Sorry for the long wait!

Updated this on Radish as well! Chapter 26- The King's Light posted. It's about 3500+ words. I made it a longer chapter to compensate for the wait. You can read this advanced chapter on Radish and hope you can buy some coins and read there as well! Thank you!

Image for this chapter made by aleznagarnaid! Really beautiful and thanks so much! <3



Chapter 22 - The Wedding



The Vampyr Camp

Location Unknown

The Realm of Xathos



Ailara sat quietly and stiffly as she was pampered from head-to-toe.

The women who helped her were silent as well. This was supposed to be a joyous, momentous occasion yet no one found it in their hearts to celebrate. There was silence as her hair was combed until it shone.

"Do you have any preference to how you want your hair to be arranged, Princess?" asked one of the women.

Ailara shook her head. She listened to their plans of piling her mass of blonde hair atop her head with a few curls left loose.

As they executed their plans, she found her thoughts wandering back to the past. When she was young, she was told of the need for an alliance. She was taught that a princess' responsibility was to her people and that her life was forfeit for them.

Her father arranged an alliance with the Wolfen and she was told that she had to marry the young King. She did not understand then.

But now... it was different.

She wasn't a child who didn't understand the ways of the world. She wasn't naïve or innocent. She knew now what an alliance meant. She understood now what her people needed.

They needed this alliance badly.

But if only they could get this alliance another way, Ailara would move heaven and earth to make it happen. But, alas, there was no other way. There was only this: a wedding between two rulers so they can secure their people.

Hearts weren't to be involved. Love was not an emotion to be mixed into an already chaotic equation.

Ailara shook her head.

When she was younger, she had her head up in the air. She was a princess and she wanted to marry a handsome prince who'll protect her from the world and give her his heart. They will rule side by side and the kingdom will prosper.

But that was nothing but an illusion.

Ailara wasn't the same princess. Years of capture and torture changed her. Now, her head wasn't filled with dreams. It was filled with plans for survival and a terrible longing to be free.

Dimitrios wasn't the handsome prince she envisioned marrying. Yes, he was handsome. Yes, he was the strongest. But he didn't have a heart. If he had one, it belonged to his people and to the true mate he cannot be with. And about ruling side by side... that would never happen.

Dimitrios was an alpha. He was used to everyone bowing down to his will. That was how it was for the Wolfen. And as for her? She refused to bow to no one.

"Princess?" Ailara was snapped out of her thoughts. She blinked and looked at the dress that one of the women was holding.

"My apologies. I was thinking..." her voice trailed off. The women smiled at her. There was sadness in their smile.

"This fine dress is a gift from Queen Helena."

"That's very thoughtful of her," Ailara answered. She tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. It was because of the Wiccan queen that all of this happened. She was the one who wanted Dimitrios and her to be married.

Once more, she was a pawn in the game. But at least this time, it was for the good of her people.

Ailara stood up and the dress was slid over her slim figure. It was very soft and she could feel a hint of magic that still clung to it. It was as blue as the sky and the design was embroidered using golden thread. She looked at herself in the mirror as the women tugged on the strings of the corset.

The blue dress made her eyes appear more luminous. It also made her skin look paler. It was beautiful and breathtaking. It was the perfect dress. But this was not a perfect wedding.

The women started the painstaking task of buttoning her dress. There must be thousands of buttons on this dress. It was the traditional Vampyr dress. It was made this way to drive the groom crazy on the wedding night and at the same time, teach him patience.

As the last of the laces were tied and wrinkles smoothed over, there was a knock on the door. One of the women answered it and Ailara tried to listen to the conversation but it was muffled.

Did Dimitrios change his mind?

Was he running away?

Ailara's heart started to beat faster inside her chest. She could take a lot of humiliation and hardship in life. This was not one of them.

"Princess?" It was Gideon's voice. Ailara breathed a sigh of relief and approached the door. The women ran after her and slammed it shut.

