Even though Kael was the one who asked Alara to be his bride as a treaty, Alara knew it wasn't out of anything other than to make her a pawn to the centuries old game of courts. The pureness and specialty of her magic was sung highly throughout all the realms. He must have heard it too.
Now as they stood before the almighty king of the kingdom of Ice and Shadow, Kael Lioren Vaelwyn, the knights beside her kneeled down in the showcase of respect toward their lord.
But she stayed unmoving, he had ruined her life by involving her in these twisted politics and taking her in as his bride. He ruined her dreams, he crushed down her wishes. So respect was the last thing she was going to offer him.
"Trying to be so tough in my territory, princess?" Kael coos, his thick voice wrapping around Alara like an invisible current, pulling her into its depths.
"I will not kneel in front of a monster." Alara spat, even though the outcome of disrespecting the king in front of the court scared her, the anger in her burned down her sanity. The words spurt out before she could get control over it.
Kael's thunderous laugh shook the high stone walls, making her flinch. The urge to kneel in front of him before he could have her head in his palm was too much, yet she chose not to. She better die than living a life with a monster.
"I'm going to let it slide," Kael mused, "Just because you are going to be mine soon." He raised from his thorne, his advisor rushed to his side whispering something to him with utmost respect before rushing down the stairs and moving toward her. He unbound the fae chains around her wrist.
"Walk her to the altar." The king's advisor ordered the knights. And in the next moment Alara is being guided through enormous hallways and glittering stone walls to a huge glass doored nook.
Kael opened the door for her, "Step inside, my princess." He nodded to her, and as if in command she stepped inside, it's as if her body is controlled by him. Her head was void of thoughts, her body moving forward on its own until she was standing in front of the altar.
She gasped at the sight in front of her. The circular platform was carved out of pure glittering crystals, shining beautifully. There was a huge figure of the Fae goddess in the centre of the altar, luring her attention. Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling like actual stars. Alara felt like she just stepped into a magical world, the one you would only get to see in your dreams.
Around the platform stood a half-circle of priests, their robes flowing like a river. Each priest held a glowing crystal in their palms, the light from the crystals forming a protective barrier around the platform. Their faces were hidden by deep hoods, but their chants filled the air—a low, melodic hum that vibrated through Alara's chest and made the hairs on the back of her neck stand.
The entire room felt like it was alive with magic, and Alara felt her own magic shimmering under her skin to be let free. To pour out of her being. Her heart jumped when Kael stepped into her space, her body reacting on its own. "Come with me." He whispered before walking forward and stepping up into the magical platform.
She tore her gaze from the glowing Altar and fixed it on Kael. His beauty was haunting, it played with her heartstrings like nothing ever did. It made her forget everything for a moment. She walked toward him. She was here to be his bride and save her kingdom, she better get it done sooner than later. As long as her people were safe, it didn't matter if she was trading her life for it or not.
Once she was standing beside Kael, in front of the sacred Fae goddess' statue, the priests started to gather around them and sing magically. Flames of sparkles started to rise up from their mystical globes. It floated in the air toward Alara and Kael.
"By the will of the Night Court, under the watchful gaze of the ancients, we bind this union in shadow and frost. Let the magic take root and hold." The priest's voice was melodic but hollow, as if it came from a place far removed from reality.
Kael extended his hand toward Alara, and she gasped. Was he out of his mind? His touch could kill her, so why would he try something like that?
The gloved tips of his fingers hovered just inches from hers. She could feel the cold emanating from him, a chill so intense it made her want to recoil, but she forced herself to stand still.
"Scared of me now, little fire?" He mocked her.
She was about to come up with a retort when the priest interrupted them. He held out a velvet box where two crystal wedding bands shine so brightly. Kael took one of it and gestured to Alara to do the same.
Alara's breath shudders when he slid the cold crystal ring into her ring finger, his gloved fingers didn't touch her skin even for once, he was careful like that.
When she did the same, slid the ring into his finger, her fingers brushed against his gloved finger. The touch was brief but electric—an icy burn that shot up her arm and made her gasp. For a moment, their eyes met, and she saw something there, buried deep beneath the frost: pain, anger, and perhaps a flicker of longing. His touch was still very infectious even though his skin was covered with gloves.
The priest raised his hands, chanting in a language Alara didn't understand. A glowing mark appeared between her and Kael, spinning slowly, its light a haunting mix of blue and silver. The magic wrapped around them like chains, binding their fates together.
Once it faded, Kael looked into her eyes, staring right through her soul. "It's done. You are bound to me forever. Pray you won't regret it."