Chapter 34
I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. The bed beside me lay empty. Following the ancient tradition that kept grooms from their brides until the ceremony. The vacant sheets stirred memories of that first night with Oryn, when everything felt possible before it all fell apart. We'd been through this before, the first night fate placed us in each other's path, but I pushed away the foreboding feeling, my stomach twisting into knots that threatened to choke me. That night had been different. We'd grown since then, learned to trust each other. Despite the royal family's devotion to tradition, I longed to wake to his radiant smile one last time, even as guilt gnawed at me for wanting what I couldn't keep forever.
The crisp sheets beneath my fingers still held the faintest trace of his scent - citrus and sandalwood - a reminder of what awaited me at the end of this long day. The emptiness of the massive royal chamber seemed to mock me, every shadow harboring memories of nights spent wrapped in his arms, his fingers trailing fire across my skin, his breath hot against my neck as we moved as one beneath these very sheets.
The heavy door creaked open, and swift footsteps approached the bed. Fresh linens and morning dew perfumed the air, intertwining with the remnants of his lingering fragrance. My breath hitched, heart stumbling over itself as the scents mingled, past and present colliding in a dizzying whirl.
I traced the embroidered edge of the sheet, remembering how differently I'd imagined my future would unfold. The weight of tradition pressed down on me like a velvet cage, beautiful but confining. Part of me yearned to slip into the shadows, to chase after the vengeance that still burned in my heart. But another part, the part that had grown and changed since meeting Oryn, whispered that perhaps this was its own kind of strength – choosing love over revenge, choosing to build something new instead of destroying what was broken.
My fingers curled into the sheets, mind warring between the comfort of Oryn's love and the familiar call of darkness. This was the path I'd chosen, yet my soul still trembled with the weight of it all, analyzing every possibility, every consequence, until my thoughts spiraled like autumn leaves in a storm.
Luella's face was bright with joy. "My lady! Today's the day!" she exclaimed, peeling off the covers. She ushered me into the bathroom. A warm bath awaited, citrus-scented oils perfuming the steamy air, their invigorating aroma chasing away the last vestiges of sleep while promising to make my skin glow like moonlit pearls.
"Luella," I reminded her gently, "when it's just us, call me Lor or Alora." It hurt my heart to see how many of the staff were treated by the nobles, and Luella had become my ally here in this sun blessed prison. In the months since my arrival, she'd become more than just a handmaiden, she was my confidante, my anchor in this gilded cage of courtly life.
"Oh, the palace!" Luella gushed. "I've never seen such decorations in all my life. Even the old servants say the king hasn't celebrated this grandly since his wedding to her majesty."
I let Luella's excited chatter wash over me as she helped me bathe, her words blending together in my anxious mind. The warm water should have been soothing, but it did little to calm the storm of thoughts swirling inside me. Each gentle splash against my skin echoed the beating of my uncertain heart, torn between duty and desire, between what was right and what felt inevitable.
"The flowers, my lady," Luella continued, her voice dreamy. "Roses from every corner of the kingdom, and lilies that gleam like they've been blessed by the moon herself."
My head bobbed without thought, my stomach coiling tight.
Wasn't this meant to be the happiest day of my life?
It will be , Ma?l's voice washed over me like cool water against the brewing storm in my mind.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing Ma?l's voice away. During my entire stay in this castle, Johan remained beyond my reach.
A princess who killed would rot in a cold, dark cell.
Through my darkness, Oryn blazed like the sun itself. I'd surrendered to his light, to the intoxicating feeling of being loved.
"And wait until you see your dress! It's fit for a goddess."
Guilt clawed at my insides.
I'd fallen in love with Oryn, truly and deeply. His kindness, his warmth, the way he looked at me like I hung the stars in the sky... it was everything I'd ever dreamed of. But was I betraying everything else I held dear by choosing this path?
You're choosing life, Ma?l's voice cut through my doubts. You have a mate, Lor, blessed by the gods themselves. Would you risk their wrath by turning your back on such a gift?
The mere thought of leaving Oryn, of shattering his heart, left me breathless with pain. I loved him. I craved this life with him. But my unfinished business loomed over me like a guillotine blade.
