CHAPTER 28: WEDDING- IN UNITY AND PEACE

I stood at the grand door beside Vaylen Blaze, the man who still had no idea that his family’s secret...their fake daughter had already been exposed. His arm was steady under my hand, our pose a flawless display of paternal affection for the crowd. Anyone watching would see a proud father escorting his beloved daughter. But beneath that calm, polished smile, I could feel the tightness in his grip, the faint tremor that betrayed his unease.

The grand hall shimmered with light and whispers. Every pair of eyes turned toward us as the music began, yet something about their gazes felt... wrong. They looked human, elegant and composed, but I could sense it, their presence was far too sharp, their smiles too still. They weren’t human. None of them were.

I kept my gaze ahead, refusing to meet their eyes. The air was too thick, my lungs too tight. This marriage was supposed to be fake, a convenient alliance... wasn’t it? So why did my heart feel like it was trying to escape my chest?

I drew a deep breath and lifted my head. At the altar stood Lucian Drake, the dragon who was both my doom and my supposed groom, waiting for me with the calm certainty of someone who already knew I had no way out.

The music swelled, and the heavy doors opened wider. Every step I took felt rehearsed, yet my legs trembled beneath the silk of my gown. The air seemed to hum with quiet magic or tension, I couldn’t tell which.

Vaylen’s hand tightened around mine as we moved down the aisle. His smile never faltered, but I caught the flicker in his eyes, the smallest twitch that told me he was terrified. Not for me. For himself. Maybe he just wished this ceremony could be done as soon as possible.

Lucian stood waiting at the altar, still as stone, his expression unreadable as ever. He wore the same dark ceremonial attire I’d seen during the vows rehearsal, last night, an intimidating blend of royal composure and quiet danger. His gaze followed me with unnerving precision, steady and unblinking, and for a moment, the murmurs in the hall seemed to fade until there was only him.

When we reached the front, Vaylen released my arm and gave a small, practiced bow toward Lucian. "Lord Drake," he greeted smoothly, though his tone carried a tremor he couldn’t quite hide. "I entrust my precious daughter to you. I hope you will take care of her better than I did."

Lucian’s reply came swift and clipped. "Of course." His voice was cool, almost too calm. Then, after a beat, his gaze sharpened. "You may go, Lord Blaze."

The air in the room shifted. The command in his tone wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of someone not to be questioned.

Vaylen hesitated, the corner of his mouth twitching as though he wanted to say more. But one look from Lucian, icy, deliberate and was enough to make him lower his head. "Then... I shall take my leave."

As Vaylen stepped back and disappeared into the crowd, my chest tightened. My fingers, still cold from his grip, curled at my sides.

Lucian finally turned fully toward me. "You seem tense," he said quietly, voice just loud enough for me to hear over the hum of the hall.

I forced a thin smile. "You think?"

His lips curved, faintly... barely there, but enough to make my pulse trip. "Relax," he murmured, eyes glinting under the soft golden light. "You’re supposed to look happy. It’s your wedding, after all."

"Right," I said under my breath, my voice dry. "My totally real, absolutely not-for-political-gain wedding."

Lucian leaned slightly closer, his breath brushing my ear. "That’s not what I called it last time, remember?"

I blinked, my face heating up instantly. "You—can you not say that here?"

He straightened, expression as calm as ever, but I caught the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes. "Why? Are you embarrassed, Lady Celeste?"

"Lucian..." I gritted my teeth, lowering my voice so only he could hear. "I’m not Celeste."

He leaned slightly closer, his tone soft but firm. "From now on, you are."

I froze, the weight of his words sinking in like ice. "You’re serious?" I whispered back.

Lucian’s gaze flicked toward the crowd... Rows of elegant faces turned our way, the air thick with expectation. "Do you want everyone here to know you’re not the real Celeste?" he murmured, voice low and edged with warning. "It wouldn’t end well. And after all..." his lips curved faintly, "it’s just a name."

I clenched my jaw, wanting to argue, but the calm certainty in his tone left no room for it. To him, this was strategy. To me, it was survival.

"Fine," I muttered, forcing the word out like a sigh. "Then let’s get this over with."

"Good." His hand brushed mine, firm and grounding, before he faced the priest. "Let’s begin."

The hall fell into silence. The priest raised his hands, his voice resonating through the chamber. "We gather here to bind two clans... Phoenix and Dragon, in unity and peace."

I could feel Lucian’s power radiating beside me, his presence swallowing the air around us. My pulse quickened, but I stood still, my gaze fixed on the ornate floor tiles rather than the hundreds of curious eyes.

"Lady Celeste Blaze," the priest called, his tone solemn, "do you vow to honor this bond and accept Lord Lucian Drake as your mate and equal under flame and frost?"

I glanced at Lucian, his eyes steady, his expression unreadable.

My lips parted, and for a heartbeat, I almost forgot my borrowed name. Then, taking a deep breath, I finally said, "I—"

"No... Seraphina, you can’t!"

The words hit me like a lightning strike. I froze, the sound echoing in my ears, familiar and desperate. My head whipped toward the crowd.

Vivian.

My head snapped around in panic, scanning the crowd, searching for her. I was sure it was her voice. But no matter how hard I looked, she wasn’t there. Only rows of elegantly dressed guests stared back at me, their expressions confuse, curious, and completely unaware of what had just happened.

My heartbeat quickened, my palms growing cold. ’Had I imagined it?’

Lucian’s voice pulled me back, quiet but edged with suspicion. "What’s wrong?"

I swallowed hard and shook my head quickly. "Nothing," I lied, forcing a shaky smile. "Just... nerves."