Page 49 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

"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,Maël'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."

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