Nadine's expression broke, and she let out a confused laugh. "Maybe not, but there's no going back now. Are you a Hero, too?"

  "No, it's worse. I'm a Saint."

  She stepped forward and took my hand, and I just stood there, not sure what to do with myself. Obviously, I was a terrible candidate for being a Saint. I didn't even like the church, and if they figured out I was a vampire, they'd spare nothing in the effort to kill me. I didn’t pray to the gods. They certainly didn’t speak to me. I had no idea what their ‘will’ was supposed to be or how one even went about enacting it.

  In stories, the Saint guided the Hero, inspired nations, healed the wounded, upheld divine virtues, and walked side by side with the chosen one toward some holy quest. I was a reclusive vampire who had a complicated relationship with the Hero, a fondness for eating the people, and zero interest in the gods or any divine quests. Maybe I’d grown a little during my journey, but I was no Saint.

  I looked up at Nadine. “Do you think it’s too late to run?”

  She glanced over my shoulder and nodded. “Yeah. A little too late.”

  A moment later, the cardinal’s booming voice echoed through the cathedral. “Behold, people of the faith! The gods show their favor once again. Our Saint has arrived! In her humility, she chose to come forward as one of the people, blessed as she is by the divine!”

  I slowly turned, wide-eyed, to stare at him. Then I leaned toward Nadine and whispered, “I don’t know. He’s old and looks kind of slow. I think I can outrun him.”

  She squeezed my hand, and one of the nearby children choked back a laugh. The cardinal continued, clearly in love with the sound of his own voice.

  “Saint, please come forward and embrace your destiny. The light of the divine has revealed you, and we welcome you with open hearts and unwavering faith!”

  I maintained my statue impression, but Nadine stepped forward and tugged me with her. I let her. Running would look terrible for the family, and abandoning Nadine wasn’t an option. So I allowed myself to be dragged all the way to the stairs. A paladin moved to guide her aside, but I tightened my grip.

  “My cousin stays with me.”

  I didn’t give the paladin time to argue. Nadine moved in quickly, matching my pace until we reached the podium, then slipping just a half-step behind me.

  The Cardinal leaned in, his voice suddenly soft. “Ms. Beaumont?”

  Something in his smile was too polished. A deliberate mask he’d practiced to perfection, only to hide something else underneath. I ignored the instinctive recoil curling in my stomach and nodded.

  “Mirela Beaumont.”

  That was all he needed. He turned me toward the sea of people and switched instantly back to his booming, theatrical voice.

  “Rejoice, for our salvation has arrived! The gods have blessed us with their champions! Just as the Hero, Laurent Ashford, has been chosen to protect and lead us in these perilous times, the Saint, Mirela Beaumont, has been chosen to heal, guide, and inspire us with divine wisdom and grace!”

  While he thundered on, I looked out over the crowd, searching for our family’s box. I didn’t find them—but I did see Aunt Violette hurrying down an aisle, face pale, eyes wide, skirts flying around her ankles. My neutral expression cracked into a helpless smile.

  The Cardinal was still saying something about Laurent, but when I looked back, Laurent himself was already returning to the stage. He wore a grin so bright and ridiculously pleased that I felt it all the way down to my knees. One of his paladins stopped beside Nadine, creating the illusion she was meant to stand guard over me, and Laurent stepped up to stand directly before me.

  I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

  In a quiet voice, I said, “I was worried we weren’t going to get to spend the day together, but I’m not sure this is how I’d have chosen to do it.”

  He gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know for sure it was you, and today, when I tried to send for you, they—well. You know.”

  “Yes, I do. Now what?”

  Before he could answer, a hush washed over the cathedral. The shift in the room pulled my attention behind me, toward the throne where the woman with the strange, glowing eyes had been seated. She stood now, her robes marked with the all-seeing eye. Recognition struck me at last. She was the Oracle, making a rare public appearance.

  She stepped forward, her voice resonating through the chamber with an eerie, layered clarity, as though she spoke from every wall and dome at once.

  “Children of the light, as was foretold, the Hero and the Saint have come to us in our most dire hour. The darkness that sweeps these lands is already here. It is no foe we may meet on an open field, but a corruption that spreads in shadow. It grows each day, bringing dangers we will not see coming. Hard times are ahead, and victory is not assured. We must remain vigilant, faithful, and united with family and neighbor alike. Only together can we root out this evil before it overwhelms us.

