8. The Midnight Elopement
8
The Midnight Elopement
S ilas had been surprisingly tolerable since their moment in the alcove, but Astoria told herself not to fall for his game. He was likely trying to win her favor now that he realized Jasper was competition.
Astoria would still rather marry her friend than a stranger. That thought was precisely why, in the dead of night, she found herself sneaking through the servants’ passage with her brothers and Skylar.
By sunrise over Daliston, she would be wed to Silas.
But not if she married Jasper tonight. And having both her brothers’ support in this daring plan meant more to her than she could put into words.
Jasper and her brothers had spent the entire previous day planning the secret wedding. Jasper had assured them that he would handle every detail of the ceremony; all she and her brothers needed to do was slip through the servants’ gate and meet him on the second street beyond.
Astoria would return to the castle the day after tomorrow. Then the king would realize how wrong he had been to underestimate her.
She tugged the hood of her black cloak low over her face as they stepped into the courtyard. Thankfully, the absence of moonlight cloaked them in shadows. Holding Skylar tightly to her chest, she crossed the open space. When they neared the servants’ gate and spotted a guard, she summoned her magic and directed it towards a cluster of bushes in the distance.
The sudden rustle and crack drew the guard’s attention, creating just enough of a distraction for them to slip past the gate unnoticed.
They turned onto the second street, expecting to see another hooded figure at the end. But Jasper wasn’t there. Astoria and her brothers stood in the shadows and waited for him.
Time ticked by, and there was still no sign of him. Astoria’s stomach dipped slightly. “Why hasn’t he shown up yet?”
Emmett hugged her to his side. “I am sure he has a reason.”
“Am I the only one thinking that Jasper is not accustomed to being late, especially to marry the girl he loves?” Silas piped up.
He wasn’t wrong. “Do you think something… something happened to him?”
“No,” Emmett said quickly. “Let’s quit waiting and go find him.”
“How? We don’t know where he’s arranged everything,” Silas pointed out.
“If I know my best friend at all, I think I know where he would arrange a secret wedding.” Emmett stepped out of the shadows, pulling Astoria with him. Silas followed, muttering something about walking into a trap.
Except for their footsteps, their breathing, and the distant chirping of crickets, everything was silent. Astoria was thankful they didn’t come across a patrolling soldier or a rambling drunkard. Spotting three hooded figures at night would stir more than mere suspicion.
When they turned into an alleyway shrouded in darkness, Astoria conjured light in her palm. She spotted a beam of yellow light coming from the end of the alley and hurried her pace when Emmet confirmed it was where he believed Jasper to be.
The narrow alleyway opened into a small courtyard with a gate reaching up to Astoria’s chest. Beyond the gate was a small cottage, its windows illuminated from within.
“What is this place?” Astoria asked, stepping aside for Emmett.
“You remember Jasper’s old nanny? This used to be her house.” Emmett pushed the gate and it opened smoothly and soundlessly.
“Meren’s house…” Astoria whispered in realization, her eyes darting around the courtyard as she entered.
“Who is Meren?” Silas asked.
“Jasper’s childhood best friend. She was his nanny’s daughter. They practically grew up together—”
“Oh yes, I remember,” Silas said, closing the gate behind them. “She was like a sister to him. She fell from a tree somewhere here and died, didn’t she?”
Astoria hummed in response and approached the cottage behind Emmett. He knocked on the door thrice and waited. When no one answered, Silas asked, “You’re sure your overconfidence in knowing your best friend hasn’t led us wrong?”
Emmett narrowed his eyes at Silas over his shoulder. “Do the illuminated windows of a house left unused for over a decade look wrong to you?”
“What if someone else lives here now?”
“They don’t. This land and cottage belonged to Jasper’s father while his nanny was still here. Now it’s Jasper’s, so he could preserve Meren’s memory.”
“Still looks like the wrong place to me.” Silas shrugged. “No one has answered the door yet.”
“Let me try.” Astoria shrank the light in her palm and stepped forward, but Silas grabbed her shoulders from behind, and Emmett held out an arm to block her.
“Oh, nuh, nuh, nuh . Not you.”
“Never you, little one. We don’t want to wake the entire street with your banging,” Emmett teased her.
Astoria rolled her eyes. “I’m losing my patience. If you don’t knock again, I will bang.”
So Emmett knocked again, sharper this time, and called Jasper’s name. When no one answered again, Silas grumbled that he was right and this was the wrong place. Astoria couldn’t hold herself any longer. Before her brothers could stop her, she launched herself forward and pushed the door open.
It opened smoothly and soundlessly, just like the gate. And the moment she stepped in, she froze.
