf lord was interrupted by a violent tremor that shook the room. The chandelier shook and ttered while several sses of champagne shattered along the floor being tossed by themotion. A wave of mana surged through the building, an indicator at the usage of either arge-scale spell or dozens of smaller ones.


    "Guards! To arms! Defend the estate! Send word to all stations to support! These damned rebels have made their move and it is time we finally remove this festering disease once and for all." Indarelmanded. He then turned to the bald elf. "If you could let go of my Lady Everia, I would appreciate it. You may be an ally, but I will not have my future wife…"


    The Haeddan elf quickly ripped the elbow-length gloves covering Snow''s left hand from her. Exposing the mark. "She carries a Holy Sigil…" the elf coughed. "I mean she is a Marked One. Surely you do not desire one within your family line."


    Indarel''s look of offense turned to one of disgust as he looked at Snow in a new light. "Take her to my dungeons then. While I won''t take a creature into my family, she can still be enjoyed. When you are done, return the ring to my treasury. We can handle these cretins alone, but I will not have any sneakthief make away with my family''s treasures."


    The Haeddan elf nodded, receiving the ring from Indarel and yanking Snow through the halls. Dozens of guards and soldiers rushed past them as she was forcefully guided toward the dungeons. She attempted to activate her mark, hoping that if she Shadowstepped, then maybe… Read new adventures at empire


    Her wrist bones started to creak and blood started to drip from her nose. "I would not do that if I were you. This gem will weaken you. It is your antithesis. A poisonous light to your darkness."


    Snow remained silent for a moment before asking, "How do you know about the darkness."


    "I can read the ancientnguage. Unlike you fools who deny ancient knowledge, our people learn from it and ept it. To fear that which is unknown instead of learn and benefit from it is foolishness." The elf stated, then shook his head. "Not only that, I also know who it is that attacks these walls. Your lord wille for you. He will alsoe for this ring''s twin. It is also within this estate''s vaults."


    "You know nothing! I serve no lord, but ady."


    The elf stopped in his tracks, spinning around to meet Snow''s re directly. "Lucius Kane is the man to whom you are bound. Your soul knows this even if your heart and mind do not. You feel it, yet you deny it. A fool like the rest. He wille, and then I will have my answers. He was thest to see her."


    "See who?" Snow''s question went unanswered as she was once again tugged forward.