Everest POV
As the music played loudly and joy filled the air, Everest laughed as he danced cheerfully with his sister, spinning her around the ballroom floor. But then, something caught his eye—Willow, standing by the refreshments table. Her expression was pale, stricken, as if she had seen a ghost. Before he could process it, she turned and began to walk away, quickly disappearing through the crowd.
A heavy frown crossed Everest's face. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Why did she look like that? Why did she seem so frightened—on the verge of fainting?
With concern, he turned to his sister, locking eyes with her.
"Ella, I promise we'll finish this dance later," he said hurriedly. "But I need to go."
Ella nodded, understanding without question, and Everest immediately pushed through the crowd, heading after Willow, who was slipping through the ballroom doors.
His heart pounded as panic began to creep in. She was walking so fast—almost running. Was she trying to escape someone?
He reached the ballroom doors just in time to see her silver-white dress and fairy wings shimmer in the light as she stepped into the castle courtyard. The late-morning sun hit his face as he followed her outside, scanning the sea of elven guests until his eyes locked on her figure, now moving deeper into the crowd.
Everest picked up his pace, weaving through the guests until he finally caught up to her, away from the crowd. He called out.
"Willow!"
At the sound of his voice, she stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. Her hazel eyes shimmered with tears, and her skin was pale as snow.
"Everest," she whispered, barely audible.
He stepped closer, gently taking both of her trembling hands in his. Her skin was ice-cold, sending a chill of fear through him.
"Willow, my love," he said softly, searching her eyes. "What happened?"
Tears spilled silently down her cheeks as her lips quivered. She struggled to speak, her voice barely a whisper through her pain.
"He was here."
Everest's brows furrowed deeply. He released one hand to brush a tear from her cheek with his fingertips.
"Who was here?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion and rising worry. "Who are you talking about, my love?"
She looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes and finally said, "Lord Lorcand. He was here."
Everest's heart dropped. Rage surged through him as he let go of her hands, fists tightening at his sides. His jaw clenched as he scanned the area, his eyes burning.
"What do you mean he was here?" he growled through gritted teeth. "If he touched you—I swear—I'll kill him."
But then he felt her hand rest gently on his shoulder, grounding him.
"He didn't hurt me," she said quietly, looking into his eyes. "Only I could see him. He used some kind of twisted magic—he appeared only to me. No one else could see him."
Everest exhaled slowly, trying to process her words. That vile man had dared to use magic to torment her, right under his nose. The thought made his blood boil.
He stepped closer, taking both of her hands again, his voice steady but low.
"What did he say to you, Willow? Tell me everything."
She hesitated, then forced the words out through a tightening throat.
"He said… that I belong to him. That we he was the reason I am alive today and that I am special to him"
Everest could feel every muscle in his body tense. His heart thundered with fury.
"How dare he," he muttered darkly, his grip on her hands tightening. He bowed his head slightly, trying to calm his breathing, to contain the storm inside him.
Lorcan had already taken too much from them. Willow had lost her father and her uncle because of that wicked man. And now, he dared to return and try to steal her future as well.
Everest looked up again, locking eyes with her. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly against his chest.
"I won't let anything happen to you, my love," he whispered fiercely. "From now on, you won't leave my sight. I swear, I won't let him hurt you, or appear before you, ever again—not while I'm alive."
Willow nestled closer into his arms as he pressed a tender kiss to her soft brown hair, wrapping her in his embrace and shielding her from the world.
He would protect her. With everything he had.
Tyron POV
As the time for the ceremony arrived, the ballroom filled with guests, all gathering to witness a sacred moment—Everest and Willow's brut horal, where they would exchange their silver rings in a symbol of unity and promise.
Standing beneath an elegant arch woven with white daisies, Tyron stood tall and proud. To his left stood Willow, radiant in her silver dress and fairy wings. To his right, Everest held her hand gently, his eyes filled with love. Just a few steps away stood Evelyn, accompanied by Ella, and beside them was Driven holding little Olwe in his arms, their family watching on with emotion.
As Willow and Everest held hands, Tyron raised his voice for the room to hear:
"I gather you here today for two lovely souls who have found their way to one another through love."
A hush fell over the crowd, all eyes drawn to the couple. With solemn grace, Tyron took out the two silver rings. He handed one to Everest, who took it and gently slid it onto Willow's right finger. The way Everest looked at her—like the stars only existed for her—left no doubt in Tyron's heart that his son truly loved Willow.
Next, Tyron handed the second ring to Willow. With trembling fingers, she placed it over Everest's ring finger, her touch light but full of meaning. When she was done, Tyron continued:
"These two rings symbolize the sacred bond of your engagement. Let them serve as a reminder of your promise until the day of your wedding."
He then took a silver silk cord and softly draped it over their joined hands, tying them together in a traditional gesture of unity.
Now it was time to pass on the powers of royalty. Evelyn stepped forward from the crowd and stood beside Willow, while Tyron turned to Everest with a proud gleam in his eye.
"As of this day," Tyron began, "Prince Everest and Princess Willow shall form their own Kingdom—uniting the Elven and Vila Fairy people."
He laid a firm hand on Everest's shoulder and smiled with deep pride. "As your father, I now bestow upon you the power of the Elven King... the legacy of our kind, so you may build a kingdom of strength and wisdom."
