The church was filled with the scent of roses and ruin

Aurora Moreau stood before the altar wearing white but her soul was draped in red

Red for the blood spilled to protect her Red for the sacrifices demanded of her Red for the truth she could never speak aloud

You may now kiss the bride

The words echoed like a death sentence across the stone walls of the cathedral

Aurora did not move

She stared at the man in front of her the man who had just become her husband

Killian Blackwood

He was not a man who smiled Yet now there was a ghost of satisfaction on his lips as he reached out to touch her face

His fingers were cold and sure tracing the curve of her jaw before he leaned in to seal their fate

His kiss was not gentle It was a claim A warning A promise

And in that moment Aurora felt the last piece of her freedom shatter into ash

The applause was polite measured

But beneath it Aurora could feel the tension rippling through the crowd

The Moreau girl has married the Blackwood heir

How many lives had been exchanged to make this happen

How many truths buried beneath this golden cathedral

She stepped down the altar with him by her side her hand trembling inside his grip though no one would ever see

Aurora had learned early how to hide her fear

The limousine that carried them away was silent but her mind screamed with noise

You did this to save them she reminded herself

You did this for your mother for your brother for everything they threatened to destroy

Killian sat beside her eyes closed jaw sharp like he was already tired of her presence

You do not speak much he said without opening his eyes

You do not listen much she answered

He chuckled darkly Perhaps this will work better than I thought

They arrived at Blackwood Manor just as the sun began to set behind the hills

The mansion loomed above the earth like something out of a Gothic nightmare all sharp edges and secrets

Aurora had visited it only once as a child and even then it had terrified her

Now it was her home

Welcome Mrs Blackwood the butler said as he opened the massive oak doors

Do not call me that she whispered as she passed

She walked ahead without looking back her footsteps echoing across marble floors

The air was colder inside like the walls themselves exhaled ice

Killian followed her slowly his presence always too large too close too calculating

This is your room he said pushing open a door at the end of a long hallway

Aurora stepped inside It was beautiful and sterile Like a cage painted gold

You will stay here until you learn to behave he added

And what if I never do

Then I will enjoy breaking you

She turned to face him her expression calm her voice colder than his

Try and you will bleed

They stared at each other for a long moment like two wolves testing the silence

Then Killian smiled

He walked away without another word

Alone Aurora sat on the edge of the bed surrounded by luxury and drowning in dread

She opened the drawer of the nightstand and found a letter inside

No envelope no name

Just three words written in a familiar hand

Do not trust him

Her pulse quickened

Lucien

She had not heard from him in months not since he vanished in the night leaving her with half answers and a broken heart

But this This was his handwriting

And if Lucien had risked contact now it meant something worse was coming

Aurora rose from the bed and walked to the window

Outside the grounds of Blackwood Manor stretched into endless woods

Somewhere in that darkness her enemies plotted

Somewhere in those shadows her old love was watching

And now she was wearing the ring of a man who had destroyed more lives than he had ever saved

Killian Blackwood

The heir to the Blackwood Empire

And now her husband

She closed her eyes and remembered her fathers voice

Never trust a man who wears silence like armor

And Killian was all silence and secrets

But Aurora had secrets too

She would play the role of the good wife

She would learn his every weakness

And when the time was right she would burn his empire to the ground

Not for revenge

But for freedom

That night the house was still as death

Aurora could not sleep

She walked the halls barefoot in silence memorizing every corner every locked door

She found the study and picked the lock with ease

Inside she discovered files maps photos

Killian had dossiers on everyone

Every member of her family every enemy every friend

He knew everything

And yet he had not stopped Lucien from leaving

Why

She picked up one folder marked with her name

Inside was her school record her medical file her internet history her emails

All perfectly arranged

He had been watching her for years

The thought made her stomach turn

A noise behind her

She turned quickly file in hand

Killian stood in the doorway dressed in black his face unreadable

Looking for something he asked

Answers she said

You will not find them here

Then where

He walked in slowly closing the door behind him

His presence was suffocating

You are mine now Aurora

You will learn everything in time

Or not

She raised her chin I am not your toy Killian

No he said walking closer You are my weapon

And I never waste a weapon

She did not back away

You will not win

He leaned in close his breath warm on her skin

I already have

He took the file from her hand and walked away again leaving her shaking with rage and something darker

The next morning came with a storm

Rain beat against the windows and thunder echoed through the hills

Aurora dressed in black and walked downstairs to the dining room

Killian sat at the head of the table reading a newspaper as if they were a normal couple

Good morning he said without looking up

You are a monster she replied calmly

And you are exquisite

He looked up then eyes gleaming

You will make this marriage work Aurora

Because if you do not

Everyone you love will suffer

She poured herself a cup of coffee hands steady despite the fire in her veins

You think fear makes loyalty

No he said folding the paper It makes obedience

But I want more from you

What

Devotion

She laughed Devotion is earned not threatened

Then you had better start earning your place in my world

And if I take it instead

His smile faded

Then I will become the nightmare you still do not believe in

The storm outside howled like the ghosts of all the broken women who came before her

Aurora drank her coffee and imagined a day when she would no longer feel this cold

A day when Killian Blackwood would kneel

Not for love

But for mercy

And she would not grant it

She stood from the table and left the room

The war had begun

And she intended to win