"Princess, no! No male can see you before the ceremony!"

Ailara resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew that tradition. No male can see the bride before the ceremony for it brought bad luck to the marriage. Ailara almost laughed. This wedding was founded on nothing but bad luck.

Surely, there was nothing else in the world that could make it worse?

"Just open the door a little. I wish to hear what Gideon wants to say," she ordered. Reluctantly, the door was opened. She was asked to stand behind it.

"I just wanted to give you something before the ceremony," Gideon told her. He placed his hand inside the door and Ailara saw something shiny. She took it and her hand wrapped around the cold metal of a crown.

Her breath hitched.

"Gideon..." Words failed her.

"It was one of the few things we can save before we fled the castle, Princess. We weren't able to save your father's crown. A few jewels. Some of which we traded already for supplies."

Ailara heard the sadness and embarrassment in Gideon's tone. "Don't worry about it, Gideon. I'd sell all the jewels and even this crown if it meant that our people would survive," she told him.

She heard a long sigh and her heart ached for the warrior standing outside the door.

Ailara summoned all her courage. "Gideon... I'm sorry."

There was another sigh. "Princess... Some things... They aren't meant to be. And it's true. Both of us are living examples of that. You are a princess and I'm the heir of a powerful house. We thought we'd be married. But it wasn't meant to be..." his voice trailed off and Ailara heard him take a deep breath.

"Our choices are not our own. Our hearts are but that doesn't mean anything. Our responsibilities would always go first."

Ailara's eyes filled with tears. Gideon's words made sense. But it just brought home the fact that she will never be able to be with someone who loved her. She almost laughed at herself again.

People would tell her that love was not important. But if all your life, all you had was cruelty and darkness... love suddenly becomes as important as the air you breathe.

"Gideon... I'm sorry," she repeated.

"I'll always be here, princess. Your general. Your warrior," he answered. And then she heard his retreating footsteps.

It took all the energy she had not to let her knees buckle and let herself fall on the floor in a tangle of blue and gold silk.

After a few minutes, the women approached her and helped her back to her chair.

"Princess... May we speak freely?"

Ailara was surprised at the request. She looked up. "Of course!" Her words were genuine. After all the lies that surrounded her, honesty was something refreshing.

"Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad," one of the women told her.

"Maybe over time, you could learn to live together in harmony with the Wolfen King. Perhaps life won't be as hard then," another added.

Ailara bowed her head. Now she knew what they wanted to tell her. They wanted to offer her advice regarding her mating.

"Thank you," she told them.

"Perhaps, all you need is a fresh start."

A fresh start? She and Dimitrios were beyond that. They can't trust each other and the only thing they had in common was this alliance. They were as different as the sky and the sea could be.

"I will try," she told her ladies and squeezed her hand. It was the only thing she can say. She didn't want to burden them with her negative thoughts.

There was a knock on the door once more. All her women stood.

"Princess, it's time."



☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾



"You're not going to run, are you?" Queen Helena asked Dimitrios.

They stood under a tall oak tree—a symbol or power and courage. Dimitrios turned towards her and lifted an eyebrow. He needed no further words to express how absurd the question was.

"You look like you want to run, Wolfen. You look agitated," Helena pointed out.

"Are grooms not agitated on their wedding day? Are they not nervous?"

Helena threw back her head and laughed. "You? Nervous? And pigs started to fly, Dimitrios," she told him. He turned his back on her and studied the sturdy tree before him. Helena stepped to the side and faced him again.

"You've claimed her and marked her last night. Where is the agitation coming from?" she asked.

Dimitrios stilled and looked at her in the eye. "It's because all of this has gone so fast," he answered.

"So you don't wish for your warriors to wake up as soon as possible?"

He gritted his teeth. "I do."

"Then the wedding should take place as soon as possible as well. And don't you think we did a great job of preparing the camp in a single evening?" Helena answered and then stretched her arm and pointed at the camp which was bustling with activity.

