Chapter 59
ARIANNA
The door to the throne room in the castle opens, and everyone’s eyes turn to me; nerves start to take off in my stomach like a cage full of butterflies trying to escape at once. Part of me wants to run out of the room and back to our bedroom.
But then I remember what this will mean to not only Gaelan, but to all the villagers who have welcomed me back and reminded me that even darkness has its lighter sides.
I pull in a shaky breath and take my first steps down the aisle toward where Gaelan is waiting for me, he is dressed in a long dark blue tunic with a dragon and roses symbol on the front with silver trim, I am in a matching dress with a long train and feathers coming out of the back making it look like I have wings, on my head is a sliver and diamond head band that also has feathers coming out of it.
I would have refused to wear this, but Maggi, a little old lady in the village, made it for me. It took her months, so I felt bad telling her no.
Walking, I smile at each person I pass, each of them congratulating me and offering their best wishes. It warms my heart that they are all so happy that I am about to become their lady, someone to rule next to Lord Gaelan Illis.
Getting to the end I see Leah and Mark both of them smile at me before bowing with their heads lowered, Leah has asked Gaelan if she could be my personal body guard instead of his, he agreed reluctantly as she has worked with him for many centuries, he didn’t want to train anyone new, it then turns out he didn’t have to because Terk stepped forward and requested the position.
I look over at Gaelan, a big smile on my face when I see him taking in my outfit, and his eyes start to flash. “Do you like it?” I whisper. This is the first time he has seen it; he had to attend to a few official matters before this as part of the ceremony, and I wasn’t involved in those.
“You look stunning, my Rose,” his voice is deep and loving.
“Thank you,” I say as my cheeks heat up.
“Ladies and gentlemen, lord and ladies, today we accept a new Lady into the realm of Illis, to rule and protect, to serve and provide. To love and honor.” The officiant is an elderly man with long silver hair and a beard.
He is wearing a dark blue robe and has feathers on his back.
He uses a long, crooked stick to walk, and he looks more like a wizard than a realm official.
“Arianna Alice Illis, do you promise to serve, to protect, and honor the rules of our realm and its people?” He continues.
“I will,” I say loud enough for everyone to hear me. Feeling so proud and honored.
“Do you promise to stay by Lord Gaelan Theadore Illis as his mate, but also his confidante in all decisions forthcoming?”
“I promise,” I say, looking over at Gaelan with a smile.
“Do you swear to fight for what is right for the realm and its people?”
“I swear,” my voice loud again, making sure they all know that they are all also a part of my life, and I will protect each one of them.
The officiant turns to Gaelan. “Do you accept the vow?”
“I accept,” Gaelan says proudly.
We lift our right hands and hold them over a piece of parchment paper with scroll writing on it. I wince as the officiant slices into our palms, the blood runs out, and splashes onto the paper. The words glow bright blue before the blood is absorbed. Making it official.
“Please welcome your Lord and Lady of Illis,” the whole room explodes into a course of applause.
Gaelan pulls me to him, hugging me tight and kissing me deeply.
It takes a moment for me to notice the crowd go quiet, and only one loud clap keeps going.
Both Gaelan and I turn our heads to look.
Gaelan growls low and dangerously, and shock hits me like a punch to the gut at the blonde, older man who stood in a black suit.
His red, evil eyes stare at me. The shock isn’t his eyes or the fact I can feel the evil radiating off of him, it’s the shock that he looks like an older version of “Drake,” I whisper,
The side of the daemon's mouth quirks up, but he says nothing; his dead eyes move over the room, taking in everyone who is here.
“You know Drake, Ari?” I hear Gaelan in my head; he is now angry at me. I can listen to it in his voice, but I don’t rise to it. Fear like no other starts to pool in my stomach. It’s not from my mate. It’s Fear that Drake is even more evil than I had thought.
“Yes, he came to me asking about the book.” I mind link back to him, not taking my eyes from the man. “Who is he?” I question
“Drake is Tate’s son, Macy’s younger brother,” Gaelan says, now looking at me. I can see he is pissed that I didn’t tell him about anything Drake. “Why didn’t you tell my Ari?” His voice booms in my head, making me wince.
I go to answer him, but stop when Tate finally speaks.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” he states, swinging his arms out and giving me a tiny nod of the head.
“A new lady of a realm is crowned, and I did not get an invite?” He shakes his head.
