Chapter 63

“ Well, don’t you look stunning,” Merilla said, her voice genuinely awed now. “ Kaden’s not going to be able to take his eyes off you tonight.”

I smiled, hoping that was true. The bond between us felt even stronger now, and I wanted this night to be special—for both of us.

“ Thank you,” I said softly. “ All of you. I don’t think I could’ve done this without you.”

Beth and Vicky curtsied, offering soft words of thanks, before Merilla gave me a nudge. “ Come on, it’s time.”

With one last glance in the mirror, I took a deep breath and followed Merilla out of the room. The hallways were bustling with servants preparing for the evening, and the faint sound of music drifted up from the ballroom below. My heart started to race again, but I forced myself to focus. Tonight wasn’t just a ball—it was an introduction to the kingdom, a glimpse of what life with Kaden would truly be like.

As we reached the grand staircase, I saw Zaden, Mike, and Seth waiting at the bottom, all dressed in sleek tuxedos that somehow made them look even more regal than usual. Their attire wasn’t quite like the human world’s, but it was sophisticated, tailored with a touch of otherworldly elegance. They noticed me instantly, their heads snapping in my direction as I descended the stairs with Merilla.

“ Wow,” Seth breathed as I approached, his eyes wide with admiration. “ You look... breathtaking.”

I blushed again, glancing at the three of them. “ Thank you,” I murmured. " But where’s Kaden?"

“ He’s getting ready for the opening of the ball,” Zaden explained. “He’ll meet you later. For now, we’re here to escort you when the time is right.”

My brow arched in confusion. “ The time is right?”

Mike chuckled, shaking his head. “ Don’t worry, it’s all part of the plan. You’ll see.”

I couldn’t help but smile at their antics. Being with them always made me feel more at ease, but knowing Kaden was preparing for the ball without me was making me even more anxious.

Still, I trusted them. I had to. With a deep breath, I allowed myself to relax as Zaden offered me his arm.

“ Shall we?” he asked with a playful grin.

I nodded, taking his arm as he, Seth, and Mike escorted me down the final few steps.

The crystal ballroom doors stood towering before me, reflecting the soft, ethereal glow of the palace lights. I stood behind them, my heart racing, trying to steady my breath as the murmurs of the crowd filtered through the glass-like barriers. It felt like the entire Water Kingdom had gathered on the other side, awaiting something monumental. My hands trembled slightly, and I clenched my fists, trying to shake the nerves away.

Beside me, Zaden, Seth, and Mike stood quietly, their presence a strange comfort in the swirling uncertainty. Merilla was next to me, calm and composed as always. Her white fur coat shimmered in the light, and she met my gaze with a reassuring purr, but I could sense something in the air, something I wasn’t prepared for.

The murmur of voices began to settle, and suddenly, Kaden’s deep, commanding voice echoed from the other side of the doors. I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat. He was speaking to the entire crowd, his tone rich with authority, and I couldn’t help but lean in, listening intently to his every word.

" I have gathered you all tonight for more than just a celebration,” Kaden’s voice rang out, clear and powerful, each word sending shivers down my spine. “ Tonight is a night of change for our kingdom, a night where I bring you important news.”

A strange feeling settled in my chest. What could he be talking about? My eyes darted between the others, but their expressions gave nothing away. Merilla’s tail wagged with a knowing look in her eyes, and it only made my heart beat faster.

Kaden continued, his voice strong and unwavering, filling the vast space beyond the doors. “ For many years, I have led the Elemental Kingdoms without a mate by my side. Alone, I have fought, protected, and guided our people. But the Goddess have seen fit to bless me with something extraordinary."

I froze.

No. It couldn’t be.

“ I have found my mate.”

My heart slammed in my chest. Mate? My mind raced as the meaning of his words hit me like a wave crashing against the shore. He was talking about me. The shock was so intense I couldn’t move, my feet rooted to the spot as my entire world tilted.

“ She is no ordinary woman,” Kaden continued, pride swelling in his voice. “ She is a rare elemental, one with powers that even among us are uncommon. Powers that will guide our kingdom into a new era.”

The crowd gasped, and a low murmur rippled through the ballroom. My throat tightened as I realized what was happening—he was announcing me as his mate to the entire water kingdom, right now. Without warning. Without even a hint of this before.

“ She is the one who will stand beside me as we forge the future,” Kaden said, his voice softening, filled with something I couldn’t quite name. “ She is the woman who has captured my heart and soul. Her name is Meara.”

The cheers that followed his words seemed to echo endlessly, but I couldn’t hear them. My pulse was pounding in my ears, and my mind was spinning. He’s announcing me. Now? It was all too much—too sudden, too overwhelming.

Merilla leaned closer, her voice soft yet firm. “ You’re ready for this, Meara. You’ve been ready for this.”

I shook my head, still trying to process the weight of it all. “ I didn’t know… I didn’t know he was going to do this.”

Her voice was warm but unyielding. “Sometimes we’re thrown into things before we’re ready. But trust in yourself. Trust in Kaden.”

The crystal doors slowly began to creak open, revealing the grand ballroom inside. My breath hitched as the scene unfolded before me—dozens, no, hundreds of eyes turned in my direction, all waiting, all watching.

The ballroom itself was breathtaking, with towering crystal pillars that glistened like icicles in the moonlight. Little orbs of light floated gracefully in the air, casting a magical glow across the vast space. The floor was polished to a mirror shine, reflecting the lights above, making the room feel like we were standing in the middle of a sea of stars.

But none of that could distract me from the fact that every single person in the room was looking at me.

The doors opened wider, and the soft sound of my heels clicking on the floor seemed deafening in the silence that followed. I could feel their eyes, the whispers of curiosity, the scrutiny. My legs felt weak, and for a moment, I thought I might stumble.

But then I caught sight of him.

Kaden stood tall on a raised platform at the far end of the ballroom, his eyes locked on mine. The moment our gazes met, the fear, the anxiety, the overwhelming sense of being exposed—it all melted away. There was only him, and the way his presence seemed to steady me, ground me. The bond between us hummed, pulling me forward, giving me strength when I felt like I had none.

I didn’t know how I managed to keep walking, but somehow I did, step by step, toward him. Zaden, Seth, and Mike flanked me, their protective presence easing the weight of the stares that followed me across the room. Merilla stayed close, her silent support a comforting reminder that I wasn’t alone.

When I reached the platform, Kaden extended his hand toward me, his eyes soft but filled with a fierceness I’d come to know well. His hand was warm and steady as I placed mine in his, and as our fingers intertwined, I felt that electric spark between us once more, the undeniable connection of the mate bond.

He gently pulled me up beside him, and as I stood there, facing the kingdom with Kaden by my side, the enormity of what was happening hit me all over again. I was his mate, the woman who would rule alongside him. The woman he had just declared before the entire Water Kingdom.

Kaden turned to the crowd, his voice rising once more. “ Tonight, we celebrate not only the future of our kingdom but the bond that has been forged between two powerful forces. Meara will stand by my side as my mate, as my equal. Together, we will protect and guide you.”

The crowd erupted into cheers; their excitement palpable. But all I could focus on was Kaden, the way his hand tightened around mine, the silent reassurance in his touch. My heart swelled with emotions—pride, fear, and something deeper, something I hadn’t fully understood until this moment.