  “The darkness rises in every corner of the world, and when its tide sweeps in, we must stand as one. The Hero and the Saint show us the path. They will labor together to guide and to defend, bound by the closest bond we know."

  She approached us with a steady, almost gliding step, and up close I saw she was much older than I had realized, her ageless eyes a stark contrast to the deep lines carved by time.

  “Knight-Captain,” she said, lifting a hand. “Bring forth the Relics.”

  Doors opened behind the stage, and two rolling tables were brought out, each bearing a small collection of items. I caught a glimpse of Laurent’s paladin speaking quietly with Nadine, and as the tables halted before us, both he and Nadine stepped forward to stand at our sides. At almost the same moment, in the same low tone, they both said, “Face the crowd.”

  I turned. Nadine circled around me, looked at my mantle, and hesitated, then whispered, “You have to take that one off.”

  So I did. Then, on impulse, I swung my mantle around her shoulders and clasped it. Her grin as she slowly shook her head at me was worth it. A heartbeat later, she brought out another mantle and wrapped it around me, this one longer, heavier, and hooded. As the clasp settled against my collarbone, a wash of magic sank into my skin, warm and potent enough to widen my eyes.

  Beside me, Laurent was undergoing a similar transformation as his cuirass and pauldrons were replaced with an impressive set that looked far more suited for a hero.

  When both of us were finished, Nadine and the paladin returned to the tables. Nadine retrieved a staff for me, it was taller than I was, carved from thick ivory and lined with gold-runed engravings—then placed it carefully into my hands. Its magic rolled through me in a wave, stronger than the mantle by far, and I held it a little too tightly as she stepped behind me.

  The Oracle walked forward, and Laurent bowed deeply when she reached him. She lifted a silver circlet and placed it on his head with a quiet, formal blessing before instructing him to rise.

  When she faced me, I dipped into a curtsy, unsure what protocol a Saint was supposed to follow. I stayed lowered until I felt the distinct presence of something settling above my head. It wasn't any kind of physical touch, but a pressure of magic, as though a crown had been placed there without weight.

  I rose slowly. The Oracle took my hand and Laurent’s and joined them together, positioning us side by side before the crowd. Instead of looking outward like she expected, I glanced up at Laurent just in time to catch him staring down at me. He was giving me that stupid smile again, and I felt mine slip back onto my face of its own accord.

  While we stared at each other, the Oracle turned to face the crowd. “As the light guides the Hero and the Saint onward together from this day forth, let it guide us all as one united people, standing strong against the darkness.”

  Somehow, everyone knew that was the cue to clap and cheer. I looked around, catching Nadine watching me with thinly veiled concern. Laurent gave my hand a quick squeeze, and we walked in her direction. Two more paladins joined the first, forming a tight cordon, and one of them stepped toward Nadine as if to guide her away. I moved before he could.

  “My cousin stays with me.”

  “My lady, only authorized people may enter the sanctum,” one of the newcomers said with a polished, insincere smile.

  I nodded once. “Then I will be going with her.”

  I shifted to step out of line, but the Oracle’s voice cut through the room with effortless finality. “The Lady may stay. Please show her proper respect.”

  Before anyone could even register the change, my Aunt Violette appeared beside Nadine, slipping into place behind us as if she’d always belonged there. The paladins didn’t object this time. The Cardinal launched into another round of oration behind us, but after everything today, tuning him out had become second nature.

  Besides, something far more interesting held my attention: trying to feel out the new magic around me. The relics, the mantle, whatever was on my head that I couldn't quite feel—they wrapped magic around me like a cocoon of warmth and safety. I felt somehow stronger, but in a way that I wasn't familiar with.

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  I was so engrossed in it that I completely lost track of the cathedral’s winding passages. I only snapped back to the present when Laurent stopped, tugging gently on my hand so I halted beside him. He was looking past me, so I turned too.

  “These are your rooms,” the Oracle said, and I looked at the double doors beside us. “Tomorrow, we will begin your training. For tonight, we will allow you to get settled in. Today was almost a complete disaster, but the gods provided. If you had not appeared, Mirela, it would have been the end of us all. There will be a lot of work ahead of us, but we have a path forward now. May the light bless you all.”

  Then she stepped forward to press two small boxes into Laurent’s free hand and leaned in close to whisper to him. I, of course, overheard. “If she rejects the ring, we may yet be doomed.”

