28. Ariana

CHAPTER 28

ARIANA

M y mom fusses over the hem of the dress, her fingers nimble and practiced despite the years. “Hold still, Ariana. You’re wriggling like a fish.”

I chuckle, trying to stand still but the excitement bubbling inside me makes it hard. “I can’t help it, Mom. This is... surreal.”

“Surreal or not, you need to let me finish.” Her voice is firm but affectionate.

My best friend, Kaitlyn, pops her head into the room, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hey, you two! How’s our bride doing?”

“Getting scolded by my mother,” I reply, grinning.

Kaitlyn laughs and steps in, holding a bouquet of wildflowers she must have gathered from the estate gardens. “These are for you. Figured you’d want something simple and beautiful.”

I take the bouquet from her, my heart swelling with gratitude. “They’re perfect. Thank you.”

Kaitlyn winks. “You’re welcome. Now, how’s that dress coming along?”

Mom straightens up and takes a step back to admire her handiwork. “Done. What do you think?”

I turn to look in the full-length mirror, my breath catching at the sight. The dress is modest compared to Valen’s world of opulence—a simple white gown with delicate lace sleeves and a flowing skirt—but it feels right. It feels like me.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

Mom’s eyes glisten as she nods in agreement. “I've been saving it for so long hoping you'd want to wear it, too.”

“I know,” I say softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “Thank you for keeping it perfect.”

“You make it look even better,” she replies, brushing a tear from her cheek.

Kaitlyn claps her hands together, breaking the emotional moment with her usual exuberance. “Alright, enough of this mushy stuff! We’ve got a wedding to get to!”

I laugh, feeling lighter already. “You’re right. Let’s get going.”

As we head towards the door, Mom pauses and turns to me one last time. “Ariana,” she says quietly, “are you sure about this? Valen... he’s not like us. He's done a lot for your father…for our family, but…”

“I know,” I reply honestly. “But I love him.” The words come out easier than I expected.

She searches my eyes for a moment before nodding slowly. “Then that’s all that matters.”

With that final bit of reassurance, we make our way out of the room and towards the future that awaits.

My father’s grip on my arm is steady as we walk towards Valen, his steps deliberate and reassuring. The stars above us twinkle like a celestial audience, bearing witness to this moment. Valen stands tall, his green eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart race.

“You look beautiful,” he murmurs as we reach him.

“Thank you,” I whisper back, feeling the warmth in his gaze.

The kilgari priestess steps forward, her golden skin glowing softly in the starlight. Her horns are adorned with delicate chains that glint as she moves. She raises her hands in a gesture of welcome. “We gather here under the cosmos tonight to celebrate the union of two souls, bound by fate and strengthened by love.”

I feel a flutter of nerves but also an overwhelming sense of rightness. Valen’s hand finds mine, and his touch is a grounding force.

“The commitment you make tonight is one of unity and mutual respect,” the priestess continues. “It is a promise to support each other through all challenges and to cherish each other’s strengths and vulnerabilities.”

She gestures for us to exchange our tokens. Valen steps closer, holding out a single rose from his garden. The petals are a deep crimson, almost black in the dim light, and the fragrance is heady and sweet.

“I cultivated this myself,” he says quietly, pressing it into my hand. “It represents growth and care.”

I add the rose to my bouquet, feeling the symbolism deeply. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the pocket watch that belonged to my grandfather. I hand it to Valen with trembling fingers.

“This was my grandfather’s,” I explain. “It’s been passed down through generations. It’s a reminder of time and legacy.”

Valen looks visibly moved as he takes the watch, his eyes softening with emotion. He nods once, acknowledging the meaning of the gesture.

The priestess smiles gently at our exchange. “Love is both timeless and ever-growing. These tokens symbolize your shared journey and commitment.”

She turns to us fully now. “Do you, Valen, take Ariana as your mate?”

Valen’s voice is steady and sure. “I do.”

“And do you, Ariana, take Valen as your mate?”

“I do,” I say, my voice clear despite the lump in my throat.

“Then by the stars above and the ground below, I pronounce you bound by love,” she declares.

Valen leans in slowly, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that feels both tender and possessive. The world fades away until there’s only us—two souls entwined under the vast expanse of night sky.

When we finally pull apart, his forehead rests against mine briefly before he whispers, “Forever.”

