Elizah watched as her mother tied the small ribbon to keep her hair up behind her in a neat bun. If the ribbon was removed, it would let the braid tumble and fall down her shoulders.

Once Roxanne was done, Elizah did a complete observation of herself in the mirror. It was pretty unbelievable how the dress and the accents suited her. The shifting material of the gown hugged her lean figure. It almost seemed as if the seamstress had designed it for her. The colour was a gentle blue which gave off a greenish-hue in some lighting conditions, matching the brightness of her eyes.

“You look beautiful,” Roxanne said as she stepped away from her daughter.

“Mama, is everything alright?” Elizah asked gently as she walked up to her mother and placed an arm on her shoulder.

“I’m just overwhelmed. I just can’t imagine that you’ve grown up this fast,” Roxanne said and slowly walked over to Elizah as the tears fell out of her eyes.

It wasn’t the day of the ceremony just yet, but Roxanne wanted to make sure everything was perfect for her daughter. There were still 2 days before Elizah would leave, and so many arrangements were still to be made.

“What’s on the stove?” Micah asked from the other room, interrupting the conversation between the mother and daughter.

“Spirits! I forgot the tarts I was baking to take to Jade,” Elizah said and almost ran into the kitchen. Still, Roxanne stopped her and asked Micah to extinguish the stovetop.

“If you go into the kitchen in this gown, you’ll get flour all over your beautiful gown,” Roxanne said. She then helped Elizah undo the ribbons that held up the bodice and let her change into a more comfortable attire.

Elizah gave a sheepish glance before undid the overly elegant bun and letting her braid tumble down her shoulder.

Roxanne embraced her daughter after the dress was off, and Elizah noticed something hidden in her eyes.

“What happened mama?” Elizah asked again, hoping that she’d get an answer from her.

“Nothing, I just.. hadn’t expected you to follow so easily into Liran’s footsteps,” Roxanne said, “the magic, the relationship you have with the prince. It’s so similar to how your father was. I just really wish he actually saw you once.”

At that, Elizah’s existing enthusiasm dimmed ever so slightly. She knew the pain it would cause Roxanne to see that her daughter was like the husband who had ditched her.

“I’m sorry,” Elizah began to say, but Roxanne cut her off mid-sentence.

“It’s your father who should be apologizing,” Roxanne said and gave Elizah a sad smile.

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“Elizah, your lover is here,” Micah called out from the kitchen, and Roxanne laughed while Elizah turned red.

She ran to the door, and Jayden stood in the doorway with Micah keeping him company.

“Are you coming?” Jayden asked her as she appeared in the doorway.

“Enjoy yourselves,” Micah said as they walked off, and Jayden and Elizah just laughed.

“Enjoying with Jade? That’s never going to happen,” Jayden said as they walked through the dense forest.

“Your brother is something of his own,” Jayden said after a couple moments, and Elizah just laughed more.

“I just wish he had someone else around for him, like how I have you,” Elizah said after her laughter ceased altogether.

“Why? He hasn’t taken a liking to anyone after William?” Jayden asked simply.

“No. It’s complicated,” Elizah said and quieted after knowing that Micah’s life was his own.

They had made it to Jade’s by that time, so Jayden ceased his asking of questions and knocked at Jade’s door.

“What do the two of you need?” Jade asked as she came to the door.

“It’s a little something we need only you to do for us,” Elizah said, and they stepped in through the doorway.

“What is that something?” Jade asked and led them to two chairs.

“We wondered if you’d officiate our blood bond,” Jayden asked, and Elizah smiled slightly at that.

“I knew the two of you would be coming in here for something like this sooner or later,” Jade said with the ghost of a smile lingering on her lips.

There were only two ways a blood bond could be considered legal and binding on the island. One was if the king and the queen performed the ceremony. And the other if the vows were cast by a seer. Knowing that the former would be impossible, the two had directly approached Jade.

“When have you decided on it?” Jade asked after a moment.

“Two days from today,” Elizah answered.

“I will be waiting then at the pond,” Jade said, and she opened a large book with a thick cover, “You made a good call. I would also say that performing the bloodbond would be safer for both of your lives.”

Jayden and Elizah exchanged glances at that, and they knew their answer. A blood bond was a ritual performed by two people who felt that they always wanted to be together in their lives. It permanently bonded them by the heart and soul and was meant in particular for those who loved each other. It would keep them alert about the danger of the other, and they knew that one day it would save their lives.

“We plan on doing it during the ceremony,” Jayden answered Jade.

“Good. In a way, that would legalize your wedding automatically. It would also save your lives when you need each other most,” Jade said and took a blade from her shelf of books that she always hid.

“This is something I need you to keep Jayden,” Jade said and handed the blade to him.

“It’s a blood-binding knife,” Elizah said and observed the beautiful carvings on the golden blade.

“Yes, when the time comes, he will wield it to perform the ceremony,” Jade said and stood up.

“We’ll see you in two days,” Elizah said with a warm smile as they headed out of the cottage. After they were far off from Jade’s house, Elizah took a tiny tart from her side bag and handed it to Jayden.

“A pre-wedding tradition,” Elizah said and put it in his free hand.

“Two more days,” Jayden said and kissed her before he thanked her and walked out of the forest while Elizah headed back home.