Chapter 20 The Ceremony Begins

• The chapel was a masterpiece of architectural intimidation, its soaring arches and stained-glass windows designed to make mortals feel small in the presence of the divine. Today, it felt more like a trap than a sanctuary, with Lord Cassius's guards positioned at every entrance and exit.
• I walked down the aisle in my elaborate wedding gown, every step measured and deliberate, while mentally cataloging the faces in the congregation. Allies, enemies, and those whose loyalties remained unclear watched me pass with expressions ranging from admiration to calculation.
• Prince Aldric waited at the altar in his formal ceremonial armor, polished to mirror brightness and decorated with the silver ravens of his house. He looked every inch the royal prince, but I could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his eyes tracked the movement of his father's guards.