The Bride He Hates-Chapter 22: Marriage With The Ex?

Lyanna stood just inside the door of the private study, wearing the blue gown Azrael had selected. She’d barely had time to compose herself after their garden confrontation before Clara had arrived to dress her, to paint her face, and to style her hair for the council meeting with Lord Richard and Lady Sylvia.

The room was already packed when she entered. Lord Richard was sitting in one of the chairs near Azrael’s desk. Sylvia stood behind her father’s chair; she smiled when she saw Lyanna, a silent reminder of their garden encounter.

The inner council was present as well. Lord Adrian stood near the window, Lady Helena sat in a chair near the fireplace, Lord Victor lurked in the shadows near the bookshelves, watching everything.

Azrael sat behind his desk, looking at Lyanna with his intense eyes when she entered. They hadn’t spoken since the garden episode.

"Queen Lyanna, how kind of you to join us. Please, sit." Lord Richard gestured to an empty chair between himself and Azrael.

"Now, let’s discuss the formal terms of alliance between Eclipse Court and Thornfield. I believe we can come to mutually beneficial arrangements."

For the next twenty minutes, Richard outlined his proposal. Eclipse Court would provide magical support, ancient knowledge from their libraries, diplomatic backing in conflicts with other vampire courts and access to their network of mages.

In exchange, Thornfield would provide military protection, trade agreements for resources they lacked and a political alliance.

It all seemed reasonable. Lyanna relaxed slightly, thinking perhaps this meeting wouldn’t be the nightmare she’d expected.

"And to seal this alliance properly, I propose a marriage, a binding of our houses through blood and vow."

The room went still.

"A marriage between my daughter, Sylvia and whoever Thornfield designates as an appropriate match."

Sylvia’s eyes were fixed on Azrael.

"Perhaps," Richard added. "Lord Adrian? Since His Majesty isn’t available. A union between Eclipse’s heir and Thornfield’s greatest warrior would be poetic."

On the surface, Richard was suggesting Adrian as the logical choice. But Lyanna could read the subtext.

Sylvia’s gaze never left Azrael. This was a test. Richard was offering not only his daughter but also his ancient bloodline and political connections. He was deliberately leaving the door open for Azrael to suggest himself instead of Adrian.

The room had gone absolutely silent. Adrian looked uncomfortable, clearly not interested in being used as a pawn, but he was too loyal, to protest without Azrael’s permission.

Azrael leaned back in his chair, thinking about Richard’s proposal. Lyanna’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

Would he actually consider it? After just two days of our marriage, would he actually put me aside for Sylvia?

Vampire law was flexible when it came to political marriages.

"Your Majesty, I know your current situation complicates matters." Richard gestured vaguely towards Lyanna without actually looking at her. "But vampire law does allow for adjustments in cases of political necessity. Especially when there are questions about the marriage’s long-term viability.

A queen who cannot provide heirs, for instance, can be discarded without dishonour. It has happened before in vampire courts."

The implication was brutal. Lyanna was a human. She couldn’t bear vampire children, and even if she could, the pregnancy would likely kill her, and the child would be mixed. Therefore, she was replaceable.

Sylvia, on the other hand, was a vampire with an ancient bloodline. She could provide an heir who would inherit both Thornfield and Eclipse power. She would be capable of standing beside Azrael for centuries rather than a few decades.

Lyanna’s hands clenched in her lap. She tried to breathe evenly to calm herself, tried to keep her expression neutral but she was fuming inside.

Azrael still said nothing. He just sat there, thinking. Time was passing and Lyanna was sure he was actually considering it.

Lyanna’s patience was giving up. She’d spent a week being treated like an object, a possession, a problem. But now, she was done.

Before Azrael could respond, Lyanna stood up. Everyone looked at her but she was focused on Richard, ignoring everyone else.

"Lord Richard, forgive me for interrupting, but you seem to be mistaken about Thornfield laws and customs. I think it’s important to correct them before we proceed."