As he spoke, Tyron's hand began to glow with an ancient light. The magic passed from father to son in a visible shimmer, illuminating Everest's entire body. The crowd gasped in awe as the golden glow wrapped around Everest, accepting the power of kingship.
Evelyn then stepped forward and placed her hand on Willow's shoulder with warmth and pride. "My dearest daughter," she said with a gentle voice, "I pass to you the sacred power of the Vila Fairies—the gifts of healing, grace, and light. With it, may you lead as Queen and protector of your people alongside your husband."
Soft pink light bloomed from Evelyn's hand and flowed into Willow's body, enveloping her in radiant light. Her wings shimmered, and her entire being glowed with the strength and magic of her lineage.
Tyron felt the energy shift in the air as both his and Evelyn's powers settled into the couple. When the last of his strength had passed, he released Everest's shoulder and stood back with pride in his eyes.
"From this day forward," he declared, "you shall be known as King Everest."
He turned to Willow, his voice full of respect. "And you, no longer a princess, shall be known as Queen Willow, ruler of a new era."
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, the ballroom echoing with joyous celebration.
Tyron then untied the silver cord and placed his hands on both of theirs as he spoke one final blessing:
"As King and Queen of this new nation—born of Elven roots and Vila wings—you shall stand united. One heart. One people. One destiny."
He looked into Everest's eyes and said, "Son, I give you the southern kingdom by the Evergreen Mountains, where I grew up as a child. There, you will reign with your wife and build a new legacy."
Turning to Willow, he added, "With your wisdom, courage, and love, may you both create something stronger—a future where Elves and Vila fairies thrive together in peace."
The crowd burst into celebration once more, clapping and cheering for the newly anointed King and Queen.
A new chapter had begun.
Willow POV
Music echoed through the grand ballroom, where a live band played gracefully in the background. The people of the kingdom filled the room with laughter and joy, dancing and celebrating under the soft glow of the chandeliers. It was late in the afternoon, but the energy had not dimmed—everyone was enjoying the celebration of the newly crowned King and Queen.
In the center of the room stood Willow, quietly nibbling on a snack as she watched the dancers with a distant, dreamy expression.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the warmth of a hand gently resting on her shoulder. She turned, surprised to saw it was Everest, and found herself staring into a pair of deep ocean-blue eyes.
"As my future wife, I couldn't let this night slip away without asking the woman I love for a dance," said Everest, his voice smooth and sincere.
Willow felt her cheeks flush at his words, the heat rising from her chest to her face. She couldn't help but blush under the weight of his charm. He looked striking tonight—dressed in his traditional elven attire, with his long silver-white hair cascading down his back, a few elegant braids tucked to one side. She never knew that Everest was actually an attractive man .He was breathtaking, and the sight of him made her knees feel weak.
She froze slightly as his warm hand slid from her shoulder to her hand. He took it gently, raising it to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to her skin.
"I would love to have this dance with you," Willow replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes locked onto hers again, and that familiar, handsome smile curved his lips—causing her heart to skip a beat. With grace and confidence, Everest led her toward the dance floor just as the next song began to play.
Somehow, Willow felt both nervous and wildly excited to share her first dance with Everest as an engaged couple. The magic in the air was electric, like a spell cast over the ballroom. Gracefully, like a swan, she let Everest pull her into his strong arms, and they began to move together across the floor.
She barely registered the music—her focus was entirely on him. One of Everest's hands rested gently on the small of her back, while her other hand lay nestled in his. As they swayed, she caught his gaze, and a soft blush crept over her cheeks.
Everest's lips curled into a handsome, teasing smile.
"Are you blushing?" he asked, clearly enjoying her reaction.
Willow shyly looked away, her voice catching as she tried to answer.
"Is this…" she began, but the words tangled in her throat. Images from the night before flashed in her mind—memories of their intimate moments still lingered, haunting and stirring her. Seeing him now, dressed in his elegant elven attire, his silver-white hair shining under the golden chandeliers, made it nearly impossible to resist him.
"Is this what?" Everest asked with a playful glint in his eye, teasing her gently.
Willow's whole body felt hot. Her heart raced, her legs turned to jelly, and she looked up into his eyes with a mix of longing and vulnerability.
"It's just… the way you look tonight—and what happened last night—it's still with me. I can't stop thinking about it."
A brief silence fell between them, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she wondered what he was thinking. Then she felt him lean closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"If you'd like," he whispered, "we could slip away from here… and I could show you more."
She swallowed hard, taking a deep breath as his words sent shivers down her spine. When Everest leaned back again, his eyes sparkled with mischief—he was clearly up to something.
"But what about the ceremony?" Willow asked hesitantly. This was their buthoral ceremony, and it wasn't exactly something they could just walk out of.
"What about it?" Everest grinned. "The important part is already over—and no one's going to notice we're gone."
They were like two mischievous children sneaking away from a party, and part of her wanted to say yes just for the thrill of it. With her mother's newly passed powers now within her, Willow felt different—stronger, more confident, more herself. A shy smile crept across her lips.
"Okay," she whispered.
Everest's smile widened. He stopped their dance abruptly and took her hand in his. Her heart leapt as she giggled.
"Are we really doing this?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yep," he replied, eyes twinkling. "Why not? I know a place—quiet, hidden. No one will find us."
With excitement bubbling in her chest and the thrill of breaking the rules tingling in her fingertips, Willow let him lead her out of the ballroom—just the two of them, sneaking away into the night.