“Do not be nervous, dear.” The priestess raised her other hand to cup her cheek, and North bent to receive the kiss she placed on her forehead. “The goddess herself has blessed this union,” she said, gesturing to the sun-kissed evening.
An unusually warm day for this time of year in Alfheim. North had gratefully soaked up as much of the sun as she could before getting ready, revelling in every opportunity to leave the cold of Idavoll behind.
If the priestess told her it was a good sign, she would hold on to that hope.
Both females turned to face the garden doors as Henny and Bo entered carrying baskets of wildflowers, sprinkling them around as they made their way down the aisle in matching suits of deep violet.
The brothers smiled and Bo winked, tossing a few petals in her direction.
She was surprised to feel lighthearted in this moment and grateful for the alliance and friendships she had in Alfheim. It would certainly make marrying an Elven—and not just any Elven, the Elven king-to-be—much easier.
It didn’t hurt that when Vali entered the garden, he looked like he’d been brought to life by an enchanted sculptor.
North was used to being around Fae who, while they didn’t quite have the ruggedness of the Vanir, were broad and domineering, their figures imposing.
Vali was all grace—tall and lean. His long blond hair was half pulled back, showcasing pointed ears adorned with gold and silver rings. As a Fae, North’s own ears mirrored Vali’s, as was customary in Elven weddings.
Though her ears were softened by the mixture of races in her ancestry, North admired the angled peaks of Vali’s. She dragged her gaze down his silhouette. His deep sapphire robes complemented his olive skin tone, and the warmth in his chocolate eyes deepened as he took her in.
He strode down the aisle, each step strong and sure, his lithe form almost predatory in the way he approached.
Many who did not understand Fae heritage thought they’d inherited their base instincts from their more barbaric ancestors in the Vanir, but the truth was that it came from the Elven.
A peaceful race, yes, but more so due to the fact that they were grounded, one with nature. All aspects of nature.
Elven’s heightened senses were even greater than the Fae’s, with highly animalistic instincts, which was where the Fae’s predatory nature came from. It was what made Fae mating bonds so strong.
With the creation of the new race, Thiramin traits passed on through the mating bonds of Fae. Mind communication, emotional connection, the ability to strengthen each other physically. Combined with the love match of the Hjarta, the Fae mating bond was the strongest among the races.
Though every Fae had a mate somewhere on Yggdrasil during their lifetime, Thiramin matches worked slightly differently. Not all Thiramin were romantic partners—some were friendships, companions, familymembers. These bonds were not so obvious. Relationships took time to develop, and as such, Elven took all their relationships seriously.
North doubted a Thiramin bond would develop since her mating bond had proved faulty. The fact that Vali was marrying her despite their lack of bond meant that she was his and he was hers.
An unfamiliar instinct rose in her as he joined her at the altar.
Her tongue flicked over her aching canines, and she wondered if his sharper, longer ones would hurt if he ever bit her. Swallowing hard, she banished the thoughts that came to mind. Such explicit images had no place in the sacred garden.
Vali took her ungloved hand in his, lifting it to place a gentle kiss on her skin, his gaze never leaving hers. North’s stomach fluttered unexpectedly, the chaste gesture so at odds with the intensity in his eyes.
“My queen,” he whispered as his lips left her hand. Her fingers lost their feeling as pins and needles worked their way up her arm.
The priestess joined their hands, tying them with a ribbon made of wildflowers and herbs. While the priestess hummed the words of the ceremony, they drank a Dreamroot tea from the same chalice. The late queen had kept a stash of the magical plant for her sons’ weddings, should they ever decide. Her forethought brought tears to North’s eyes as she drank deeply.
The effects of the rare herb were slow.
North had been prepared for this part of the ceremony, but when her mind went foggy and her eyes opened in another world of stars and light, she panicked.
Vali was there, hands still firmly gripping hers.
“It’s okay.” His voice sounded too loud and too quiet at once. “I’m here.” She stepped closer, the heat of his body settling her nerves.
The echoes of their own voices surrounded them in the void.
Never shall you wander in the dark again
For I will be the light that guides your way
Vali startled when a spark of light burst from behind her head. She held his hand tighter when magic Dagaz runes appeared on their arms. The rune for light within.
