Chapter 4 Blood moon

After the matter with the villagers was temporarily put on hold, that night happened to be _Malam Satu Suro_ — the night when demons, spirits, and ghosts performed their sacred wedding.

That same night. The Tiger King's palace was crowded with demonic guests.

The entire palace was lit by torches and blue fire. Today was _Night one Suro_. The night when the barrier between the human world and the spirit world was at its thinnest. The night when an oath could never be broken.

Alina stood in the center of the main hall. She wore a new gown. No longer the ivory dress. This time it was blood red, embroidered with golden tiger motifs. Her hair was braided and adorned with tiger fangs and red flowers.

Her heart pounded. Not from fear. From anger and anticipation.

"Are you ready?" Draven's voice came from behind her.

In truth, Alina was still nervous and afraid. But for the sake of avenging her dignity, she was willing to go through with the marriage to the Tiger King. Draven wore black armor with a red cloak. His golden eyes looked sharper tonight. Because of the Blood Moon above. Even though Draven was half demon, half human, he was honestly a handsome man.

"I am ready," Alina answered softly. Her voice no longer trembled. "I want them to see. I want the entire forest to know who I am now."

Draven walked toward her and held out his hand. "Then starting tonight, you are no longer Alina from the village. You are Alina, Queen of the Tiger Clan. Bound to me through blood and oath," Draven said.

"The first part of the ritual is that you must cut your palm, to merge our blood."

"Come, follow me," Draven said as he took Alina's hand.

The entire hall was filled with hundreds of tiger warriors. They all knelt as Alina and Draven walked to the stone altar in the center.

An old shaman stepped forward. In his hands were a silver dagger and a bowl made of bone.

"Tonight, under Satu Suro and the Blood Moon," the shaman said in a loud voice. "Two souls will be bound. One human. One king. This bond will not break until death."

The shaman cut Draven's palm first. Blood dripped into the bowl. Then he cut Alina's palm. Alina hissed in pain, but she didn't pull her hand away.

Draven grasped Alina's hand. He pressed their bleeding palms together.

"Say it," Draven whispered to Alina.

Alina looked into his eyes. Then she looked at all the warriors watching her.

"I, Alina, accept this bond. I accept Draven as my King and my mate. I accept his strength, his protection, and his vengeance." Her voice echoed throughout the hall. "And in return, I give my loyalty, my body, and my hatred to the King." Alina said firmly.

Draven smiled, revealing his fangs. "And I, Draven, King of the Tiger Clan, accept you as my Queen. No one will hurt you. No one will touch you. Anyone who does will face my wrath."

The shaman poured their mixed blood onto the altar. Suddenly the torches burned higher. The ground shook. The roar of tigers sounded from outside the palace, answered by hundreds of other roars.

"It is done," said the shaman. "The bond is sealed."

All the warriors roared together. "QUEEN! QUEEN! QUEEN!"

Alina felt something hot flow through her veins. Stronger. Faster. Her senses became sharper. She could smell the scent of her enemies' fear from far away.

Draven leaned down and whispered in Alina's ear. "Do you feel it? This is our bond. From now on, my strength is your strength."

Alina nodded. Then she raised her blood-stained hand high.

"Tonight we feast," she said. Her voice was cold. "And tomorrow... we hunt."

The entire palace erupted in cheers. Music began to play. Food and wine were served. But Alina's eyes were not on the celebration.

Her eyes were fixed on the direction of the village. On Raka.

The Blood Moon bore witness to how much Alina had suffered.

_To Be Continued_