CHAPTER 483: BAD OMEN

Was it love or empathy? Ariel didn’t know but she could not bear seeing him cry. She smiled weakly. "It’s not your fault, life is just unpredictable." She chimed.

"I will marry you as planned." She agreed. Kaiden has complex feelings about how she has easily accepted. Wasn’t she bothered that he was going to marry another woman? Ariel was the type who thought of others rather than herself.

He wished she would have been selfish and unreasonable, saying they should run away, both knowing how dangerous it was. He would gladly grab his bags and follow her to the end of the world.

*****

The moon shone above them in the quiet temple. Its soft light falling on them through the glass window. They were getting married the same night. It wasn’t hard to pull all they needed was a priest and a few witnesses.

Ronan, Kaiden’s right-hand man and a few other knights stood as witnesses in their quiet ceremony. They stood opposite each other, their hands stretched out

The priest stepped forward with a silver dagger and slit their palms. The pain stung, causing Ariel to grimace. Concern flickered across Kaiden’s face. Ariel smiled to reassure him. This was all part of the wedding ritual.

They were both dressed in white in the middle of a small water pool. Her dress wasn’t the most extravagant, but it was perfect; she sparkled under the moonlight like the stars. Kaiden had prepared the gown ahead of time. It was meant for a grand wedding and not a quiet one past midnight.

Their blood dripped into a bowl. After the priest was done with the incantations it glowed. He then turned to face the small audience.

. "Is there anyone here who has a reason why this man and woman should not be joined? Speak now before they are joined forever, never to be broken apart." He asked. There was no opposition. Everyone here was Kaiden’s close acquaintances.

Seeing no opposition, he glanced at the bride who sparkled under the moonlight. Her eyes locked with Kaiden who saw nothing else aside from her. Like she was his entire world.

"Lady Ariel, do you wish to take Prince Kaiden Von Drakkar as your husband for better and for worse?" He simply asked. He didn’t ask if she had a reason not to be wedded because the looks in their eyes said it all.

"I do," she replied.

Those were the best words Kaiden has heard. He might not have gotten an ’ I love you’ yet, but he was too love-struck to care.

The priest smiled then glanced at Kaiden. "Prince Kaiden Von Drakkar, do you accept Lady Ariel as your wife to forever protect and cherish for better and for worse?"

"I do, till my last breath I will cherish every part of her." He promised, oblivious to the future ahead of them.

The priest picked up a white ribbon and started to wrap it around their entwined hands. He then took the small bowl containing the water mixed with their blood and gave it to Ariel to drink.

She accepted it and drank half of the contents, and the rest was given to Kaiden. The strange metallic taste of blood made Ariel’s nose wrinkle. Unexpectedly, Ariel felt something move up her throat, and she coughed out the blood.

Kaiden’s eyes went wide confused about what was happening. The priests had a worried expression; the marriage ritual failed. Ariel’s finger didn’t have the sacred ring mark to prove the union worked.

"What is going on?" Kaiden asked, and Ariel was equally confused. She didn’t know why her body rejected it. "The union failed." The priest admitted. The strange flame tattoo on Ariel’s neck she didn’t remember getting started to glow a sharp gold colour

She felt jolts of pain in his skin, but hid it perfectly. "The mark refuses her to be wedded to you." He added, pointing to the mark. Kaiden was stunned, just like the few observers. He had once asked Ariel about it but she didn’t remember.

This was a sign for the wedding to stop but neither Kaiden nor Ariel accepted it. "But I accept the union. Bless the marriage and ignore the mark." Ariel insisted, her hand tightly holding Kaiden reassuring him

"You are accepting to go ahead without the goddess’s blessings." They both nodded in acceptance. This was a bad omen, but he could not stop them.

The priest covered their entwined hands together to bless the union.

"This marks the union between a dragon and a pure maiden." He said, Kaiden pulled Ariel into a hug and claimed her lips in front of everyone. Amidst the applause.

"Thank you for this gift. I will remember this forever." He said with his eyes brimming with tears after their lips parted. Ariel chuckled, "Don’t tell me you want to cry, dear prince."

Kaiden smiled. "Tears won’t be enough to express my feelings to be finally able to marry the queen of my heart." He proudly said. It was hard not to fall in love with him.

Ariel stared straight at him then it happened again, she saw another man with shining golden blonde hair and those mismatched eyes. "You are my queen and everything." It was fleeting and left her puzzled.

What was happening? Who was that strange man? But quickly shove it behind her mind. The more she thought about it the more confused she got.

They left the temple outside, waiting for them. It wasn’t a fancy carriage, but two horses. Ariel glanced at Kaiden confused. She clearly remembered coming in a carriage.

He understood her gaze then chimed. "I have a surprise for you. The horse will get us there faster," he answered, then helped her up on the horse. It was as black as the night, just like her hair.

Kaiden got on his brown stallion, "Try to catch up." He teased her, then pulled the reins, urging his horse to race off. Ariel smiled, staring at the goofy prince she married.

"I should be the one to tell you that." She sneered as her horse raced past him. Kaiden smirked, the game was on.

Ronan sighed, watching the newlyweds race against themselves. He was both worried and happy For Kaiden. He was truly happy, but how long would this last?