Page 48 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)

Chapter Thirty-five

Elowen

An angelic blend of string music carries me up the hilly forest, signaling it’s time to begin the procession to the clearing.

The castle on top of the mountain looks even more impressive from the base.

The spires are so tall that they kiss the clouds.

I tighten my hold on Finnian’s arm as we pass under a white stone archway cloaked in vines of ivy.

His presence at my side keeps me calm as hundreds of eyes settle on me, but I force myself to disregard them and keep my shoulders straight, floating down the aisle with elegance and grace.

Dark blue petals are crushed under my jeweled slippers and are swept up by my dramatic train.

With each step, I bring myself closer to a future I’ve chosen for myself, a life I’ve finally taken control of.

My dragons fly overhead and dance above the forest in the distance, never too far and always within my sight.

As Saskia said, this wedding is not merely a ceremony, it’s a statement that will ring out like bells throughout Ravaryn, a message shouted from the southern isles to the northen tip of Thirwen.

Cayden is the most dangerous man in Ravaryn, without possessing any magic, and the enemy of the man who sired me.

Everyone here has heard the tales of Cayden’s ruthlessness on the battlefield and his various victories.

It doesn’t surprise me he’s not blessed by the God of War but by the God of Death, because wherever Cayden points his sword, death follows.

There is no warrior like him, nobody in the Legends of Ravaryn who compares to the king who rose from nothing and conquered everything.

If my enemies didn’t want to face the monster they created or watch me align myself with another, then they should’ve tightened my chains.

I was beaten by men who will face me on the battlefield, and they will cower under the might of House Veles.

I was born from the ashes of the fires they tried to burn me with and built a kingdom with my bare hands.

I am everything they never thought I’d be, and I hope they hear my name—Elowen Veles—and look to the sky with fear so overwhelming they feel it in their bones.

Candles drip wax onto the black stone sprinkled with snow along the aisle and rocks surrounding the small pond at the base of the staggering falls, casting Cayden in a golden glow.

He stands with Asena and Ophir; but all I can see is him.

Souls don’t meet by chance, and once I encountered his, it was like I found something I didn’t know was missing.

A wrong had been righted. Being with him feels like light spilling into the dark cracks in my heart, as if the stars themselves were meant to live in my body.

To anyone else, Cayden would look unmoved where he stands with the flames and falls at his back, but I see the reverence cloaking his unwavering gaze.

His black tunic is fashioned to look like dragon scales along his chest and arms as an homage to me, and the rest of his finery is of the same rich night-spun fabric.

The only pop of color comes from the signet ring on his finger and the golden crown sitting within his messy chocolate waves.

Pride shines within me as our sigil glints in the sun.

Finnian stops at the end of our journey as the music builds to a crescendo and Cayden strides toward us. The pair exchange a heavy glance as Cayden extends his hand, and Finnian clasps it before leaning down to kiss my cheek. “You are the most beautiful bride.”

My eyes moisten further when I meet his gaze. “I love you.”

He clears his throat and nods, taking one final look at me as I hand my bouquet off to Saskia.

They take their place beside Ryder at the front, all decked out in blue, black, and gold.

The crowd gathered holds their breath as Cayden places his lips on my knuckles, staring at me with unyielding devotion, and butterflies erupt in my stomach.

He’s the perfect picture of a man who stole the crown to have me and would steal theirs if they tried to take me away.

He leads me closer to the water and positions us to face each other as Asena begins the ceremony.

“Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Kingdom of the Dragon and Demon. We are here today to celebrate the union of Cayden Veles the Conqueror, the demon of Ravaryn, king-ender and queen-maker; and Elowen Atarah the Dragon Queen, the firestorm made flesh, the queen of fire and daughter of flame, princess and rightful heir to the Imirath throne.”

Ophir raises his arms, causing the thick blue robes to bunch around his elbows. “The gods are with us and have granted their favor.”

Asena rubs her hands together before shooting them toward the candles nestled under our house banners that hang on either side of the waterfall, pulling the element from the several candles surrounding us but never too much to extinguish any flame.

The string instruments are replaced by deep drumbeats as the cults begin humming and singing in Ravarian. Ophir hunches over a stone slab, muttering over a bowl while throwing herbs into it. I look up at Cayden, no longer fighting my smile once a small one spreads on his lips.

Ophir produces a blade so black it absorbs the sunlight and hands it to Cayden.

“With this knife forged from the flames of the goddess, cut your left palm as an offering to the God of Water, Death, and the Moon, and willingly give your blood to the blessed bowl.” Cayden does as instructed, and I watch as crimson drops plummet into the water, then take the knife and do the same.

