Page 82 of Bullied Mate

From darkness to light in a flash—or in Galanthia’s case, from shimmering power to emptiness. Her skin paled, her tattoos flickered, and her eyes narrowed in on me. We were homing in so hard that it felt like a bubble had formed around us. Which was honestly plain silly considering how much energy crackled in the room.

As far as we were from alone, it felt like there was a space carved out for us.

Worry came through bright and clear.Galanthia, why’d you do that?

She needs to see you happy, she replied.She needs to see you alive.

Tears sprang forward.You did that for me?

I did it for her, she argued.Perhaps I also did it for us.

I hated it when life had a sense of humor. What kind of pompous prick pranced around taking people’s lives and giving them right back?

And why did it have to happen in the form of the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen in my life?

The room came back into focus like someone had hit the play button on a movie. Life resumed in that infinitely impressive way, sounds of jokes and laughter cutting right through the depressive muck that made me want to take a hot shower. I took Galanthia’s hand. I kissed it. I bent next to her chair and looked up at her, beheld her joyful face despite its sickened appearance.

Well, this favor couldn’t go to waste. This moment couldn’t be wasted. Not one more second dared to pass without me doing exactly what I knew needed to be done.

“Galanthia,” I said, and the room hushed in response, “will you marry me?”

Gasps came at once, and then Galanthia broke into tears. I felt her response in my soul, the chorus of it resonating throughout my being.

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you…”

Chapter 24 - Galanthia

A day after Xavier had proposed, we stood at the edge of a lake with a grand procession behind us. Shifters and Elderlings came together to rejoice in the union of our love, basking in the medicinal light of the moon. For wolves like Xavier, it must have seemed odd for us to say our vows beneath her milky majesty.

But for a lost soul such as me, it meant everything. To pledge my eternal love and protection with the cosmos as our witness informed the universe of our commitment.

Izdor stood next to us with his hands folded and his eyes glowing that resonant light belonging only to Elderlings. “Galanthia, do you take Xavier to be your partner for the days that remain, and beyond?”

I focused on Xavier, noticing the way his expression shifted to pure affection when I gave him my full attention. Radiant joy burst in my soul. “I do.”

“Xavier, do you take Galanthia to be your partner for the days that remain, and beyond?”

Xavier beamed. “Yes, I do.”

A potent force passed between us. My heart heard him speak without him needing to utter a word, for within us lived a line of communication that would never die. Ties like these bound us in ways that rivaled physical rituals, and in truth, we didn’t require rings to signal our love.

My eyes roamed to the shifters seated in neat rows. At the very front sat Claire with Bethany and Leo. Rings weren’t for the intangible feelings associated with love and devotion. They were for our families. They were for our friends. They were to be witnessed and celebrated, to be experienced by our packs as a reminder of our pairing.

This mating ritual was more about them than us. I could state my devotion to Xavier at any time, and I had said as much in so many ways. Other people were limited in their perception of this valuable connection, and I took the opportunity for them to be part of this beautiful ceremony quite seriously.

Claire especially deserved to see her son happy. She deserved to partake in it.

“Then by the power invested in me,” Izdor boomed theatrically, “and by the great magnificence of the Star Goddess, I pronounce you bound mates. Show us your best kiss!”

Xavier caught my waist and dipped me, something I had been largely subjected to watching in films and shows. When his lips clasped mine, our surroundings vanished, leaving us haloed by fond appreciation, encapsulating weeks of invested debates. His kiss sealed the deal—and my enthusiastic response only deepened the meaning.

Upright and ready to face the celebration, I raised my arms to the sky, praising our merciful Goddess for her support during this time. Xavier hadn’t been the only one praying—and I was glad to know he had prayed as well.

Though perhaps lately it was a different kind of praying. “Are you hungry?”

“For you, always.”

Full guffaws exploded from me as we were met by the swarming crowd. Leo hopped into my arms, shouting about his new mother and how proud he was to have me in his life. Juriah and Macy each gave us kisses and hugs. Andres and Spencer were holding most of the crowd back while they wished us well.

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