The ancient Darkness that shrouds Terra has long been sealed away, its malevolence forgotten by time. But when an ambitious dark mage, hungry for power beyond her station, breaks the seal, the dread is unleashed upon the world once more. Now, an anc...
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It felt like a rib cracked as a bridesmaid tightened Cora's corset at Rhea's behest. Air was a distant dream, and she knew she would suffocate or actually lose a rib if she was not allowed to breathe. Rhea ignored her pleas and had a lavender dress put on her. A veil followed and, oddly, comfortable shoes.
She had not been given the time to look in the mirror or speak to her father. It was custom in her home, Xathania, for a bride to not speak to anyone until after her wedding rites. Rhea had just gotten tired of reprimanding her, so she ignored her. Cora had not met her husband. It was an odd thing, but it was the truth. She only knew his name. He never formally proposed or at least introduced himself. She didn't trust him already, and they hadn't even been married yet.
'I am happy for you, my dear,' Rhea said, even though the decision had initially hurt her. Rhea never really got angry, but her sadness had broken Cora.
'If I decide I can't marry him, will you be waiting here?' Cora asked.
'Of course.'
'Thank you, Mother,' Cora said with a smile, shocking the Fae before walking into the temple. The temple was built with stone and marble adorned with silver and pink flowers. The temple of Lona the Mother. The guardian. Guardians were nothing like the gods, but they were still powerful beings that turned the wheels of fate. They bestowed this upon her.
This marriage.
Her dark hair had been braided with flowers. Her eyes lined with kohl. Petals rubbed against her cheeks and lips. She was only allowed broth and no other food. She looked ridiculous, and she could hear Declan laughing at her. Blair and Declan had been the only ones to check on her. Luciel had been distant since that day. He avoided her and claimed that this was a better arrangement when clearly it was not.
An acolyte led her to the altar, and he was already there with a Priestess. He was clad in maroon, the color of Xathania and of the royal house. His brown hair was subdued to lay flat and probably did not look like that in the mornings. His skin was the color of desert sand but with a darker tone to it. She stopped walking once she was beside him and before the Priestess.
'May I carry on with the ceremony?' the Priestess asked without hesitation.
'Yes, High Priestess,' the man who was to be hers responded without consulting her.
She glanced briefly at Cora before going on with the ceremony. 'You come before Lona to ask her to accept your union and grant you heirs to your titles. Say your vows before her, and if she sees them as true, your rings will be given.'
The High Priestess left, and Cora let out a shaky breath. A nervous one. She was going to make her father suffer for this.
'I am sorry for this,' Callahan started still looking ahead.
'My father has been suggesting marriage since I turned twenty,' Cora said. 'It was bound to happen sooner or later.'