“Disobeying the ruler of hell is not a very clever idea.” his words now have a dark edge to them.
He moves over to a young man, reaches out, and grabs his head, twisting it.
Breaking his neck before ripping the man’s head off and throwing it toward both Gaelan and me.
It skids along the floor, bounces, and lands at our feet. I stare down at his face, frozen in fear, before it turns to dust.
Leah steps forward, her hand on her weapon, ready to attack.
She will be no match for Tate. I don’t want her to get hurt, so I shake my head slightly.
“Watch the people,” I whisper to her. She moves slightly to the left side of the hall.
Mark moves somewhat toward the back of the room.
I’ve never seen that man fight; he is good at organizing.
The last time he faced a daemon, he was knocked out.
So, I would rather him not try to battle Tate.
I step forward, my eyes taking in the evil standing before us. The crowds are screaming and cowering back from him. Gaelan steps closer, his eyes narrow.
“Tate, my lord,” he bows only a little. I can see the muscles in his jaw ticking, telling me that bowing to Tate is the last thing he wants to do.
Tate moves along the line of seats, picking random men and women. Twisting their heads and breaking their necks until there is a line of bodies and dust behind him. I fist my hand and step forward.
“You need to stop,” I command.
I can feel my powers ignite in my body, Lexus growls low in my head, and pushes against my skin. Both of us are ready to end his life.
The doors to the hall burst open, and several of Gaelen’s guards came charging into the room. Tate didn’t move; he just smirked, lifted his hands. A wave of thick black smoke circled around him, then swept backward, covering the guards and choking them.
I step forward and whisper, “lumi et motei te invoco fiat” light and motion, I call on thee, mote it be.
The glowing light, almost like tiny specks of glitter, fills the air around the black smoke.
Covering it and replacing the darkness with light until the guards stop coughing and the smoke dissipates.
All of them fall to the floor, clutching their chest.
Tate narrows his eyes at me. “The Book Reader. My daughter told me that you had returned before you killed her.” his eyes flash a darker red as he bears his fangs at me and hisses. He moves his body at lightning speed, appearing next to Maggi in seconds.
He didn’t shimmer?
Tate wraps his arm tight around Maggi’s neck; he tilts her head to the side and licks down her neck before inhaling deeply. “Mmmmm, I miss the smell of fear; it’s like cakes just baked from the oven.” he nuzzles her skin.
Maggi’s lips start to wobble, scared. Tears begin to run down her cheeks. “P-please my lord,” she stutters with fear. “Don’t kill me.”
Tate grins against her skin before he sinks his fangs into her neck and drinks deep. Maggi cries out, her hands try to hit him, but some kind of invisible power snaps her arms down to her side, holding her in place.
Gaelan steps down from the stage, his anger rolling off his body. “Tate, you’re not welcome here. Leave before I make you,” his voice low and dangerous.
Tate pulls back from Maggi’s neck. Blood dripping down his chin onto the floor, I wait for Maggi to drop to the ground, but her body stays stiff; the same force that held her arms down is also keeping her in place.
Tate moves away and smirks at Gaelan. “Do you not remember what happened to your father?” He almost sounds bored as he wipes blood from his lips with a little hanky that he pulled from his pocket.
He then licks his fingers clean like he’s just eaten some fried chicken, making a sucking sound when each one is pulled from his lips. “Delicious,” he hums.
Gaelan snarls before he shimmers in front of Tate and punches him clean in the face. His other hand grips his shirt, and Gaelan lets out an onslaught of punches, hitting Tate repeatedly.
We need to evacuate the villagers from here. Gaelan is holding Tate now, but something tells me this isn’t going to last long.
My eyes flick to Leah. I give her a slight nod, a signal to get everyone out.
Mark is nowhere to be seen, and for that I’m grateful, one less to worry about. I hear a roar of anger from Gaelan just before Tate smashes his fist into Gaelan’s side, making him stumble back.
Tate chuckles, rubs his jaw, then flings his arm out, sending Gaelan flying. I lift my hand, freezing him, stopping him from crashing into the wall. I settle him softly to the ground, Tate’s head snaps to me, and he growls at me dangerously.
“You won’t win here, Tate. Leave before I make you.” My voice is stern. I don’t care what he rules over; he will not hurt anything that belongs to me.
Tate grins. “She said you had more powers this time, fascinating.” He muses.