  I watched her turn and walk away, taking all but one of the paladins with her, then looked to Laurent. “What was that all about?”

  He nodded toward the doors. “Let’s talk inside. It will be nice to sit.”

  I snorted, stepped forward to open the door, and grinned at him. “After you.”

  The doors opened into an apartment of sorts. There was a large sitting room and several doors, one of which stood open to a spacious bedroom, with a small kitchen area nearby stocked for tea. My aunt immediately headed that way, while the paladin accompanying Laurent stepped up beside him to help remove his armor, placing each piece carefully on a stand that seemed meant for exactly that purpose.

  I rested my new staff against the wall and unclasped my mantle, hanging it on a coat rack beside the staff. I patted my head and found nothing there that hadn’t already been in my hair when I arrived. I bit my lip, confused, and tried to look up, but that was hopeless. I knew something was there. I could feel that something was off, even if I couldn’t see anything at all.

  I turned to my aunt as she set up the tea tray and asked, “Aunt Violette, are Candice and Chloe all right?”

  She glanced up while pouring hot water into the teapot. “Yes, of course. Anatole is with them, and Edgar has likely joined them by now as well. If we’re late, they’ll stay the night and return home in the morning.”

  “And what are we doing?” I asked. “It feels like everything here is finished. Shouldn’t we be going out to enjoy the festival for a while?”

  Laurent answered before my aunt could. “We can’t. If we step outside now, everyone will swarm us. I doubt the church would allow it even if we managed some kind of disguise. It’s too much risk. Assassins have tried to kill me twice in the past few months, and you were already kidnapped. Someone is coming after us, and until we know who, we aren’t safe.”

  “I doubt it was the same people,” I said. “The person who had me kidnapped wanted to use me as leverage against my father, or at least that’s what my kidnappers said while they thought I was unconscious.”

  “That may be true,” he said, “or it could have been a lie. It might even have been a mix of both. Either way, they’re being very cautious. We’ll have plenty of time for festivals and dances together in the future. For now, I’m content to spend some quiet time here with you.”

  I smiled at him. “Me too. I was worried I’d never see you again when they told me I couldn’t come with you today. I even had this dress made so I’d have something nice to wear.”

  He grinned. “As if I’d let that happen. At least now you never have to worry about that again. Gods, I knew it was you the entire trip here, and I couldn’t say anything. That was incredibly frustrating.”

  “You did?” I asked. “Do you mean you knew who I was, or that you knew this Saint thing was going to happen? Because if it’s the Saint thing, you’re in trouble.”

  “Oh.” He looked a little sheepish, then gave a half shrug. “Ah. Well, both, really. In my defense, it wasn’t possible to say one without the other, and you were very clear that you didn’t want anyone prying into your past.”

  Aunt Violette set the tea tray down on the table and took a seat, and the rest of us followed her lead. Laurent sat across from her, and I settled beside him. Nadine sat across from me and reached for a cup, then hesitated, drawing her hand back as she straightened and looked between us.

  "So, you two know each other very well then? You already seem so close."

  I smiled at her, "When we traveled to the city, we spent most of our time together. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other. Now he's a great friend."

  Violette let out a quiet sigh. “I was so worried over nothing. I hope it’s this easy for Candice and Chloe.”

  The comment caught me completely off guard. “What do you mean?”

  Nadine leaned back with a huff of annoyance. “She means my betrothal has been a nightmare. It never should have happened, and no one is happy about it. But you…” She gestured between Laurent and me. “You two already look so happy together. Who could blame her for wanting that for her children? I want that for them, too. I want that for me.”

  I looked down at where our hands had found each other again, then up at Laurent, and back to Nadine. “You want to be happy with Laurent?”

  Everyone burst out laughing. I only stared as Nadine cleared her throat. “No, you can keep him. You two seem far too perfect together. I want to find a good husband for myself. Are all of his brothers married?”

  I continued to stare, my confusion reluctantly fading, as Laurent chuckled. “I’m afraid so, my lady. I do have cousins, though, and they’re almost as handsome as I am.”

  I turned fully to Laurent. “Does everyone expect us to get married?”

  He almost laughed, but the expression died when he took in my face. “Ah. Yes, of course. Not immediately, but we should discuss our ring ceremony once we’re alone this evening. And don’t worry. There will be plenty of time for our families to gather for the final ceremony. Everyone will have a chance to celebrate properly.”

