The Bride He Hates-Chapter 67 - 68 Walking Into A Trap

Sorry, everyone! I accidentally switched the Chapter order. Please read the next Chapter first before continuing. Thank you for your patience!

The letter from the Council of Light lay on Azrael’s desk like a poisonous snake, everyone watching it but no one touching. Lyanna had shown it to him immediately after Victor left, and they had spent hours debating about the impossible choice they were being forced to make.

Now, three days later, they had reached a compromise that satisfied no one but seemed like the only way forward: Lyanna would go to the preliminary meeting, but not alone. She’d bring human representatives loyal to vampires. They weren’t guards or vampires, so technically she wouldn’t be violating the Council’s terms.

It was decided that Azrael and Lyanna would lead the delegation as king and queen. Adrian, who had returned from the Eclipse Court, would be in charge of a small security force, and Helena would be the chief diplomat, helping them negotiate the terms.

The three human representatives from neutral kingdoms who would be accompanying them were Lord Edgar from the West, Lady Sarah from the North Coalition, and Lord Mathew, a human scholar who had spent his life studying vampire-human relations.

"The key to successful diplomacy is understanding that no one gets everything they want. The goal isn’t victory, it’s to find terms where everyone gets enough to justify choosing peace over war." Helena started preparing Lyanna.

"What do we think they want?" Lyanna asked.

"Security." Helena replied. "Economic stability, and assurance that vampires won’t dominate them." She pointed to specific regions on the map on the table in front of them. "These are resource-rich areas controlled by vampires. These are the trade routes we dominate, these are border territories where vampire and human populations mix. They want access everywhere."

"So we offer them trade agreements, territorial concessions, and shared governance in mixed regions?" Lyanna asked.

"Exactly, and we demand to end Order attacks, dismantling of assassination networks, and formal recognition of vampire sovereignty in our territories in return. Both sides will sacrifice and gain something. That’s how diplomacy works."

"What if they don’t want peace? What if this is just a trap to kill us?"

"Then we’ll die." Helena was blunt. "Martyrdom is a powerful political tool."

By the time Lyanna returned to her chambers, she was mentally drained, but she felt slightly more prepared for what was coming, though being prepared for possible death was a strange thing to feel.

The night before their departure, Lyanna was anxious. She paced their chambers restlessly, her mind thinking about all the bad scenarios.

Azrael was at his desk, working.

"If you keep pacing like that, we’ll need new floorboards." Azrael said, looking up at her.

"I’m nervous." Lyanna snapped. "We’re possibly walking to our deaths tomorrow, and you’re calmly doing paperwork like nothing’s wrong. How are you so calm?"

Azrael put down his pen and leaned back in his chair. Then, surprisingly, he laughed.

"I’m not calm. I’m terrified. I’m just better at hiding it after four centuries of practice."

Lyanna immediately stopped and stared at him.

"You’re scared?"

"Very much." Azrael admitted. "I’ve faced battles, torture, betrayals, near-death experiences but none of that scared me like this. Because back then, I had nothing to lose except my own life, which didn’t feel particularly valuable. But now..." He stood up and walked towards her.

"Now I have you. I have something worth living for." He cupped her face gently. "So yes, I’m scared. I’m scared I’m making the wrong choice. I’m scared I’ll get you killed because I’m trying to be merciful instead of strategic." He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

"But see, tonight we’re alive and together. So why don’t we stop thinking about politics and think about us." Lyanna said, trying to cheer him up.

"About us?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"About us." She repeated.

He led her away from his desk to the chairs by their fireplace. They sat together, Lyanna curled against his side with his arm around her shoulders.

They talked about their pasts, their hopes for the future, and small moments from their daily lives. They discussed philosophy, history, and argued about art and music.

Gradually, talking turned to touching. Azrael’s fingers ran through Lyanna’s hair, and her fingers started playing with his chest.

Then they moved to the bed, undressing each other slowly, savouring every moment. The intimacy between them was different this time. It was softer and deeper.

