Seren returned to the guest quarters in the evening after spending the day exploring the kingdom with Ember. Exhausted, she fell asleep soon after dinner. She had hoped to wait for Drayce, who had been busy building their new ho, but her tiredness overwheld her.
In the middle of the night, she stirred awake. Drayce was still not by her side. Sitting up, she noticed a figure standing quietly by the window, gazing out into the night.
"Dray?" she called softly as she got out of bed and hurried over to him. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, holding him close. "When did you return?"
Drayce gently placed his hands over hers. "Just a little while ago."
"Why didn't you co to bed? Are you tired?"
He shook his head, his silence unsettling.
"Did you finish building our ho?" she asked.
"I did—well, Erebus did," he replied, his tone unusually calm.
Sensing sothing was off, Seren released him and moved to stand in front of him, her worried eyes searching his face. "What are you thinking about?"
Drayce t her gaze, his expression calm but distant. "I'm not sure how long it will take before I see you again after tomorrow."
Seren understood what he ant. After Marking, Erebus would be with her for as long as he wanted. She had promised Erebus she would be with him after he marks her and Drayce won't ddle in. Now the ti was there, she felt worried about Drayce.
"I'll find a way to bring you back sooner," Seren reassured him. "Erebus listens to . But I did promise him equal ti—just like the ti I spent with you when we consummated our marriage. I can't go back on my word."
"I know. I am not blaming you. But the thought of not being able to be with you, is unbearable."
She closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him. "Erebus will be with starting tomorrow. But we still have tonight. How about we make the most of it?" she whispered softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "Hmm?"
"When my wife seduces like this, how could I possibly say no?" he murmured against her lips before capturing them in a heated kiss, leading to yet another passionate night they spent together.
----
The next day, Seren and Drayce were preparing for the marking ceremony. Evanthe approached Drayce with a folded red robe in her hands.
"Dray, you need to wear this," she instructed.
He looked at the robe and then back at her, waiting for an explanation.
"It's a blessing from all the supernaturals in this kingdom," Evanthe explained. "Since you are a Red Dragon, the robe is red for you and Seren. When Arlan cos for his ceremony, it will be gold for him and Oriana."
Drayce nodded and picked up the beautiful long red ceremonial robe. He draped it over his outfit, the rich fabric parting slightly to reveal the clothes underneath. "Does Seren have the sa robe?"
"Yes," Evanthe confird. "Sierra has already taken it to her."
Drayce raised a brow, offering her a not so pleased look.
"Alright, I think this is the right ti they both talk about sothing important," Evanthe explained.
"Does her mother agree to this?" he asked pointedly. "The last ti they spoke, my wife ended up in tears."
"Let them handle it. And if she cries again, you'll be here to comfort her, won't you?"
Drayce could only hum.
-----
In Seren's chamber, Sierra arrived quietly. Seren, who was getting ready with the help of two elf servants, noticed a hooded figure appear in the reflection of the mirror. Surprised, she turned to face the woman standing there, holding a folded red cloth.
"I brought this for you," Sierra said softly.
Seren gestured for the two servants to leave before asking, "What is it?"
"A ceremonial robe for the marking ceremony. It's blessed by all the supernaturals in this kingdom and contains traces of their power. It will give you the strength to endure the marking by a divine beast. You must wear it," Sierra explained.
Seren nodded, reaching out to take the robe, but Sierra stopped her. "I will help you put it on."
Seren hesitated, staring at Sierra. It struck her as strange that this woman, who had kept her distance ever since they arrived in Agartha, was suddenly so intent on being close to her. Why now?
Sierra unfolded the red robe and stood behind Seren, waiting for her to slip her arms into the sleeves. But Seren didn't move. Instead, she asked, "Why are you doing this? Did my mother ask you to do this on her behalf?"
Sierra's hands froze. She t Seren's gaze through the mirror. "Your mother missed your wedding and the chance to prepare you herself. She wants to at least make up for it in so way."
"Having you do this in her place isn't the sa," Seren countered. "It's aningless if her only concern is making up for what she missed. What about what I've missed in my life?"
Sierra's grip tightened on the robe. "I apologize for that," she said quietly, still holding the robe open, waiting for Seren to accept it.
"You don't need to apologize," Seren replied, her tone curt. "And I don't expect my mother to apologize either. I just want you both to stop being selfish."
The room fell into a tense silence as Seren watched Sierra through the mirror. After a mont, she finally moved her hands, slipping them into the sleeves of the robe, not expecting anything more.
But then Sierra spoke again, her voice trembling. "I'm not apologizing on anyone else's behalf. I'm apologizing for myself— I, your mother."
Seren's heart skipped a beat. The room felt heavy, filled with emotions long kept hidden. 'Did she accept she is my mother?'
"I apologize," Sierra repeated, her voice soft and raw. "I didn't have the courage to face you before... not after everything you endured because of my decisions. But I don't regret them. I did what I had to in order to protect you. I was ready to watch you from afar for the rest of my life, even if it broke my heart."
Seren could feel her mother's emotions, her pain.
"I told you before, I don't bla you," Seren said gently. "But you shouldn't have waited so long to co to ."
Sierra's voice trembled as she confessed, "I wasn't brave enough."
Seren turned to face her, her eyes moist with unshed tears. "I thought that when you finally accepted you were my mother, I'd have so much to say. I wanted to tell you how hurt I was when you denied it, even when I asked you directly. It broke my heart. But now... I can't seem to say anything. All I want is to have a mother like everyone else. I want to be able to say, 'Yes, I have a mother too.'"
Sierra's voice was thick with sadness, her own tears spilling down her cheeks. "Your mother isn't soone you'd want to show around proudly."
Seren glanced at the scales on the back of Sierra's hands and understood. "Is that why you didn't want to tell ? Because of how you look?"
"I would only embarrass a beautiful child like you…" Sierra whispered, her voice trembling with sha.
"I don't care about that!" Seren interrupted, her voice fierce. "I don't care how you look or what anyone else thinks. You're the woman who gave life, who endured all the pain to bring into this world. You are the only one who matters."
Seren's mind flashed to Edith giving birth to her child, and she couldn't help but imagine the pain her own mother must have gone through. She knew that giving birth to a child with powers was far more difficult. She had heard about how Evanthe struggled to give birth to Draven, despite being powerful herself. The thought made her heart swell with gratitude for the woman standing before her.
"For , you are my mother. I am not going to judge you on how you look," Seren repeated. There was a silence on Sierra's side before she spoke, "Though I was not with you, my daughter was raised into an amazing person. I want nothing more..."
"But I want," Seren interrupted, tears now streaming down her face. "I want you to treat like your child—a child who still needs her mother, even though she's grown." Her voice cracked with emotion, her expression desperate. "I want a mother. Do you hear ?"
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