Chapter 27

The sun streaksthrough the window, casting warm ribbons of light across the stone floor of the bedchamber.

I reach for the man who should lie next to me, but he's not there. I blink and sit up as Jasce steps into the room, wearing a fitted surcoat. His black pants disappear into polished boots, and his hair is damp as though he just bathed.

He crosses the room and sits on the mattress next to me. "Marry me."

"Marry you?" I ask, my words still slurred with the remnants of sleep.

Tenderly, he tucks wayward strands of my sleep-tousled hair away from my face and nods. "Yes. Marry me, Annora. Be my wife."

My heart leaps inside my chest as I take in his devastatingly handsome face. The morning light glints in his gold-flecked eyes. His sculpted lips quirk into a hopeful smile. And his angular jaw clenches with barely restrained emotion.

"Yes, Jasce," I say, knowing I want nothing more than to be this man's wife. "I will marry you."

Another smile breaks across his mouth as he leans down and swoops me into his muscular arms. "I knew you would say yes."

I push against the hard wall of his chest in mock protest. "Has anyone ever told you that you are very arrogant?"

"Yes. You." His eyes spark with humor. "Yet, you agreed to marry me anyway. So, I can't be that bad."

I roll my eyes, but don't argue. He's right, after all.

He carries me across the room, where he deposits me in front of the washing stand. "Hurry and change. The priestess is already waiting for us."

"You spoke to her before I agreed to wed you?"

He shrugs. "I told you. I knew you would say yes."

In an impulsive move, I dip my hand into the basin of rose-scented water, gather a small handful, and fling it at his face. The water splashes across his bronzed skin and drips down his chin.

He laughs and swipes it away. "Trying to get out of the wedding already?"

I gather more water in my palms and allow it to trickle between my fingers. "Maybe I've changed my mind."

"Admit it, Annora." He smirks. "You cannot wait to be my wife."

"Maybe." I shrug. "Maybe not." I strip off my nightdress, grab a cloth, dip it into the basin, and run it over my body.

After I finish washing, I reach for my clothes. The loose linen chemise slides over my head, the fabric soft against my skin. Over it, I pull on my surcoat.

Jasce waits until I complete my outfit with my veil and turn to face him before leading me into the corridor.

Anticipation tingles against my skin as we walk through the hall and stop at a door. He pushes it open, and we step into the room. High, arched ceilings tower above us, and stained-glass windows line every wall, the colored glass casting rainbow prisms across the marble floor.

The priestess, a woman with pale blonde hair, no wrinkles, and eyes the color of amethysts, waits for us near a stone altar.

Jude and Arian take their places beside the priestess. As I meet their gazes, they offer me a genuine smile that chases away the last of my nerves. Acceptance and support radiate from them, filling my chest with a comforting warmth. I know that if they harbored any doubts about my worthiness as Jasce's chosen partner, they would not be standing here.

We stop before the priestess, and she inclines her head at us. "Welcome. Are you both ready?"

Jasce nods and takes my hand, and together we face the priestess.

She begins the ceremony, her melodic voice echoing through the sacred chamber. "We gather today under the all-seeing eyes of the gods to bind these two souls together."

She turns first to me. "Annora of House Silver. You stand on the threshold of a new life. Are you prepared to leave behind all others and bind yourself to this man?"

I swallow hard, knowing this path leads me further away from my family and closer to Jasce. "I am prepared."

She nods, then shifts her gaze to Jasce. "Jasce of House Crimson. You stand on the threshold of a new life. Are you prepared to leave behind all others and bind yourself to this woman?"

Jasce's eyes never leave mine as he speaks in an even tone. "I am prepared."

The priestess lifts her hands toward us. "In the presence of these witnesses, I bind Annora and Jasce together as husband and wife."

From the altar, she picks up a shallow bowl. "Bring your hands over the vessel."

Jasce brings our joined hands to hover over the bowl.

She uses a small dagger to prick each of our fingers and allows our blood to drip into the bowl. "Two houses, two magics, now flow as one."

She swirls the bowl, blending our blood together. My heart hammers against my ribs. This is really happening.

"Bound by blood. Bound by magic. Bound by soul. You are now one," she says as she places the bowl back on the altar.

The weight of what I've just done settles over me. I'm married, united with Jasce in the most consecrated way.

A wide smile lights up Jude's face as he turns to me. "Welcome to the family, Ani."

Emotions catch in my voice as I speak. "Thank you."

Jasce slips his hand into mine, and together we walk back down the aisle. I glance over my shoulder for one last look at the sacred space where my life forever changed.

* * *

After the ceremony,I follow Jasce to the Great Hall, where the long oak table is laden with dishes that promise a royal feast: greens glistening with a light dressing, golden-crusted meat pies releasing savory aromas, and jewel-toned fruits piled high in polished bowls.

Jude and Arian follow us into their room and sit on the opposite side of the table.

I slide into the carved seat beside Jasce, and as I take in the sumptuous spread, I decide I will be happy. I'll let go of my worries and focus only on the newness and excitement of being Jasce's wife.

Jasce turns to me. "Happy?"

I nod. "Yes, very much so."

As we eat, Jude entertains us with an animated retelling of an escapade from his youth involving a prized pair of Jasce's boots and a particularly stubborn goat. Jasce shakes his head in amusement while I stifle a laugh.

When the meal ends, Jasce stands and pulls me to my feet beside him.

"Don't keep her up too late, brother," Jude says.

A playful smirk tugs at the corners of his mouth, and he raises his eyebrows suggestively. Jasce shoots a look over his shoulder at his younger brother, who merely grins and takes a slow, deliberate sip of his wine, as if to proclaim his complete innocence.

We're silent as we walk through the corridor to our bedchamber, but I don't require words, not when my heart is thrumming with happiness.

When we reach the bedchamber, he opens the door and gestures for me to step inside first. I move into the room and look around. Everything looks the same as it did earlier, yet everything feels different now.

I'm married.

Married!

It all seems so surreal to be wedded to Jasce—the chieftain of House of Crimson. The man whose very presence once struck fear into my heart when I first laid eyes upon him. The man my sister, Asha, would love nothing more than to see dethroned, his power stripped away, and his house left in ruins. The man to whom I now want to give all of myself, every single part of me. All the perfect pieces that shine like polished silver, and all the imperfect, jagged edges that I've tried to keep hidden away.

He moves behind me and pulls me against him. "How are you feeling, wife?"

The hem of my surcoat swirls against my legs as I turn to face him. "Happy. Nervous too." Boldly, I move my hands up and around his neck. "This all still feels like a dream. I'm afraid I'll wake up at any moment and find it was all just a figment of my imagination."

He brushes his thumb against my bottom lip. "Then, I'll have to convince you it's real."

His lips claim mine in a crushing kiss that sets my blood on fire. I step into his embrace, pressing my body against his, craving his touch, his warmth, his very essence. I lose myself in the moment, in the feel of his strong arms wrapped around me, in the taste of his lips on mine.

He pulls away first, leaving us both breathless. "I've been waiting to do that all day."

I slide my hands into his hair, smoothing back the unruly raven locks from his handsome face. "Well, the wait is over now, husband."

He claims my mouth again, his kiss more insistent, more demanding this time. I part my lips, readily inviting him to deepen the kiss, to explore and conquer.

Tonight is different than every other night we have been together. Tonight isn't about stolen moments or a secret rendezvous. It's not about the playful banter or the teasing touches we've shared before. No, it's about so much more.

Tonight is about giving myself fully to my husband for the first time, body and soul. It's about crossing that final threshold into true intimacy and unity.

And I plan to do exactly that and more.