Chapter 13: Apology From Family
The ceremony was a blur—petals floating through the air, murmured vows that trembled with sincerity, and the undeniable weight of two souls finding their way to each other.
Mirabelle stood, hands trembling slightly in Caspian’s, as he declared her his mate before the gathered crowd.
His voice was deep, sure, thick with emotion, and it settled over her like a promise she’d waited her whole life to hear.
When the officiant’s final words rang out—"You may now kiss your mate"—the world seemed to still.
Caspian’s gaze locked onto hers, the heat in his eyes stealing her breath.
Slowly, like he didn’t want to startle her, he lifted a hand to her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin as though it was the most precious thing he’d ever touched.
And then he leaned in.
Their lips met in a kiss that wasn’t just gentle—it was hungry beneath the surface, restrained only by the sacred moment they were in.
His mouth molded to hers, firm and warm, stealing a small gasp from her throat.
That sound seemed to unravel him—his hand slid into her hair, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened.
His other arm curled around her waist, anchoring her to him. There was nothing innocent about the way his lips moved over hers now. It was a claiming, a silent declaration that she was his and he was hers. Her fingers fisted the lapels of his ceremonial jacket, pulling him closer, lost in the heat of his mouth, the velvet slide of his tongue when it brushed against hers in a brief, shocking flick.