I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I prepared to teleport to my mothers' castle. It had been a while since I last visited them weeks, maybe even months, though I figured they were probably used to it.
I was only here now because I'd realized I needed advice. I had a good idea of what I wanted to do, but hearing from them might actually help ground my nerves.
Without much thought, I muttered the incantation, focusing on their energy, the familiar feeling of their presence. But in my haste, I didn't really pay attention to where I was teleporting. Before I knew it, I found myself standing in the middle of their bedroom.
A second passed before I fully registered what I was seeing. My mothers, Thalia and Lucie, were clearly in a rather... intimate moment.
They looked just as surprised as I was though not for long. Thalia's crimson eyes narrowed, a dangerously irritated glint in them as she shot upright.
"Ciara!" Thalia's voice boomed, and before I could explain myself, she was already moving, swinging a pillow in my direction with no mercy. The pillow collided with the side of my head, leaving me blinking in shock.
"Ow!" I protested, taking a step back and rubbing my head, though I couldn't help but feel a bit sheepish. "It was an accident, okay? I didn't exactly plan to walk in on... whatever you two were doing."
Thalia crossed her arms, fixing me with a pointed stare. Her regal presence was in full effect, with her long white and red hair cascading down her back and her imposing black horns adding to her fierce appearance.
She looked every inch the half-demon queen, and even though I was her daughter, I couldn't help but feel a bit like I was back to being a scolded child.
Lucie, on the other hand, let out a gentle laugh, her soft green eyes sparkling with warmth as she reached over to calm Thalia down.
She placed a hand on Thalia's shoulder, a stark contrast to her grumpy partner. Her blonde hair and gentle smile gave her a natural grace and kindness, and I knew she was probably about to try to smooth things over.
"Thalia, calm down. She's here now, isn't she?" Lucie's voice was soft but carried that reassuring tone she always seemed to have.
Thalia let out a grumble but took a step back, though her gaze still held a trace of annoyance.
"You could have teleported anywhere in the castle, and you chose here," she muttered, crossing her arms. "Care to explain, Ciara?"
I shifted on my feet, feeling my face warm a bit. "Alright, alright, my bad. I wasn't exactly paying attention to where I was aiming. But I'm here because I… well, I need advice."
Thalia raised an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of disbelief and intrigue. "Advice? From us? That's new."
I cleared my throat, doing my best to keep my composure. "Yeah, I need advice." I hesitated, but I figured it was better to just rip the bandage off. "I… I want to propose to Aeliana."
For a moment, there was complete silence. Lucie's eyes widened, her soft expression morphing into a look of pure surprise. Thalia, too, stared at me as though I'd just declared I was joining a monastery.
"You… what?" Thalia finally managed, her voice holding a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "You heard me. I want to propose to Aeliana. I've thought about it a lot, and… I just know that I want to be with her. Officially, permanently."
Thalia looked almost as though she was still processing the information, while Lucie seemed on the verge of a delighted smile, her eyes shimmering with excitement.
"Ciara, that's…" Lucie began, glancing at Thalia as if to gauge her reaction. "That's a wonderful decision. I'm just… surprised, I guess."
I shrugged, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice. "I know. But I'm serious about this." To prove it, I teleported the small, velvet box containing the ring into my hand, holding it up so they could see.
Lucie's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in astonishment as she took in the ring. Thalia leaned closer, her normally stern expression softening ever so slightly as she examined it.
The ring was something I'd spent countless hours picking out. The band was a smooth, dark metal, elegant but sturdy, and it cradled a red diamond in its center. The color matched my eyes, a detail I'd chosen intentionally;
I wanted Aeliana to think of me every time she looked at it, to feel that same warmth that filled my heart whenever I was with her. The ring was surrounded by delicate, intricately carved patterns, and it gleamed in a way that hinted at its undeniable cost.
Lucie's eyes shimmered with a mix of emotions as she looked from the ring to me. "Ciara… it's beautiful. You put so much thought into this."
I shrugged, trying to play it off, though I felt my cheeks warming under her approving gaze. "It's… yeah, it had to be perfect, you know? I wanted her to have something that showed her how much I care."
Thalia's gaze softened, a rare, almost fond smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "It's obvious you're serious, Ciara. I never thought I'd see you this committed to someone."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, people can surprise you."
Lucie reached out, gently placing a hand on my arm. Her voice was as warm as her expression. "I think it's wonderful that you're doing this. Aeliana is a lucky woman, Ciara."
For a moment, I almost felt like I was back to being a kid, soaking up her encouragement. But I still had one major problem.
"Thanks," I muttered, glancing down at the ring again before looking back at my moms. "But that's the thing… I don't know exactly how to do this. I mean, proposing isn't exactly my area of expertise. And I don't want to mess this up."
Lucie chuckled softly, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. "Ciara, the fact that you're putting so much thought into this means it'll be special no matter how you do it. Aeliana loves you, and she'll see how much this means to you."
Thalia nodded, a glint of pride in her eyes. "Just be yourself, Ciara. You've always had a way with words when you need to. And don't overthink it sometimes, it's the simple things that mean the most."
I took in their advice, nodding slowly as I let it sink in. Lucie's warm smile hadn't wavered, and Thalia's expression, though still a bit guarded, held a rare hint of approval.
"And remember," Lucie added gently, her voice carrying that comforting warmth, "it's not about the perfect proposal or the most impressive gesture. It's about showing her your heart, your love. That's what will matter most to Aeliana."
I let out a slow breath, nodding. It wasn't that I doubted my love for Aeliana I knew exactly how much I cared about her, how much I wanted her in my life.
But the idea of actually expressing that, of laying it all out there, still felt a bit daunting.
Still, looking at my mothers, I felt a bit of that confidence settle into place. They had done it they'd found each other, loved each other, even though their worlds were so different. If they could make it work, maybe I could, too.
Lucie must have sensed the last bit of hesitation still lingering in me, because she leaned in, her smile gentle and encouraging. "Don't stress, Ciara. Everything will be alright."