Then I notice he’s holding a stack of books, notebooks, and journals. “What is all of this?” I ask.
He places the stack on the table and steps directly in front of me. I don’t step back, even when he raises his hand to gently lift my chin, coaxing me to meet his gaze. Those soft gray eyes, glowing with intensity, hold mine captive.
The weight of his presence, the mystery of the journals—everything feels charged with significance. The air between us hums with unspoken words and unresolved tension.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice a quiet command.
“Yes, we do,” I say, glancing over at the table where the stack of journals sits. He cups my face again, his touch firm yet tender, until my eyes are drawn back to his.
“You can’t marry Colton and can’t go through with the bonding ceremony,” he says, his eyes now like hardened steel.
A chill spreads through my body, freezing me in place. The room seems to shrink around us, and my heart starts to pound harder in my chest.
He shakes my shoulders, breaking meout of my temporary stupor. “Lyra, did you hear me? You cannot complete the ceremony with Colton,” he insists, his voice urgent and desperate.
“I know—”
Chapter 31
Colton
“Lyra is going to love this,”I tell Flora, glancing out at the terrace below from my bedchamber’s balcony. The white marble terrace is impressive, with massive pillars and archways opening up to a sprawling seating area. Rows of chairs are set up, each adorned with simple yet elegant white flowers, flanked by an army of candles—seriously, there are candles everywhere. Floating orbs of flowers and candles add a touch of magic to the scene.
The aisle is covered in white petals, lined with candles that flicker like tiny beacons. Beyond the chairs, a few steps lead up to a stage, which is decked out with even more flowers and candles. Past the stage, the sea stretches out, high up on the cliffs, with low-lying clouds hovering above the water. The air smells fresh and salty. I take a deep breath, enjoying the scent.
It takes me back to summers spent here as a kid. My mother always loved this place. She used to say there was nothing like falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing below. I never got it back then, but now I see why it’s so calming.
“I hope so. You’re going to die when you see her. She looksso beautiful,” Flora says. I have no doubt. I wonder how Lyra’s holding up today after I kept her up late last night.
People are starting to arrive and mingle below. I told my mother Lyra wanted a small, intimate ceremony. She narrowed down her guest list a lot, but there’ll still be a decent crowd. Everyone important to Lyra will be here, and that’s all that matters to me.
“Okay, well, I wanted to check on you and let you know it’s almost time! I saw Drew earlier and went through everything with her to make sure it will all run smoothly. I think you guys made a good choice with her. She’ll do great,” Flora says, peering over the edge to look at the guests arriving below.
Usually, an elder officiates a bonding ceremony, but with Lyra and me, our unique history and heritage called for something more personal. Drew was an easy choice to officiate, and she was happy to do it when we asked her.
After my extensive talk with her this morning, she now knows everything. She handled it well, but that’s no surprise. Drew always seems to know everything. She didn’t outright say it, but I have a feeling she pulls more strings than she’s given credit for.
“In case we don’t get a chance to talk later, I really appreciate you doing this for us and for being kind to Lyra. I know we haven’t been close ever since...well, ever since Z died and Nyx and I had our falling out, but I appreciate you being there for her even though things didn’t work out with her and Nyx,” I tell Flora, honestly.
“Aww, stop it. You’re going to make me cry before the ceremony even starts. I’m happy to do it, and I love Lyra. I never stopped caring about you either. I’m glad we’re all friends again. You know, I think Nyx is coming around more and more every day,” she says.
I think he’s coming around. I just peeked in on Lyra a fewminutes ago and had a chance to talk to him—I’m feeling optimistic about the future. I won’t tell Flora though…she’d lose it if she knew I saw Lyra in her dress before the ceremony. She did yell at me not to look, so I tried to keep my eyes off her. As if that worked!
She continues, “I’d better head down. I left Twig in charge of greeting guests, and I’m not sure he was too keen on the idea. Come down soon. It’s almost time.” She squeezes my arm and gives me a genuine smile before hurrying off down the hall.
I let out a long, steadying breath. If I’m feeling anxious, Lyra must be a ball of nerves. It’s not the ceremony itself that gets to me; it’s everything that comes after. I take one last look in the mirror. Dressed in all black, I must say I look pretty damn sharp—definitely exuding those kingly vibes. I considered tying my hair back but settled for twisting a few pieces out of my face.
I head down the hall to the lower level, but before I reach the terrace, my mother intercepts me, linking her arm through mine and tugging me into a sitting room.
“Elspeth, you have such a beautiful home,” a woman remarks as we pass.
“Thank you. The terrace is through those doors to the right,” my mother replies with a polite smile. She ushers me inside and shuts the double doors. Once we’re alone, her pleasant facade fades into a serious expression.
“Are you sure you want to go through with the bonding ceremony?” she asks, concerned.
I release a frustrated sigh. “We’ve been over this. I’ve accepted my fate—or rather I’ve chosen it,” I reply, moving to open the door.
“Wait, come here,” she says, pulling me into a hug, her eyes misty. I hug her back, trying to offer some reassurance.