“I take it back,” Silas murmured from behind.
“I knew you would,” Emmett murmured back.
At the center of the room was a makeshift altar with a beautiful, white canopy. Rose petals were sprinkled all over the floor. Enchanted candles stood all around the room, their aroma filling the air.
Astoria was suddenly overwhelmed. When Jasper said he was going to arrange a secret and simple wedding, she didn’t expect him to go to this length. Slowly, a smile flitted across her face. She let Skylar, who had been unusually silent all the way, hop down, and lifted the hood from her face.
“But where is the groom?” Emmett asked, mostly to himself. He grabbed one of the candles and went to check all the rooms of the not-so-small cottage. “Jas? Are you in there?”
Astoria took off her cloak, flung it over one of the chairs, and sat down after making sure her gown and hair weren’t out of place. She wore the silver gown from her last birthday, changed to white with magic. Her long, dark hair was partially braided around her head like a crown, with the rest flowing in waves down her back.
Emmett came back a moment later, looking distressed as he announced that Jasper was nowhere in the house. Hearing that, Skylar said he was getting a bad feeling. They waited almost ten minutes before Emmett suddenly jumped from his chair and declared he was going to Jasper’s family manor.
But Astoria stopped him.
What if… What if he didn’t want to marry her? What if he changed his mind after making all the arrangements? Skylar immediately admonished her, saying she was being ridiculous. But as minutes turned to hours and Silas dozed off in his chair, Astoria didn’t know why they were still there.
Perhaps it was time she accepted her true fate. Agreeing to this secret wedding was the stupidest decision ever. Heavens, how pathetically desperate must she appear to Jasper now? The thought of waiting for him one more minute felt more humiliating than Silas—her fiancé—besting her in her own game.
Maybe this was Jasper’s revenge on her for rejecting him all those months ago.
But she would not break. On the contrary, she felt nothing from his rejection, not even the dread and disappointment from earlier.
She rose to her feet with Skylar in her arms, drawing Emmett’s attention from where he stared blankly at the candle flames. “Alright, my groom isn’t coming. Let’s head back home. Even if he comes somehow, I’m not going to marry him anymore.”
She walked towards Silas and shook him awake.
No one argued with her decision. As they headed back and the castle turrets came into view, Astoria realized she would rather marry the man who was sleeping in their home, waiting for the next sunrise.
* * *
Astoria stood outside the large double doors of the throne room, one hand on the crook of her father’s elbow and the other holding the bridal bouquet. She wore her mother’s wedding gown, as there was no time to commission a new one. She was more than willing to wear it, but not without styling it to her taste with her magic; the gown had been a relic of a bygone era.
The voluminous sleeves were replaced with elegant, sheer lace that clung to her arms and ended in delicate cuffs at her wrists. The once-rigid, structured skirt was softened into light, flowing waves of satin and lace, perfectly framing her figure as she moved. A long train was added, shimmering as it trailed behind her like a veil of mist.
Astoria could only imagine how happy her mother would have been to see her wearing the dress, now shaped by her magic.
Or, would she have been miserable that her daughter was being sold into a loveless marriage like she had been?
The great doors opened and Astoria walked inside on her father’s arm. The father who hadn’t spoken a word to her since they had met here. Not even a simple ‘ you look beautiful’ or ‘ I am proud of you’ .
Not that she expected it. But she wished it was Emmett or her grandfather in his place.
Astoria avoided looking at the altar and glanced towards the courtiers and her relatives who filled the seating area instead. But as they neared, she realized she couldn’t keep her gaze averted forever.
Heart beating nonsensically, she glanced at Silas, which seemed to be a mistake. Because the moment her eyes found him, she froze internally.
All the breath left her lungs in a whoosh .
Handsome would be the understatement of the century. He was glorious. And beautiful.
Oh, heavens. Where was the oxygen?
He was clean-shaven, his jawline perfect and strong. Far, far better than with the beard on. Startling herself, Astoria realized she liked this version of him.
Suddenly, he didn’t look like the shabby street performer who drove her insane, but the man she was about to marry.
He stood tall at the altar, hands behind him, as still and breathless as she was. Was he regarding her the same way she regarded him?
Astoria didn’t realize she’d reached the altar until he stepped down and lent his hand. Her father took her hand from his arm and placed it on Silas’. Her eyes locked with his. He drew her up to the altar, not breaking their gaze.
All she could see was him. All that filled her mind was him.
What kind of magic was this?
“You are mesmerizing, Little Dragon.”
The enchantment broke. Little Dragon. She glared at him. “Don’t tempt me to smack your stupid, handsome face.”
“You think I am handsome, darling?”
