The tension was almost palpable as the car came to a halt. As I reached for the door to step out, a dark-clad figure beat me to it. The door swung wide open before me, and I immediately felt the significance of this place, the weight of power that ruled over this building.
I stepped out of the vehicle, trying to focus on the gathered crowd, but my attention was quickly stolen by something else. Gabriel's hand suddenly closed around mine. I couldn't hide my surprise. I looked up at him, confused. What was this? A public display of an arranged marriage? Were we really supposed to enter like a pair of lovers?
I wanted to pull away, or at least protest, but in that brief moment, I realized—there was no turning back. We had declared ourselves as twin flames. To the entire world here. Even if it was a lie, I had bound myself to this man with an oath that extended far beyond a human lifetime. Forever and ever. There was no more room for hesitation or uncertainty.
So, I didn't pull away. Instead, I let Gabriel lead us forward together. He walked with such effortless dignity, as if the palace itself had been built beneath his footsteps. A radiant authority surrounded him, even without revealing his wings. He didn't need to. The simple yet ceremonial white turtleneck he wore gave him an otherworldly glow, as if light itself had woven around him.
And beside him… I felt like a lost lamb. My gaze darted around, trying to assess who was present, how many eyes were fixed on us. The dark-clad figures were no longer part of my life, my world. The thought left a strange emptiness inside me. Something I had belonged to, something I had understood, had now slipped from my grasp.
And then, as we reached the steps, a sharp female voice cut through the silence.
— What is this supposed to look like?! — The arrogant woman's gaze swept over me. — She must be prepared immediately! The wedding starts in an hour.
At first, I thought I misheard. Her words struck my chest like a blade of cold steel.
— In an hour? — I repeated in disbelief.
Then another voice, soft and kind, almost soothing, spoke to me.
— Hello, my dear — said the woman whose presence always radiated warmth. — Yes, in an hour.
Before I could protest, Gabriel spoke beside me, and his voice was as absolute as an unbreakable law.
— It cannot be delayed. You belong among us. They need to see you.
The woman who had radiated kindness nodded faintly with a gentle smile.
— And by law, you must become complete as soon as possible. But you already are, my dear, — she said softly. — This is only necessary for others to see you as such. Don't take it personally. It does not diminish your worth.
For a moment, I was silent, just watching her. She was perfect. The embodiment of kindness, understanding, and dignity. With a single glance, she could smooth out all tension, and her presence alone felt like something to hold on to.
But I could not say the same about the woman standing beside her.
And then I looked at them closely.
Their golden hair was braided into a crown, catching the light as if tiny stars had been woven into it. Their garments were white, yet not just white. Luminous, almost translucent, as if the very fabric had come from another world. Not just angelic, but ceremonial. Bridal.
— You need to get dressed — the arrogant woman declared coldly. — Follow me.
A deep sigh escaped me. Perfect. Just the person I was missing from my life.
Clara and the others started to follow me, but the kind woman intervened.
— You need to prepare as well. Please, come with me.
She looked at Clara and the others, and it was clear that they could no longer be involved with me before the ceremony. I had to go through this alone.
Clara glanced at me. Her protective gaze reassured me, though I had no idea if everything would really be alright.
We climbed the steps in silence. The arrogant woman walked ahead, seemingly uninterested in breaking the quiet. But just before we reached the room, she spoke.
— Just because you defeated a monster doesn't mean you're a saint.
I stopped. My eyes narrowed at her.
— Why do you hate me so much?
She opened the door to the room and glanced back at me.
— I don't hate you. I just know that this is not where you belong.
I stepped inside, and the door closed behind us. The woman turned and looked me in the eyes.
— You are neither human nor Nephilim, at least not in the human sense, — she stated coldly. — If you ask me, you are the child of an angel and a demon. — She looked at me triumphantly.
I furrowed my brows.
— You have too much imagination, — I said, dismissing her words.
— You are the result of sacrilege, — she continued with conviction.
— This… — I laughed, but my voice was laced with cynicism. — This is ridiculous.
The woman merely watched me indifferently. I saw in her eyes that she truly believed what she was saying.
— Tell me, how can you call yourself an angel when so much hatred and contempt resides in your heart? — I asked quietly. — What right do you have to stand on his side?
For a brief moment, I saw her gaze falter, but then she regained her composure.
— If you mean my sister… she is naive. I hold no hatred. Only clear judgment. The problem is not that you are here, but that you are trying to take a place where you do not belong.
I let out a cynical snort.
— You hated me from the moment I woke up here. I think you nearly had a panic attack when you realized I couldn't just leave.
— I am not friendly with newcomers, — she replied coldly.
Our gazes locked.
— But you proved to be a good soldier. A shame. You just had to make a spectacle of yourself.
I had reached my limit. I could no longer endure her insults.
— You know what? — I looked into her eyes, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of surprise. — If I had the choice of whether or not to transform… If I could have controlled it—but of course, I couldn't—you would still assume I could, wouldn't you? Because you think you know everything, don't you?
My voice trembled with rising anger.
— But if I had the power, I would have let that woman put you in a box, soul and all. And never let you out. Or if she did, I'd have made sure it was beyond the mist, where the most ruthless demons would tear you apart for an afternoon snack. Then you could have paraded all you wanted!
I felt myself losing control. I had crossed a line. I knew it. I shouldn't have said that to an angel. Even if she was cold and ruthless. Even if she had struck first. Even if her words had been like a blade to my chest.
Her face went still for a moment. Just a second. Then her lips moved, and to my horror, a faint, almost imperceptible smile ghosted over them. But there was no amusement in her eyes. Only ice.
— Foolish girl, — she whispered with a deceiving gentleness, yet her words were sharper than any blade. — This is not some human marriage that lasts a few decades. This is forever. And you won't fool us with this twin flame charade. We all know the truth.
My heart skipped a beat.
— Which means the next few years—more precisely, your eternity—will be quite eventful. You locked yourself in this cell.
She exhaled slowly.
— Now, let's see that prison dress.
The cynicism vibrated in every word she spoke, but as if… as if there was something else in it. A hint of brokenness? Or was I just imagining it? I couldn't decide.
The woman opened a cabinet that had been locked until now. My gaze swept over the garment that appeared before her, and my breath caught.
A snow-white dress—simple, yet majestic. The fabric fell weightlessly, as if it were merely a shadow drifting through the air. The cut was clean, with straight lines, but the sleeves… the sleeves floated, almost as if they had been woven from another dimension. The neckline formed a delicate triangle—not ostentatious, yet not completely closed either. A single movement, and the fabric cascaded down gently, as if it responded to every subtle shift of my body.
I reached out and touched it. Beneath my fingertips, my warm skin met the cool silk. For a moment, I felt as if power surged into me. It wasn't just a dress. It was a weapon. A symbol that something new had begun.
Slowly, I put it on. In the mirror, I saw myself. The dark gaze staring back at me was no longer the girl I once was. But someone else. Someone stronger. Someone who could face what life had forced upon her.
Dahlia was still watching in silence. She didn't speak, didn't make a single comment. She simply stood there, observing as I ran my fingers over the fabric and lost myself in thoughts of the future.
Then, a thought, a feeling rose within me—one I couldn't silence. Nor did I want to.
I looked up at her.
— You're not afraid of who I am or what I am — I said quietly, yet firmly. — You're afraid because the ruler is different now. And I stand by the ruler's side. Full of ideas. Change. You fear that your familiar rules will crumble. You fear chaos.
Our eyes locked. For a moment, she just stared. Then, slowly, with an icy calm, she spoke.
— What do you know of ruling? Or of what the ruler was, or wasn't? — Her eyes flashed dangerously. — Don't forget. He hasn't left. He is merely resting. His empire is not your playground.
With that, she turned and stormed out.