Ma?l's words echoed in my mind like a prayer. Mates were sacred, Oryn had told me, as rare as stars blazing across the sky. The window beckoned, promising freedom to continue my hunt for Johan, but would the gods curse me for such defiance? Would I spend my life running, forever chasing shadows?
"Alora, are you alright?" Luella's concerned voice broke through my spiraling thoughts.
I forced a smile. "Yes, just... overwhelmed."
She squeezed my shoulder gently. "Everyone gets wedding nerves. But when you see Prince Oryn waiting for you, the world will right itself. Besides, you'll drive him mad looking this beautiful." Her laugh chimed like silver bells. She knew well how Oryn pursued me, from stolen moments in the library to every mundane escort through the palace halls.
I wanted to believe her promises of peace. Rising from the bath with Luella's help, I faced my reflection. A stranger stared back, caught between shadow and sunlight, belonging to neither.
She helped me into my wedding gown, the ivory silk flowed down my body, a lace covered corset accentuated my curves, with tiny gems sewn into the light material. Luella laced up the back, her enthusiasm bubbling over as she couldn't contain her joy as we both inspected the finished look. In her eyes, I could tell she saw a princess, one who treated her lady's maid as her equal, a romantic notion of a commoner turned royal.
I saw something else entirely, a fraud wearing silk and gems, a shadow masquerading as sunlight, a girl whose quest for revenge would forever stain her mate's golden name.
"Oh, Alora, you look absolutely breathtaking! Prince Oryn won't be able to take his eyes off you."
I forced a smile, grateful for her warmth, my fingers twisting in my lap to hide their trembling. As I sat at the vanity, Luella carefully pinned my hair, weaving in small white flowers that glowed like captured starlight against my dark strands, each bloom a delicate contrast between light and shadow.
"Oh, I almost forgot! A letter came in for you, my lady," she said, handing me an envelope.
I recognized Augustus' familiar scrawl immediately. Relief flooded through me as I read his words, he had departed early that morning, before dawn could paint the sky. I was thankful he'd be safe from whatever storm my choices might unleash, but his absence still left an ache in my chest.
As we prepared to leave for the ceremony, Magnus appeared at the door, striking in his formal uniform.
"You look radiant, Lady Alora," he said, his usual gruffness softened by genuine admiration.
We began our walk to the great hall, my nerves wreaking internal havoc with each step. Suddenly, I turned to Magnus.
"Magnus, would you... would you walk me down the aisle? Augustus won't be able to, and I-"
"It would be my honor, my lady," he replied, his voice thick with emotion.
With a grateful nod. Augustus's absence would raise few eyebrows. Most viewed him as a frail old man, and his poor health would provide a convenient excuse. Still, appearing without an escort would set the palace gossips aflame. Magnus was the next best choice.
We found Shefferd waiting at the grand hall's towering doors. His sweat dampened suit stretched tight across his frame as he directed the staff with frantic gestures.
"Excellent timing. We must proceed," he pressed a bouquet of golden flowers into my hands while hurrying Luella toward her next task. Magnus offered his arm and I took it, trying to hide my trembling.
"You'll make a fine princess, my lady," Magnus murmured as the ancient hinges groaned, "and one day, you'll be a great queen."
The moment we crossed the threshold, my gaze found Oryn. He stood resplendent at the altar, his golden hair blazing in the sunlight. His formal attire and gleaming medals transformed him from the casual prince I knew into every inch a royal heir. Our gazes locked, and heat surged through our bond, a sun bright tide of emotion.
Every step toward him, I felt the weight of our connection grow stronger. The bond thrummed between us like a living thing, each pulse sending shivers of golden warmth cascading through my veins, making my skin tingle as if touched by sunlight. By the time I reached the altar, the world beyond us dissolved into nothing but whispers. There was only us, our hands clasped together, our hearts beating as one.
This was the path I needed. To hell with every "what if" that plagued my mind before. I could have everything, my revenge against Johan, my mate, my future. No one would ever know. My heart twisted painfully in my chest, torn between the burning need for vengeance and the pure, golden love radiating through our bond. I could listen to Ma?l's voice in my head and just... just live. The thought settled in my chest like a prayer, a desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, I could find peace in Oryn's arms without sacrificing the justice my grandmother deserved.
