Chapter 2

Lilith woke up early in the morning, feeling restless and anxious. She had been dreading this day, ever since her mother had told her about the alliance with the Karayan family. She got out of bed and walked over to the window, looking out at the sunrise. The sky was a beautiful mix of pink and orange, and the birds were chirping outside.

She took a deep breath and walked over to her closet, picking out a simple black dress. She didn't want to appear too eager or too uninterested. She wanted to strike the right balance. She slipped the dress on and walked over to the mirror. She looked at herself, trying to find any signs of nervousness or fear. She had always been good at hiding her emotions, but she knew that today was different.

"Lilith, darling," her mother's voice called from downstairs. "We have to leave in an hour. Make sure you're ready."

Lilith took a deep breath and walked downstairs. Her parents were already sitting at the breakfast table, sipping on their coffee.

"Good morning, dear," her father, Magnus, said, smiling at her. "Are you ready for today?"

Lilith forced a smile and sat down at the table. "As ready as I'll ever be," she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

They ate breakfast in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Lilith couldn't help but think about her home and the life she was leaving behind. She loved her family and her home, but she knew that she had to do this for their survival.

After breakfast, they packed their bags and got into the carriage. The ride was bumpy and uncomfortable, but Lilith didn't mind. She was lost in her thoughts, trying to prepare herself for what was to come.

As they approached the Karayan mansion, Lilith couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The mansion was massive, with tall columns and a grand entrance. The gardens were perfectly manicured, with beautiful flowers and fountains. Lilith could see the light shining through the windows, and she knew that her future husband was waiting for her inside.

They got out of the carriage and were greeted by a maid. She led them inside and offered them tea. Lilith could smell the aroma of the tea and the freshly baked scones. She tried to calm herself down, taking a sip of the tea.

After a few minutes, the maid informed them that Damon Karayan only requested to see Lilith, much to the Ravette couple's protest, but Lilith agreed after watching her parents bicker for a few moments. Lilith took a deep breath and followed the maid to the study.

As she walked into the study, she saw him - the red-eyed, black-haired vampire in an ash-gray suit with a gold watch - sitting at his desk, sipping his tea. He looked up and smiled at her.

"Welcome, Lilith," he said, gesturing for her to sit down. "I hope you had a pleasant journey."

Lilith forced a smile and sat down, trying to appear calm and collected.

"We should get straight to the point," Damon said, putting his tea down. "Your family has been in great peril for many decades, and you are lucky that the Karayans are here to help you."

Lilith nodded, not daring to speak.

"I understand that you have some reservations about this," Damon continued, looking at her intently. "But I assure you, I will do everything in my power to make this work."

Lilith took a deep breath and spoke up. "I understand that this is important, but I have some conditions."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "Conditions?" he asked.

"I will not do any... intimate things with you," Lilith said, her voice trembling slightly. "I will be your wife in name only. I hope you can respect that."

Damon looked at her for a moment before speaking. "I see," he said, nodding slowly. "Well, I suppose we can work something out."

Lilith felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had expected him to object, but he seemed to be willing to compromise.

They continued to talk over tea, discussing the details of the alliance. Lilith signed the contract with her loopy, rose-dotted signature, feeling half-hearted about the whole thing. As she left the study, Damon smiled, thinking to himself, "She really doesn't remember me, huh?"

He leaned backward, closing his eyes.

"Lily, I've found you."

Chapter end