The glow of the mystic circle around them intensified as Vastarael and Adelasta exchanged their final vows. Vastarael's golden eyes softened as they lingered on Adelasta's face. For a moment, silence enveloped them, broken only by the faint hum of the runes etched into the obsidian floor beneath them.
Then, without warning, Vastarael leaned forward.
Adelasta's breath caught as his hand cupped her cheek. Before she could react, his lips pressed against hers. The moment their lips met, the mystic circle around them erupted in a brilliant burst of blue light, the runes spiraling outward as if responding to their bond.
Vastarael could feel a connection sparking to life between them, threading through their very souls. The circle expanded, glowing brighter and brighter until the room itself seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them suspended in the timeless moment.
Adelasta's eyes fluttered closed, her heart pounding against her chest as she gave in to the kiss. She wasn't used to this level of intimacy, this vulnerability. Yet with him, it felt… right.
When they finally pulled apart, Vastarael noticed something shimmering in front of him. His brows furrowed as a blue hologram appeared, floating in midair. The words etched into it glowed softly, almost as if they were alive.
[Love Divinity Unlocked.]
His breath hitched and for a moment, he didn't understand what was happening. A warmth spread through his chest, foreign yet familiar, as though a part of him he never knew existed had suddenly awakened.
Adelasta, still catching her breath, noticed the distant look on his face.
"What's wrong?" She asked, her voice soft but laced with concern. "What's happening to you?"
Vastarael didn't answer. Instead, he kissed her again.
This time, it was different.
The divinity coursing through him surged to life, amplifying everything. The heat of their connection, the depth of his emotions, the power of his Boon. Adelasta gasped into the kiss, her body trembling as a wave of sensations crashed over her. It wasn't just the kiss. It was him, his essence, his very presence overwhelming her.
His hands instinctively gripped her shoulders as they fell backward, her back hitting the cool obsidian floor. Vastarael loomed over her, his golden eyes glowing faintly as his lips moved deeper against hers. Adelasta felt utterly helpless, her body betraying her as it responded to him in ways she couldn't control.
"Vastarael," she managed to gasp between kisses, her voice shaky and strained. "Stop… please… stop…"
But even as she begged him to stop, her hands betrayed her words, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away. Her body was alight with sensations she'd never experienced before, every nerve ending hyper-aware of his touch, his kisses. The Love Divinity and his Boon were working in tandem, amplifying her sensitivity, her need for him, until it was almost unbearable.
Her orange eyes were narrowed, half-lidded as her thoughts clouded over, consumed by him. It wasn't fair. This wasn't fair. She was supposed to be the one in control, the one dictating terms, but now?
Now she was utterly at his mercy and even worse, she didn't want to fight it.
Her lips parted, allowing him to deepen the kiss further, and she let out a soft, involuntary moan as her body arched beneath him. She hated how much she wanted this, how much she wanted him.
Adelasta tried once more to pull away, her hands weakly pressing against his chest, but it was no use. Her strength was gone, stolen by the overwhelming tide of emotions and sensations. She didn't just surrender. She craved it. She craved him.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, Vastarael froze.
He pulled back abruptly, his eyes wide with realization. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stared down at her. He got control over himself in an instant.
"I—I'm sorry," he stammered, his voice thick with regret. "I didn't mean to..."
Adelasta blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly swollen from the intensity of their kisses. Her gown had slipped off one of her shoulders, exposing her pale skin, and her crimson hair was splayed out around her like a halo. She looked utterly undone, a sight that made Vastarael's heart twist with guilt.
And she saw it in his eyes.
"It's fine," she said softly, sitting up slowly.
Her voice was shaky and she avoided his gaze, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her gown as she tried to compose herself.
But it wasn't fine. Not to her. Because deep down, she didn't want him to stop.
The disappointment gnawed at her, an ache she didn't understand but couldn't deny. She wanted him to continue, to kiss her again, to let her lose herself in him. For someone who prided herself on control, the realization was maddening.
Vastarael, meanwhile, ran a hand through his curly white hair, his mind racing. He felt terrible for losing control, for letting the divinity and his Boon consume him like that.
"I shouldn't have—"
"Don't," Adelasta interrupted, finally looking at him. Her orange eyes were still clouded with emotion, but there was a flicker of resolve there too. "Don't apologize."
