Chapter 5 The Full Moon Bride

The palace was too quiet that morning. Like even the walls were holding their breath. Elaria sat at her mirror, dragging the brush through her hair slow, half-awake, half-numb. Then- a knock. Not soft. Not nervous like a maid. Firm. Familiar. She didn't even turn. "Come in." The door creaked open. Her stepmother walked in-violet robe, black crows stitched along the sleeves. The same one she'd worn on her wedding day. She closed the door behind her. "The full moon rises tonight." "I know." Silence hung for a beat too long.

Then: "Have they started to show?" Elaria blinked. "What?" "Your powers." No warmth in her voice. No motherly softness. Just that cold curiosity, like Elaria was a sealed box and she was trying to see if anything inside rattled. "You come from a line that's never failed," her stepmother went on. "Fire. Mind. Storm. The Old Magic still remembers our name." Elaria looked down at her hands. "I haven't felt anything." A lie. She had. A whisper in the candlelight. That weird pull behind her ribs. The heat in her palms when she got too angry. But she wasn't about to hand that over. Not today. Her stepmother nodded like she already knew she was lying. "If they come, they'll come tonight. Be ready." She started to leave-then paused at the door. "One more thing," she said. "He won't tolerate weakness." The door clicked shut. - Not even five minutes passed before another knock. This one was light. Arrogant. The kind that didn't wait for permission. Elaria sighed. "Who is it?" Door opened. Seren. Of course. She leaned against the doorframe like she owned the whole place, arms crossed, eyes full of that casual malice she wore like perfume. "Just came to check if the blushing bride has sprouted wings or horns overnight," she said. Elaria didn't move. "You're early." "I wanted to be the first to say congrats. Or... condolences. Depending on how tonight goes." "Don't you have something better to do?" Seren's gaze slid over to the mirror. Then to the small dagger sitting on Elaria's table. "Still carrying that little knife? Cute." Elaria stood. Finally. "Do you have a point?" Seren stepped closer. Not too close. Just enough to be irritating. "We both know you're powerless," she said, voice low. "You always have been. You can dress it up in courage, but that won't change what you are." There wasn't even any venom in it. Just... need. Like she needed Elaria to stay small so she could feel big. But Elaria didn't shrink. "I've learned something," she said, voice quiet. "Even powerless things can burn if you push them hard enough." Seren blinked. Just once. Then turned and left. No parting words. - By midday, the palace had come alive. Banners hung from balconies-white, gold, crimson. Spices in the air. Flowers in everything. And everywhere... whispers. "Did she agree to it?" "She used to be so plain." "Did you see her now?" "Why her?" Elaria stood still while her attendants fussed around her. Pearls twisted into her hair. Silver rings slid onto her fingers. A veil so sheer it looked like mist pinned to her shoulders. Then she saw herself in the tall mirror. She barely recognized the girl staring back. Not soft. Not small. She looked like a threat wrapped in silk. "I'd marry me," said a voice behind her. Elaria turned. Ango was already inside, barefoot, holding a peach she'd stolen from somewhere, juice running down her wrist. "They've got you dressed like the answer to every problem this kingdom's too scared to name," she said. Elaria almost laughed. "You're not supposed to be in here." "I'm not supposed to be a lot of things," Ango said, flopping onto the bed like she owned it. "So. What's the plan? Dramatic altar escape? Or mysterious bride with secrets?" Elaria shrugged. "Still deciding." "Either way," Ango grinned, "I want front row seats." She wasn't loud. Or silly. She just got it. Sharp tongue. Sharp eyes. The kind of funny that comes from watching too much and saying too little. And for the first time that day, Elaria didn't feel like she was drowning. - Dusk fell. The Moon Garden opened like a secret carved into the cliffs, stars overhead, moon full and bright like it was watching. Elaria stepped out. The crowd turned. Gasps. Murmurs. Eyes everywhere. But Kael didn't move. He stood at the end of the garden, dressed in black, silver threaded through like moonlight. His face unreadable. Still. But the way he looked at her- not soft. Not cold. Something in between. Like he saw something dangerous. She walked to him slowly. Halfway down the path- a jolt. The sigil. The one from the forbidden book. It flashed behind her eyes, just for a second. She staggered. Barely. Kael stepped forward instantly, caught her by the arm. "Are you alright?" "Yes," she breathed. "Just lightheaded." His hand stayed a second too long. Warm. Grounding. And his eyes- they didn't look away. Like he felt it too. Across the garden, Seren's smile twitched. She squeezed her goblet too tight. Lady Mira leaned toward her daughter. "Oh dear," she whispered. "Was that a stumble?" Ango, biting into her second peach, didn't even look. "Nah. Felt like a power move." Mira smirked. "She knows what she's doing." At the altar, Kael offered his arm. Elaria took it. Vows were said. Ribbons tied. Magic shimmered in the air-silver threads sewing them together in the eyes of the stars. They were married. And the moon lit up like it was proud. - After the ceremony, Elaria was taken to a small antechamber off the garden. The air felt thicker here. Then- "The Lord and Lady Miren request a moment with the bride." She turned slowly. Her father walked in first-taller than she remembered, hair more gold than silver, but face... tired. Behind him, her stepmother. Still in violet. Still cold. "Father," Elaria said. He took her hands. Looked at her like he was remembering something long gone. "You look like your mother," he said. Her real mother. The one no one talked about. "You always say that." He smiled, barely. "I tried to stop this," he said. "The arrangement. But Kael's... not what I expected." "I know." He looked down. "If I had been stronger-" "You were all I had," she said softly. "That was enough." He blinked, stepped back. Lady Miren stayed quiet. Then: "You've grown into your face," she said. "For years I worried you'd stay plain." Elaria didn't blink. "But I didn't." "No," Miren said slowly. "Still... nothing to prove what makes you worthy." "Not everything can be seen yet." Miren tilted her head. "You sound very sure of yourself." "I've had time to remember who I am." Her stepmother's smile thinned. "Let's hope your husband doesn't ask too many questions." Elaria smiled. "Let's hope he does." That shut her up. Her father cleared his throat. "Whatever happens tonight-hold your head high, Elaria. Don't doubt yourself. Even if they all do." She nodded. "I won't." The final bell rang from the garden. Time. Elaria turned to the doors where her attendants waited. "Time to become a queen," she whispered. "Or something worse," Miren muttered. Elaria didn't even look back. She just walked forward, smiling. - Kael was waiting. No carriage. No horses. No guards. Just him. When she reached him, he didn't speak for a second. Then: "We leave now." His voice was low. Smoke-soft. Elaria took his hand. No feast. No goodbyes. Just the two of them. Under a watching moon. Into a place she'd never seen. With a man who was starting to feel less like a stranger. And more like the storm that would change everything.