The next morning, bright golden sunlight flooded through the tall arched windows of the grand palace hall. There was no trace of the dark violence from the night before. The polished floor tiles shone like glass, and the grand silver rose walls sparkled under the warm morning lights.

Evelyn stood in the center of the room, looking breathtaking in a simple, elegant dark blue dress. Her long dark hair fell softly down her back, and her blue eyes were bright with quiet confidence. Julian stood beside her, looking powerful and sharp in a dark navy suit. His strong hand rested gently against the small of her back, providing a constant...