“It’s our day, not my mother’s. You can do whatever you want, and I will tell her to stay out of it completely if that makes you happy,” Colton says, his voice firm. His support brings a smile to my lips.
“Well, it’s settled then. Elspeth can throw an after-party, and I get to plan the ceremony for you,” Flora squeals with excitement.
“That would be amazing. Are you sure you have the time?” I ask, surprised yet relieved that she wants to take on the planning.
“Are you kidding? I love planning parties. I’m going to make it the most beautiful intimate ceremony ever,” she assures me, and I trust her completely.
I lean my head back to look up at Colton. “Are you okay with this?” I ask.
“I’m okay with anything as long as Ihave you,” he replies, leaning down to kiss me. I melt into him, feeling completely content.
Flora clears her throat, and I break away from our kiss, giggling. “Now, about the date,” she prompts.
“What do you guys think?” I ask, unsure of how long these things take or what’s a good date to get married.
“How about we do it on your birthday, October 19th? It will be extra special, and that still gives me enough time to get everything in order,” Flora suggests.
I mull the idea over. My birthday—I’ve never really done anything special for it, no big celebrations or anything. I’ve always looked forward to my nineteenth birthday, anticipating it as the day my sorcerer powers would awaken. Now, with all my powers already active, I like the idea of looking forward to it for a different reason. It could be the day I complete the bonding ceremony with the man I love. My wedding day.
“I love the idea. Yes, let’s have the ceremony on October 19th,” I say. Flora emits an excited squeal that makes both Colton and me laugh.
Being backin the Lamia hive, I already miss the sunshine. I’m glad Flora visited today. We spent a few precious hours hanging out and talking about wedding plans instead of the usual topics like impending wars, attacks, and prophecies that have been plaguing my mind these days.
“Now that we’re here, are you going to tell me what plans you have?” Colton asks, standing by the closet unpacking our small bag of belongings.
“I don’t have a plan, exactly. I want to have a look around the Sorcerer Realm in disguise,”I reply.
“Disguise?” He turns to me, a smile spreading across his face.
“Well, yeah. With those flyers out, it feels like everyone is looking for me, and the gods know what else has transpired since we left Cloudrum. I can’t go out there looking like this,” I say, making exaggerated motions over my body. Colton chuckles while tossing a cloak at me from the closet.
“This should be more than sufficient,” he says, and I tie my hair back for extra precaution. Slipping on the black cloak, I pull the hood up to cover most of my hair. “Let’s leave Chepi here. He’s tired,” I suggest, watching Chepi burrow into the covers on the bed, making a cozy nook for himself.
“As you wish,” Colton replies, stepping close to me. Instead of a cloak, he opts for a black jacket. He places his hands on my hips and looks down at me with a hunger that prompts me to chew my lip anxiously.
“Let’s go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back,” I say, pressing my hand against his chest and channeling us to outside Alchem Hollow, the village I’m most familiar with now in the Sorcerer Realm.
The village is bustling as usual, with the sound of frogs croaking from the nearby creek and children playing in the distance. Dusk settles over us, and the colorful lanterns strung overhead begin to glow softly against the evening sky. I inhale deeply, savoring the warm air mixed with the scents of fresh water, burning fires, and herbs.
“You always smile when you come here. You say this place isn’t your home, but look at you—so fucking beautiful and happy the moment our feet touch the ground,” Colton observes, his voice warm.
“I’m not smiling because this feels like home,” I tell him, my smile growing even brighter. “I’m smiling because I love thecrisp scent of the fire and the softness of the summer breeze. The sound of the frogs mingling with the laughter of children—it feels joyful, like what home should feel like.”
Without warning, he kisses me, backing me up until I’m pressed against the side of one of the shops. His hands roam beneath my large cloak, seeking me out. When he finds my waist, he tugs my top up enough to caress my skin, and I revel in how we can never keep our hands off each other. I wrap my arms around his neck and stand on my tiptoes, yearning to be closer to him. We lose ourselves in the kiss, and I absolutely love it.
As I’m ready to suggest we head back to our room and explore the village tomorrow, my breath catches. Colton feels my body stiffen and breaks the kiss to search my face.
I can’t quite explain it, but I sense something evil, a presence that is not of this world pressing down on my chest. The sudden silence when the playful laughter of children and the croaking of frogs once filled the air confirms my fears.
I don’t need to voice any of this to Colton, who sees the alarm in my face and feels it in his own keen awareness.
“Fuck,” he can barely mutter before he whirls around to fend off a creature that lunges at us from the shadows. He presses me back against the building, shielding me with his body as if I were made of glass instead of the formidable dark sorceress that I am. I try to peer around him, desperate to see if it’s another Sarrol attack, but he keeps me fully blocked from the action.
Colton’s movements are a blur, his arms swinging with trained precision as he confronts the dark silhouette darting toward us. When did he pack a dagger? I hadn’t noticed until now. Frustrated by his attempts to shield me, I push against his hold, desperate to see and understand what we’re up against.
“Sarrol? Tell me what it is!” I demand, my voice low but firm.
“It’s not a Sarrol,” he shouts back, his voice strained over the clash of his movements against the creature’s advances. His eyes flick back to mine, wide with alarm. “I have no idea what this thing is!”