  I sat in silence for several long seconds. “I didn’t know,” I said at last. “I mean… I knew there was supposed to be something. My aunt tried very hard not to tell me, and I planned to ignore it when it finally came up.”

  I looked at him, my chest tight. “But I didn’t understand. Not like this. Laurent, I would be a terrible wife. I don’t know the first thing about love. I mean, I know some of it. I’ve read those books. But I don’t know how to be a wife. And I can’t stay. I have to go back to Ebonhold.”

  “Ebonhold?” Nadine asked, disbelief and confusion creeping into her voice.

  Laurent took my hand and squeezed it. “I think I’m starting to understand. No one actually explained any of this to you, did they?”

  At my slow shake of my head, he smiled again. “Then I’ll explain everything tonight. We’ll sort it out and decide what’s best for both of us. You can walk away if that’s what you truly want. I’d rather you didn’t. I would very much like to make this work.”

  He took a breath, his voice quieter but steady. “When I was told I’d grow up to marry a girl I’d never met, I spent years worrying about it. I imagined all the ways it could go wrong. But I knew who you were the moment I saw you. The Saint of the Prophecy. My missing betrothed.” He smiled faintly. “Something about you just clicked with me. I could feel the bond between us. I knew I’d be able to trust you.”

  He met my eyes. “I spent our entire journey hoping I was right, because you turned out to be everything I’d hoped for. Every moment of our travels brought me joy. I can’t imagine we won’t be able to overcome things together. One way or another, we’ll be working side by side for a very long time. And if this is only about needing to go home, then I’ll go with you. We can explain everything together.”

  My heart ached as I shook my head. “No, Laurent. You don’t understand. There are so many things you don’t know about me. And I don’t think I can have children. Isn’t that a huge part of why people get married?” The words spilled out faster as I continued. “I have secrets that would terrify you. I really like you, but once you know everything, you won’t like me very much at all…”

  I froze as I realized I was rambling, then glanced around at everyone staring at me. “I’m panicking, aren’t I?”

  Nadine nodded. “A little.”

  I took a deep breath and sat quietly for a moment, then let it out in a long, slow sigh and leaned against Laurent’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  Laurent slipped an arm around my shoulders and held me close. “Don’t be. Everything is all right. Honestly, I don’t know much about being a husband either. I don’t think anyone really does until they’ve had a chance to try. We can figure it out together.”

  He paused, then added gently, “And I don’t care if you can’t have children. From what the Oracle has told us, we’re likely going to be fighting a very long war against evil. That would be difficult if you were at home raising a family. Whatever the problem, we’ll sort it out. We don’t have to rush anything. We can take our time.”

  Aunt Violette let out a quiet breath. “Well, perhaps it wasn’t as easy as I thought. But if you have any doubts, Mirela, I think you can put some of them to rest. Look at where you rested your head when you were upset.”

  She gave us a thoughtful look. “I’m not sure how the church would react if you decided against the match after the Oracle arranged it herself. Still, I can offer this small piece of advice. Most nobles marry for strategic reasons. You two seem to have far more than that. This can be whatever the two of you decide.”

  I closed my eyes and took a few steadying breaths before speaking. “It feels like all of this happened without us deciding anything. You mentioned a final ceremony earlier. What does that mean?”

  Nadine answered, “The first ceremony comes from the families, usually our parents. They perform the contract rites, declaring the intent for their children to be bound. The church blesses the contract, and the couple is publicly announced as betrothed.”

  She folded her hands in her lap. “After that, there’s a period for the couple to spend time together. When they’re ready, they take part in the second ceremony with a priest. That’s when the bond rings are exchanged and the gods formally acknowledge the intent of the union. It’s considered a serious commitment, but it isn’t the end of the process. In rare cases, the match can still be set aside, though the church and society very much prefer that it isn’t.”

  Her tone stiffened slightly as she added more quietly, “I believe that’s what the Baron intended for us today.” She cleared her throat before continuing. “Once that step is taken, the world will carry word of it. That gives families time to gather for the third ceremony, The Celebration. Among many houses, it’s a chance to share news, sometimes earlier than planned—”

  “Nadine!” Aunt Violette cut in, scandalized.

  “—and,” Nadine continued without looking at her, “to gift the couple with what they’ll need to begin their life together.”

  She paused, then added more carefully, “For nobility, however, such news is expected to wait until after the final ceremony. The Celebration is meant for formal gifts and public recognition, not… surprises. It keeps everything orderly, without doubt or gossip hanging over the vows.”