“Forever,” I echo back, knowing deep down that this moment is just the beginning of our shared journey.

The reception is in full swing, but it's nothing like Valen's usual extravagant affairs. The atmosphere is warm, almost cozy, with staff mingling freely among the guests. Laughter and music fill the air, creating a sense of community I haven’t felt in a long time.

I spot Valen across the room, chatting animatedly with my father. They’re deep in conversation about some kilgari agricultural techniques that might help our struggling farms. The sight warms my heart—Valen, usually so guarded, now open and engaged.

“He’s really something, isn’t he?” Kaitlyn sidles up to me, her eyes twinkling.

“Yeah,” I reply softly. “He really is.”

My cousin Mark joins us, holding two glasses of champagne. “Who knew the brooding billionaire had such a knack for small talk?”

I chuckle, accepting one of the glasses. “He’s full of surprises.”

Mark takes a sip of his drink and nods toward Valen. “He was just telling your dad about some new irrigation system. Seems like he’s genuinely interested in helping.”

“Of course he is,” Kaitlyn chimes in. “He’s got a good heart, despite that grumpy exterior.”

As if sensing our conversation, Valen glances over and catches my eye. He excuses himself from my father and starts making his way towards us.

“Heads up,” Mark murmurs with a grin.

Valen reaches us, his presence commanding yet somehow softer tonight. “Enjoying yourselves?” he asks, his gaze lingering on me.

“We are,” I reply, feeling warmth spread through me at his attention.

“Good,” he says, then turns to Mark and Kaitlyn. “Mind if I steal her for a dance?”

Kaitlyn winks at me. “Go right ahead.”

Valen takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor. The music shifts to a slower tune as we find our rhythm together.

“You’re quite the charmer tonight,” I tease him gently.

He raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing at his lips. “Trying something new.”

“Well, it suits you.” I rest my head against his chest as we sway to the music.

“I wanted this night to be special for you,” he says quietly, his voice rumbling through me.

“It already is,” I reply honestly. “More than I ever imagined.”

We continue to dance in comfortable silence for a few moments before he speaks again. “Your family... they’re good people.”

“They think the same about you,” I say with a smile.

His grip tightens slightly around my waist. “I’m glad to hear that.”

As we move together under the soft lights, surrounded by friends and family all enjoying themselves, it hits me just how far we’ve come—from wary strangers to partners bound by fate and choice.

Valen leans down, his breath warm against my ear. “Thank you for trusting me.”

I look up at him, feeling an overwhelming surge of love and gratitude. “Thank you for giving me every reason to.”

And with that simple exchange, we continue to dance—lost in each other and the promise of everything that lies ahead.

The music and laughter of the reception fade into the background as Valen leads me to a secluded garden corner, the scent of blooming nightflowers enveloping us. We settle on a bench beneath a canopy of twinkling lights.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “You holding up okay?”

I nod, leaning into his warmth. “Better than okay. This night... it’s more than I ever dreamed.”

He tilts his head to look at me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I’m glad. You deserve nothing less.”

I chuckle softly. “You’re getting good at this romantic stuff.”

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the revelry from our private nook. The sight of our friends and family celebrating fills me with a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years.

“So,” I start, turning to face him fully, “what now?”

Valen’s gaze meets mine, steady and sure. “Now we build our future together. Whatever that looks like.”

“Do you have any ideas?” I ask, curious about his thoughts.

He takes a moment, his expression contemplative. “I want to expand our efforts in Armstrong. Help rebuild more than just the infrastructure—focus on the community, too.”

I smile at that. “That sounds perfect.”

“And you?” he asks, genuine interest lighting up his eyes. “What do you want?”

“I want to be part of it all,” I say without hesitation. “Not just by your side but actively involved in making a difference.”

He nods slowly, absorbing my words. “You will be.”

I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m excited to see where love takes us.”

His eyes soften as he cups my cheek with his free hand. He leans in, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead before whispering against my skin, “We’re in this together now.”

As we sit there under the starlit sky, I feel an overwhelming sense of excitement for the future—guided by love and fortified by trust. The world may be uncertain and filled with challenges, but with Valen by my side, anything feels possible.

For the first time in a long time, hope blooms within me as we embrace our shared journey ahead.