Chapter 259: The Second Ceremony (Part One)
"We should have been prepared for this," Damien muttered as he placed an almost frozen Annalise on the high ice stone platform.
She had been dressed in a long white gown unlike the black one she wore when she was last time lying on a similar platform but one made of obsidian and carried Shadow energy. Her long platinum blue hair was styled beautifully and decorated with ice pearls that matched the jewelry that she was wearing.
He placed a soft kiss on her freezing forehead before he stepped away from her despite his soul being desperate to stay close to her and look after her. However, he knew that he was not the person she actually needed at that point, it was Valerius.
"They are here," Kenric informed as their mother entered the room along with the High Priestess and Valerius who was dressed in matching garments to their unconscious mate.
"Let’s start the ceremony." The Midnight Queen ordered as she took her position with Damien and Kenric while Valerius and the High Priestess climbed up the ice altar that was surrounded by the ring of all five elements - air, water, fire, earth, and shadow, their combined powers fueled the energy that resided in the hall.
Valerius stood next to Annalise’s sleeping form with his icy-blue eyes shining with both love and worry for his wife. After all, this wasn’t how he wanted to complete their bond and mark her. But the turn of events had brought them to a situation where her soul had entered into the final stage of mate bond with him and unless he completed the bond, she would be the one hurting.
"Let me warn you, Ken. Don’t you dare repeat your brother’s mistake, even unintentionally. She deserves to be a part of this beautiful ritual and ceremony and since she has already lost two opportunities, you are the only one left who can show her just how precious this particular moment is for soulmates." The Midnight Queen reminded Kenric who quickly nodded his head in both understanding and agreement.
Just like the previous time, there were only the few of them present there to witness the ceremony but they all knew that their wife deserved better than this, especially when they ruined the day of their wedding in the Seelie Empire. She deserved a proper wedding like the Princess she was.
Valerius took hold of Annalise’s hand and pressed it against his cheek and despite the iciness of her skin that greeted his own ice element, he didn’t like the similarity. He missed the warm of her body and the colors on her skin. However, the current her had no warmth and she looked too pale to have the presence of any sort of colors.