POV: DUAL (KAELIS ↔ KIERAN)
Timeline: Wedding Day - Morning
Location: Arventis ↔ Nocterra - Getting Ready
KAELIS'S POV:
I wake up to chaos.
Servants everywhere. Preparing clothes. Doing hair. Panicking about schedules.
"Your Majesty, you need to eat something—"
"The carriage leaves in THREE HOURS—"
"Has anyone seen the rings?!"
I sit up slowly. Let it wash over me.
Today. TODAY is the day.
I'm getting MARRIED.
To a god.
Holy shit.
Kieran? I reach through the bond. You awake?
Unfortunately yes. There are SEVEN people in my room right now. SEVEN. Why do I need seven people to help me get dressed?
Royal wedding. It's a thing apparently.
A STRESSFUL thing.
Just breathe. We've got this.
We survived kidnapping, torture, dimensional travel, and a trial. We can survive getting dressed.
KIERAN'S POV:
The suit is incredible.
Black and gold. Perfectly tailored. Nocterra colors with subtle Arventis silver threading. Representing both kingdoms. Both families.
I look in the mirror. Barely recognize myself.
I look like a KING. Like someone who BELONGS here.
"Perfect," Ravion's grandmother Elara says, adjusting my collar. "You look perfect, dear."
"I'm terrified," I admit.
"Good. Shows you care." She pats my cheek. "Ravion is terrified too. Don't tell him I told you."
"He is?"
"Of course. He's marrying the love of his life. That's TERRIFYING. But also wonderful." She smiles. "You're going to be so happy, Kieran. Both of you."
I hope she's right.
KAELIS'S POV:
My suit is silver and blue. Tidelands colors with Arventis accents. Mirror to Kieran's.
We planned it that way. Wanted to MATCH. Twin aesthetic to the end.
"Stop fidgeting," Lord Castor says, fixing my cufflinks. "You're going to wrinkle."
"I'm NERVOUS. Fidgeting happens when nervous."
"You fought void creatures. You survived dimensional space. You put your evil not-mother in prison." He steps back. "You can handle getting married."
"Those things involved FIGHTING. This involves FEELINGS. And PEOPLE WATCHING. And—"
"Breathing. It involves breathing. Try that."
I breathe.
He's right. I've survived worse. I can survive this.
No. Not SURVIVE.
I can ENJOY this.
This is supposed to be the BEST day of my life.
So I'm going to make it that.