It looked totally transformed. It was hard to believe that it was only a few hours ago when they sat in Gideon's tent and discussed the terms of the alliance. Torches were lit all over the camp and tents were moved farther to the side to create a clearing.

The raised dais was still there but the long table was removed and in its place was two thrones and a small table.

The Wiccans added more of their magic and created small orbs of light that were suspended in the air. The first time Dimitrios saw it, his jaw fell. It looked so stunning that it chased his breath away.

"That's what magic does," Dimitrios answered the Queen.

"No. It's what sheer willpower does," she countered.

Dimitrios chose to stay silent.

"It's almost time. Are you ready?" Helena asked.

No. Never.

It was on the tip of his tongue to say those words but he bit them back. Perhaps this should be a fresh start for him and Ailara. Perhaps they should bury the past and start anew. This was the only way for them to be together without ripping each other's heads off.

And besides, they were going to be together for a long, long time. They should learn to at least be civil with each other.

"I can see the answer in your eyes, Wolfen. The hesitation is shining oh so clearly," Helena told him with a soft sigh.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have done this. Poor Ailara... You'd break her, Dimitrios."

"What?!" he hissed. He turned around but Helena wasn't there. Instead, his warriors were. And they were all awake.

Helena smiled and waved at him from the side.

And then the horns sounded. Those horns signaled the start of the ceremony. He could see the confusion in his warriors' eyes. He would answer their questions later.

For now, he had to attend his own wedding.



☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾



Ailara clutched the bouquet of blood-red roses in her hands. She clutched it so tightly that she felt the stems digging into her skin. Her knuckles also turned white at the pressure.

She walked at a slow pace and was flanked with the highest-ranking warriors of the Vampyr. Gideon was one of them but he walked several steps ahead of her. She could only see his back. Perhaps that was for the better that she didn't see his face or her resolve might snap and she'll run away from all of this.

Ailara's steps faltered as she saw the changes that overcame the camp. The first thing she noticed were the small, floating lights. They were suspended in the air and they cast a soft glow around the camp.

It was so beautiful and so magical.

And then she saw him.

Dimitrios was standing at the raised dais. His head was raised and he had a soft smile on his face as he looked at the floating lights. He was totally captivated by them. And in that fascination, Ailara saw a glimpse of the old him—the charming, care free young King.

The king she fancied herself in love with.

Ailara shook her head and righted her steps. When she lifted her head once more, her sky-blue eyes clashed with ocean-blue ones.

Gone was the smile in his face.

Instead, a mixture of surprise, awe, and reverence was etched in those handsome features. His lips parted on a gasp and she saw hunger replace the awe in his eyes. Was that because of the sight of her? Or was he surprised she actually showed up?

Whatever the reason was, the look in his face was distracting. Ailara moved her gaze lower and took in the rest of his appearance.

He wore black breeches and a tight-fitting white tunic. Over that tunic, a black sash was tied across his chest. His sword hung at his hip and the jeweled hilt caught the light of the floating orbs.

Ailara bowed her head and stared at her feet instead. She counted her steps so that something occupied her mind.



1... 2... 3...



Was this really how she imagined her wedding to be?



4...



No.



5... 6... 7...



First of all, she envisioned her father walking her down the aisle and giving her hand to her would-be husband.



8... 9... 10... 11... 12...



And then, as she walked... She'd see joy and love shining in his eyes. She would walk with her head high and she'd smile for her husband because he was so handsome today. Perhaps a prince wearing robes of red or a warrior wearing his uniform proudly.



13... 14...



And tears would fill her eyes as she realized that the moment they had both been waiting for had arrived. Perhaps, her groom's eyes would shine with tears as well because she was so beautiful tonight and he couldn't believe she was going to be his.



15... 16...



She was almost there. She was near him and she could feel his aura of power and strength envelop her. But she refused to lift her head. She did not want to shatter the illusion yet.

