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“I think your outfit is at the very bottom of the list of things that should scare you today,” Ata said as she lifted the bag from the floor and pulled the draw strings open.

My eyes widened, a gasp escaping my lungs as she pulled out the most beautiful leathers I had ever seen. They were gold, intricately woven with emerald and white stitching and Locdragoon’s doe embroidered across the chest.

“Ata . . .” I whispered, my gaze flashing to hers as she brought them over to me.

I could see emotion swirling in her eyes as she pushed them into my arms and I sniffed away the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Thank you,” I said quietly as my fingers danced across the fabrics.

“Change, let us see it on,” Pri said, beaming at me from her corner.

I nodded, quickly turning to the bedchamber and slipping into them. I had never worn something so regal, something so breathtaking. The sitting room fell silent for only a moment as I stepped back into it.

A shriek flew from Cai’s lungs as she clapped her hands together. “Miss, you are a dream,” she exclaimed, her eyes running over my body. “This is a much better option than the dress.”

A teary laugh slipped out of me as I ran my hands down the front of them, straightening out the corset bodice that was cinched tight at the waist.

“Is there too much skin on display?” I asked, looking down at the deep, rounded neckline that pressed tight against my breasts.

Pri shook her head as she walked toward me.

“Not at all,” she said, running her hands over the emerald and white threads that weaved through the leather like the mossy hills and clouds of Locdragoon. “I got you a gift as well.”

I watched as Pri walked over to her satchel and pulled a rolled leather case from it, untying the strings that kept it bound. Golden daggers appeared one by one as she unrolled it, sparkling in the soft light streaming in through the window, their hilts adorned with emerald jewels and crystals.

“I know you do not go anywhere without them, so I thought you should have a set acceptable to wear to your wedding,” Pri said as she smiled, handing me the belt they were fastened to.

A squeal erupted from my lungs as I strapped them across my chest then pulled Pri into my arms. “I love them. Thank you.”

“We must finish your hair; we still have the crown and jewels to add and time is running out,” Cai said, beckoning me over to her as Calista pushed a cup of wine into my hand.

I sat as Cai began to push her fingers into my curls, braiding and twisting small sections, embedding jewels and golden chains throughout it. My eyes fell on Ata in the corner as she looked down at her cards, a worried expression etched into her features.

My stomach fell.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, and her eyes snapped to mine before shoving her cards back into her pocket and forcing a smile.

“Nothing, I just keep pulling the same card over and over and I don’t know what it means,” Ata said, falling into the armchair across from me. “Calista, do you know of any Hanth witches currently residing in Edvhir?”

Calista shook her head. “I do not believe there are any, but I can ask.”

Ata nodded and the room fell silent as an ominous feeling crept into the base of my spine.

Ata could sense things, see things we couldn’t, and if she was nervous—if she was worried—I knew that meant something was coming.

Wind gently rustled against the fabric of the tent we stood in, perched on a grassy landing of the cliff we had tethered to. The center point of the realm was said to have the strongest of all their magic flowing beneath it—it was where ceremonies were performed in Ithia.

“Are you ready?” Ata asked, locking her gaze on mine. And though she tried to hide them, I could see the tears that collected in the corner of her eyes.

A nervous laugh escaped my lips as I nodded and sniffed away the liquid that threatened to spill from my own eyes.

“I love you, Cin,” she whispered, squeezing my hand in hers.

“I love you back,” I said as that beautiful smile spread across her face. Asrai stepped into the tent behind her, setting a hand lovingly on her shoulder.

“Ataliia, may I have a moment?” Asrai asked. Ata nodded, squeezing my hand once last time before slipping from the tent.

Asrai looked at me for a long moment, then lifted her hands to the necklace around her neck that I had given her and unlatched it before clasping it around mine. I let the tips of my fingers glide over it as I looked up at her to see tears rolling down her face.

“I thought you might want a piece of your mother with you, in this moment,” she said, straightening her back and wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Asrai,” I whispered, reaching out and sliding my hand into hers.

