Morrigana's heart raced harder
than during any battle, staring at the Lord Shalafae. Aunt Kyra stood
close behind her. "You can't keep him waiting forever," the
blond woman said.
The hybrid shuddered, clutching
the bouquet of roses to her chest. Her father was staring into the
mists, his slender back to her, milky hair decorated in the style of
his people. Alzair looked wonderful in black and crimson robes, and
love suffused her being at the sight of him.
Kyra touched her back, and
Morrigana began her approach. The mists whispered with lost souls and
potential realities. No better place for two Immortal Chaos Lords to
be married than in the aether between dimensions.
This wedding had been a while
in the making. Rebellions and wars and missing family, and delay
after delay. Centuries had passed since he'd first asked her to marry
him, but in no way had the wait diminished their love.
Kyra followed behind, holding
the train of her dress. Shalafae's brother Shonogar stood to one
side, holding a ceremonial knife. Elthanael stood on the other side,
holding the rings on a blood red pillow. The elf wouldn't meet her
eyes, but she could spare no sympathy for him today.
Alzair Shalafae turned, topaz
eyes glittering. He wore his blue albino form just for her, just to
make her smile. And smile Morrigana did. As she came to the dais, her
father held out his hand. She took it, and stepped up in front of
him.
"Morrigana," he
whispered, smiling slowly. He radiated love, a burning passion to
match her own. Thin fingers gripped her, shaking slightly. The hybrid
couldn't believe he was this nervous.
"Father," she
whispered back, tears suddenly misting over her vision. Plans had
been finalized in the last few weeks, yet Morrigana still couldn't
believe the marriage was happening. This certainly wasn't what she'd
imagined when her mother first sought betrothals.
Had anyone imagined the dark
and heartless Lord Shalafae would feel love, let alone take a wife?
Kyra moved to Elthanael's side,
taking the bouquet, eyes half lidded. She'd helped Morrigana get
ready, had been closer to the young woman in the months since
returning from a sojourn, but there was still something cold between
them. The hybrid had only noticed it since murdering Revkah, but
they'd never talked about it.
She wouldn't let her aunt's
mood detract from the wedding any more than she'd let Elthanael's
mood do so. This was her day, and she would relish it.
Her father's eyes let her know
how beautiful he found her. Morrigana's heart raced, and she blushed.
Public displays of affection were rare, to be cherished. This much
heat and passion and love was monumental.
The hybrid could think of
nothing else, barely heard the ceremony Shonogar did. She mouthed the
appropriate words, hands trembling in Alzair's grip. Her stomach
churned, legs went numb, and her blood went cold. Pressure and
nervousness built to the point she thought of fleeing.
Not that she would ever run
from her soulmate.
Shonogar presented the ritual
knife. The couple lifted their hands, laying their wrists along the
blade. Morrigana's gaze locked in Alzair's, falling deep into his
soul, opening and bonding herself to him.
They jerked down, slicing their
veins. Blood spilled, pattering on the dais. Lost souls in the aether
moaned, pressing close. Those strange creatures wanted the life the
happy couple so freely wasted.
Alzair presented her with his
bleeding wrist. She did the same, her dark blood quickly soaking into
the silk of his robes. As one, they turned their heads, drinking from
the wrist of the other.
Energy passed between the two
of them. They'd fed on each other before, many times, but never as
part of a bonding ritual. The ties went deeper, locking onto their
hearts and souls.
Morrigana moaned. This was
beyond mere pleasure. This was every intimacy wrapped in every
rapture multiplied by their love. She reeled, losing touch with their
surroundings, focused only on her father.
They were alone in a world of
their own, free of cares or responsibilities. There was only them,
and no need for anything more.
~I love you, my daughter. My
wife.~
~And I you, my father.~ She
surged with joy. ~My husband.~
