Chapter 48: Queen by Fire
The bridal ceremony unfolded beneath a sky swollen with dusk’s dying embers, the horizon a canvas painted in blood reds and molten gold. The great marble steps of Velandria’s cathedral bore witness to centuries of tradition, yet tonight, those steps felt as fragile as glass beneath Eira’s feet. The nobles were arrayed in their finest silks and furs, their jeweled eyes flickering with anticipation, skepticism, and more than a little fear.
A hush fell as the priests entered, their robes whispering secrets of ancient rites. Incense curled in pale tendrils, perfuming the air with jasmine and sandalwood, mingling with the faint iron scent of anticipation. Eira stood beside Alric, the man whose fate was intertwined with hers in a way that defied reason and prophecy.
