Page 103 of The Legacy of Ophelia
Cypherion
Apparently,Harlen and Cyren were able to use their significant connections to arrange said ceremony in only a few hours. We were in a small, secluded temple in Valyn’s Ninth District. I still didn’t know the purpose of the different districts, but I’d specifically pulled Harlen aside to ensure the ceremony wouldn’t take place in the temple above the archives.
“I don’t really care what I wear, Jezebel, and I don’t think Vale will either,” I said as she fluttered around me, straightening the silver-lined lapels of my jacket.
“I care, and I was shot with a poisoned arrow, so appease me,” she retorted.
My attention dropped to the puckered scar on her arm, visible since she’d changed into a flowing lavender gown with a thin silver cape pinned to the dainty straps on her shoulders. The wound was healed—she was fine—but it had my fist’s clenching with the stark reminder of the threats mounting beyond these walls. Of why I’d raced here in the first place, urging Sapphire to fly at her fastest pace.
“Fine,” I agreed. “But are the cuff links necessary?” I grumbled as she fastened on tiny diamond clusters that lookedlike a constellation. In the candlelight flickering from every available surface around the small alter at the rounded front of the temple, they sparkled.
“What a ridiculous question,” Jezebel mocked, shaking her head. “Cuff links are always necessary. They tie together the entire night.”
I shrugged, not knowing what she meant by that.
With the glinting accessory unnecessarily in place, Jezebel stepped back to admire her work. “Perfect!” She beamed, scurrying around me to grab my scythe.
When I’d arrived, Cyren and the priestess who would conduct the ceremony had explained it was tradition to carry weapons in the Starsearcher commitment ceremony. I was grateful they allowed me to keep my weapon of choice rather than donning a Starsearcher one. It was comfortable, and I was entirely out of my depth here. Not with Vale—cursed Spirits, I was sure of her. But with the finery. The life vows beneath celestial beings. I’d never witnessed anything like it.
As she helped me lay my scythe perfectly across my back, Jezebel said, “I think this ritual is a wonderful idea, but have you considered that some people may be a bit sad they aren’t here?”
I only grunted in response. The guilthadbeen weighing on me, but Vale was my priority. She was all I’d been able to think about—even more so than usual. Like every thought in my mind was wiped clean except for those about her, demanding more and more attention as the day wore on and the stars came to life.
Like they were calling me to her.
“Tolek is going to be furious,” Jezebel added, flicking a speck of dust from my shoulder.
“He’ll get over it,” I said.
Jezebel leveled me with a stare.
“I’ll allow him to throw us a party once this is all over,” I conceded, and her eyes lit up at that, too.“Fucking Spirits.” Theywere going to be way too extravagant. A part of me hated it, but a larger part refused to crush their joy. A party would be fine.
I let it go, drifting to the head of the aisle to study the mural of Fates entwined, two white and silver blurs of starfire tangled around each other above where the priestess and Cyren muttered quietly. But then the door to the temple creaked open. And when I turned, I forgot how to breathe, my heart ringing in my ears.
“Holy cursed Spirits,” I whispered.
“You won’t complain about my outfit choices now,” Jezebel teased as she took her position behind me.
“I certainly won’t,” I agreed, still breathless as Vale walked down the aisle toward me.
And my Stargirl looked like one of those Fates herself. The dress hugged every inch of her body but still moved like moonlit water, flaring over her hips and trailing beyond her. The sleeves wrapped tightly to her wrists, the material sheer along her arms and toward the bottom of the skirt.
With glittering gems crusting it, it almost reminded me of the dress Titus had forced Vale to wear the night I left her in Valyn. But it was different—sharper and more lethal with its design. Cut for the woman she’d forged and the strength she’d honed.
And complete with Harlen escorting her to me, it was almost as if she was saying goodbye to a girl who used to be and crossing the threshold into who she was meant to become. A Fatecatcher, whatever fortune that may be, and the woman cementing my future with every step.
When she met me, I laced my fingers through hers. “You look…” I shook my head, chest physically aching at how beautiful she was. “There aren’t words, Vale. But you look like everything I want to see every day for the rest of my life.”
Everything I would die for, everything I needed. The stars kept pushing me toward her.
Vale ducked her head, cheeks flushing, and the pins holding back the front pieces of her hair glittered. They were tiny constellations, twins to my cuff links.
I cast Jezebel an appreciative nod, catching the tears glimmering in her eyes. Pride shone among them.
The priestess took her place before us, Cyren and Harlen standing behind Vale as witnesses, but I barely even heard a word anyone said. All I could focus on was Vale. My heart beat in the damn rhythm of her name as moonlight dripped through the open skylight, a beacon over her.
As the priestess finished the opening rite and turned away, her navy robes swishing against the ground, she explained, “Now we’ll light lavender for love, protection, and happiness. Lemon verbena for unity, and sage for wisdom in the long life the Fates will give you together.”