In her mind, she was having the perfect wedding.



17... 18...



She felt him lift her hand. At the contact, electricity sizzled between them. She felt his warm skin and felt him squeeze her hand. Still, she did not lift her head.

She heard a rustle of clothing as Helena approached the dais. She was the one who was going to officiate the ceremony for she was the only here at the same rank as Ailara and Dimitrios.



19... 20... 21... 22...



Dimitrios guided her up the stairs and they stopped before Helena.

Ailara held her breath. She waited for Helena to start saying the words that would behind her to Dimitrios. This ceremony was supposed to be done when they both came of age. It should have signified the start of their rule as King and Queen of the Vampyr and the Wolfen...

But it was not meant to be.



23—



Ailara felt a gentle pressure under her chin. It forced her to lift her head. Once more, her gaze met Dimitrios.

"Look at me," he whispered.

She did. But she tried to keep her expression blank.

"You look beautiful," he whispered. The mask slipped and she checked for any signs that he was lying. There was none. Even his tone sounded sincere.

Ailara nodded. She turned to face Helena but Dimitrios caught her arm. "A fresh start?" he asked her.

Her breath caught in her throat. Wasn't this what she asked him for before? All she wanted was a fresh start for both of them. He denied her. And now he was throwing this out there?

She should say no. But being spiteful brought joy to no one.

Ailara found she had no words to say. This was exactly what she wanted. She nodded.

Dimitrios grinned.

It was so genuine that it took her back several decades. The time when she visited the Wolfen Castle frequently and they played together. She recalled the smiles he gave her and how she fell deeper and deeper with each one. All those times they ran together, got into mischief together, cried over skinned knees together... it all came crashing back.



24... 25...



There was no sense counting now.

There was a major shift and she's gone from dreading this ceremony to actually looking forward to it. She only hoped that the change in Dimitrios lasted a long time from now.

"We are gathered here today to bear witness to the union of the Princess of the Vampyr and the King of the Wolfen. A union which happened a long time ago. The claiming ceremony which is long overdue but is finally here. A union which will seal the alliance not only between the Vampyr and the Wolfen but with the Wiccans as well."

Helena lowered her voice. "Your vows," she whispered.

Ailara stepped closer to Dimitrios. This was only supposed to be a claiming ceremony; a renewal of vows. The vows they recited as children still bound them.

"I vow to be yours until eternity fades and the world is no more," Ailara recited. She saw Dimitrios' eyes flash. But before she could decipher that brief emotion she saw, it was gone.

She saw Dimitrios swallow. "I vow to be yours until eternity fades and the world is no more..." he repeated in a deep, solemn tone.

The two stared at each other for a long time. It was as if everything was suspended at the moment. It was as if time stopped and they were the only two living beings under the light of the moon.

Ailara stepped forward and bared her shoulder. Dimitrios eyes reflected his hunger as he stepped forward as well. Ailara closed her eyes and awaited his bite.

"Look at me," he asked. She obeyed. And it was as if time slowed down as his head descended and his fangs slowly bit into her skin. A jolt of pleasure shot down her spine and her knees almost buckled. But Dimitrios wrapped his arms around her and held tight. She felt him lick the wound to seal it close.

Now, it was her turn.

She reached for her belt to retrieve her dagger. Dimitrios stopped her. He must've seen the question in her eyes for he said, "I want your mark on me as well."

Ailara's breath was knocked out of her again at his words. This wasn't what she expected at all!

Dimitrios placed his hand against the back of her head and slowly brought her closer to him. He tilted his head to the side and bared his neck. At the sight, her fangs immediately lowered.

"Take from me. Mark me," he whispered.

And she did. Her eyes closed as she savored the taste of his blood. Every swallow felt like her nerve endings were being set on fire.

"I now present to you: the King and Queen of the Vampyr and the Wolfen!" Helena announced.

And the entire crowd, both Vampyr and Wolfen, cheered for their new King and Queen.





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