The grand monk steepled his thin, veined hands before him. “Gerard Drachen and Elias Storm. Today, you sign your names in blood, binding yourselves in unity for the rest of your lives. This cannot be undone. This cannot be reversed. This is not something to be entering into lightly.”
The grand monk fixed his gaze on Gerard. “Do you understand, Gerard Drachen? And do you consent to enter into this irreversible contract written out onto this scroll?”
Gerard glanced at Elias. “I understand and consent, Grand Monk.”
“Excellent.” The grand monk turned to Elias. “Do you understand, Elias Storm? And do you consent to enter into this irreversible contract written out onto this scroll?”
Elias squeezed Gerard’s hand. “I understand and consent, Grand Monk.”
The grand monk held his hands wide. “We, the Monks of the Way of the Dove, bear witness today to your union and to this contract you enter into. Now sign your names on the scroll.”
Gerard had to release his hand from Elias’s. He picked up the quill, dipped it into the swirling ink, and signed his name. Then he handed it to Elias. Gerard held his breath as Elias dipped the quill into the ink and pressed it to the parchment. He signed. No hesitation. Gerard exhaled.
The chanting in the chamber rose louder and louder. Their names on the parchment glowed.
The grand monk gestured to them. “I ask you to faceeach other and place your palms together.” His voice could only just be heard over the chanting that echoed off the walls.
They turned. They lifted their hands and placed them together. The chanting grew louder. Suddenly a pressure pushed their hands together, until almost the point of pain. Elias’s eyes widened.
Still, the chanting grew louder. Their gazes met. Elias raised his brows.
Then it all stopped, the chanting, the pressure. Elias and Gerard dropped their hands in the now silent ceremony chamber. Their names on the parchment no longer glowed. Just plain black ink.
“The union is completed. You are bound together for this life, Gerard Drachen and Elias Storm,” the grand monk proclaimed.
Gerard reached forward and tugged Elias into his arms. He pressed a kiss to his forehead. But that didn’t seem enough for Elias. He tilted his head back and leaned up. Gerard lowered his head and kissed his husband.
Chapter
Thirty-Six
“Congratulations to you both.”
Elias smiled at King Alaric Drachen. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. Thank you, Father,” Gerard said.
Elias and Gerard sat at a special table set up for them at the front of the banquet hall. They’d just finished their meal.
“I am pleased with how the ceremony went. Thankfully there were no difficulties or complications.” The king cleared his throat.
No doubt he was thinking about the first wedding, where Princess Lantana of Botanial had attempted to kill the king, the queen consort, and Lord Barrett Morton. Back then, Elias had assumed that Princess Lantana had not colluded with anyone else.
But since the attack on Luther and Onyx, Elias had wondered a few times if there could be a connection between her failed attempt and Warden Flint’s betrayal. After all, both had despised the dragons and the peace treaty.
However, if they had been working together, there’d been no evidence of it. The letters belonging to Warden Flint had not mentioned Princess Lantana or her attack. And of course, the correspondence had continued after her death, so he wasn’t writing to her.
As a result, Elias could not see how they would have been working together. Still … he could not help but wonder.
The queen consort smiled at them. “I’m sure you both will be very happy together.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Elias said.
The king and queen consort left them. But Elias and Gerard remained seated as Elias’s father and stepmother approached.
Elias took a deep breath and forced a smile.
Emperor Hugo grinned. Apparently, he’d pushed aside the negative interaction they’d had the previous night. His father had a short memory regarding unpleasantness. He never liked to dwell on anything. Like his first wife’s death.