They made love as if they would never get another chance. They memorized each other, in case those moments become their last.

"I love you." He whispered into her hair.

"I love you too." She whispered back while he kissed her neck.

Morning came quickly. The delegation departed from Thornfield with uproar. News of the peace mission had spread quickly and received mixed reactions. Some cheered for their king and queen while others were sure they were walking towards their death.

The journey to Council territory took several days. They travelled at a human pace because of the three human representatives accompanying them.

During those days, Lyanna and Azrael spent hours in the carriage together, talking and understanding each other better.

She noticed his dry humour, and his habit of making sarcastic comments about everything that passed. He loved philosophy and debate, and could argue about anything just for the mental exercise.

He discovered her strategic mind, how she could look at a problem from different angles and find solutions he overlooked. Despite everything, she was compassionate. She noticed when someone in their group struggled and quietly arranged help. Her strength had grown through trauma.

One evening, while they camped halfway to their destination, they walked together away from the main group. The sun was setting, painting the sky in gold and crimson.

"Can I ask you something?" Azrael asked.

"Since when do you need permission to ask me anything?" Lyanna smiled.

"We’ll...I’m trying to be considerate, you know."

"Very considerate." Lyanna laughed. "Go ahead."

"Umm...do you regret it? I mean becoming a vampire?"

Lyanna thought about the question for a few seconds before answering.

"Sometimes I miss the sun. And yes, I miss the simplicity of being a human." She turned to look at him. "But no, I don’t regret it. Staying human would have meant dying young, probably in that very attack. Even if I’d survived, I would have been mortal. But now I get centuries of togetherness with you. That’s worth it."

She smiled and Azrael just kept staring at her, not knowing what to answer. So he just pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

"I don’t deserve you."

"Probably not." Lyanna agreed. "But you’re stuck with me anyway."

It was beautiful, them smiling together while hugging each other and forgetting everything else.

Two days later, they reached the council territory border. There were military checkpoints every few miles, and hundreds of soldiers were patrolling. At the border crossing, an escort of two dozen heavily armed Order soldiers in full armour, with their faces hidden behind helmets, met them.

"King Azrael Thornfield, Queen Lyanna. We have orders to escort you safely to the Council chambers." Their commander said. "You will have to strictly follow our escort. Any attempt to break from the formation will be considered a hostile action."

"Understood." Azrael replied.

The soldiers surrounded them immediately. The tension was palpable as vampires and Order forces travelled together. After two more days, they arrived at a fortified city that was the Council’s headquarters. It wasn’t some hidden secret compound, it was a well established city built especially for the Council’s purposes.

They were escorted to a compound near the city centre, comfortable but strictly monitored. Guards were at every entrance, magical wards were buzzing with power, and windows were sealed. It was a prison.

As servants showed them their rooms, Adrian pulled Azrael aside.

"This is a trap."

Azrael nodded.

"I know."

"Then why are we staying?"

"Because the alternative is a war that will kill thousands. If there’s even a small chance this can work, it’s worth the risk."

Adrian sighed.

"You’re both the bravest and stupidest vampire I know."

"I’ll take it as a compliment." Azrael smiled.

That night, Lyanna and Azrael lay awake in their strictly monitored rooms. Neither could sleep, worried that this might be their last night together. Then, Azrael pulled her close, holding her as if trying to memorize the feel of her in his arms.

"I spent centuries thinking I was empty. But you proved me wrong. You made me feel again, made me care again, made my existence mean something beyond just survival." The fear of losing her was making him emotional.

"No matter what happens tomorrow, remember you changed me. You saved me from the monster I was becoming. And I’m grateful for that."

Lyanna looked at him and noticed his exhausted eyes, the vulnerability he had spent four centuries hiding and was only now learning to show.

"You saved yourself." She whispered back. "I just refused to let you convince me you couldn’t."

She kissed him softly and rested her forehead against his.

"Let’s sleep. We still have this whole night with us."