“Now repeat with your right hand, in an offering to the Goddess of Flames, Life, and Stars,” Asena says, bringing over a bowl made of volcanic stone and filled with fire.

The embers at the base hiss and the pair of them stare down at their individual elements like they’ll reveal some grand secret.

“Lastly, you must both cut the tip of your ring finger and paint a line down each other’s lips.

This is an offering to each other, to seal your union. ”

Cayden tilts my chin up with his other hand, careful not to get any blood on my dress and keeps his voice low as he glides his finger down my mouth.

“I vow that my soul will never be parted from yours in this life and to find you in all the lives that follow, no matter the world or distance, because one life with you isn’t nearly enough.

However, if I have the mercy of dying before you, merely grasp the hand of my corpse and I will find a way to return to you, for you alone command my heart.

You have my name to bind us, my sword to slay anyone who wishes you harm, and my body to shield you. ”

I take the knife from him with a shaking hand while blinking back my tears.

I hardly feel it when I prick my finger, reaching up to add my blood to his lips.

“I vow to be yours in every life, and to wait for you in all of them. When my soul enters the underworld, I will not cross the river until you find me again, because only then will I know peace. Every part of me belongs to you, even the broken shards, and I never want them back.”

I pull my hand away, never taking my eyes off his as Asena calls for the rings.

Ryder and Saskia step forward, each of them handing us the bands we commissioned for each other.

“We stand here to witness man and woman joined in the light of the gods. Look upon each other and state the vows of Ravaryn, knowing that these will tether you to each other now and forever.”

Cayden slides a gold band onto my finger, fashioned to look like ivy growing around an oval amethyst bordered by small diamonds.

It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, and the only reason I’m able to hold myself together is knowing there are hundreds of people staring at us.

He doesn’t look down as I slide his obsidian band with crushed sapphires over his tattoo and onto his finger.

We clasp our hands as Asena instructs and Ophir dumps the blessed bowl into the volcanic one, dousing the flames.

“I pledge myself to you in an oath that can never be broken,” we say in unison. “I am yours, and you are mine, from this day until my last day. Amito evidani.” I am yours.

Power I’ve never felt blooms in my blood, unfurling like the first blossoms of spring.

I can tell Cayden feels it too from the faint trace of surprise on his face.

The flames around us burn higher, and the rushing water grows louder.

The feeling within me grows stronger, zinging through me like lightning, but it doesn’t hurt. It makes me feel alive.

The earth rumbles beneath our feet and the pull I feel to Cayden grows stronger.

The cults’ singing becomes more powerful.

My heart feels as if it’ll burst from my chest.

My palms burn where our cuts press together and the world around us goes dark.

Asena steps forward to pull our hands apart.

Our cuts are healed, and no blood remains on our skin, but in its place are markings.

Thin, golden swirls trail around my fingers and meet at the center of my palm like a star.

The same design is reflected on the back of my hand and stops just above my wrist. Mine are more delicate than Cayden’s thick black markings in an identical design, and his seem to travel around my name inked on his finger.

“You didn’t tell me the ceremony would mark us,” I say, not that I’m complaining. They’re beautiful.

“It wasn’t supposed to,” Asena mutters, looking to Ophir in disbelief before dropping my hand to address the crowd. “A divine union!”

“An eclipse!” someone calls out.

“The gods have spoken,” Ophir shouts. “To be an enemy of House Veles is to be an enemy of the gods.”

I recall what Asena told me about the God of the Sun and Light—his possessiveness of dragons and hatred for the goddess she believes blessed me, and Ophir believes Cayden to be blessed by the God of Death, Water, and the Moon.

An uneasy feeling settles within me as sunlight splays around us again.

I may not worship the gods, but the markings… and the eclipse…they unsettle me.

I shove the feeling aside, needing to complete the task at hand with the eyes of Ravaryn on me. There is no room for mistakes.

“You may kiss the bride,” Ophir says.

Cayden places his hands on my cheeks to tilt my head up and presses his lips to mine.

Gods, I’ve missed this.

He cradles my face as if I’m the most precious thing in the world and kisses me as if he longs to taste my soul.

The crowd cheers wildly, tossing flower petals while Cayden keeps a firm hold on me.

When his lips are on mine, I know what it is to be craved by a person.

It’s like he’s starved for my touch whenever we’re apart and savors every second he has me like it’ll be his last. He parts my lips slowly, kissing me like we have all the time in the world, but pulls away far too quickly.

Our eyes meet, and it becomes apparent to me that though people have looked at me before, they’ve never seen me.

He sees all that I am, and all I can become, and wants it all.

“It is my honor to present King Cayden and Queen Elowen Veles of Vareveth! Long may they reign,” Asena cheers.

“Long may they reign,” the crowd echoes.