"But—"
"You stopped," she said firmly, though the faintest hint of disappointment lingered in her tone. "A word of advice, husband. When you initiate something, don't stop. Believe me, women hate it when a man does that. But this once, I'll let it slide. It must be your Boon acting up so..."
He frowned, studying her carefully. She looked composed but he could see the faint tremor in her hands, the way her gaze kept flickering to his lips as if she couldn't help herself.
"I'll… make it up to you," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.
Adelasta's lips twitched into a faint smile, though her cheeks remained flushed.
"You'd better."
As they sat there, the glow of the mystic circle fading around them, one thing was clear: their bond was stronger than either of them had anticipated.
And Adelasta finally realized just how lucky she was to get married to the most handsome Immortal of present times.
And in the future, she would not regret it at all.
°°°°°°°°°
Adelasta's eyes blinked open slowly, the hazy remnants of sleep clinging to her as she adjusted to the dim light around her. For a moment, she stared at the ceiling, her mind sluggishly piecing together where she was. But then, as her gaze shifted slightly, she saw him.
Vastarael lay next to her, his breathing steady and calm, his features softened by sleep. His curly white hair was tousled, his golden eyes hidden behind closed lids that seemed at complete peace. There was no tension on his face, no trace of the burden he always carried, just pure serenity. He looked… beautiful, even more so up close. Adelasta couldn't stop herself from staring.
It took her a few seconds to fully process it.
They were married now. Husband and wife.
The realization hit her like a wave and her chest tightened with a mix of emotions she couldn't immediately name. Slowly, her fingers brushed over the cool sapphire bracelet on her wrist that he gave her, a physical reminder of the vows they'd made, of the bond they now shared.
Husband and wife.
The words replayed in her mind and with them came a flood of thoughts. What would happen now? How would her parents react? Would they be furious or coldly indifferent? Her father had always been difficult to please and she knew her mother was sharp enough to notice the smallest cracks in any situation. Would they reject the marriage outright, disown her for making such a bold decision?
And what about his family? The Richinarias were legendary, the epitome of royalty and immortality. Would his parents, those untouchable figures, approve of her? Would they think her unworthy of their son, the Prince of Beauty?
The weight of those questions pressed on her, but as she looked at Vastarael, his peaceful face so close, his body relaxed and vulnerable in sleep, a calm settled over her. She reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against his hand and warmth bloomed in her chest.
It didn't matter what anyone else thought.
Adelasta's mind drifted to the future. What would their life together look like? Would they argue about trivial things or laugh late into the nights? Would they explore the Erna Isles together, face the challenges of the Epoch Cycle as partners, or simply find solace in each other when the world seemed unbearable?
But no matter what the future held, one thing was certain. She had won.
She bit her lip, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
She'd won.
She, Adelasta Viaca Vazakiel Richinaria, was married to the most handsome Immortal of their time. It was a triumph, a victory few women could ever dream of attaining. No, not even in their wildest dreams could they claim what she now had.
Her gaze softened as it lingered on him. She really, truly loved him. More than she had thought possible. It was a raw, overwhelming feeling, one that made her heart swell and her throat tighten. And seeing him lying there, so calm, so defenseless, it stirred something protective in her.
Adelasta sat up slightly, her crimson hair spilling over her shoulders as she leaned closer to him. She studied every detail of his face, committing it to memory. The curve of his jaw, the faint shadow of his lashes against his cheek, the way his lips looked almost too perfect to be real.
"I won't let you die," she whispered softly, her voice trembling with emotion as she made her silent vow. "No matter what happens, no matter what I have to do.... you're not leaving me."
She swallowed hard. It was her truth, her sixth vow to him, one spoken only to herself but just as sacred.
For the first time in her life, she felt… whole.
Carefully, so as not to wake him, she lay back down beside him, her head resting lightly on the edge of his shoulder. Her hand found his and her fingers slipped between his own, holding on gently but firmly.
As she closed her eyes again, she smiled faintly to herself. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever storms they would face, she knew one thing with absolute certainty: being married to Vastarael wasn't just a victory.
It was her destiny.
And it made her look at Vastarael's profile.
"Let's see how powerful you've gotten, my dear husband."
And what she saw made her realize that her husband was not normal.