Chapter 424: Sacred Bond
I gave Logan’s hand a slight squeeze before taking my first step forward into the church. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I reminded myself to keep my head held high, curving my lips into one of my most beautiful smiles. Without any hesitation, I made my way forward down the aisle. The fact that each step forward brought me closer to the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle gave me the comfort and courage to continue on. I didn’t even bother trying to identify faces that I might recognize in the crowd of guests present on both sides of me.
It felt as if all my nervousness melted away completely when my eyes met Prince Leonard’s. I’d always thought he looked amazingly attractive, but seeing the prince wearing an all-white tuxedo standing in front of the altar with such a loving smile on his face as he waited for me was out of this world. I felt my heart skip a beat in my chest, and it wasn’t at all because of my nervousness. Everything and everyone around me slowly faded away until there were only three of us left in our private little world: my son, my mate who would soon be my husband, and myself. I couldn’t stop staring right into his eyes, and I knew with absolute certainty that I must have been smiling like a fool. I snapped out of the trance I was in when I felt Logan being escorted away from me so that Prince Leonard and I could exchange our wedding vows. Standing side by side with the prince in front of the altar and the priest made everything feel so real.
We’re really going to get married...
"Hang in there, it’s almost over," the prince whispered to me very softly as he took my hand and held it in his. Slowly and gently, he laced his fingers with mine, and I could feel the comforting warmth of his hand against mine.
"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked to start the exchange of our wedding vows.
I could never deny that wedding vows were extremely sacred and important; however, at that moment, I couldn’t stop myself from recalling what the prince had said to me the night before our wedding. So instead of hearing what the priest had to say, in my mind, I heard what Prince Leonard vowed to me from the night before.
...
**The night before**
"Mila," the prince called my name.
Before I could turn around to face him, I felt the prince’s arms surrounding my body and hugging me from behind. His warmth enveloped me, and then I felt the slight pressure of his head leaning against mine as he pressed his body even closer against my back. Although I wanted to see his face, it felt like the prince wanted us to converse in that position.