Adina stood by the mirror, looking at her reflection. A soft smile made its way to her lips. She was finally dressed for the ceremony. She didn't believe she could ever look like this.

"Come on, let's see you," Kora yelled from the room. Adina rolled her eyes, still smiling. She looked at herself one last time then stepped out into the room.

"What do you think?" She asked, her voice soft.

The two women before her stared at her in shock. Their gaze stuck on her like they've not seen her before.

"Gods above," Kora muttered, her eyes trailing from the little train of the white dress to the pearls littered across the dress, to the faint shimmer that caught the light. "You look like a queen," she breathed out.

"Kora…" Adina chuckled.

"I'm serious!" Kora defended. "You are so beautiful, Adina. Ethereal. The king would lose his mind when he lays eyes on you."

Adina chuckled, her cheeks flared up in red. She couldn't wait to see Thorne's reaction. She knew he would be blown away because she was too. Kora stepped forward to her, pulling her into a hug.

"I'm so thankful I helped you out that day on the farm, Adina. So thankful you are my friend and I get to be with you on a day like this." Her voice trembled slightly, and Adina's heart wavered slightly.

"Kora… are you tearing up?"

"I'm not!" She blurted out almost instantly. Adina smiled, her own eyes blurring with tears.

Kora finally stepped back. She swallowed hard, glancing at an unmoving Thessara and Adina. "I'll give you two a second," she said and stepped out of the room.

Adina's gaze fell on the second woman who still hadn't said a word. "Thessara," she called out softly.

Thessara blinked, swallowing hard. She stepped forward, holding Adina's hand in hers. "It's beautiful," she said, but her eyes, her eyes said a lot more.

She stared at Adina like she couldn't convey it into words. Like the words kept getting stuck in her throat. She squeezed Adina's hand slightly, her stretched smile wavering slightly.

"Thessara," Adina croaked out. She stepped closer and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh child, you really are the most beautiful bride to ever exist," she whispered, hugging her tight for a second, then she stepped back. "Virelya would be so proud."

Adina's smile wavered at this… "Thessara."

"I don't know how I didn't see it. How blind I must have been… Not to see how uncanny your resemblance is to her," Thessara's voice cracked, and for the first time since Adina had known her, the woman looked fragile.

"Thessara…" Adina's throat tightened. The mention of her mother stirred something inside her… grief and longing. "You really think she would be proud of me?"

"Proud?" Thessara let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "She would be weeping tears of joy. You are her living legacy, child. You shine brighter than she ever dreamed you would."

She stepped closer, still holding Adina's hands. "Don't forget for a minute. Virelya fought till her last breath just so you would live. She did everything within her powers… to give you life. She would be proud you are alive and even prouder that you are happy."

Adina couldn't stop her tears even if she wanted to. Hearing Thessara, who knew her mother, say that she would be proud of her… It was something Adina never thought she'd ever hear. Her adopted parents only cursed her. Their words…

'Your mother knew you would be a total failure, that's why she abandoned you.'

'Your mother is so lucky she's not stuck with a thing like you.'

Those were the words she heard from their lips all day, all night… it became a brand.

And now… hearing Thessara say this… it was more than Adina could ever dream of.

"Oh, Adina…" Thessara cooed, pulling her into her arms. "Thorne will have my head if he finds his woman crying in her mating dress on her mating day."

Adina chuckled wetly; she wasn't lying. Thorne would lose his mind if he ever saw her crying like this.

"He wouldn't dare," she croaked out, wiping her tears and stepped back. Just as she wiped her tears, Kora stepped back into the room only to freeze.

"Please tell me you didn't just wipe your makeup?"

Adina smiled sheepishly, "I didn't."

Kora inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Adina, I swear to the gods, if you didn't just—" she didn't get to finish her words as someone knocked on the door.

She opened the door to see Mason outside, "Gamma?" Kora asked, surprised.

"Is Adina done dressing? I'd like to see her," he said.

"What? B-but no man can see her in her mating dress until the ceremony…"

Caelum frowned, "I'm not 'no man.' I'm the gamma, and I want to see her."

Kora shook her head, blocking even the space. "I'm sorry, gamma, but if it's not important, I can't just go against tradition and—"

"Kora, please let Gamma Mason in," Adina called from behind her.

Mason smirked triumphantly, and it just made Kora glare at the man, not minding the power imbalance between them.

"Will you continue to stand by the door like a damn gargoyle, Kora?" Mason asked, stepping past her with the ease of someone who didn't need permission. "Or will you admit I'm just that pretty that you can't get your eyes off me?"

Kora spluttered, her face burning red. "Pretty? Can't take my eyes off you?" She cried out like he strangled her in her sleep. "I'd rather pluck out my eyes than subject myself to look at you…." She spat out only to realize she was still speaking to the gamma. She looked away, "Gamma," she added.

Adina chuckled, and this made Mason look at her, his grin softened into something almost reverent. "You look… incredible."

Adina flushed. "Thank you, Mason."

"Don't thank him," Kora muttered, folding her arms. "He's not following traditions."

Mason shook his head fondly, "Actually, I'm here because His Majesty ordered me to be his mate's shadow today. His exact words were 'don't let her out of your sight.' So congratulations, ladies, you're stuck with me until the ceremony."

Kora groaned like the worst fate had just befallen her. Mason's eyes narrowed, "Do that again, and I'll ask the head maid to double your workload."

Kora's eyes narrowed, "You wouldn't dare."

He would. She knew he would, and yet…

Mason grinned, his eyes unfocused for a second like he was communicating through the mind link. Then, he looked her right in the eye. "Workload, increased."

Kora gasped dramatically, "Adina!" She whined.

"That's enough, you two," Thessara called, and they all looked at her. "No workloads for Kora," she said, looking at Mason.

Mason shrugged but didn't reply; he grabbed an apple from the fruit basket on the table.

Kora dragged Adina back to the stool and began fixing her makeup again. "You better not tear up this time," she warned, but they both knew it was impossible.

Once she was done admiring her work, she stepped back with a smile just as the bell rang loudly, informing them that the time for the ceremony had come.

Adina stood up, staring at her reflection one last time then turned to the three people in the room.

"It's time."