The Bride He Hates-Chapter 37: My Temporary Asset

While Adrian’s warriors searched for more survivors, Lyanna and Azrael stayed with Emma. The girl clung to her, shaking with shock and trauma. Other survivors, an old man with burns on his arms, two young boys who’d hidden in a cellar, and a pregnant woman, came out slowly.

They took all of them to a church, the least damaged building. Emma wouldn’t let go of Lyanna’s hand.

"The hunters came at sunset." She started describing in her broken voice. "They wore white robes and carried silver weapons. Their leader was a tall woman, with long white hair and her eyes were glowing. She said her name was The Leader and she was sent by god to cleanse the world of vampire corruption. She said any human who helped vampires was as evil and needed to be purified."

Then the elderly man spoke up.

"They killed Theo first, he was the village elder. She said he’d signed treaties with vampires and accepted their protection money. She called him a traitor and burned him alive while we watched."

"Then they went house to house." One of the boys added. "They killed everyone who resisted. They had wagons and were putting people in cages."

"They took prisoners?" Lyanna was shocked.

"About twenty people." The pregnant woman said. "Young, and healthy ones. They said they needed them for the purification process."

Azrael stood up abruptly and walked towards Adrian.

"Expand the search pattern. They took prisoners. Find the trail, find where they went." Azrael ordered.

Adrian nodded and left with the remaining forces. Victor arrived at night.

"Your Majesty. We need to talk."

Azrael joined him near the church entrance where Lyanna could hear.

"This wasn’t a random attack. It was a coordinated military operation. They used methods I’ve only seen in professional armies. They divided their forces, established kill zones, and had designated roles. Someone trained them." He pulled out documents from his coat.

"And they’re well-funded. These weapons aren’t cheap. They had silver bullets, sanctified oil for the fires, and magical wards against vampire detection. This operation was backed by someone with significant resources."

"Who could it be?" Azrael asked.

"Someone at the kingdom level." Victor gave Azrael a parchment. "I found this at the church door."

Azrael read it and got angry. Then he passed it to Lyanna without saying anything.

To all who live in lands corrupted by the vampire plague:

The Leader speaks the truth. Vampires are an abomination against gods and nature. They are demons wearing human faces, and predators that feed on the innocent. Their darkness must be purged with holy fire.

Any human who cooperates with vampires, who accepts their protection, trades with them, and lives peacefully alongside them, will be judged as the monsters themselves.

This village is the first of many we will purify. We will cleanse this land of vampire influence. Submit to the Order’s protection, or burn with the vampires you’ve chosen over your own kind. Choose wisely.

It was signed with a symbol; a cross inside a circle of flames. Lyanna felt sick reading it.

"They’re not trying to defeat vampires militarily." She said. "They want to force humans to choose sides and make coexistence impossible."

"Exactly." Victor replied. "And it’s working. Three other border villages have already sent messages pledging loyalty to the Order, rejecting vampire protection. They’re terrified of being next."

The war council assembled in the ruined village square, trying to decide how to respond to this new threat.

"We’ll find The Leader’s base and destroy it completely." King Damien said. "We need to kill their leadership, their forces, and make an example so brutal that no one else dares attack vampire territories. That’s how you handle fanatics."

"That’s how you prove their propaganda correct." Queen Elise replied. "They’re telling humans that vampires are monsters. If we respond with violence, we prove them right. We need to be more strategic." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Eclipse Court can create protective wards around vulnerable villages. It will make them difficult targets, forcing the Order to spend more resources on each attack. This will buy us time to develop a smarter strategy."

"That’s defensive thinking." Damien argued. "We need to strike back hard enough that they..."

"You’re all missing the point." Lyanna’s voice cut through the debate.

Every vampire turned to stare at her.

"Enlighten us, wife. What are we missing?" Azrael said.

She took a breath, trying to speak confidently.

"The Leader’s message isn’t really about vampires. It’s about fear and control. Humans are terrified of vampires, yes, but also of change, of a world that is becoming more complex than the simple stories they grew up with. The Order is offering them simple answers." She gestured to the parchment Victor still had.

"It says vampires are evil. Submit to us and you’ll be safe. These words are compelling when you’re scared and confused. And we can’t fight this narrative with military force alone because we’re not addressing the underlying fear."

The vampires kept listening to her.

"We need to offer humans something better. We need to offer them prosperity, genuine partnership, and a future where cooperation with vampires benefits them." She looked at the survivors huddled in the church.

"These people just lost everything. The Order killed their families, burned their homes, and did exactly what they claimed vampires would do. They’re living proof that the Order’s protection is a lie. But it only matters if we treat them right from here forward."

King Damien frowned.

"What are you suggesting?"

"Resettle them somewhere safe. Give them homes, resources, and support to rebuild their lives. Not as charity or obligation, but as an investment for vampire-human cooperation." She turned to Azrael.

"If these survivors go to other villages and say the Order killed our families, but King Azrael protected us, gave us new homes, and treated us with dignity; that will be more powerful than military victory."

Queen Elise laughed mockingly.

"How naive. Humans will always fear us. Always betray us when given the chance. Your own mother proved that. You can’t change centuries of prejudice with kindness and resettlement programs."

The words hurt because they were partially true. But before Lyanna could respond, Azrael spoke.

"Actually, my wife is right."

Every vampire’s attention turned to him. Elise was shocked that he was supporting Lyanna publicly.

"The Leader will win by making humans fear vampire rule more than Order tyranny. We need to prove them wrong." Azrael said and then turned to look at Lyanna.

"You’ll oversee the survivor resettlement program. Coordinate with Morgana on housing, Helena on integration into Thornfield society, and Victor on security concerns. Your goal is to make these survivors trust us and turn them into advocates for vampire-human cooperation. Can you do that?"

The responsibility was huge. The entire strategy depended on her ability to win over traumatized humans who’d just been attacked by people claiming to protect them from vampires.

"Yes." Lyanna said. "I can do that."

"Good. Report to me daily on progress. If you need resources, ask. If you face resistance from castle vampires, let me know and I’ll handle it." He turned back to the assembled council.

"Military response is still necessary. Adrian will hunt their forces. We’ll show them our strength. We will implement both methods simultaneously."

King Damien nodded.

"Combined approach. Smart."

Lord Richard agreed.

"Eclipse Court will support both methods."

Only Queen Elise remained hostile.

"I suppose we’ll see if your human pet’s strategy works, Azrael. Though I suspect you’ll regret giving her this responsibility when she fails."

"My wife’s competence is not your concern, Elise. Focus on Crimson Dawn’s contributions or excuse yourself from the planning." Azrael replied.

Lyanna felt a mix of gratitude and resentment towards him for it. As the council dispersed to implement their respective strategies, Azrael caught Lyanna’s arm.

"Don’t mistake this for forgiveness or softness. You’re useful right now, so I’m using you. When this crisis ends, we’ll return to our previous dynamics. Understand?" He whispered.

"Understood." Lyanna whispered back. "I’m a temporary asset, not a partner."

"Exactly. Remember that."

He released her arm and walked away. Behind her, she heard Emma’s voice.

"Are you really going to help us?"

Lyanna turned to see all the survivors watching her with desperate hope.

"Yes. I’m going to help all of you."