Violet
It was around twelve when we were all standing behind the door, waiting for Nate and Kaelis.
I stood there with my hands clasped in front of me, awkward and stiff. This had been the part I’d been most anxious about, and now that we were here…now that we had been standing here for a while…I didn’t know where to look.
Almost everyone else was just standing there like all of this was normal.
Only those old enough were allowed to be here, and the celebration had ended early for the younger ones. Kiora had thrown a fit about it, but Cecilia wasn’t having it.
Experiencing the mate ceremony, the celebration had been beautiful. There was music, food, dancing, and everything had just been so much better without the king’s presence. Cecilia had taken over for the time being, and she was doing great. Jack was back to being the Beta. Cecilia's Beta.
For the first time in days, the palace actually felt alive again.
But this…
A small breath escaped me. The halls were crowded with people while Kaelis and Nate were inside completing the bond. It wasn’t that hard to put two and two together about what was going on in there, and that made everything that much more difficult.
My eyes darted around. Cecilia stood with a composed expression, with Jack and True beside her. True hadn’t been that lively tonight, but she had shown up for Nate. Even Lady Mona and Kahlia had come to show their support.
Lian and Sora were somewhere in the crowd. Fergus and Sonya stood at the back, together with Dylan and Trinity. They also looked a bit confused about all of this.
“Those two are seriously taking their time,” the second prince, Eronis, muttered, rubbing his eyes. “I’m getting tired.”
A wave of laughter rippled through the crowd. Kylan closed his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose. “I know,” I mumbled, reaching over to rub his arm.
He had been trying so hard to seem unbothered tonight. Smiling, making small talk, playing the supportive big brother…
But I could tell this was still a lot for him. Kaelis in there with his best friend.
Still, it was kind of cute to see him struggle.
“You’re not weird for being weirded out, by the way,” I whispered. “I am too.”
Kylan let out a quiet chuckle. “Good to know.”
“Remind me to ask Kaelis what ancient law book this tradition is written in,” I added. “So I can rip out the page.”
A loud laugh slipped past his lips, clearly showing he agreed. Our moment got interrupted as Kody, the sixth prince, walked up to the door and knocked loudly.
“Hey!” he called out. “Just get it over with. We still want to cut the cake before tomorrow!”
Everyone laughed while Kylan turned to look at me with a hilarious frown. I couldn’t help but giggle at his expression.
Just as I was about to poke his cheek and tease him some more, the door opened.
Nate walked out carrying Kaelis in his arms, bridal style, and the hallway exploded. People began cheering, clapping, whistling, and throwing flower petals into the air.
Kaelis’s arms were wrapped around his neck, and both of them grinned so wide it made my heart swell.
Kaelis threw her head back and laughed as Nate pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, and then her lips.
“Show us the mark so we can all go to bed!” Princess Elaria exclaimed.
Everyone got louder as Kaelis rolled her eyes dramatically and tilted her head to the side. She showed off the fresh mark on her neck, and the cheering only doubled.
So this was it.
I watched Nate’s eyes find Kylan through the crowd. The two of them held each other’s gaze for a moment until Kylan chuckled softly and gave him a small nod.
“He looks happy,” he sighed. “They both do.”
Something warm spread through my chest. They did look happy, and I knew I shouldn’t be jealous. I knew that. It hadn’t been easy for Kaelis, and she had fought for this. She had earned it.
But still…
My hand moved to my own bare neck without thinking. It would be nice to have a mark.
“What’s wrong?” Kylan asked, his voice pulling me back. I shot him a startled look and blinked at him.
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I’m okay!”
He studied my face, giving me that look he always did when he knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth.
“If this isn’t what you want,” he said softly, “how do you imagine it?”
My cheeks flushed, and I looked down at my feet.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I just…I want it to be us. Private and quiet.” I shrugged weakly. “No crowd or traditions. Just us.”
A short silence followed as we both stared at the happy couple. Kaelis pouted to hide her tears while Nate kissed them away. Those two would be cute, but insufferable. I could already tell.
“Pup.”
Kylan’s hand wrapped around mine, making me look up at him in surprise. A gentle smile reached his lips, and his dark eyes softened.
“Come,” he said, giving my hand a small pull.
“Come where?”
He didn’t answer, just pulled me through the crowd. We walked past the cheering, the flowers, and the people gathered.
“Kylan!”
I laughed as he dragged me through the halls, my heart racing. “Kaelis will notice we’re gone!” I said. “Where are we going?”
He looked back at me with a grin. “You’ll see.”
The route he took was too familiar. It was the way to our room.
“I know you’re tired of seeing them together, but this is a bit cruel, isn’t it?” I joked.
When we reached our room, he stopped in front of the guards. “You’re dismissed for the night,” he said. “Don’t come back here.”
They exchanged looks but didn’t argue. They bowed their heads and walked away. It didn’t take long for Kylan to push the door open and pull me inside.
“What are you doing?” I asked, breathless and confused. Had I done something wrong? Said something I shouldn’t have?
Lumia purred within me. ‘If only you were as bright as those eyes of yours,’ she teased.
Kylan closed the door behind us before turning to face me. His gentle eyes from before had now turned more intense, burning into mine.
“It’s private and quiet,” he chuckled. “Just us.”
My breath hitched as I finally understood where this was headed.
Dear Goddess…
A squeal escaped me before I could stop it.
“Are you serious?”
Kylan’s lips twitched into a smirk. He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in closer. “Depends,” he said. “How serious are you about going back to Starlight with a mark?”
My heart slammed against my ribs. I couldn’t even form words. I just nodded, over and over like an idiot. “Oh, I’m serious!”
His smirk shifted into a soft smile.
“Then I’m serious.“