Elvirana stood before us, her red and golden robes catching the light as she raised her hands to begin the ceremony. Her power brushed against my skin like static electricity, making the shadows within me curl and retreat from her probing magic.
"Today we join two hearts as one," she proclaimed, her voice echoing through the hall. "Our grand kingdom will rise with the power of this blessed union between these two souls." Her hands swept toward us in a grand gesture.
With each word, bile rose in my throat. They weren't celebrating love, they were celebrating power. Their desperate hope that I would somehow amplify their precious sun magic made my skin crawl.
Terror clawed at my chest.
Elvirana's voice faded to a distant hum as darkness crept into the edges of my vision. My hands trembled in Oryn's warm grip like autumn leaves in a storm.
He squeezed them gently, sending waves of golden warmth through our bond. His eyes captured mine, brimming with such pure love and promise that my heart splintered beneath the weight of my deception.
"The ancient laws of our people dictate that true mates are blessed by the gods themselves," Elvirana continued, her gnarled fingers weaving through the air.
"Such a union not only strengthens the mates but weaves power into the very foundation of our realm. May the gods shine their favor upon this bond."
I tensed at her words about power, acutely aware of the shadows coiled beneath my skin and the dormant fire that could reduce this pristine palace to cinders.
The urge to flee surged through me, to melt into the shadows where monsters like me belonged.
But Oryn's thumb traced gentle patterns on my palm, his presence in my mind wrapping around me like a warm embrace.
The mate bond sang between us, pure and perfect, pulling me closer until the rest of the world blurred at the edges.
"The joining of two suns," Elvirana declared, each word a blade against my conscience. "A union foretold by time itself..."
Stay strong, little hunter, Ma?l's voice whispered through my mind. You deserve happiness. You deserve your mate.
I desperately wanted to believe him, to embrace this love, this chance at belonging. But Johan's face invaded my thoughts, followed by the echo of screams and the memory of my grandmother's last breath.
Through our bond, Oryn sensed my distress, his grip tightening on my hands.
I gazed into his cerulean eyes, finding warmth and acceptance that made my heart ache.
He stood before me, ready to bind his life to mine, blind to the darkness I harbored. To the blood on my hands. To the vengeance that burned in my soul.
The ceremony flowed around us like water while my conscience waged war within.
My heart yearned to choose this path with him, but the shadows whispered their cruel truth. How could I be both his radiant princess and Death's Wraith? His beloved wife and the blade in the dark?
Elvirana guided us through the traditional vows, her voice echoing through the vast chamber.
Oryn's hands cradled mine like precious treasures as he spoke, each word a golden chain binding my heart to his.
"I vow to cherish you, to protect you, to stand beside you through whatever storms may come. You are my heart, my home, my mate. From this day until my last."
The crowd fell silent, breathless at his declaration. Their beloved prince had found his true mate.
A sacred bond meant to last eternally. One that wrapped around my throat like a noose of guilt.
Our bond throbbed between us like a second heartbeat, growing stronger with each passing moment.
Golden threads of light seemed to weave around our joined hands, dancing like living fire in the sunlight streaming through the windows.
When my turn came, the words spilled from my lips like water from a spring, surprising even me.
"I vow to be your shelter in darkness, your companion in light. To face whatever comes at your side, to share in your joys and sorrows. From this day until my last."
Our bond ignited like wildfire, burning away my doubts in its golden blaze. Oryn's joy crashed over me like waves, his love pouring through our connection until I could barely breathe from its intensity.
"By the ancient power of sun and stars," Elvirana declared, her voice resonating through the hall, "I now pronounce you bound as one, prince and princess of Sunneva."
Oryn's fingers brushed my cheek like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. When his lips claimed mine, liquid fire coursed through my veins, igniting every nerve ending.
The mate bond exploded between us, a supernova of golden light and raw power that consumed everything else.
Reality narrowed to this single point in time, the taste of his kiss, his thoughts weaving through mine like threads of sunlight through shadow, our hearts finding their shared rhythm.
When we parted, his radiant smile outshone every star in the heavens.
His euphoria flooded our bond, a tidal wave of pure, golden love that threatened to drown my darkness.
The assembled court burst into celebration, their voices distant and hollow compared to the symphony of Oryn's joy singing through our bond and the guilty drumming of my heart.