  I nodded along, but one part had caught my attention. “So the world carries word of it to our families and friends? Does that mean everyone I grew up with would know? And my family in the Republic, too?”

  Nadine gave a slow nod, then her eyes widened with realization and she smiled. “That’s a good thing, though. It means they’ll all know you’re alive. That alone should take some weight off your shoulders.”

  Laurent let out a small laugh. “It would probably shock my parents half to death. They insist you’ve been dead for years. I can’t imagine how your family in the Republic would react. I expect they’d arrive with a thousand questions.”

  “That’s far too many questions,” I said seriously. Then, after a few seconds of thought, I added, “And what if they don’t? What if no one comes at all? Or…” I hesitated. “What if I don’t?”

  They all looked at me.

  “How would anyone even know the date, or where to go?” I finished.

  Nadine lifted one hand in a helpless shrug. “The contract carries the details with it. How long they have, where to gather. And if no one arrives, the public ceremony can still take place with whoever is already here.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” I said quietly. “What if one of us isn’t?”

  Nadine hesitated, clearly at a loss.

  Aunt Violette spoke up instead. “I’ve heard stories of ceremonies being delayed at the last moment. Sometimes for days, sometimes longer. Usually it’s illness, travel gone wrong, or… complications.” She gave me a searching look. “If either of you were unable to attend, it wouldn’t break anything outright. The ceremony could be rescheduled.”

  She paused, then added more carefully, “There are rumors of vows being set aside entirely, but those are rare, and I suspect that isn’t what you mean.”

  We sat in silence for nearly a minute before I spoke again. “What are we supposed to do now? I was hoping that once everything settled, I could steal you away and we could enjoy the festival for a while. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  An embarrassed smile crept across Laurent’s face. I raised an eyebrow, and after a moment he admitted, “I think they intended to lock the two of us in here so we could discuss our future together. I don’t believe they planned for you to bring your aunt and cousin along.”

  At that, Aunt Violette stood. “You’re right. I wanted to be certain you were safe and comfortable, but we should give you both some space.”

  Nadine started to rise as well, but I spoke first. “You can’t. Nadine needs to stay away from that Baron. I said she would be with me today.”

  My cousin gave me a sad smile. “It’s all right, Mirela. There was no way we could have known this was how things would turn out.”

  But Aunt Violette was already thinking ahead. “I won’t take her back to deal with him. I’ll take her to your grandfather instead. If anyone tries to stop us, I’ll inform them we’re on urgent business for the Saint and cannot be delayed. He’ll help us find a solution.”

  Laurent hummed thoughtfully. “Have him add her to our protection detail.” Then he turned to Nadine. “You’re a mage, aren’t you?”

  She nodded slowly. “Yes, though I don’t specialize in combat. I’m better with enchantments.”

  “That’s more than enough,” he said with an easy shrug. “I’m certain you’ll be invaluable. You should know, however, that this will keep you here in the sanctum with us, and when we travel, you’ll be coming along. I’m afraid you’ll be far too busy to spend any time with that Baron.”

  A grin spread across Nadine’s face, and Aunt Violette’s lips nearly curved into a smile. “Well, you heard him. Let’s give them some privacy so they can talk.”

  "Wait," I said, stopping everyone. "My boots. I left them at the house. My other things, too, but the boots are important."

  Aunt Violette smiled. "Do not worry. They are just down in the carriage. Something was packed for everyone to join the festival. I'll send a runner to bring them up. The rest of your things can be brought over later."

  I let out a relieved sigh and nodded. We returned our teacups to the table and stood together, walking toward the door. Nadine stopped to pull me into a hug, holding me there for several long seconds before stepping out ahead of Aunt Violette.

  My aunt paused at the threshold and looked back at me. “Please try to think this through, Mirela. There’s a great deal of good here, if you’re willing to see it.”

  And then she was gone, leaving me alone with Laurent in our rooms.

  I gave him a shy smile. “Let’s explore while we talk. This feels more like a home than a room. I want to see everything.”

  He returned the smile, took my hand in his again, and led the way.

  Ever wonder what it’s like to live inside the head of a villainess who hasn’t realized she’s the bad guy yet?

  A Dragon Empress, murdered by a so-called Hero, is forced to relive the final years of her life—this time as an ordinary citizen of the empire she built. The legend she remembers doesn’t survive contact with the world she left behind.