Elara’s POV
Kaelen’s eyes found mine. "My lady?"
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Kaelen, you are absolutely breathtaking!"
I flashed him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Dorian imdiately scampered over, his bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. "Elara, what about ?"
Nearby, Rosalind turned away sharply, clearly wishing she could disappear into the ground. The embarrassnt radiating from her was almost painful to witness.
She looked as if she was trying to convince herself that this wasn’t her child.
"You’re the most breathtaking of them all," I promised him without hesitation.
Despite everything happening around us, I managed to slip him a chocolate. He popped it straight into his mouth, cocking his head with a grin that threatened to split his entire face.
"Alright, Your Highness, have you lost sight of why we’re here today?" Alistair interrupted, stepping to one side.
All seven beastn ford a line behind , prepared to accompany their mate to the Vowrock and complete the bonding ceremony.
I peeked back over my shoulder, mischief dancing in my eyes. When I caught those seven pairs of intense, loving gazes locked on , I threw my head back in laughter, raising an eyebrow.
"Well then, everyone, I’m actually bringing you all ho this ti."
I spun around and headed toward the Vowrock first. The intricate star designs etched into its surface blazed even more brilliantly as I approached.
Silas moved forward first, clasping my hand with a gentle smile. The other five pressed close behind—everyone but Dorian.
His mutation ant he lacked a Genetic ID Card. In that mont, fear kept him from reaching out to touch the stone. He was convinced he wasn’t deserving of this holy connection.
Dorian’s head dropped, all his previous happiness replaced by pure dread.
He looked terrified, as if he feared I might not want him.
"Your Highness!"
I extended my hand toward him gently. "Do you rember what I said to you at the sanatorium?"
I had called him a mythical creature.
Dorian’s eyes sparked to life imdiately. After a brief hesitation, he grabbed my hand tightly, gave a determined nod, and moved forward.
The instant all eight of our hands made contact with the stone, its light burst skyward. As the bond ford, a hot, tingling sensation blood on my wrist.
The marriage mark that had been concealed behind my ear shifted to match my husbands’—a sunburst design interwoven with small, stylized beast figures.
"Wow," I gasped. "That’s so serious ink."
Finnian laughed quietly. "Elara can’t escape now."
I had never intended to escape. I was here for good—and planned to savor every mont.
"My lady," Julian whispered softly, "listen. Can you hear how rapidly my heart is racing?" The mont he spoke, six cold, envious stares cut straight through him.
"Do I not exist?!" Barrett erupted.
Barrett had been flexing and releasing his fists repeatedly, knuckles bone-white, just looking for a reason to pick a fight.
Silas intervened, sounding completely rational. "Guys, this isn’t the right ti or place for this."
Silas, the one with the weakest impulse control, was giving everyone else advice about proper behavior. Predictably, he received six more frigid glares.
"Stop it, all of you. Act civilized," Alistair commanded sternly.
Dorian was now bonded to , and he was absolutely ecstatic. He imdiately chid in. The joy radiating from him over the tiny interlaced snowflake on my wrist was infectious. It was his proof that he truly was a mythical creature. He simply couldn’t contain himself.
Naturally, he supported Alistair. "Commander Alistair is absolutely right..."
He pressed his soft head against my chest, inhaled deeply of my scent, and gazed up at with drowsy, innocent eyes.
In a gentle, sweet tone, he continued, "Elara, I’m the well-behaved one, aren’t I?"
Who could have predicted this typically quiet, adorable, harmless little guy would prove so calculating? Nobody anticipated it.
I nodded. Dorian’s cheeks turned pink, and he murmured bashfully, "Then choose tonight, okay? I don’t want to only embrace you in my dreams anymore."
His voice carried equal asures of playfulness and audacity, so shaless that the others’ hands curled into tight fists.
Barrett stared in complete shock, looking as if he had just realized Dorian was the one who needed to be taught a lesson.
I looked at Dorian in amazent. I stepped backward—but my foot found only empty space.
Kaelen had already scooped into his arms and launched straight upward.
"See you later, guys! Handle things without us!"
The black dragon extended his enormous wings. The six beastn below scrambled frantically. Finnian, always the quickest to react, conjured a small spacecraft and leaped inside to pursue us. The remaining five imdiately followed.
As I rode on Kaelen’s back, the system’s voice rang out again.
"Novareach Floating Island access key verification in progress... Verified! Welco ho, Ms. Sterling!"
——
The mont Helena heard the announcent, her vision darkened. She couldn’t handle it and fainted on the spot.
Beatrix remained motionless, consud by searing envy.
Novareach Floating Island?! No! Impossible!
That witch Elara doesn’t deserve this!
Rosalind simply nodded slowly, a profound, contented sensation flooding through her. She was relishing every single second.
Though it would be even more perfect if her two sons would just acknowledge her presence.
High overhead, the defensive barriers surrounding Novareach Floating Island descended. Simultaneously, the system’s fireworks—spelling out "Congratulations on your wedding!"—illuminated the sky. Countless wedding gift convoys began rising in flawless formation along designated orbital routes into the cosmos.
Rosalind gazed upward at the sky. Today, she had finally...
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