Midnight call

Wedding

Ivory's parents, Lord and Lady Harrington, sat in their opulent drawing room, sipping tea and discussing their daughter's future.

"She's a clever girl, Ivory," Lady Harrington said, her voice dripping with pride. "But she needs guidance. She needs to learn her place in society."

Lord Harrington nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I've arranged for her to marry well, of course. The Blackwood family is ancient and respected. Lucien Blackwood will make a fine husband for her."

Lady Harrington's expression turned calculating. "Yes, and the Blackwood family has...other advantages. Connections, shall we say, that will benefit our own family's interests."

Ivory's younger brother, James, burst into the room, his face flushed with excitement. "Mother, Father, I've heard rumors about the Blackwood family! They're said to be involved in dark magic and secret societies!"

Lady Harrington's expression turned cold. "James, that's enough. You'll not spread such rumors about our future allies."

Lord Harrington's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Besides, the Blackwood family's...extracurricular activities are precisely why we want Ivory to marry Lucien. We need a foothold in that world, and Ivory will provide it for us."

Ivory's family had always been driven by ambition and a desire for power. They saw her as a pawn to be used in their game of social climbing, and they had no qualms about sacrificing her happiness for their own gain.

As Ivory navigated the treacherous world of the Blackwood family, she began to realize that her own family's secrets and lies were just as deadly as Lucien's. And she was trapped in the middle, with no clear escape.

Ivory's thoughts were a jumble of emotions as she prepared for her wedding to Lucien. She knew her parents were using her as a pawn in their game of power and ambition, but she had no idea what lay ahead.As she walked down the aisle, Lucien's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he took her hand, his touch sending sparks through her body.The ceremony was a blur of words and rituals, but Ivory knew she was binding herself to a man with secrets and lies.

As Ivory, resplendent in a lace wedding gown with delicate silver embroidery, exchanged vows with Billinoer Lucien Blackwood beneath the full moon's silvery gaze, a shiver coursed through her veins like a whispered secret. Her raven hair cascaded down her back in loose, effortless waves, and her porcelain skin glowed with a soft, ethereal light. Her eyes, lined with subtle, smoky shadow, shone like dark jewels in the moonlight, while her lips, painted a deep, rich red, seemed to tremble with anticipation. 

Lucien, dashing in a tailored black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and a black bow tie, stood tall and imposing, his presence commanding attention. His eyes gleamed with an unearthly intensity, their dark depths seeming to draw her in with an otherworldly allure. His voice was low and hypnotic, weaving a spell of dark fascination as he pledged his devotion.

The night air vibrated with an eerie stillness, as if the shadows themselves were holding their breath in witness to their union. The trees loomed above, their branches etched against the moonlit sky like skeletal fingers, while the wind whispered an ominous melody through the leaves. And when Lucien's lips brushed against hers in a fleeting, cold caress, Ivory felt a jolt of electricity that left her heart racing like a wild animal. Her gaze met his, and for an instant, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away. Lucien's eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire, his expression a mask of dark passion, while Ivory's face reflected a mix of wonder and trepidation.

As they turned to face their guests, Ivory caught a glimpse of something flickering in Lucien's eyes - a hint of hunger that left her breathless and wondering what secrets lay hidden behind his enigmatic smile. His gaze swept over the assembly, his presence radiating an aura of power and control, while Ivory's eyes darted nervously around the crowd, her mind racing with thoughts of the unknown future that lay ahead.

As they turned to face their guests, a collective sigh seemed to whisper through the assembly, like a soft exhalation of wonder. Ivory's gaze swept over the sea of faces, her eyes locking onto the familiar features of her family and friends. Her mother, resplendent in a gown of silver silk, beamed with pride, while her father, his eyes misty with emotion, smiled weakly. But Ivory's attention was drawn back to Lucien, his presence commanding her focus like a magnet.

His hand, strong and possessive, wrapped around hers, his fingers intertwining with hers like dark, slender vines. Ivory felt a shiver run down her spine as he drew her close, his breath whispering against her ear. "Mine," he whispered, the word sending a thrill through her veins like a spark of electricity. And in that moment, Ivory knew she was his, bound to him by threads of darkness and desire.

As they moved through the crowd, accepting congratulations and well-wishes, Ivory felt like a pawn in a game she didn't fully understand. Lucien's world was one of shadows and secrets, and she was just beginning to realize the true extent of his power. But she was drawn to him, moth-like, helpless to resist the allure of his darkness.

And then, there was the kiss. A kiss that left her breathless, a kiss that seemed to seal their fate like a promise of forever. Ivory's heart raced as Lucien's lips claimed hers, his tongue tracing the curve of her mouth like a whispered promise. It was a kiss that spoke of possession, of ownership, and Ivory knew in that moment, she was his, body and soul.

As they danced at the reception, Lucien's eyes never left hers, his gaze holding a promise of passion and danger. Ivory knew she was in over her head, but she couldn't resist the pull of the unknown.And then, just as the night was ending, Lucien leaned in close, his voice whispering in her ear."Meet me in the garden at midnight," 

he said. 

"Come alone."

Ivory's heart skipped a beat as she nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. What secrets lay hidden in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered?