CHAPTER 33 #2
I clutch my bouquet of green and white roses, feeling nervous. I wait for my father to walk me down the aisle. In a few minutes, I'll be marrying the man I love, and that terrifies me. Especially after learning Tom's plan.
What if he attacks Matt today before the Dark Mage can marry us? What if he ruins our wedding?
I jump slightly when I feel a hand on my shoulder and my head turns to look at who it is. I exhale in relief when I see my father's blue eyes filled with affection and pride. He smiles and kisses my cheek.
“You look lovely, my sweet child.”
“Thank you, Father,” I smile, feeling myself blush.
He offers me his arm, and I happily link mine with his. We turn toward the closed doors hiding my fiancé and the guests, all waiting for us.
“I'm so sorry about all of this, Aelys. I hope you can forgive me one day,” he whispers in a trembling voice.
My eyes turn to him and I find myself surprised by the guilt and sadness on his features. I gently squeeze his arm and he looks at me, confused and ashamed. I've never seen my father so vulnerable.
“I'm not angry, Father. I understand,” I confide softly. “And I've learned to love him. He makes me happy. I actually think I need to thank you.”
Relief floods his eyes and he relaxes, laughing softly, nodding his head.
“I'm glad you've found happiness, my precious little girl. I'm proud of the woman you've become, Aelys. Your mother would be too.”
My heart fills with joy at his words and I kiss his cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper, touched by the thought of making him and my late mother proud.
He nods and asks if I'm ready. I exhale and nod. Without another word, the doors open and we begin to walk. I see the room filled with disciples, all turning their heads towards us, I swallow, feeling even more nervous than before. Then my eyes meet his and everything else disappears.
I can't take my eyes off him. He's wearing an emerald green suit, a golden rose in his jacket pocket, his curly hair swept back, but a few curls stubbornly fall over his forehead—just the way I like them—and he's gorgeous. His perfect pink lips are slightly parted in admiration.
I'm so drawn to him that I don't immediately notice the Dark Mage standing beside him.
My gaze falls on him as we approach them.
He has a devilish smile on his pale face, it sends shivers down my spine, my smile fading for a few seconds before I compose myself.
I knew he was the one who would marry us, although I know it's not a traditional union, and I have to admit I don't know what to expect.
Mattheo offers me his hand, and I slip mine into his palm. He gently pulls me toward the altar, right in front of him and grabs my other hand. My father goes to sit in the front row, I tense when my eyes catch sight of Tom. His jaw is clenched, his eyes are dark, filled with murderous rage.
I quickly come back to reality as the Dark Mage begins to speak, thanking everyone for coming.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice our friends sitting next to Tom, their faces neutral but their eyes shining with happiness.
Unfortunately, we can't show emotions in front of the Dark Lord.
Especially Matt and me. He wouldn't be happy to know we are in love and would probably kill us for it.
He just wants the power and influence this union gives him, and the heir I'll bear who will be powerful thanks to my witch and shapeshifter’s blood.
I focus on Mattheo, finding him looking at me with no emotion on his features but his eyes filled with love.
The Dark Mage pulls out the same knife he used to give me the Trace, we grip our hands tighter as he presses the tip of the blade against his palm. He hisses a spell in Latin, black smoke curls around our clasped hands as he cuts his palm, drawing his blood onto us.
The effect is immediate as I feel the dark magic painfully seep into my soul, but the pain abruptly stops when I feel the warmth of Mattheo's soul bond with mine. I swear I can hear the magic whispering promises of greatness and power as it binds me to the man I love.
When the Dark Mage completes the spell, he lowers the dagger and licks the fresh blood flowing from the wound on his palm. He smiles evilly and claps, causing all his followers to applaud as well.
I look at our hands and my heart leaps when I see the beautiful rings adorning our two fingers. Two twin rings made of rhodium that symbolize our souls bound by powerful black magic.
A spell that makes me Mattheo's wife.
The latter intertwines our fingers and we turn to the congregation before stepping down from the altar and heading towards the exit to the sound of applause. We are now husband and wife and it is time for the reception.
Mattheo and I sit at our table on a platform overlooking the guests' tables, silently watching them eat, drink, chat and even dance. The Master sits on his throne, apart from everyone, his red eyes watching his disciples.
I take a sip of champagne and smile softly when I feel my husband's hand on my thigh. This man really can't contain himself. He smiles, and I know he's heard my thoughts. I roll my eyes teasingly, and he laughs.
Suddenly, he stands up, I raise an eyebrow in silent question. His smile widens, and he extends his hand, giving me a small bow that makes me giggle softly.
“Can I have this dance, Mrs. Rigast?”
My lips curl into a bright smile as my laughter subsides and I slide my palm over his intertwining our fingers.
“With pleasure, Mr. Rigast.”
I follow him to the middle of the ballroom and he pulls me towards him, one hand on my waist and the other still in mine. We begin dancing among the disciples, our bodies pressed together as if we were the only ones in the room.
We dance for what seems like hours, lost in each other, filled with love. I'm happy and I know he is too.
But nothing ever lasts.
A scream echoes through the ballroom, silencing everyone, the music stops abruptly.
We all turn to see Warren Steele, a shapeshifting disciple taking the animal form of a grizzly bear.
He fall to the floor, one arm severed, blood seeping from his now lifeless body as his glassy eyes stared up at the ceiling.
My head whips around as I see hundreds of people in black cloaks raising their wands at us.
O'Connor's followers.
How did they find out about the new date? They weren't supposed to know we moved the wedding up.
Mattheo pushes me behind him and pulls out his wand, pointing it at a cloaked figure who's walking towards us, their body shaking with rage. The figure lowers their cloak, and I freeze, my eyes wide in shock. It's Rick Law, Dawson's friend.
Mattheo's grip on my waist tightens and his body tenses. He blocks a spell cast by Law, but another enemy fires, which he can barely block, injuring him when it hits. He grunts in pain, I snap back to reality, pulling my wand from the holster wrapped around my thigh and hidden beneath my dress.
Spells erupt from all over the room as the disciples protect Mattheo and me as best they can, while also protecting themselves. I already know Darkvis must have teleported to safety as soon as Steele screamed.
It doesn't matter as long as Mattheo and our friends are safe and sound.
“Mattheo!” I scream in horror as he is hit by a powerful spell, causing him to collapse to the ground, moaning in pain and his body convulsing.
My eyes burn with rage as I see Rick Law, wand pointed at my husband, a devilish grin on his face as he approaches us.
I cast a spell on him, but it's diverted by another of O'Connor's followers. This snaps Law out of his trance, interrupting the spell he was using on Mattheo. Mattheo gasps, his body still trembling on the ground.
‘Please, Matt, tell me you're okay,’ I beg in his mind, my wand still pointed at Law.
‘Get out of here, angel. Leave. Please!’
I shake my head and ignore his pleading voice echoing in my head, casting another spell at Law who blocks it.
He retaliates without giving me time to block his attack, a cry of pain escaping my lips as I fall to my knees, my wand slipping from my hand and rolling onto the now blood-stained marble floor.
“Constrictas!” He screams, making strong ropes appear around my body.
“No!” Mattheo screams as he tries to get up.
Another spell is cast on him and I scream, trying to defend myself as I see my husband collapse screaming in pain and rage. Suddenly I hear Law shout 'deficiens' and everything goes black as I slip into unconsciousness.