Richard raised his eyebrows. Sylvia’s confident expression changed into confusion. Azrael’s expression stayed the same.

"First, my marriage to His Majesty is legal under both vampire and human law. It was conducted according to all proper customs, and witnessed by representatives from every major vampire court. It cannot be dissolved on a whim. Vampire marriage bonds are considered eternal for a reason."

Richard opened his mouth to speak, but Lyanna didn’t give him the chance.

"Second, my ability to provide an heir has neither been tested nor proven lacking. Your implication that I’m barren is premature and insulting. Third..." Lyanna turned to look at Azrael. "...my husband values loyalty and stability above political opportunism. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?"

She was gambling everything. She was forcing him to either support her or publicly humiliate her. She was forcing him to make a choice, about whether she was truly his wife or just a temporary thing he was willing to trade away for a better offer.

Azrael looked at Lyanna with an unreadable expression. Lyanna couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Her hands were shaking, she clasped them behind her back to hide them.

After what felt like an eternity, Azrael stood up. He walked around his desk, stopped near her and put his hand on her waist in a possessive grip.

"My wife is right." His voice was cold and authoritative.

Relief flooded Lyanna so powerfully that she nearly swayed. His hand at her waist tightened, steadying her.

"This marriage was my decision, and I will honour it. Whatever questions exist about heirs or long-term viability, they are ours to resolve privately.

If Lord Adrian and Lady Sylvia wish to marry, I have no objection. Adrian has served Thornfield for three centuries; he’s an excellent match for her. But I am not interested, and I will not entertain further suggestions. Is that clear?"

Richard smiled, looking satisfied.

"Perfectly clear, Your Majesty. And may I say, exactly the answer I was hoping to hear. The Eclipse Court values loyalty and honour. A king who would put aside his wife for political convenience is not a king worth allying with. You’ve passed the test ."

Another test??

"We’ll proceed with Lord Adrian as the proposed match." Richard said, turning to Adrian. "If you’re willing, of course."

Adrian looked uncomfortable but nodded in agreement.

"If this alliance benefits our court, I’ll honour the arrangement."

Sylvia’s disappointment was no longer hidden. She’d hoped her father’s gambit would result in Azrael trading up Lyanna for her. Instead, she was being married off to Adrian like a consolation prize.

The rest of the meeting was spent making formal agreements, signing contracts, and discussing timelines. Lyanna remained standing near Azrael, his hand still on her waist.

Finally, when they were done, Helena escorted Richard and Sylvia out. Victor and Adrian left soon after, leaving Lyanna and Azrael alone.

The moment the door closed, Azrael released Lyanna’s waist. But instead of moving away, he stepped closer.

"You took a huge risk speaking for me. What if I’d wanted to accept his offer? You would have made me look weak, controlled by my wife’s opinion."

"Then you would have looked weak anyway, discarding one wife for a politically advantageous option." She replied, looking into his eyes. "I saved your reputation, not our marriage. I made sure you passed Richard’s test."

"You don’t have any right to speak for me. You cannot gamble with my alliances based on what you think I want."

"Then what do you want?" She asked in frustration. "Because I don’t know anymore. You tell me I’m nothing. Then, when someone offered you a perfect excuse to get rid of me, you refused. If you’d accepted the offer, you would have made my life more miserable, so why didn’t you accept it?

You claim me publicly and then you look at me with hatred. What am I, actually?"

"You’re lucky." He whispered. "You’re lucky that your answer aligned with my own. I had no intention of accepting Richard’s offer regardless of what you said. But next time you speak for me without permission, there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

"No. I don’t understand anything about you or this marriage."

His hand gripped her chin, tilting her face towards his.

"You have to obey me, wife, or the consequences will be severe."

"Try me. I’ve already survived a lot. I’ll survive your consequences, too."

"Fine. Then be ready."