“I am so thankful that she brought me into this world, I will never forget what she sacrificed so I could experience this moment. She has given me everything, but you, Asrai, you are my mother, and you will always be with me.” My voice cracked as I said the words, and she pulled me against her chest with a fierceness I had never felt from her.

Her arms tightened around me as I rested my head against her shoulder, careful not to disturb the crown pressing down on my head, and wrapped my arms around her waist.

“I am so proud of you,” she whispered into my curls. “So proud of the woman you have become.”

We stood there for a long moment, holding each other— clinging to each other.

Eventually, she stepped away from me, grasping my wrists and pulling them from her waist, her thumbs brushing over the scars there.

“Now,” she said, sniffing away the tears, “let me look at you.” A grin broke across my face as our eyes met and I turned, showing her my whole outfit.

“What do you think?” I asked, beaming up at her. “You did say I must always stay prepared for battle.” She smiled down at me with an approving nod.

“You look radiant, Hyacinth,” she said, the words catching in her throat as she wiped the last tear from her cheek.

Her eyes roamed over me, landing on the golden crown molded into four antlers that reached up to the sky and was crusted with emerald and diamonds with golden threads that weaved into my curls.

The four antlers stood for the four most important parts of the new role I was moments from stepping into. The two tallest representing Landers and myself, the protectors of the two smaller ones behind them—our people and our realm.

“It’s heavy,” I whispered, reaching up to slide my fingers over the cool metal.

Asrai smiled softly, her fingers clasping around my chin as she locked her eyes on mine. “As it should be. That weight is a symbol. Keep your neck strong and carry it, my child.”

I nodded, my spine straightening as I looked back into her gaze.

“It is time. I will retrieve Wren,” she said, breaking the silence as she took a step toward the exit.

My heart began thundering in my chest, watching as she dipped through the tent’s opening and disappeared. My eyes closed as I sucked in a long breath, trying to steady the nerves that were exploding beneath my skin.

My eyes opened slowly as I listened to Wren step into the tent and a sob caught in my lungs at the beautiful smile etched onto his face.

“Well, sister, last chance to run,” he said, lifting a brow.

A nervous laugh slipped from my lips as I shook my head at him, watching as he bowed at the waist and extended his hand toward me.

“They are ready for you,” he said, straightening as I slipped my fingers into his and stepped to his side. He slid my arm underneath his elbow as music began to swell on the other side of the thin tent.

The song on Ithia—of their ancient healers.

The melody rang through the air like the sound of flowing rivers, and as Wren’s hand reached for the tent’s entrance and pulled it open, I gasped.

A backdrop of the ceremony was hundreds of waterfalls falling over the mountain’s ledge, the crystal blue of the water clashing with the green forests covering the peak’s surface.

Wren pulled me forward, my toes hitting the soft mossy ground.

It was a tradition in Ithia, to walk into marriage with your bare feet on a solid foundation. But I couldn’t feel it, could no longer hear the music swelling around us.

All I could see was him .

Landers stood only yards away from us and I watched as his hand flew to his lips at the sight of me, his other holding firm to the pommel of his golden blade as if to keep him standing upright.

It took every ounce of my strength not to run to him.

In that moment—in the way he looked at me—I could have sworn our souls were already tied.

Andrues clapped a hand on Landers’s shoulder, grinning, as we continued our walk toward them.

Asrai gave me a gentle nod and I watched as Ata slipped her hand into Pri’s, tears flowing from both of their eyes.

My heart stopped at the sight—the view that was looking back at me.

My friends, my family .

As we took our last step toward the elders, Landers’s hand shot out to touch me.

Just as his fingers were about to connect with my cheek, Mara grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“Not yet, my King,” she said with a soft smile, bringing his wrist back to his side. “The time will come soon enough.” Landers nodded at her words, clearing his throat as his eyes met mine.

Our eyes locked and the world fell away, blurring around the edges.

Every sound faded into the background; every movement slowed until it was just the two of us, suspended in time.

My chest tightened, a rush of warmth spreading through me, the feeling threatening to drown me.

Nothing else mattered—nothing but him and the oath we were about to make.

It was as if the whole universe had conspired to bring us to this very second, and as I looked into his eyes, I saw everything I ever wanted—home, safety, love.