Eight
RION
The Sacred Chamber of Union lay at the heart of the temple complex, where the domains of Korrath and Aerius merged in perfect architectural harmony with those of the other gods. Moonlight streamed through crystal skylights, casting silver patterns across walls etched with reliefs of both gods—Korrath with his sword and shield, Aerius with his scrolls and quill, their figures forever entwined in balance.
I stood in the antechamber, heart racing with anticipation rather than dread. The ceremonial robes clung to my skin—deep wine silk woven with gold threads that shimmered with each breath. My hands trembled as I fastened the bracers, but not from fear. From excitement. From the knowledge of what awaited me beyond those doors.
Tonight, I would finally be free to be myself.
"Lieutenant." Captain Thane appeared beside me,dressed in his own formal robes. He looked more priest than warrior. "Are you prepared?"
The question had layers, but for once I knew the answer with absolute certainty. Was I ready for sacred partnership? Ready to follow rather than lead? Ready to embrace what Kaelen and I had discovered together?
"Yes, sir." And I meant it completely.
Thane studied my face like he was reading a battlefield, and whatever he saw there seemed to satisfy him. "You represent the militant Order tonight. Show them what Korrath's disciples are capable of."
I nodded, though my understanding of capability had been transformed over the past week. True strength, I'd learned, sometimes meant yielding to the right person. Real power could be found in surrender, in trust, in allowing someone else to take control when they were better suited for it.
The great doors opened with a whisper, revealing the chamber beyond. Militants in crimson and gold lined one side, scholars in blue and silver the other. Moonstones bathed the room in gentle radiance while the sunstone altar at the center pulsed with warm, welcoming light.
I stepped forward with measured confidence, aware of every eye but no longer afraid of their judgment. Let them watch. Let them witness something real, something that worked because it honored truth rather than tradition.
At the altar, I took my position and waited. Around the room, representatives from both Ordersmaintained their ceremonial poses, but I barely noticed them. All my attention focused on the far doors, on the anticipation building in my chest like sunrise after the longest night.
Then the doors opened—and my breath caught.
Kaelen entered like living moonlight, his midnight blue robes shimmering with silver thread. But it was the confidence in his stride that made my pulse quicken, the natural authority that needed no announcement. This was the man who had commanded me to trust him by the stream, who had taken charge of our stolen moments together with such perfect certainty.
Our eyes met across the sacred space, and the smile that curved his lips was small, private—meant for me alone. In that look, I saw acknowledgment of everything we'd shared, everything we'd planned, everything we were about to make official.
He approached with unhurried grace, and with each step, I felt the rightness of this moment settling deeper into my bones. When he reached the altar and stopped just within reach, the air between us hummed with recognition.
"Brothers of Korrath and Aerius," Priest Myris's voice echoed through the chamber. "We gather to witness a sacred bond—between warrior and scholar. Strength and wisdom. Sword and scroll."
The formal words washed over me, but my attention remained fixed on Kaelen. On the way moonlight caught in his dark hair, on the quiet fire behind his storm-grey eyes, on the promise of what was to come.
"The gods smile upon such unions," the priest continued, "where different gifts combine to become something greater."
Greater. Yes, that's exactly what we would be together—not despite our unconventional dynamic, but because of it. Because we'd found the courage to honor our authentic selves rather than perform roles that didn't fit.
The ceremony continued around us in ancient rhythm. Sacred wine was poured, herbs added to braziers, silk draped over the marble altar that would soon become the site of our true joining. But all of that felt secondary to the growing anticipation that thrummed between Kaelen and me, the eager knowledge of secrets we would soon share.
When Priest Myris presented the ceremonial rod for our formal vows, Kaelen reached for it first. His fingers wrapped around the polished wood with the same confident grip I'd come to know so well, and when he spoke the ritual words—promises of trust, fidelity, and mutual surrender—his voice rang with conviction.
Then it was my turn. My hand closed over his on the rod, skin touching skin for the first time tonight. The contact felt like coming home, like the first piece of a puzzle clicking into place.
The words came easily: to trust, to honor, to guide and be guided in turn. But speaking them while looking into his eyes transformed mere recitation into sacred truth. These weren't just ceremonial phrases—they were promises I intended to keep with every breath in my body.
When our oaths were complete, Priest Myris raised his hands in blessing. "Let the gods witness what has been sworn. Let the bond be sealed in sacred union."
The formal witnesses began to withdraw with quiet reverence. Captain Thane caught my eye once, offering an approving nod before disappearing through the great doors with the other militants. The scholars followed, Priest Myris the last to leave, and then we were finally, blessedly alone.
The silence that fell felt pregnant with possibility rather than awkward uncertainty. I turned to face Kaelen fully, no longer constrained by ceremony or the watchful eyes of our Orders. Here, in this sacred space, we could finally be honest about what we needed from each other.
"Well," he said softly, his voice carrying undertones of heat that made my skin tingle. "Here we are."
"Here we are," I agreed, and was surprised by how steady my own voice sounded. The trembling had left my hands, replaced by eager anticipation. "Are you ready to show me what you've been holding back?"
