The ceremony began
But Aelira barely heard the words
The priest spoke in that low droning tone like he was reciting ingredients from a very cursed recipe book and all she could think about was Astren
Standing beside her
Close enough that his heat curled around her but far enough that he felt like a ghost
He didn’t look at her once
Not when they lit the sacred fire
Not when the bloodleaf was placed over their hands
Not even when she repeated the vow that was supposed to bind their spirits forever
She said the words anyway
But her voice shook
Not with fear
With rage
And confusion
And something hollow blooming in her chest
Afterward the crowd clapped and cheered and threw petals into the air like they were celebrating a coronation and not a quiet emotional implosion
Cain pulle