Astoria barely held herself from lashing out at his annoying endearments and sharpened her glare instead. “Shut up.”
Silas chuckled, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. He turned towards the officiant. “Please wed me to this remarkable woman as soon as possible.”
“With pleasure.” The man barely hid his grin and began the ceremony.
Astoria switched between staring at her bouquet and the officiant throughout the ceremony, feeling the heat of Silas’ gaze on her. When it was time to exchange the rings and vows, she passed the bouquet to one of her cousins.
After exchanging the rings, Astoria crossed her hands and joined them with Silas’, her right with his right and her left with his left. Then she channeled power to her hands, just as he did to his. Her golden threads burst forth and circled up to Silas’ elbows. His lavender-grey threads did the same to hers.
Annoyance clawed at her chest seeing that colour, but Astoria got a hold of herself and met his gaze as he gave his vow.
“Before the eyes of the Creator, I, Silas Feraxus Aurelian, pledge myself to honor and protect you, to cherish and respect you, and only you. Your trials, joys, burdens, and your triumphs will be mine. As long as I live, no harm will befall you. With the magic binding us, I swear to never use my powers against you but only for you, and I bind my heart to yours, forsaking all others, from this day forward, till death do us part.”
Intense energy buzzed through Astoria’s arms. For a moment, she gaped at him, at the additional and self-written lines he spoke. Then, she composed herself and spoke her vow.
“Under the grace of the heavens, I, Astoria Yovella Seraphina, pledge myself to honor and protect you, to cherish and respect you. I pledge to stand by your side through all trials and joys, to share in your burdens, and to celebrate your triumphs. With the magic binding us, I swear to never use my powers against you but for you, and I bind my heart to yours, forsaking all others, from this day forward, till death do us part.”
Silas smiled down at her. “You do realize that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever spoken to me?”
Astoria glared and matched his undertone with a hiss. “Shut up and try not to ruin this.” She glanced at their hands. They began to glow as the magical threads changed from gold and lavender-grey to pure white, just before they began to fade, leaving a glittering effect on their skin.
“By the power vested in me by the Divine Grace and the sacred laws of our kingdom, and in the presence of these witnesses, I now declare you husband and wife. May your union be filled with joy, prosperity, and love, and be the hope of our continent from the hands of the Emperor. You may now kiss the bride.”
Astoria’s heart jumped to her throat. She turned to the officiant with a horrified look. “Surely, that’s not necessary.”
The older man frowned apologetically. “I’m afraid it’s required to seal the ritual with a kiss to complete the magnification.”
“I promise I won’t bite,” Silas’ voice crooned. Astoria nearly jumped away at his closeness, but he placed his hands on her waist and held her in place. “Let’s not make a scene, alright, darling?”
Astoria stared at his nearing, smirking face and narrowed her eyes threateningly. “Just a peck. If you linger…”
She let the threat hang in the air.
“As you wish, my wife.”
One of his hands came to rest at the back of her neck, beneath her veil. Astoria stiffened. Before she could even think of protesting, he dipped her backwards.
Astoria let out a sharp gasp, but it was cut off by his lips as they pressed against hers. Her hands, which fumbled to grip him for balance, froze. Her eyes fluttered closed. Her heart did a double backflip. She stopped thinking.
It was just her and him, and his surprisingly soft lips on hers.
Then, he pulled away, slower than a snail. Astoria opened her eyes and met his gaze. She lost her breath again.
His eyes… She hadn’t seen them up this close before. Now, as they filled her vision, she noticed they were the colour of the midnight sky.
The darkest eyes she had ever seen on anyone.
And they twinkled, like the star-studded midnight sky itself.
How a man as infuriating as him had such a breathtaking pair of eyes was beyond her.
Cheers erupted around them, pulling Astoria out of her daze. Silas raised her back, his eyes suddenly intense but unreadable. They didn’t look away from her even as she did, heat coating her cheeks.
She glanced at the attendees and saw Emmett glaring at Silas, and Silas—her brother—watching them with pursed lips. Her gaze moved on to her father who shot her a pointed look.
Astoria’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment. What now? Didn’t she just marry a powerful Mage to—
Oh.
Oh…
Astoria’s gaze snapped to Silas. “The magnification. It didn’t—”
“I never cared about the magnification, to begin with,” he cut off her words calmly. “I only wanted you.”
“What?”
He didn’t answer. Astoria didn’t press him either, trying to figure out what had gone wrong.
If their powers were magnified, they would know it. Everyone in the room would. That was what was said in the book Wizard Orion brought her father over a year ago.
Since it hadn’t…
Had she pledged herself to a stranger for the rest of her life… for nothing?